Rivet Nut Compression Limiter Shoulder for Plastic Panel Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastener systems for attaching panels, especially with soft materials like plastics, face issues of joint relaxation and increased complexity and cost due to the need for additional metallic compression limiters, which are not efficiently integrated into a single component.
Innovation Solution
A rivet nut design that integrates a sleeve-type compression limiter or collar, allowing for a metallic interface with the plastic panel, reducing the need for extra components and enabling efficient assembly by combining the metallic interface and fastener into one component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a metallic compression limiter is added to protect the plastic panel, then the plastic panel is protected from over-stress, but the device complexity and cost increase due to multiple extra parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the compression limiter function with the rivet nut body by integrating a shoulder feature directly into the rivet nut structure. This single-component solution eliminates the need for separate compression limiter parts while maintaining the protective function against plastic panel over-stress during assembly and operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The rivet nut is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating both the fastening function (threaded body) and the compression limiting function (integrated shoulder) into a single component. This universal design allows one part to perform multiple functions that previously required separate components, reducing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple extra components are used to achieve metallic interface, then joint integrity is improved, but assembly complexity and tolerance stack up increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the metallic interface function and fastener function into a single rivet nut component. The integrated shoulder provides the metallic compression interface while the threaded body provides fastening, eliminating the need for multiple separate parts and reducing assembly complexity and tolerance stack-up.
3Reliability
If extra components are added to prevent joint relaxation, then clamp force is maintained, but manufacturing cost and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the compression limiter and fastener into one integrated component that maintains clamp force through its shoulder design while enabling single-step assembly. This eliminates the need for separate compression limiter installation steps, improving productivity without sacrificing the clamp force maintenance function.
Data Source
AI summary
The rivet nut (22) includes: the threaded attachment to replace the weld nut, the collar to spread the load interface to plastic panel (14) and to the attached component, room for a sleeve type compression limiter (24), or a collar that would be an integrated compression limiter.