Fastener with clutch mechanism and fastener operating method
A system and method for a fastener. The fastener, in one example, includes a clutch mechanism configured to transition to a disengaged configuration responsive to a clamping force of the fastener exceeding a threshold value. The clutch mechanism includes a drive nut that is configured to mate with a head of a screw in an engaged configuration and a spring configured to interact with the screw head and where in the disengaged configuration of the clutch mechanism, rotation of the drive nut in a first direction does not induce rotation of the screw and rotation of the drive nut in a second direction induces rotation of the screw in an unclamping direction.
1 . A fastener, comprising:
a clutch mechanism configured to transition to a disengaged configuration responsive to a clamping force of the fastener exceeding a threshold value;
wherein the clutch mechanism comprises:
a drive nut that is configured to mate with a head of a screw in an engaged configuration;
a spring configured to interact with the screw head; and
a clamping assembly that includes:
a movable clamping jaw; and
a fixed clamping jaw coupled to a housing;
wherein rotation of the screw causes axially translation of the movable clamping jaw; and
wherein in the disengaged configuration of the clutch mechanism, rotation of the drive nut in a first direction does not induce rotation of the screw and rotation of the drive nut in a second direction induces rotation of the screw in an unclamping direction.
2 . The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the drive nut includes multiple ramps with angled surface that are configured to slip off of the head of the screw when the head compresses the spring in the clutch mechanism by a threshold amount.
3 . The fastener of claim 2 , wherein the spring includes a helical spring, a Belleville spring, a wave spring, and/or a polymer spring.
4 . The fastener of claim 2 , wherein the angled surface has an angle between 20° and 60° in relation to a horizontal axis.
5 . The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the clutch mechanism includes a retaining ring that is mated with a housing and configured to axially delimit the drive nut.
6 . The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the fixed clamping jaw is an upper clamping jaw and the movable clamping jaw is a lower clamping jaw.
7 . The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the movable clamping jaw is an upper clamping jaw and the fixed clamping jaw is a lower clamping jaw.
8 . The fastener of claim 1 , wherein:
the housing includes a threaded plug and a cap that mate with a body; and
the threaded plug includes a polygonal bore that mates with a polygonal section of the movable clamping jaw.
9 . The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the screw includes a free-spin section that is configured to disengage from a threaded section of the movable clamping jaw in response to rotation of the drive nut in the second direction beyond a threshold amount.
10 . The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the drive nut includes a flange mated in a recess of a housing.
11 . The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the drive nut includes a polygonal bore and the screw head has a polygonal shape.