Thermally Compensated Fastener Assembly for Stable Clamping Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermally stabilized fastener systems fail to accurately control and tailor the coefficient of thermal expansion, leading to issues with clamping load consistency across temperature changes, resulting in loosening or over-tightening of joints, which causes fatigue and equipment failure in various industrial and aerospace applications.
Innovation Solution
The development of tailored thermal expansion coefficient materials and thermally compensating members that complement the thermal expansion characteristics of conventional fasteners, allowing for the creation of fasteners with controlled and customized thermal expansion properties, maintaining constant mechanical load across temperature variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fasteners are used, then the fastening system is simple and easy to manufacture, but the clamping load varies with temperature changes causing joint loosening or over-tightening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material structures in the fastener system, combining materials with different thermal expansion coefficients to create a fastener that maintains dimensional stability across temperature variations. This composite approach allows the fastener to compensate for thermal expansion/contraction of the joined components, thereby maintaining consistent clamping load without requiring complex active control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes parameter changes by selecting fastener materials and designs with specific thermal expansion coefficients that match or compensate for the thermal characteristics of the joined components. By carefully controlling the thermal expansion parameter of the fastener system, the patent achieves temperature-compensated clamping load consistency across a range of operating temperatures.
2Manufacturing precision
If thermally compensating members are added to control thermal expansion, then the coefficient of thermal expansion can be tailored, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating thermal compensation features at specific locations within the fastener system rather than requiring complete redesign of all components. The thermally compensating members are strategically positioned where they most effectively counteract thermal expansion effects, allowing for precise thermal expansion control while minimizing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermally compensating members act as intermediaries between the fastener and the joined components, absorbing and compensating for thermal expansion differences. These intermediary elements mediate the thermal interactions in the fastening system, allowing the connected components to maintain their relative positions and clamping loads despite temperature variations.
3Reliability
If tailored thermal expansion materials are used, then clamping force remains constant across temperature changes, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by selecting and combining materials with specific thermal expansion coefficients to achieve the desired thermal compensation effect. By changing the material parameters (thermal expansion coefficients, elastic moduli) of the fastener components, the invention maintains constant clamping force across temperature changes while using commercially available materials that can be manufactured with standard processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite material structures that combine materials with different thermal properties to achieve tailored thermal expansion characteristics. These composite fastener designs use combinations of metals, alloys, or composite materials that can be manufactured using conventional techniques, balancing the need for thermal stability with manufacturing ease.
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
This solution effectively stabilizes fastener systems by maintaining constant clamping force and mechanical load across temperature changes, reducing the risk of joint failure and enhancing the reliability and efficiency of industrial and aerospace components.
Implementation Method 1
tailored thermal expansion coefficient materials and thermally compensating members that complement the thermal expansion characteristics of conventional fasteners
Data Source
AI summary
A thermally stabilized fastener system and method is disclosed. The disclosed system/method integrates a fastener (FAS) incorporating a faster retention head (FRH), fastener retention body (FRB), and fastener retention tip (FRT) to couple a mechanical member stack (MMS) in a thermally stabilized fashion using a fastener retention receiver (FRR). The MMS includes a temperature compensating member (TCM), a first retention member (FRM), and an optional second retention member (SRM). The TCM is constructed using a tailored thermal expansion coefficient (TTC) that permits the TCM to compensate for the thermal expansion characteristics of the FAS, FRM, and SRM such that the force applied by the FRH and FRR portions of the FAS to the MMS is tailored to a specific temperature force profile (TFP) over changes in MMS/FAS temperature. The TCM may be selected with a TTC to achieve a uniform TFP over changes in MMS/FAS temperature.