Wing Nut Structure for Fatigue-Resistant Impact Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wing nuts used in high-stress pumping operations, such as hydraulic fracking and concrete pouring, have a limited service life due to deformation from repeated loading and are prone to cracks and fatigue failures under cyclical pressure loading.
Innovation Solution
A wing nut design featuring a cylindrical body with varying wall thickness, three radially extending wings with curved outer faces and offset lug centerlines, a rib around the sidewall, and a thread shape with rounded root portions and a thread release undercut, which reduces stress concentrations and improves resilience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional wing nuts are used in high-stress pumping operations, then they can be installed and removed with impact loading, but they suffer from deformation, cracks, and fatigue failures due to repeated loading
Solution Approach 1:
The wing nut employs varying wall thickness along its length, with the thickest section positioned at the threaded portion to maximize strength where stress concentrations occur during installation and operation, while thinner sections reduce overall weight and material usage
Solution Approach 2:
The wing nut incorporates rounded root portions at the threads and a rib extending around the sidewall to preemptively reduce stress concentrations before they can cause deformation or fatigue failures during repeated loading cycles
2Strength
If increased wall thickness is applied throughout the wing nut, then strength and resistance to deformation improve, but weight and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wing nut features non-uniform wall thickness distribution, with maximum thickness concentrated at the threaded portion where mechanical stresses are highest during installation and service, while other sections have reduced thickness to minimize weight and material consumption
3Ease of manufacture
If sharp root portions are used in the thread shape, then manufacturing is simpler, but stress concentrations increase leading to cracks and fatigue failures
Solution Approach 1:
The thread design transitions from traditional sharp root portions to rounded root portions, changing the geometric parameters to eliminate stress concentration points that would otherwise lead to crack initiation and fatigue failures under cyclical pressure loading
Data Source
AI summary
A wing nut includes a body having a sidewall that surrounds a central opening. The central opening is threaded along a threaded portion having a threaded length extending from the back end towards the front end of the body. At least two wings are integrated with the sidewall and extend away from the sidewall in a radial direction relative to the centerline. A rib extend peripherally around the sidewall in a radially outward direction such that a wall thickness of the sidewall increases to a maximum value moving along the centerline away from the rear end, and decreases along the centerline moving towards the front end from the maximum value.