Rotatable Spring Ring Fastener for Low-Force Stud Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening elements in the automobile industry face challenges in being easy to manufacture, requiring low mounting forces while maintaining high holding forces, and providing shock absorption to enhance stability and service life.
Innovation Solution
A fastening element with a housing featuring a recess and a rotatable spring ring seated in a radial slit, made of plastic materials like polyamide or polyoxymethylene, which includes spring fingers oriented at specific angles to secure the stud with low mounting forces and high holding forces, and designed to absorb shocks and prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a conventional fastening element with a recess is used to secure a stud, then the fastening element can retain the stud, but it requires high mounting forces and cannot absorb shocks
Solution Approach 1:
The spring ring is made rotatable within the housing, transforming the static fastening structure into a dynamic one. This rotational freedom allows the spring ring to adapt to shock loads and vibrations, enabling shock absorption while maintaining secure stud retention with reduced mounting forces
Solution Approach 2:
The spring ring introduces elastic deformation capability to the fastening system. By changing the physical state from rigid to elastically flexible, the system can absorb shocks through controlled deformation while maintaining the necessary holding force on the stud
2Ease of manufacture
If the housing is made of plastic material to simplify manufacturing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but strength and durability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening element combines plastic housing material with a metal spring ring, creating a composite structure. The plastic housing provides ease of manufacture and vibration damping, while the metal spring ring contributes strength and elastic properties, together achieving both manufacturing simplicity and sufficient structural strength
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the fastening element use different materials optimized for their specific functions. The housing uses plastic for ease of manufacture and vibration absorption, while the spring ring uses metal for strength and elasticity, allowing each component to excel at its primary function
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the spring ring is made rotatable in the slit to allow rotational motion, then service life is increased by decreasing damage risks, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable spring ring adds only one degree of freedom to the system, creating a simple dynamic mechanism that significantly reduces damage risks from shocks and vibrations. This minimal increase in complexity yields substantial improvements in service life and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The spring ring's rotational capability changes the system from statically constrained to dynamically adaptive. This single parameter change (rotational freedom) enables the fastening element to accommodate misalignments and shock loads, extending service life without requiring complex multi-component mechanisms
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 provides a durable, lightweight fastening element that effectively secures components with low assembly forces, prevents unintended disassembly, and enhances vibration and noise damping, ensuring stability and extended service life, especially in vehicle applications.
Implementation Method 1
a spring ring seated in the slit, wherein the spring ring partially protrudes into the recess
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
System with a fastening element (10) and fastening element (10) comprising: a. a housing (12) having a top side and a bottom side, said housing (12) comprising a recess extending along a longitudinal axis and adapted to receive the shaft of a stud, and a slit extending radially from the recess, b. a spring ring seated in the slit, wherein the spring ring partially protrudes into the recess, wherein the sprig ring is seated rotatable in the slit, so that a rotational motion of the spring ring within the housing (12) is allowed, and the spring ring comprises a body and spring fingers wherein the body is an annular body defining a hole, and wherein the spring fingers protrude into the hole.