US 12,196,245 B1Granted

Androgynous fastener

AssigneeUnited States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA

InventorsOlivia Irene B. Formoso, Christine Elizabeth Gregg, Greenfield Tran Trinh, Kenneth Chun-Wai Cheung, Arno Rogg

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Abstract

An androgynous fastener for autonomous robotic assembly of high performance structures is disclosed herein. The androgynous fastener is lightweight and facilitates assembly through simple actuation with large driver-positioning tolerance requirements. The androgynous fastener provides a high-strength, reversible mechanical connection and may be used in high strength-to-weight ratio structural systems, such as lattice structure systems. The androgynous fastener resists tensile and shear forces upon loading of the lattice structure system thereby ensuring that the struts of the lattice structure system govern the mechanical behavior of the system. The androgynous fastener eliminates building-block orientation requirements and allows assembly in all orthogonal build directions. The androgynous fastener may be captive in building-block structural elements thereby minimizing the logistical complexity of transporting additional fasteners. Integration of a plurality of the androgynous fasteners into a high performance, robotically managed, structural system reduces launch energy requirements, enables higher mission adaptivity and decreases system life-cycle costs.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An androgynous fastener, comprising:

a head comprising a first side portion having a plurality of teeth for engaging a primary tool for maneuvering the androgynous fastener, the head further comprising an opposite second side portion;
a conical frustum structure extending from the opposite second side portion of the head, wherein the conical frustum structure has an angle θ1 and a slanted length, the conical frustum structure having a pair of diametrically opposed exterior surfaces and a central axis that is coincident with a central axis of the androgynous fastener, the conical frustum structure having a first plurality of threads thereon that extend along the slanted length and are adjacent to one of the exterior surfaces, the conical frustum structure having a second plurality of threads therein that extend along the slanted length and are adjacent to the other of the exterior surfaces, the second plurality of threads being diametrically opposed to the first plurality of threads;
and
a pair of diametrically opposed arms extending from the opposite second side portion of the head, each arm being contiguous with the conical frustum structure and adjacent to a corresponding one of the first plurality of threads and the second plurality of threads, each arm having an exterior portion and an interior portion, wherein the interior portions of the arms face each other, each interior portion comprising a plurality of arm threads and being configured so that the plurality of arm threads taper at a thread taper angle θ2.

1 more element

An androgynous fastener, comprising:

a substantially circular head having a first side portion having a plurality of teeth for engaging a primary tool for maneuvering the androgynous fastener, the head further comprising an opposite second side portion, the head further comprising a recessed portion and a wall portion contiguous with and extending about the recessed portion, wherein the teeth are contiguous with the recessed portion and the wall portion and wherein the wall portion is angulated with respect to the recessed portion by a degree of angulation such that the wall portion forms an alignment cone to facilitate alignment of the primary tool with the teeth;
a conical frustum structure extending from the opposite second side portion of the head and having an angle θ1 and a slanted length, the conical frustum structure having a pair of diametrically opposed exterior surfaces and a central axis that is coincident with a central axis of the androgynous fastener, the conical frustum structure having a first plurality of threads thereon which extend along the slanted length and are adjacent to one of the exterior surfaces, the conical frustum structure having a second plurality of threads thereon that are diametrically opposed to the first plurality of threads, the second plurality of threads extending along the slanted length and being adjacent to the other of the exterior surfaces;
a first arm extending from the opposite second side portion of the head, the first arm being contiguous with the conical frustum structure and adjacent to the first plurality of threads, the first arm having an exterior portion and an interior portion, wherein the interior portion comprises a plurality of first arm threads and wherein the interior portion of the first arm is configured so that the plurality of first arm threads taper at a thread taper angle θ2 which is a complementary angle of angle θ1 of the conical frustum structure;
and
a second arm extending from the opposite second side portion of the head and diametrically opposed to the first arm, the second arm being contiguous with the conical frustum structure and adjacent to the second plurality of threads, the second arm having an exterior portion and an interior portion that faces the interior portion of the first arm, wherein the interior portion of the second arm comprises a plurality of second arm threads and wherein the interior portion of the second arm is configured so that the plurality of second arm threads taper at the thread taper angle θ2.

2 more elements

An androgynous fastener, comprising:

a substantially circular head having a first side portion having a plurality of teeth for engaging a primary tool and an opposite second side portion, the head further comprising a recessed portion and a wall portion contiguous with and extending about the recessed portion, wherein the teeth are contiguous with the recessed portion and the wall portion and wherein the wall portion is angulated with respect to the recessed portion by a degree of angulation such that the wall portion forms an alignment cone to facilitate alignment of the primary tool with the teeth;
a conical frustum structure extending from the opposite second side portion of the head and having an angle θ1 and a slanted length, the conical frustum structure having a pair of diametrically opposed exterior surfaces and a central axis that is coincident with a central axis of the androgynous fastener;
wherein the head includes comprises a bore having an opening centrally located in the first side portion, the bore extending along the central axis of the conical frustum structure and being configured for receiving a secondary tool for rotating the androgynous fastener;
wherein the conical frustum structure has a first plurality of threads thereon that extend along the slanted length and are adjacent to one of the exterior surfaces and wherein the conical frustum structure has a second plurality of threads thereon that extend along the slanted length and are adjacent to the other of the exterior surfaces, wherein the second plurality of threads are diametrically opposed to the first plurality of threads;
a first arm extending from the opposite second side portion of the head, the first arm being contiguous with the conical frustum structure and adjacent to the first plurality of threads, the first arm having an exterior portion and an interior portion, wherein the interior portion comprises a plurality of first arm threads and wherein the interior portion of the first arm is configured so that the plurality of first arm threads taper at a thread taper angle θ2;
and
a second arm extending from the opposite second side portion of the head and diametrically opposed to the first arm, the second arm being contiguous with the conical frustum structure and adjacent to the second plurality of threads, the second arm having an exterior portion and an interior portion facing the interior portion of the first arm, wherein the interior portion of the second arm comprises a plurality of second arm threads and wherein the interior portion of the second arm is configured so that the second arm threads taper at the thread taper angle θ2.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/653,835Filed 7 Mar 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 7 Mar 2021
Granted: 14 Jan 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

F16B 37/08
Nuts or like thread-engaging members: quickly-detachable or mountable nuts, e.g. consisting of two or more parts; Nuts movable along the bolt…
F16B 21/04
Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation: with bayonet catch
F16B 37/085
Nuts engaged from the end of the bolt, e.g. axially slidable nuts: with at least one unthreaded portion in both the nut and the bolt
F16B
Devices for fastening or securing constructional elements or machine parts together