S-Shaped Securing Ring for Screw Connection Loosening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing securing arrangements for screw connections in pipeline installations are limited in their ability to prevent unintentional loosening and are not easily adaptable to different uses and dimensions, often causing damage when loosened and being costly to produce.
Innovation Solution
A securing arrangement featuring a retaining ring with S-shaped and straight connecting webs of varying flexural strengths, which engages with external and internal profiling to require a higher loosening torque than tightening torque, allowing for adjustable locking intensity and easy assembly without component damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a securing ring with locking elements is used to prevent unintentional loosening, then the reliability of the screw connection is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the additional locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The securing ring is designed to be inserted into the groove of the first part, nesting the locking mechanism within the existing screw connection structure rather than adding external components. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing ring is divided into multiple locking elements distributed around its circumference, each independently engaging with the profiling. This segmentation allows the locking function to be distributed and simplified, reducing the complexity of any single locking point while maintaining overall reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the securing arrangement is designed to be easily assembled and disassembled without damage, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loosening torque control becomes more difficult to optimize
Solution Approach 1:
The loosening torque is controlled by changing the geometric parameters of the connecting webs (S-shaped vs straight configurations) and the material properties (flexural strength), rather than adding complex torque control mechanisms. This allows easy assembly and disassembly while maintaining optimized torque control through parameter selection.
3Reliability
If different connecting webs with varying flexural strengths are used, then the loosening torque can be optimized, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the securing ring (different connecting webs) are designed with different local qualities - S-shaped webs with lower flexural strength and straight webs with higher flexural strength. This allows optimization of loosening torque through localized property variations rather than requiring high precision across the entire component, making manufacturing more feasible.
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 arrangement effectively prevents unintentional loosening by adjusting the loosening torque based on the geometry and spring force, enabling secure and efficient assembly and disassembly of pipeline connections while being cost-effective for mass production.
Implementation Method 1
the first connecting webs have a lower bending stiffness than the second connecting webs
Data Source
Figure 1~2C
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The safety device has one section (2) with an outer thread (25) and a profiling (24) adjacent to the outer thread. A connecting rod is detached from a retaining element. The connecting rod extends to adjacent another retaining rod, where another connecting rod is detached from the retaining element. The latter connecting rod extends to another retaining element. A counter profiling provides a release moment with the former retaining element during screwing of another section. A fastening element is attached to the counter profiling.