Silencer Plating for Fastener Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional resilient clip fasteners face misalignment issues during installation, leading to reduced security and noise due to friction, and existing lubricants can be unsuitable for interior vehicle components, especially near fabric or leather upholstery.
Innovation Solution
A resilient clip fastener with metallic abutting flanges coated with a dry sulfur-containing lubricant and corrosion-resistant coating, featuring silencer plating to reduce acoustic waves and withstand temperature and humidity changes, allowing for easy installation and removal while minimizing noise and corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a lubricant is applied to reduce friction and noise during fastener installation, then the fastener installation force is reduced and noise is minimized, but the lubricant may stain interior upholstery or be susceptible to corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a dry lubricant coating that is intentionally designed to be consumed or depleted during the fastening process. The coating transfers from the fastener surface to the mating surface, providing lubrication where needed while being replaced by the friction and wear of the mating surfaces themselves, eliminating the need for permanent, maintenance-free lubrication
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the lubricating function from the fastener body itself and applies it only to the specific surface areas that require lubrication during installation. The dry lubricant coating is applied selectively to the engaging surfaces rather than coating the entire fastener, preventing staining of surrounding upholstery while providing lubrication where needed
2Strength
If the fastener is designed to securely mount panels to vehicle body, then the removal force is high, but the installation force becomes excessively high due to misalignment friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dry lubricant coating as an intermediary substance between the fastener surface and the mating panel surface. This coating reduces the coefficient of friction during the insertion phase, allowing the fastener to overcome misalignment friction and enter the mounting hole with reduced installation force, while the structural design of the fastener maintains high removal force for secure mounting
3Ease of operation
If the fastener uses a resilient clip design for easy installation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the tolerance to misalignments is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the friction parameter at the interface between the fastener and mating surface by applying a dry lubricant coating. This reduces the coefficient of friction, allowing the resilient clip to more easily overcome misalignment friction and adapt to position variations, thereby increasing tolerance to misalignments while maintaining the ease of installation provided by the resilient design
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 fastener provides improved tolerance to misalignments, reduces vibration noise, and maintains reliability and ease of installation, with a low insertion force and high removal force, while being resistant to corrosion and suitable for various interior vehicle components.
Implementation Method 1
A dry sulfur-containing lubricant of the flange bears against the inner surface and suppresses acoustic waves generated from vibrating movement
Implementation Method 2
corrosion resistant coating and silencer plating overlies the corrosion resistant coating
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener to removably mount an object in a mounting aperture of a panel is provided. The fastener includes a body having two opposing side members and defining a second aperture configured to accept at least a portion of the object, at least one elastic abutting flange disposed between the fastener body and the mounting aperture, a corrosion resistant coating, and a silencer plating overlying the corrosion resistant coating.