Tethered Fastener and Washer Assembly for Vehicle Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly and disassembly of large structures on machines like off-highway trucks and excavators are challenging due to the difficulty in managing and reassembling multiple fastening points, especially in unclean environments, where hardware can be lost or misplaced, and may pose safety risks during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A fastening system comprising a fastener with a shank having both threaded and unthreaded portions, a washer piece retained between the head and threaded portions, and a flexible tether with a retention member to secure the structure to the machine, preventing hardware loss and facilitating efficient assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fastening hardware (bolts, nuts, washers) is used to attach structures to machines, then the structure can be securely fastened, but the hardware can be lost or misplaced during assembly and disassembly operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fastening components (fastener, washer, and tether) into an integrated assembly where the tether is attached to the fastener head and washer, creating a single unit that prevents hardware loss while maintaining secure fastening capability
Solution Approach 2:
The tether acts as an intermediary element that connects the fastener assembly to the structure, serving as a physical barrier that prevents the fastener and washer from being lost during disassembly while still allowing the fastening function to be performed
2Reliability
If multiple fastening points are used on large structures, then the structure can be securely attached to the machine, but gathering and managing the hardware during assembly becomes time-consuming and challenging
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the tether with the fastener and washer components, the patent reduces the number of separate items that need to be managed during assembly. The tethered assembly can be handled as a single unit, significantly reducing the time and effort required to gather and manage hardware across multiple fastening points
Solution Approach 2:
The tether is pre-attached to the fastener and washer during manufacturing, creating a pre-assembled unit that eliminates the need to manually gather and connect multiple small hardware components during the assembly process, thereby improving assembly productivity
3Ease of operation
If hardware is left loose during assembly operations, then assemblers can access and use the fasteners, but assembly mechanisms with moving parts may be damaged or assemblers may be endangered
Solution Approach 1:
The tether serves as a physical intermediary that restricts the movement of the fastener and washer components, allowing assemblers to access and handle the hardware while preventing it from being thrown into moving parts of assembly mechanisms or creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 2:
The tether pre-establishes a constraint on the fastener assembly that prevents harmful actions before they can occur, by limiting the range of motion and preventing the hardware from being accidentally dropped into dangerous areas during the assembly process
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener for fastening a structure to a work machine. The fastener has a threaded end for engaging with and fastening the structure to the work machine and a head to which a force can be applied to rotate the fastener and fasten it to the work machine. The fastener includes a washer that is retained on a non-threaded section of the fastener between the threaded end and the fastener head.