Slope Washer and Nut Locking Structure Against Vibration Loosening
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening structures, such as those using spring washers or pin mechanisms, often lead to loosening due to vibration and are complex and expensive to maintain, making it difficult to recycle components like screws, nuts, and washers during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A fastening structure featuring a nut and washer with slope portions that overlap without clearance, providing a secure hold against vibration and allowing for easy release without damaging components, using a tool to rotate both in the loosening direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pin mechanisms for locking are used to prevent loosening, then the loose stop effect is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the locking function from complex pin mechanisms and implements it through a simplified slope portion structure on the washer. The slope portion (32) works with the nut (31) to provide the loose stop effect without requiring separate locking pins or holes, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using protruding pins to achieve locking, the patent inverts the approach by using recessed slope portions on the washer that work in conjunction with the nut's geometry. This inverted design achieves the same loose stop effect through a different mechanical principle, simplifying the overall structure.
2Reliability
If lock pin points are inroaded into the male screw portion to increase loose stop effect, then the reliability is improved, but the screw portion is damaged and cannot be recycled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of damaging the screw portion into a benefit by designing a system where the slope portion and nut interaction provides the loose stop effect without requiring penetration or damage to the screw. The friction and geometric interference between the slope portion (32) and nut (31) surfaces provide sufficient locking without compromising component integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The design treats the washer as a sacrificial component that can be easily replaced, while preserving the more expensive and critical screw and nut components for recycling. The washer's slope portion provides the necessary locking function without requiring damage to the reusable components.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional fastening structures are used, then the manufacturing is simple, but loosening occurs due to vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding slope portions (32) only to specific areas of the washer where contact with the nut occurs. This localized modification provides vibration resistance exactly where needed at the nut-washer interface, without requiring complex changes to the entire fastening system or other components.
Solution Approach 2:
The slope portions create a dynamic interaction between the nut and washer that adapts to vibrational forces. The geometric configuration allows the components to self-adjust under load and vibration, maintaining the loose stop effect through dynamic friction and contact pressure rather than static mechanical locking.
Data Source
AI summary
A nut 1 is provided a first surface 1A in which a slope portion, in which height is gradually formed to lower toward the tightening rotation direction of the nut, is provided according to the circumferential direction. A washer 2 is provided with a second surface 2A that has the slope portion formed corresponding to a slope portion 1Aa of the first surface 1A according to the circumferential direction is provided. The washer and the nut are provided such that the slope portion of the first surface and the second surface are overlapped and superposing up and down mutually, configuration of the nut and the washer are formed such that they are coincident with the circumferential direction, in the state that the slope portion 1Aa of the first surface 1A and a slope portion 2Aa on the second surface are overlapped without the clearance.