阅读说明：本技术 螺栓压缩限制器 (Bolt compression limiter ) 是由 L·格里菲思 S·M·欧文 D·A·乌尔布雷希特 于 2019-05-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种螺栓压缩限制器,其包括贝氏盘和部件,该贝氏盘将负载施加于螺栓组件的凸缘,且该部件将负载施加于定位在凸缘内的限制器,该限制器避开凸缘的顶部表面。施加于凸缘的负载是拧紧螺栓组件的螺栓时施加的总负载的第一占比部分,而施加于限制器的负载是第二占比部分。(A bolt compression limiter comprising a belleville disk which applies a load to a flange of a bolt assembly and a component which applies a load to a limiter positioned within the flange, the limiter avoiding a top surface of the flange. The load applied to the flange is a first fraction of the total load applied when tightening the bolts of the bolt assembly, and the load applied to the restraint is a second fraction.)

1. A bolt compression limiter comprising:

a Belleville disk that applies a load to a flange of a bolt assembly; and

a component that applies a load to a restraint positioned within the flange, the restraint avoiding the top surface of the flange,

wherein the load applied to the flange is a first fraction of a total load applied when tightening bolts of the bolt assembly, and the load applied to the limiter is a second fraction.

2. The bolt compression limiter of claim 1, wherein the component is a second belleville disk.

3. The bolt compression limiter of claim 1, wherein the load applied to the limiter is about 25% to about 75% of the total load applied to the limiter and the flange.

4. The bolt compression limiter of claim 1, wherein the flange is made of a metallic material.

5. The bolt compression limiter of claim 1, wherein the flange is made of a composite material.

6. The bolt compression limiter of claim 1, wherein the limiter is press fit into the flange and held in place by a retaining feature.

7. The bolt compression limiter of claim 1, wherein the component is a plurality of tangs.

8. The bolt compression limiter of claim 7, wherein each tang has a rectangular shape.

9. The bolt compression limiter of claim 7, wherein each tang has a first curved base, a second curved base smaller than the first curved base, and two straight sides.

10. The bolt compression limiter of claim 1, wherein the member is a coil spring.

Background

The invention relates to a bolt compression limiter. More specifically, the present invention relates to a dual spring bolt compression limiter.

In various bolt assemblies, two components are bolted together. For example, one component may be a flange. In some arrangements, a restraint is placed within the flange to provide structural support to the flange. If the top of the restraint clears the top surface of the flange, the bolt head presses the flange onto the top of the restraint to stabilize the bolt assembly by preventing the bolts from loosening.

Thus, while current bolt assemblies achieve their intended purpose, there remains a need for a new and improved assembly that minimizes or prevents damage to the flange.

Disclosure of Invention

According to aspects, a bolt compression limiter includes a belleville disk that applies a load to a flange of a bolt assembly and a component that applies a load to a limiter positioned within the flange that avoids a top surface of the flange. The load applied to the flange is a first fraction of the total load applied when tightening the bolts of the bolt assembly, and the load applied to the restraint is a second fraction.

In an additional aspect of the invention, the component is a second belleville disk.

In another aspect of the invention, the load applied to the restraint is about 25% to about 75% of the total load applied to the restraint and the flange.

In another aspect of the invention, the flange is made of a metallic material.

In another aspect of the invention, the flange is made of a composite material.

In another aspect of the invention, the limiter is press fit into the flange or held in place by a retaining feature.

In another aspect of the invention, the feature is a plurality of tangs.

In another aspect of the invention, each tang has a rectangular shape.

In another aspect of the invention, each tang has a first curved base, a second curved base smaller than the first curved base, and two straight edges.

In another aspect of the invention, the member is a coil spring.

According to aspects, a bolt compression limiter includes a belleville disk that applies a load to a flange of a bolt assembly and a biasing mechanism that applies a load to a limiter positioned within the flange. The load applied to the flange is a first fraction of the total load applied when tightening the bolt, and the load applied to the restraint is a second fraction.

In another aspect of the invention, the biasing mechanism is a second belleville disk.

In another aspect of the invention, the load applied to the restraint is about 25% to about 75% of the total load applied to the restraint and the flange.

In another aspect of the invention, the limiter is press fit into the flange.

In another aspect of the invention, the biasing mechanism is a plurality of tangs.

In another aspect of the invention, each tang has a rectangular shape.

In another aspect of the invention, each tang has a first curved base, a second curved base smaller than the first curved base, and two straight edges.

In another aspect of the invention, the member is a coil spring.

According to aspects, the bolt assembly includes a bolt that applies a total load to the bolt assembly, a belleville disk that applies a first portion of the total load to a flange of the bolt assembly, and a limiter positioned within the flange, a second portion of the total load being applied to the limiter.

In another aspect of the invention, the load applied to the flange is about 25% to about 75% of the total load applied to the assembly by the bolts.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Drawings

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bolt compression limiter according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a side cross-sectional view of the bolt compression limiter shown in FIG. 1 prior to loading the bolt assembly;

FIG. 2B is a side cross-sectional view of the bolt compression limiter shown in FIG. 1 after loading the bolt assembly;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an alternative bolt compression limiter according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a top view of the bolt compression limiter shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a top view of another alternative bolt compression limiter according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another alternative bolt compression limiter according to the principles of the present invention; and

fig. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views of yet another alternative bolt compression limiter according to the principles of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.

Referring to FIG. 1, a bolt compression limiter 10 in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown. The bolt compression limiter 10 includes a first belleville disk 24 and a second belleville disk 26. The second belleville disks 26 are smaller in diameter than the first belleville disks 24 and are positioned below the first belleville disks 24. The first and second belleville disks 24 and 26 define an opening 28.

With further reference to fig. 2A, a bolt assembly is shown having a bolt 12 including a bolt head 16 and a threaded portion 18 passing through an opening 28 of the bolt compression limiter 10. The bolt assembly further includes a limiter 20 positioned within the flange 14. Restrictor 20 is press fit into flange 14 to provide structural support to flange 14. Alternatively, the limiter 20 is loosely held in the flange 14 and held in place by a retaining feature. The limiter 20 is generally made of a metallic material, while the flange 14 is made of a metallic material or a composite material.

The limiter 20 is generally cylindrical in shape and has an opening 22 and is positioned to avoid the top surface of the flange 14, that is, the top of the limiter 20 is positioned below the top surface of the flange 14, as clearly indicated in fig. 2A, for example. The threaded portion 18 of the bolt 12 is passed through the opening 22 and threaded into another component to join the bolt assembly to the component.

Prior to loading the bolts 12 (fig. 2A), the bolts 12 are tightened into another component, with the outer edge of the first belleville disk 24 residing on top of the flange 14 and the outer edge of the second belleville disk 26 residing on top of the limiter 20. The bolt head 16 applies a load to the first belleville plate 24 as the bolt is threaded into another component. Because the second belleville disks 26 are positioned between the first belleville disks 24 and the limiter 20, some of the load applied to the first belleville disks 24 is transferred to the second belleville disks 26, which in turn transfer some of the load to the limiter 20. In another arrangement shown in fig. 2B, an inner portion of the second belleville disks 26 are in contact with the limiter 20 such that the outer edge of the first belleville disks 24 apply a load to the flange 14 and the inner portion of the second belleville disks apply a partial load to the limiter 20. In some arrangements, as the bolt 12 is further tightened into another component, the edge of the second belleville disk 26 (shown in fig. 2A) snaps upward into contact with the first belleville disk 24 while the inner portion of the second belleville disk 26 is in contact with the limiter 20, as shown in fig. 2B. Thus, the outer edge of the first belleville disk 24 applies a load to the flange 14 and the inner portion of the second belleville disk 26 applies a partial load to the limiter 20.

Without the two spring arrangement shown in fig. 2A and 2B, the bolt 12 must compress the flange 14 to exert a load on the limiter 20 to stabilize the bolt assembly, thereby preventing the bolt 12 from loosening from the bolt assembly. However, the two spring arrangement of the first and second belleville disks 24, 26 shown in fig. 2B applies a load to both the flange 14 and the limiter 20 without applying an excessive load to the flange 14 that would otherwise press the flange 14 against the limiter 20. In some arrangements, the load applied to the restraint 20 is greater than the load applied to the flange 14, while in other arrangements, the load applied to the restraint 20 is less than the load applied to the flange 14. For example, in various arrangements, the load applied to the restraint 20 is about 75% of the total load applied to the bolt assembly with the bolt 12, while in other arrangements, the load applied to the restraint 20 is about 25% of the total load applied to the bolt assembly. In this way, damage to the flange 14, particularly to flanges made of composite materials, is minimized or eliminated.

Referring now to fig. 3A and 3B, another bolt compression limiter 100 in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown. It should be noted that bolt compression limiter 100, as well as the other bolt compression limiters described below, are used in conjunction with a bolt assembly that includes the aforementioned bolt 12, flange 14, and limiter 20. The bolt compression limiter 100 includes a set of rectangular tangs 126 instead of the second belleville disks 26 of the bolt compression 10. Each tang 126 has a base 127 attached to the first belleville plate 24. The inner portion of the tang 126 is preloaded in the upward position prior to loading the bolt assembly with the bolt 12. When the bolt 12 is positioned into the opening 28 and tightened into another component, an initial load is applied to the inner portions of the tangs 126 until they snap down onto the restrainer 20. In other arrangements, tang 126 initially slopes downward onto limiter 20 without snapping into a downward position. Thus, in any of these arrangements, the head of the bolt 12 applies a load to the first belleville disk 24, which in turn applies a load to the flange 14. In some arrangements, the load applied to the restraint 20 is greater than the load applied to the flange 14, while in other arrangements, the load applied to the restraint 20 is less than the load applied to the flange 14. For example, in some arrangements, the tang 126 applies about 75% of the total load to the limiter 20. In other arrangements, the tang 126 applies about 25% of the total load to the limiter 20.

The tang need not be rectangular in shape. For example, as shown in fig. 4, the bolt compression limiter 102 includes a set of tangs 136 having a first curved base 137 attached to the first belleville disk 24, a second curved base that is smaller than the first curved base and defines the opening 28 with the first belleville disk 24, and two straight edges connecting the two curved bases. The inner portion of tang 136 is preloaded in the upward position prior to loading the bolt assembly with bolt 12. When the bolt 12 is positioned into the opening 28 and tightened into the bolt assembly, an initial load is applied to the inner portions of the tangs 136 until they snap down onto the restrainer 20. In other arrangements, tang 136 initially slopes downward onto limiter 20 without snapping into a downward position. Thus, in any of these arrangements, the head of the bolt 12 applies a load to the first belleville disk 24, which in turn applies a load to the flange 14. In some arrangements, the load applied to the restraint 20 is greater than the load applied to the flange 14, while in other arrangements, the load applied to the restraint 20 is less than the load applied to the flange 14. For example, in some arrangements, tang 136 applies a load of about 75% of the total load to restraint 20, while in other arrangements, tang 136 applies a load of about 25% to restraint 20.

Turning now to fig. 5, another bolt compression limiter 200 in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown. The bolt compression limiter 200 includes a coil spring 226 located below the first belleville disk 24. When the bolt 12 is positioned into the opening 28 and tightened into the bolt assembly, a load is applied to the first belleville disk 24, which applies a load to the flange 14. Because the coil spring 226 is positioned between the first belleville disc 24 and the limiter 20, a portion of the load applied to the first belleville disc 24 is transferred to the coil spring 226, which in turn applies a load of about 75% of the total load to the limiter 20, while in other arrangements, the coil spring 226 applies a load of about 25% to the limiter 20. Thus, in some arrangements, the load applied to the restraint 20 is greater than the load applied to the flange 14, while in other arrangements, the load applied to the restraint 20 is less than the load applied to the flange 14.

Referring to fig. 6A and 6B, another bolt compression limiter 300 in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown. The bolt compression limiter 300 includes a belleville disk 304 that rests on top of the flange 14 and a limiter 308 positioned within the flange 14. As shown in fig. 6A, the top of the limiter 308 is flush with the top surface of the flange 14. In other arrangements, the top of the limiter 308 protrudes above the top surface of the flange 14, or avoids the top surface of the flange 14. The bolt 12 extends through an opening 328 defined by the belleville plate 304 and the limiter 308 is threaded into the member 302. When the bolts 12 are tightened (fig. 6B), the flange 14 and the member 302 are brought together such that the belleville disk applies a first portion of the total load to the flange 14 while applying a second portion of the total load to the limiter 308. In some arrangements, the load applied to the surface 308 is greater than the load applied to the flange 14, while in other arrangements, the load applied to the surface 308 is less than the load applied to the flange 14. For example, in some arrangements, the load applied to the flange 14 is about 25% of the total load, while in other arrangements, the load applied to the flange 14 is about 75% of the total load. In this way, damage to the flange 14, particularly to flanges made of composite materials, is minimized or eliminated.