Joined Two-Diameter Fastener Shaft for Hollow-Base Anchoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening systems for spaced assembly are complex to produce and often require dowels, which can be too short for fastening in substructures with hollow chambers, leading to inefficiencies and quality issues.

Innovation Solution

A fastening element with a shank comprising two sections of different diameters, where the threaded section and another section are formed separately and joined at a material interface, allowing for easy assembly and adaptation to various anchoring bases with or without dowels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional dowels are used for fastening in substructures with hollow chambers, then the fastening system is simple to assemble, but the dowel length is insufficient to achieve reliable fastening in hollow substrates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening reliabilityVSAvoiddowel length
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening element is divided into multiple sections along its longitudinal axis, including a head section, a shaft section with first diameter, and a tip section with second diameter. This segmentation allows each section to serve specific functions: the shaft section provides structural support while the larger-diameter tip section ensures reliable anchoring in hollow substrates by spanning across hollow chambers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the fastening element have different local properties, specifically different diameters. The tip section has a larger diameter than the shaft section, creating local quality variations that enable the tip to effectively bridge hollow chambers and achieve reliable fastening in substrates with hollow spaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If a one-piece fastening element with varying diameter sections is produced, then the structural integrity is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening element is manufactured as separate sections (head section, shaft section, tip section) that are subsequently connected. This segmentation approach maintains structural integrity through proper connection methods while significantly reducing manufacturing complexity compared to producing a single varying-diameter component in one operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Separately manufactured sections are merged together to form the complete fastening element. The connection between sections can be achieved through threading, interference fitting, or other joining methods, combining the advantages of simplified individual section manufacturing with the structural integrity of a unified component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the fastening element has sections with different diameters, then the adaptability to various anchoring bases is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to anchoring basesVSAvoiddiameter precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By manufacturing different diameter sections separately, each section can be produced within its own tolerance range, which is more achievable than maintaining tight tolerances across a continuously varying diameter. The connection interface between sections serves as a reference point that ensures proper alignment and functional precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections have different local diameter specifications optimized for their specific functions. The larger tip section diameter is optimized for anchoring in hollow substrates, while the smaller shaft section diameter is optimized for passing through insulation layers and mounting elements, with each section manufactured to its specific dimensional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If separate sections are joined to form the fastening element, then the production effort is reduced, but the connection strength at the material interface may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidconnection strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening element is produced as separate sections that are subsequently connected, significantly reducing production effort compared to manufacturing a single complex varying-diameter component. The connection between sections is designed to maintain sufficient strength for the intended application through appropriate joining methods such as threading or interference fitting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3441630B1Fastening element with shaft made of connected sections having different diameters to each other
Publication Date: 2021.03.17 ADOLF WURTH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3441630B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3441630B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6
  • EP3441630B1 patent drawingFigure 6A

AI summary

Method for manufacturing a fastening element (100), wherein in the method a drive (106) for driving the fastening element (100) is formed and a shaft (108) is formed, by separately forming a threaded section (110) which is provided at least partially with a first shaft diameter (d) with a thread (122) arranged thereon, separately forming another section (112) which is provided at least partially with a second shaft diameter (D) which is larger than the first shaft diameter (d), wherein one of the threaded section (110) and the other section (112) is provided with a projection (161); and subsequently joining the threaded section (110) to the other section (112) at a material interface (177).