Resilient Resistance Ring for Radial Anti-Rotation Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector mechanisms with resistance rings have limited resilience and reliability due to their design, providing inadequate controlled resistance to nut rotation in both mating and unmating directions.
Innovation Solution
A highly resilient resistance ring with straight sections that zig-zag between the barrel and nut surfaces, featuring inclined angles less than 45°, sharp bends, and saw teeth engagement, providing controlled resistance by varying the angle of tooth surfaces for different directions of nut rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ring with multiple closely-spaced ratchets is used to provide resistance to nut rotation, then controlled resistance is achieved, but the ring has limited resilience and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The resistance ring is segmented into multiple straight sections that zig-zag between the barrel and nut surfaces. Each section acts as an independent resilient element, allowing the ring to maintain high overall resilience while simplifying the design of individual sections. This segmentation enables each section to be simpler in form (straight edges) while collectively providing the required resistance function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the resistance ring have different geometries optimized for their specific functions: straight sections provide resilience, angled sections (less than 45° to circumferential direction) provide controlled resistance, and bent sections engage with slots in the nut. This local differentiation of properties allows the ring to achieve high reliability without requiring complex design throughout the entire structure.
2Reliability
If the resistance ring provides high resistance to prevent unintentional unmating, then connector reliability improves, but mating operation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The saw teeth on the barrel are asymmetric in design, with different angles on different sides. This asymmetry creates direction-dependent resistance: the geometry allows easy engagement during mating (screw threads and bumps engage smoothly) but provides high resistance during unmating (bumps must ride over the inclined tooth surfaces). This resolves the contradiction by making the resistance characteristic asymmetric to match the operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The resistance ring and saw teeth mechanism provide dynamic resistance that adapts to the direction of force applied. During mating, the mechanism allows smooth engagement with moderate resistance. During unmating attempts, the same mechanism dynamically increases resistance as the bumps encounter the inclined surfaces of the saw teeth. This dynamic response resolves the contradiction between ease of mating and prevention of unintentional unmating.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures reliable and controlled resistance to nut rotation, offering moderate resistance during mating and higher resistance during unmating, enhancing the connector's operational reliability and preventing unintentional unmating.
Implementation Method 1
The resistance ring has primarily straight ring sections that zig zag between the barrel and nut surfaces... resulting in a highly resilient resistance ring
Implementation Method 2
Different sides of the saw teeth extend at different angles to the circumferential direction, and therefore provide different resistance to the bumps riding over them
Data Source
AI summary
A connector that has a coupling nut (14) that is rotatable about a barrel (12), with an annular space (42) between them, and with a resistance ring (40) lying in the annular space. The resistance ring allows the nut to rotate with moderate friction in a mating direction M, and provides higher resistance to nut rotation in an unmating direction U. The resistance ring is formed from a metal band with primarily straight band sections (60, 62, 64, 66) that alternately extend at inward and outward inclines from the circumference direction C. As a result, the resistance ring zig-zags by alternately engaging the nut surface (52) that faces the annular space, then the barrel surface (50) that faces the annular space, etc. Some of the radially outer ends of the straight sections are bent into small half circles (67) that fit into corresponding slots (68) in the nut to fix the resistance ring relative to the nut. The radially inner ends of the straight sections form bumps (70) that ride over saw teeth (74, 76) formed on the barrel surface.