Spring Clip Nut Retention for Tight Machine Access Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
In tight machine access areas, it is difficult to position and hold a nut in place while a bolt is being inserted or removed, as existing solutions are complex, costly, or impractical due to the lack of space for additional fasteners.
Innovation Solution
A spring clip with a base plate and flexible arms is used to secure a nut in alignment with a bolt hole, utilizing frictional forces to maintain the nut's position, which can be manually inserted and removed without additional fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional fastening methods are used in tight machine access areas, then the nut can be secured to the bolt, but it becomes difficult to position and hold the nut in place during assembly and disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The spring clip is inserted into a recess in the machine component, nesting the retention mechanism within the existing structure. The nut is then placed on the bolt and held by the spring clip, creating a nested arrangement where the spring clip sits within the recess and the nut sits on the bolt within the spring clip's retention area.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring clip's flexible arms automatically exert frictional forces on the nut to hold it in place. The elastic nature of the spring clip provides self-adjusting retention pressure, and the tab allows for easy manual release when disassembly is needed, making the system self-regulating without additional fasteners or complex mechanisms.
2Reliability
If additional fasteners are added to secure the nut in tight spaces, then the nut can be held in place, but the cost and complexity of the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring clip extracts the retention function from the set of required fasteners. Instead of needing multiple fasteners to both secure the nut and hold it in place, the spring clip is a single component that performs the retention function, eliminating the need for additional fasteners while maintaining reliable nut retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring clip serves multiple functions: it acts as a retaining clip to hold the nut in place, provides frictional forces to prevent nut movement, and includes a tab for manual release. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate fasteners and retention mechanisms.
3Volume of moving object
If the machine access area is tight, then the components are compact, but there is insufficient space to position and manipulate the nut during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The spring clip utilizes the depth dimension of the recess to provide retention functionality. By inserting the spring clip into the recess (moving into the third dimension), the system maintains compactness in the horizontal plane while gaining vertical retention capability through the spring clip's flexible arms that extend toward the nut.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring clip is made of flexible material that can be compressed to fit within the tight recess space, then expands to exert retention forces on the nut. The flexibility allows the clip to adapt to the confined geometry of the recess while maintaining sufficient force to hold the nut securely in place during assembly operations.
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 spring clip effectively holds the nut in place, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly of bolts in confined spaces, reducing complexity and cost compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a spring clip with a base plate and flexible arms is used to secure a nut in alignment with a bolt hole, utilizing frictional forces to maintain the nut's position
Implementation Method 2
utilizing frictional forces to maintain the nut's position
Data Source
AI summary
Spring clips to retain nuts in tight machine access areas are disclosed. An example spring clip includes a base plate having a first hole and a second hole disposed therein. The first hole is to permit passage of a bolt. The second hole is to secure a retainer to the base plate. The retainer is to hold a nut for the bolt in alignment with the first hole regardless of a presence of the bolt. The spring clip further includes an arm extending from the base plate. The arm includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the arm extends in a first direction transverse to the base plate. The second portion of the arm extends in a second direction transverse to the first portion of the arm so as to overlap the base plate.