Segmented Nut Mechanism for Bidirectional Bolt Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nut-bolt systems require significant effort to move nuts bidirectionally along long bolts, and previous solutions only allow unidirectional movement, making it cumbersome to reverse the nut's position without disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A segmented nut design with a ring-shaped spring and slanted protrusions and grooves allows radial expansion and contraction, enabling bidirectional movement by transitioning through an insertion, intermediate, and fastened state via axial movement of the inner cover, facilitating easy passage and fastening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a taper is employed to expand a nut to allow the nut to pass along an outer side of a bolt, then the nut can be moved unidirectionally, but the nut cannot be moved bidirectionally
Solution Approach 1:
The nut is divided into multiple segments (first nut segment, second nut segment, third nut segment) that can move relative to each other radially. This segmentation allows the nut to expand and contract, enabling bidirectional movement along the bolt by transitioning between expansion states, rather than being limited to unidirectional movement as in conventional tapered nuts.
Solution Approach 2:
The nut incorporates a dynamic expansion mechanism where the nut segments can radially expand and contract based on the position of the inner cover. The ring-shaped spring provides elastic force to enable radial expansion, allowing the nut to transition between different radial states (expanded when passing along the bolt, contracted when fastened),从而实现 bidirectional movement capability.
2Reliability
If a conventional nut structure is used, then the nut can be fastened onto a bolt, but it requires considerable effort to move the nut along a long bolt
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the nut into multiple segments that can move relative to each other, the nut creates gaps between segments during radial expansion. This allows the bolt to pass through these gaps easily, reducing friction and the effort required to move the nut along the bolt, while still maintaining reliable fastening when the segments are in contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The nut utilizes changes in radial dimension through expansion and contraction. When the inner cover moves axially, it causes the nut segments to expand radially outward, creating clearance for easy movement along the bolt. When fastening is required, the segments contract radially to contact the bolt surface, providing reliable fastening with minimal movement effort.
3Ease of operation
If the nut main body expands radially to allow bidirectional movement, then the nut can be freely passed along the bolt, but the nut and bolt must be properly engaged for fastening
Solution Approach 1:
The inner cover acts as an intermediary mechanism that controls the engagement state. By moving the inner cover axially, it simultaneously controls the radial expansion/contraction of the nut segments and the engagement with the bolt. This single intermediate component coordinates both the passage function (when expanded) and fastening function (when contracted), simplifying the overall engagement control.
Solution Approach 2:
The nut employs dynamic transition between two distinct states: an expanded state for easy bidirectional passage along the bolt, and a contracted state for secure fastening. The ring-shaped spring provides the elastic force necessary for this dynamic transition, allowing the nut to switch between movement-friendly and fastening-friendly configurations as needed.
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 nut can be freely moved and fastened bidirectionally along the bolt with reduced effort, improving work efficiency and allowing for simple, speedy operations at construction sites.
Implementation Method 1
a ring-shaped spring disposed on an inner wall of the nut main body and configured to bias the nut main body to cause the nut main body to expand radially toward an inner wall of the inner cover
Implementation Method 2
the protrusion has a slant surface and the groove has a slant surface, the slant surfaces being configured to contact each other on the same side in the axial direction
Data Source
AI summary
This nut (1) comprises a nut main body (3) having a substantially cylindrical shape and constituted by a plurality of nut segments (3a), an outer cover (4), a restraining ring (5), an inner cover (6) comprising a restraining plate (6a) at one end portion of the inner cover (6) and serving to cover an outer circumference of the nut main body (3), and a ring-shaped spring (7) serving to bias the nut main body (3) to cause the nut main body (3) to expand radially. Protrusions (8) protruding in a circumferential direction are formed on an inner surface of the inner cover (6). Grooves (9) are formed on an outer surface of the nut main body. The protrusions (8) and the grooves (9) have slant surfaces (10) that contact each other on the same side in the axial direction.