Threaded Fastening Assembly With Self-Orienting Anti-Rotation Lock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional threaded fastening systems using glue or friction conditioners to prevent accidental release are cumbersome and difficult to assemble, especially when multiple parts are involved, and require precise orientation of fastening parts, which can be impractical or impossible in certain situations.

Innovation Solution

A threaded fastening arrangement with a slotted hole and abutment surface on the first fastening part that allows self-positioning, where the abutment surface limits rotation relative to the component, and a guiding surface facilitates correct orientation, enabling easy assembly without individual rotational alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If glue or friction conditioner is applied to the bolt and nut to prevent accidental release, then the connection reliability is improved, but the assembly process becomes more difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the anti-rotation function from the bolt-nut connection itself and relocates it to the interaction between the fastening part and the slotted hole. By providing an abutment surface on the fastening part that engages with the slotted hole surface, the system separates the functions of connection (bolt-nut) and orientation/anti-rotation (fastening part-slotted hole), eliminating the need for glue or friction conditioners.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a slotted hole with abutment surface is used to prevent fastening part rotation, then the connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to orientation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidorientation requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the fastening part to automatically orient itself within the slotted hole through the guiding surface mechanism. The guiding surface, positioned at an angle to the fastening part's longitudinal axis, converts axial insertion force into rotational movement, causing the abutment surface to automatically engage with the slotted hole surface without requiring manual alignment or external positioning tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If manual positioning of multiple fastening parts is required, then the manufacturing precision can be controlled, but the productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables self-positioning of multiple fastening parts through the guiding surface mechanism. When fastening parts are inserted axially into the slotted hole, the guiding surface automatically rotates them to the correct orientation, causing the abutment surfaces to engage with the slotted hole surface. This eliminates the need for manual positioning operations while maintaining precise orientation, thereby significantly improving assembly productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4394189B1Threaded fastening arrangement
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 DAF TRUCKS NV
  • EP4394189B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4394189B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4394189B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The invention relates to a threaded fastening arrangement for mounting a component to a base component, comprising a pair of cooperating fastening parts and a component. The component comprises a slotted hole defined by a slotted hole surface and wherein a first fastening part of the pair of cooperating fastening parts comprises an abutment surface arranged to substantially limit rotation of the first fastening part relative to the component when the abutment surface abuts the slotted hole surface. The slotted hole or the first fastening part comprises a guiding surface contiguous to the abutment surface and shaped to rotate the first fastening part relative to the slotted hole such that the abutment surface abuts the slotted hole surface thereby causing the first fastening part to become rotationally locked with the component.