Retaining Spring Nutplate for Restricted Aircraft Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening assemblies for aircraft face challenges in restricted access areas, requiring specialized and expensive tools or fasteners, which are not always accessible for maintenance or repairs, and often result in increased costs for replacement parts.
Innovation Solution
A fastening assembly comprising a flexible body that can transition between relaxed and compressed states, allowing for the secure alignment and retention of retaining devices within restricted areas without the need for specialized tools, using a configuration of upper, lower, and joining members that apply a spring force to maintain contact and alignment, reducing the need for external support during fastener insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialized tools are used to hold retaining members in restricted areas, then the fastening operation can be performed, but the cost increases and accessibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible body automatically performs the function of specialized tools by self-adjusting to hold the retaining member in the compressed state. The body's inherent elasticity allows it to maintain the retaining member without requiring external specialized tools, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for expensive specialized equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible body changes its physical state between relaxed and compressed configurations. In the compressed state, it holds the retaining member; in the relaxed state, it allows easy removal. This parameter change enables the same component to serve multiple functions without requiring specialized tools for different operations.
2Ease of operation
If customized fasteners are used to avoid specialized tools, then accessibility improves, but the cost increases and permanency is required
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is divided into separate replaceable components: the flexible body and the retaining member. This segmentation allows the retaining member to be easily replaced without replacing the entire fastening system, reducing replacement costs while maintaining accessibility benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible body's ability to transition between relaxed and compressed states enables the retaining member to be easily inserted and removed. In the relaxed state, the body allows free access for insertion; in the compressed state, it secures the member. This eliminates the need for customized permanent fasteners.
3Manufacturing precision
If retaining members are held in restricted areas during fastener insertion, then alignment is maintained, but rotation may occur without proper constraint
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible body acts as a conforming shell that adapts to the restricted area geometry while maintaining contact with the retaining member. This flexible enclosure provides stable orientation and prevents rotation during fastener insertion, ensuring both alignment precision and orientation stability.
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
This solution allows for reduced fastener holes, easier installation and removal without disassembling the stabilizer, prevents retaining member rotation, manages uneven surfaces, and enables easy access and replacement of nut plates, eliminating the need for special tools, thus lowering maintenance costs and improving accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
A fastening assembly includes a flexible body configured to flex between a relaxed state and a compressed state to maintain alignment and position of retaining devices, without a fastener, while located adjacent opposing external surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A fastening assembly includes a body and a retaining device. The retaining device is secured to the body for placement along a surface. The body is configured to flex between a relaxed state and a compressed state. The body is compressed between two external surfaces in a compressed state to maintain the alignment and position of the retaining device without the fastener. The flexure of the body causes the body to exert an outward spring force against the external surfaces sufficient to maintain the location of the retaining devices before insertion of a fastener. The fastening assembly includes the fastener for insertion into the retaining device.