Wire Screw Retention Structure for Misalignment Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional screw fall prevention washers fail to securely hold screws in place, especially when the screw is not axially aligned with the tapped hole, leading to thread damage and risk of screw ejection during unit attachment or removal, particularly in devices with limited space and hot screw conditions.
Innovation Solution
A screw fall prevention structure using a wire piece with a bent portion fitted around the screw for axial rotation, fixed to the unit frame, providing elastic support and preventing screw fall through a fixing member, allowing for axial movement and alignment adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional fall preventing washer is used to prevent the screw from falling, then the screw is retained in place through resilient force, but the screw may be damaged or ejected when misaligned or impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid washer material to elastic wire material, and changes the structural parameter from flat washer geometry to three-dimensional loop geometry with adjustable orientation. This allows the wire to deform elastically under impact or misalignment, preventing screw ejection and thread damage while maintaining retention reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The wire piece is designed to be flexible and rotatable, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation and deformation state in response to external forces such as impact or misalignment. This dynamic adaptability enables the wire to absorb shock and prevent screw ejection, resolving the contradiction between reliable retention and damage prevention
2Ease of operation
If the screw is held with fingers during removal, then the screw can be prevented from falling, but this is difficult or impossible in limited space or when the screw is hot
Solution Approach 1:
The wire piece provides self-service by automatically retaining the screw without requiring human intervention. The screw remains attached to the unit frame through the wire's retention mechanism, eliminating the need for finger handling during removal operations. This resolves the contradiction by making screw handling easy (no finger contact needed) while maintaining reliable retention
3Adaptability or versatility
If the screw is fastened with the axis not aligned with the tapped hole, then the unit can be attached, but the screw may abut against the tapped hole wall causing thread damage
Solution Approach 1:
The wire piece allows dynamic adjustment of screw orientation during the attachment process. The screw can be inserted at an angle and the wire will deform to accommodate the misalignment, then guide the screw into proper alignment as it is tightened. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining attachment adaptability while preventing thread damage through dynamic alignment adjustment
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
The wire-based screw fall prevention structure securely holds screws in place, preventing thread damage and ejection, even during misalignment and accidental impacts, while facilitating easy attachment and removal without finger handling risks.
Implementation Method 1
the screw is elastically supported via the wire piece on the fixing member and the elasticity is given by a portion of the wire between a portion fixed by the fixing member and the bent portion
Data Source
AI summary
A screw fall preventing structure prevents a screw from falling out of a unit that is attachable to and removable from a main body of an apparatus. The screw is used for fastening the unit to the main body of the apparatus. The screw fall preventing structure includes: a wire piece having a bent portion fitted around the screw to hold the screw axially rotatably; and a fixing member fixing the wire piece to the unit. When the unit is not fastening by the screw, the screw is elastically supported via the wire piece on the fixing member and the elasticity is given by a portion of the wire between a portion fixed by the fixing member and the bent portion.