One-Piece Self-Locking Nut with Crush-Locking Lips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional threaded nuts loosen in high vibration environments and require additional components like locknuts, which increase time, material usage, and can still fail over time.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece self-locking nut with internal threading and crush-locking lips that deform into an internal relief cut upon tightening, forming a permanent lock on the bolt, eliminating the need for separate locknuts and allowing for standard manufacturing and tooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional locknuts are used to prevent loosening, then vibration resistance is improved, but device complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the nut body and locking mechanism into a single integrated component. The self-locking nut incorporates locking lips that directly engage with the bolt threads, eliminating the need for separate locknuts or additional locking components. This merging of functions resolves the contradiction by maintaining vibration resistance while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-locking nut performs its own locking function through integrated locking lips that automatically engage with the bolt threads upon tightening. The locking mechanism is self-activating during the tightening process, requiring no additional components or separate locking actions. This self-service capability resolves the contradiction by providing reliable vibration resistance without increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If conventional locknuts are used to prevent loosening, then vibration resistance is improved, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking lips are pre-formed and integrated into the nut body during manufacturing. Upon installation, the locking mechanism activates automatically as the nut is tightened onto the bolt, without requiring preliminary preparation or additional locking steps. This preliminary integration resolves the contradiction by ensuring vibration resistance while maintaining fast installation speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-locking nut automatically activates its locking mechanism during the tightening process itself. The locking lips engage with the bolt threads as the nut is screwed on, performing the locking function simultaneously with the fastening action. This self-service capability resolves the contradiction by providing vibration resistance without increasing installation time.
3Reliability
If conventional locknuts are used to prevent loosening, then vibration resistance is improved, but material usage and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the nut body and locking mechanism into a single integrated component made from the same material. This eliminates the need for separate locknuts or additional locking components, thereby reducing total material usage while maintaining vibration resistance. The merging principle resolves the contradiction by providing reliable locking without increasing material consumption.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional nuts are used, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but vibration resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the nut by adding locking lips with specific dimensions and angles. These parameter changes enable the nut to achieve self-locking functionality while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing processes. The locking lips are formed using conventional forming or machining operations, resolving the contradiction by improving vibration resistance without significantly complicating manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality changes by adding locking lips only to specific regions of the nut body where they are needed for locking functionality. The rest of the nut maintains its conventional simple geometry for ease of manufacture. This localized modification resolves the contradiction by providing vibration resistance through targeted structural changes while keeping the overall manufacturing process simple.
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 one-piece self-locking nut provides a permanent, vibration-resistant fastening solution that is lighter, stronger, faster to install, and more cost-effective than traditional two-piece locking nuts, maintaining a conventional nut appearance while preventing loosening.
Implementation Method 1
the crush-locking lips are forced inwardly and deform on the threaded shaft of the fastener bolt and into the space of the internal relief cut in order to form a permanent lock on the fastener bolt
Data Source
AI summary
A self-locking nut is formed with a rear nut body with internal threading and a front nut body having circumferentially arranged, crush-locking lips provided on a forward contact face of the front nut body and being spaced from the internal threading of the rear nut body by an internal relief cut for accommodating deformation of the crush-locking lips therein. When the nut is tightened down on an object on a fastener bolt, the crush-locking lips are forced inwardly and deformed on the threaded shaft of the fastener bolt into the space of the internal relief cut in order to form a permanent lock on the fastener bolt. In another preferred embodiment, the self-locking nut has a front “flying saucer” shaped part configured to work like a “jam nut” portion, and a rear “nut body” part having a front indentation space configured to work like an inner relief cut. The two parts are joined together by circumferential welding and flattening of the “flying saucer” part into the inner relief cut space of the “nut body” part while leaving a small gap between the parts.