Spring-Loaded Nut Plate for Single-End Access Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
In aerospace and other applications, existing nut plates with spring-loaded mechanisms face challenges in accommodating fasteners of varying lengths, leading to improper assembly due to limited access and the risk of misusing fasteners during reassembly.
Innovation Solution
A nut plate assembly featuring a plate member, a shell member with a bias member, and a floating nut that moves between positions, utilizing retention tabs and anti-rotation pins for secure fastening, allowing for single-end access and easy installation/removal of fasteners, and incorporating a bias member to provide pre-load force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional nut plate with a fixed nut is used, then the assembly structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate fasteners of varying lengths and requires access to both sides for proper assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the nut movable within the shell member rather than fixed. The bias member (spring) enables the nut to dynamically adjust its position along the fastener, allowing single-end access assembly while accommodating varying fastener lengths. The nut can move between a first position (when no fastener is present) and a second position (when a fastener is installed), resolving the contradiction between operational ease and structural complexity.
2Reliability
If fasteners are removed and placed in a separate location, then they can be organized, but there is a risk of misplacement errors when reassembling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by making the nut plate assembly self-identifying through the bias member's indication feature. The bias member visually indicates whether a fastener is properly installed, eliminating the need for external tracking or verification systems. This reduces assembly errors while maintaining ease of manufacture, as the indication mechanism is integrated into the nut plate structure itself rather than requiring separate tracking systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the nut is fixed in position, then the structure is simpler, but it cannot accommodate movement between fastened components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the nut to move between different positions within the shell member. The bias member allows the nut to accommodate component movement while maintaining fastening integrity. The retention mechanism is simplified by using the spring's natural elasticity rather than complex mechanical retention structures, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the nesting principle by placing the nut within the shell member, which contains and guides its movement. The bias member is nested within the same space, creating a compact assembly that accommodates nut movement without requiring additional external structures. This nested arrangement provides component movement accommodation while minimizing overall structural complexity.
4Manufacturing precision
If a bias member is added to provide pre-load force, then assembly accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the bias member's indication feature to automatically signal assembly status. The visual indication eliminates the need for separate verification tools or procedures, improving assembly accuracy without requiring complex external monitoring systems. The integrated indication mechanism adds minimal complexity while significantly enhancing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by using the bias member to provide variable pre-load force that adapts to different fastening conditions. The spring's elastic properties allow it to automatically adjust the pre-load based on the specific assembly requirements, improving manufacturing precision across different applications without requiring multiple specialized components.
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 solution enables secure, efficient assembly and disassembly of panels with varying fastener lengths, preventing damage to internal threads and ensuring proper alignment without requiring access to both sides of the nut plate, thus improving assembly accuracy and reducing misplacement errors.
Implementation Method 1
a bias member disposed within the shell member. The bias member is configured to bias the nut toward one of the first position and the second position
Data Source
AI summary
A nut plate assembly includes a plate member, a shell member, a nut, and a bias member. The plate member includes a retention tab. The shell member includes a first end coupled to the plate member by the retention tab and a second end opposite the first end. The nut is disposed within the shell member and is moveable between a first position proximate the shell member first end and a second position proximate the shell member second end. In addition, the bias member is disposed within the shell member and is configured to bias the nut toward one of the first position and the second position.