Toggle Fastener Beam for Thin-Walled Load Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toggle bolts fail to effectively distribute loads on thin-walled components, leading to stress peaks and potential failure, especially when subjected to high forces or deflection.

Innovation Solution

A toggle bolt design featuring a bar composed of two distinct components: a stiff supporting body and an elastic contact body, with the supporting body extending over at least half the length and the contact body providing surface contact, allowing for better load distribution and stress management through geometric and material alignment, and featuring a pivot connection for improved assembly and load transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a single-material beam is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the load distribution is poor and stress peaks occur on thin-walled components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidload distribution capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The beam is constructed as a composite structure with a supporting body made of rigid material (metal or glass fiber reinforced plastic with ≥15% fiber content) and a contact body made of softer material, allowing optimal load distribution while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the beam have different material properties: the supporting body uses rigid material for structural strength and load distribution, while the contact body uses softer material to prevent stress peaks on the thin-walled component surface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If a very rigid beam is used, then the load transfer within the beam is efficient, but point loads occur on the thin-walled component causing cutting and failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload transfer efficiencyVSAvoidpoint load damage to thin-walled component
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The contact body is made of softer material than the supporting body, creating a local compliance zone that distributes point loads over a larger area of the thin-walled component while the rigid supporting body maintains overall structural strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The composite structure combines rigid supporting body material for efficient load transfer with softer contact body material that acts as a stress-distributing interface, preventing the rigid beam from directly transmitting point loads to the thin-walled component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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

Enhances the load-bearing capacity of toggle bolts by distributing forces over a larger area, reducing the risk of failure in thin-walled components and preventing point loads, while allowing for flexible adaptation to different materials and assembly conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the contact body can be aligned in terms of shape and material in such a way that the effective forces are distributed as well as possible while avoiding stress peaks

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure distribution:

Implementation Method 2

the beam can be adapted in terms of load transfer from a screw screwed into the beam to the respective thin-walled component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLoad transfer:

Implementation Method 3

areas that are to be particularly stiff to distribute the load within the beam can be formed by a first component with a favorable combination of cross section and choice of material, while areas that are used for direct transmission to the thin-walled component are particularly elastic

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRigidity and elasticity:

Data Source

PatentEP3012468B1Toggle fastener
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 FISCHERWERKE ARTUR FISCHER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3012468B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3012468B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3012468B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

The invention relates to a toggle anchor (1) for fastening an object to a thin-walled component (24) with a beam (2) having an opening (5) for receiving a screw, and with a band (3) connected to the beam (2) and serving to hold and position the beam (2) during assembly. To increase the load-bearing capacity of such an anchor, the invention proposes that the beam (2) consist of at least two components.