Spring-Tongue Fitting Assembly for Fast Anti-Twist Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fittings for supporting and connecting components, such as posts and walls, are labor-intensive to install and prone to inaccurate alignment and instability due to twisting issues.
Innovation Solution
A fitting system featuring a first plate with radially protruding spring tongues and a second plate, where a threaded bolt can latch onto the spring tongues like a ratchet, allowing for quick and precise alignment and stable anchoring by tightening a nut against the second plate, preventing twisting and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional fitting with plate and threaded bolt is used to support or connect components, then the fitting can provide structural support and connection, but the installation becomes laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The spring tongues are pre-formed on the first plate with acute angles that enable the threaded bolt to be quickly inserted and locked in a ratchet-like manner, eliminating the need for complex alignment and fastening procedures during installation
Solution Approach 2:
The spring tongues are designed to be elastically deformable, allowing them to flex during insertion of the threaded bolt and then lock firmly in place, providing both ease of installation and secure anchoring without complex operations
2Manufacturing precision
If a traditional fitting is mounted on the component, then the fitting can be attached to the component, but the fitting and component can easily twist against each other resulting in imprecise alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The acute angles of the spring tongues are pre-configured to create a ratchet-like engagement with the threaded bolt, which inherently prevents twisting movements before final tightening, ensuring precise alignment is maintained
Solution Approach 2:
The spring tongues are designed with specific acute angles relative to the plate plane, creating a geometric constraint that resists twisting forces and maintains precise alignment between the fitting and component
3Reliability
If the threaded bolt is passed through the openings to anchor the fitting, then the fitting can be secured to the component, but the threaded bolt can be pulled out or twisted without sufficient locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The spring tongues with acute angles automatically engage the threaded bolt in a ratchet-like manner, creating self-locking action that prevents the bolt from being pulled out or twisted without requiring additional locking components or complex mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is extracted from a separate complex mechanism and integrated directly into the spring tongue geometry itself, where the acute angles of the spring tongues provide the locking action through their inherent shape
4Productivity
If the fitting is designed with spring tongues and ratchet-like engagement, then quick installation and secure locking are achieved, but the fitting structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The spring tongues are integrated directly into the first plate as a unified structure, combining the plate and locking elements into a single component that reduces overall structural complexity while maintaining quick installation capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The spring tongues are designed with optimized acute angles that provide effective ratchet-like engagement with minimal structural complexity, achieving quick installation and secure locking through geometric parameters rather than complex 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
Enables rapid, precise alignment and secure anchoring of components, with reversible assembly and stable force transmission, ensuring accurate and durable connections.
Implementation Method 1
the diameter of which exceeds the clear width of the first opening so that it can engage the spring tongues in a ratchet-like manner
Implementation Method 2
at least two spring tongues distributed over the circumference of the first opening, each of which projects radially into the first opening and protrudes at an acute angle from the plate plane
Implementation Method 3
a nut that can be tightened against the side of the second plate facing away from the first plate
Implementation Method 4
clamp the spring tongues locked onto the threaded bolt against the threaded bolt and, on the other hand, clamp the two plates against each other
Data Source
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AI summary
A fitting (1) for a component (2) comprises a first plate (3) with a first opening (9) and at least two spring tongues (13) distributed around the circumference of the first opening (9), each projecting radially into the first opening (9) and projecting at an acute angle (α) from the plane (ε) of the plate on one side (10) of the first plate (3), leaving a clear opening (W) between their free ends (15); a second plate (4) that can be placed against the other side (11) of the first plate (3) and has a second opening (16) through it, which is aligned with the first opening (9) in the contact position, wherein at least one of the plates (3, 4) can be firmly anchored to the component (2); a threaded bolt (5) that can be passed through the openings (9, 16), the diameter (D) of which exceeds the clear opening (W); and a screwable mounting plate (5) against the first plate. (3) opposite side (18) of the second plate (4) tightenable nut (6).