Segmented Nut Safety Stop for Spring-Protected Loosening
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing nut design lacks a secure stop mechanism in the rear area, which can lead to unintentional damage or disintegration of the expansion spring, causing the thread unit to fall out of the clamping body during loosening, and fails to ensure a defined frictional force for secure tightening.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a contoured stop in the rear area of the nut, with additional expansion springs or spring means to secure the thread segments, and providing a safety stop to prevent the expansion spring from damage, allowing the nut to be easily loosened without spring force, and enabling movement of thread segments without spring force during loosening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the expansion spring is used to push thread segments apart in the rear region, then the nut can be loosened easily, but the spring may break or be damaged causing the thread unit to fall out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a safety stop mechanism that acts as a backup support before the expansion spring can fail. This stop is designed to catch the thread unit if the spring breaks, preventing catastrophic failure and allowing the thread unit to be retrieved without complete disintegration of the nut assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety stop is specifically positioned in the rear region of the nut where it is least visible and least likely to interfere with normal operation. This localized feature provides security only where needed (preventing rearward collapse) without affecting the forward tightening function or the overall compact design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the guide pins are allowed to move freely in the rear area, then the clamping body can be pushed back for loosening, but the thread unit may fall out if the spring fails
Solution Approach 1:
The safety stop serves as a pre-positioned catch that will engage if the expansion spring fails. It provides a backup containment mechanism that allows the guide pins to move freely during normal loosening operations while preventing catastrophic dropout in case of spring failure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the side surfaces are made straight and parallel, then manufacturing is simpler, but no stop is formed for the guide pins
Solution Approach 1:
The side surfaces are kept straight and parallel for most of their length to maintain manufacturing simplicity, but local contours are introduced at specific positions (front and rear stops) where guide pin engagement is required. This selective contouring provides the necessary functional features while minimizing additional manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The side surface is divided into different functional segments: long straight parallel sections for manufacturing simplicity and localized contoured sections for guide pin stopping. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity.
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 enhanced nut design provides increased security against unintentional damage and disintegration, ensures secure tightening and easy loosening, and prevents the thread segments from falling out, even when stuck due to rust, by using a safety stop and contoured side surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
The threaded unit is held against the inner surface of a clamping body or pressed apart by expanding springs, in particular in the rear region relative to the tightening direction
Implementation Method 2
at least one of the side surfaces is contoured in such a way that the side surfaces in the rear region of the nut, from the perspective of the guide pins in front of the expanding spring, form a safety stop for the guide pins
Implementation Method 3
enabling movement of thread segments without spring force during loosening
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7
AI summary
The invention relates to a nut with an outer clamping body (1) having an axial segment receptacle in which a threaded unit with threaded segments (2, 3) is slidably held, and with inwardly projecting guide pins (5, 6), wherein the threaded segments (2, 3) have a curved inner surface with threaded sections and can be assembled to form an internal thread (4) and are pushed apart by a spreading spring (8), and the threaded unit has guide means which, together with the guide means of the clamping body (1), guide the threaded segments (2, 3) in the segment receptacle and, when the clamping body (1) is pushed on, move the inner surfaces towards each other. The threaded segments (2, 3) have side surfaces (11) and the guide pins (5, 6) project into gaps between opposing side surfaces (11), wherein the side surfaces (11) form a stop for the guide pins (5 or 6) in the front section.With known nuts, the protection against damage to the expanding spring (8) and against the nut falling apart could be improved. The invention achieves this by contouring at least one of the side surfaces (11) such that the side surfaces (11) in the rear area of the nut, from the perspective of the guide pins (5, 6) in front of the expanding spring (11), form a locking stop (7) for the guide pins (5 or 6).