Spring Nut Structure for Axial Retention in Reentrant Lips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring nuts lack sufficient retention strength and ease of installation when attaching threaded objects to structures with reentrant lips, often requiring rotational alignment and struggling with axial loading and sliding adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A spring nut design featuring resilient arms with crumple zones, structure-engagement portions, and angled legs that deform to securely engage reentrant lips, allowing non-rotational insertion and enhanced retention, while stop tabs prevent over-insertion and facilitate sliding adjustments by altering leg angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If existing spring nuts are used to attach threaded objects to structures with reentrant lips, then the attachment can be made, but the retention strength is insufficient and the installation requires rotational alignment which reduces ease of installation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring rotational alignment to engage the nut with the threaded object, the spring nut is designed to engage the reentrant lips first through lateral insertion, then the threaded object is inserted axially through the base. This inverts the traditional engagement sequence, eliminating the need for rotational alignment and improving ease of installation while maintaining retention strength through the resilient arms that engage the reentrant lips.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring nut incorporates resilient arms that can dynamically adjust their position. The arms are configured to flex laterally inward to admit the threaded object and then resiliently spring laterally outward to engage the reentrant lips securely. This dynamic behavior allows the nut to adapt during installation and operation, providing both ease of installation and strong retention.
2Reliability
If existing spring nuts are used, then attachment is possible, but they struggle with axial loading which reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient arms are pre-configured to engage the reentrant lips before the threaded object is fully inserted. This preliminary engagement creates a secure foundation that prevents axial loading issues. The arms are positioned to immediately resist axial forces as soon as the structure is engaged, improving reliability before the complete assembly is finalized.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring nut changes the mechanical parameters of the connection by introducing resilient arms with specific flexibility characteristics. These arms can deform under axial loading and then return to their original position, providing shock absorption and maintaining reliable engagement. The crumple zones in the support portions allow controlled deformation to accommodate axial loads while maintaining overall structural integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing spring nuts are used, then attachment can be made, but sliding adjustments are difficult which reduces adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient arms provide dynamic adjustment capability by allowing the spring nut to be slid along the threaded object after installation. The arms can flex and adapt during the sliding process, making adjustments easy while maintaining secure engagement. This dynamic behavior enables the connection to be repositioned if needed, improving adaptability without compromising ease of operation.
4Strength
If the spring nut design includes crumple zones and resilient arms, then retention strength and ease of installation are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring nut merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure. The resilient arms serve both to engage the reentrant lips for secure retention and to provide the mechanism for easy installation without rotational alignment. The crumple zones in the support portions are integrated into the same structure that provides the resilient engagement, combining load absorption and engagement functions in one element, thereby improving retention strength without proportionally increasing complexity.
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 design provides improved retention strength and ease of installation by securely attaching threaded objects to structures with reentrant lips, resisting axial loading and allowing for sliding adjustments, thus enhancing the attachment process.
Implementation Method 1
a crumple zone that can be configured to deform upon loading of the threaded object in the second direction to decrease a distance between the base and the thread-engagement portion
Implementation Method 2
the first and second arms can be configured to flex laterally inwardly as the first and second arms are urged past the reentrant lips of the structure and then resiliently spring laterally outwardly, so that the structure-engagement portions are disposed to seat against the reentrant lips
Implementation Method 3
The legs can be configured to induce a spring force in the second direction onto the reentrant lips to engage the engagement gussets with the reentrant lips
Data Source
AI summary
A spring nut for attaching a threaded object to a structure with reentrant lips. The spring nut can include a base, a first arm and a second arm extending from the base in a first direction, and legs extending laterally from the base. The arms can include a support portion, a structure-engagement portion, and a thread-engagement portion that can be configured to secure the threaded object against axial loading in a second direction opposite the first direction. Crumple zones in the support portions can deform upon loading of the threaded object in the second direction to cause the structure-engagement portion to be urged into the reentrant lips. Each of the legs can extend at a first angle from the base, toward the structure-engagement portions, to be disposed to contact an exterior surface of the reentrant lips of the structure when the first and second arms are received in the channel.