COMPONENTS

BACKGROUND

Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to making bolted connections between components, and more particularly to protective sleeve nuts.

Description of the Related Art

[0002] In a variety of industries, connection of components via bolted connections are common. From energy production to construction, cold solutions such as bolted connections are typically utilized where hot solutions (such as welding) are impractical or more costly than equally effective cold solutions.

[0003] Where bolted connections are utilized, a bolt is provided between multiple components, with a nut and washer employed to preload the connection, to hold the components in place.

[0004] However, there are a number of problems with bolt/nut/washer solutions, leading to this combination to be known as “Self-Loosening.” Among these issues are embedding (plastic deformation of bolt features and or surfaces during pre- loading), transverse dynamic loading on bolt connection components, corrosion pathways common to the bolt/nut/washer implementation, and ill-fitting components.

[Oϋϋd] Each of these issues individually degrade pre-load over time due to environmental factors such as vibration, weather conditions, constant ambient temperature cycling, etc. Without intervention to remediate these effects may lead to failure of the bolted connection that in turn may result in damage to persons and/or property.

[0006] Additional issues include cost associated with supply chain management and costs of managing each component, as well as additional time and cost associated with employing the bolt/nut/washer combination at scale.

[0007] What is needed is an alternate solution to the bolt/nut/washer to mitigate the above mentioned issues. SUMMARY

[0008] The present disclosure generally relates to a protective sleeve nut. In embodiments, the protective sleeve nut encloses the entirety of the portion of a bolt extending outside of a connection point between two or more mating components. Within the protective sleeve nut is a threaded cylindrical volume for and an opening at one end to receive a bolt. The enclosed end opposite the end with the opening is configured to receive a tool for installing the protective sleeve nut. In some embodiments there may be two or more fiats to accommodate a spanner, while in other embodiments there may be additional flats to allow for installation with a socket tool, while in additional embodiments there may be a patterned impression in the face of the enclosed end to receive a driver head (e.g. a fiat head or philips head driver, a star-shaped driver, hex face driver, etc.). Additionally, in some embodiments the protective sleeve nut may be used without a washer, removing a corrosion pathway, and simplifying implementation of bolted connections by removing this component from designs, supply chain management, and cost considerations.

[0009] In one embodiment the protective sleeve nut comprises a body and an internal cylindrical volume within the body having an internal diameter. The internal cylindrical volume has an inner surface comprising threads substantially along its entire surface and is configured to engage with a threaded portion of a bolt. The protective sleeve nut further comprises an opening at a first end of the cylindrical volume and an enclosed second end including at least two fiat bearing surfaces configured to engage with a tool.

[0010] In another embodiment, a system to connect a first body with a second body is disclosed, comprising a first hole in the first body and a second hold in the second body. The system further comprises a bolt, the bolt being provided in the first and second hole. The system further comprises a protective sleeve nut comprising a body, an internal cylindrical volume having a diameter and being threaded substantially along its internal surface, an opening positioned at a first end of the internal cylindrical volume, and an enclosed second end that includes at least two flat bearing surfaces configured to engage with a tool. The bold is threaded into the internal cylindrical volume via the open first end. BR!EF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, as the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

[0012] Figure 1A depicts a cross sectional view of a protective sleeve nut according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0013] Figure 1B depicts a plan view of a protective sleeve nut according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] Figure 2 depicts an embodiment of an implementation of the protective sleeve nut.

[001 ] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other embodiments without further recitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] In the following, reference is made to embodiments of the disclosure. However, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited to specific described embodiments. Instead, any combination of the following features and elements, whether related to different embodiments or not, is contemplated to implement and practice the disclosure. Furthermore, although embodiments of the disclosure may achieve advantages over other possible solutions and/or over the prior art, whether or not a particular advantage is achieved by a given embodiment is not limiting of the disclosure. Thus, the following aspects, features, embodiments and advantages are merely illustrative and are not considered elements or limitations of the appended claims except where explicitly recited in a claim(s). Likewise, reference to “the disclosure” shall not be construed as a generalization of any inventive subject matter disclosed herein and shall not be considered to be an element or limitation of the appended claims except where explicitly recited in a ciaim(s).

[0017] In the present disclosure, embodiments of a protective sleeve nut are disclosed. In embodiments, the protective sleeve nut encloses the entirety of the portion of a bolt extending outside of a connection point between two or more mating components. Within the protective sleeve nut is a threaded cylindrical volume and an opening at one end to receive a bolt. The enclosed end opposite the end with the opening is configured to receive a tool for installing the protective sleeve nut. In some embodiments there may be two or more flats to accommodate a spanner or other wrench, while in other embodiments there may be additional flats to allow for installation with a socket tool, while in additional embodiments there may be a patterned impression in the face of the enclosed end to receive a driver head (e.g. a flat head or philips head driver, a star-shaped driver, hex face driver, etc.). Additionally, in some embodiments the protective sleeve nut may be used without a washer, removing a corrosion pathway, and simplifying implementation of bolted connections by removing this component from designs, supply chain management, and cost considerations.

[0018] By replacing the nut and washer from a bolted implementation the embedding issue may be mitigated. In prior approaches, a nut engages only a portion of exposed bolt threads, focusing pre-loading forces on those threads of the nut engaged with bolt threads, resulting in bolt joint deformation, reducing effective preload forces, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the bolt. This results in increased maintenance requirements and cost. This effect may be mitigated in embodiments of the present disclosure, as the protective sleeve nut encloses the exposed portion of a bolt by engaging all available bolt threads by threads of the protective sleeve nut. Engaging more threads of the bolt mitigates joint deformation due to embedding, increases the effect of pre-loading, thereby improving bolt performance.

[0019] Embodiments of the present disclosure may additionally mitigate the corrosion pathway of prior approaches. In the conventional bolt/nut/washer approach, there are a number of crevices and areas in which liquid, dirt, and other contaminants may pool and leak. For example, in the seam formed between a nut and bolt, a nut and washer, a washer and bolt, and where split washers are employed, within the washer-split. In these prior approaches, over time the presence of contaminants in these crevices and voids cause corrosion in the bolt, nut, and/or washer, degrading performance of the bolted connection. With prior approaches, mitigation of this degradation requires constant maintenance and related cost. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the protective sleeve nut encloses substantially the entire exposed bolt surface, with only a single potential seam positioned such that contaminants may not build up. Only the external surface of the protective sleeve nut is exposed to the environment, with few or no structural features that will hold contaminants.

[0020] Figures 1A-1 B depict a cross sectional view of a protective sleeve nut 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In embodiments, the protective sleeve nut 100 includes a body 110, an internal cylindrical volume 120, an open first end 130, and enclosed second end 140.

[0021] The body 110 is generally cylindrical in shape, but other shapes may be utilized as design considerations require. The body 110 is sized with a height 113 and an outer diameter 117 such that the body 110 substantially encloses a bolt upon which the body 110 is deployed. In some embodiments, the body 110 may be composed of steel, while in other embodiments other materials such as aluminum, iron, alloys, or other metals may be used, in addition to plastics, nylons, phenolics, or other synthetic materials, or combinations of materials suitable for a particular application.

[0022] The internal cylindrical volume 120 is disposed within the body 110 of the protective sleeve nut 100. The internal cylindrical volume 120 has an inner diameter 125 threaded to engage a bolt substantially along the entire surface of the internal cylindrical volume 120, and is of a length sufficient to substantially encompass an exposed portion of a bolt. In one example, the internal cylindrical volume 120 extends a depth into the body 110 that is equal to a transition or boundary where the flats 145 begin. Stated otherwise, the threaded portion of the internal cylindrical volume 120 does not extend into the closed second end 140. Such a configuration maximizes the amount of material surrounding the threads, avoiding material of reduced thickness surrounding the threads (due to the presence of the flats 145. This configuration allows greater amounts of torque to be applied to the wrench fiats. It is contemplated, however, that the internal cylindrical volume 120 may extend into the closed second end 140 in some examples, such as when torque specifications permit and/or when the sidewalls of the body 110 are made to have an increased thickness

[0023] The open first end 130 includes an opening configured to receive a bolt, and is aligned with the internal volume 120.

[0024] The enclosed second end 140 of the body 110 closes off the portion of the internal cylindrical volume 120 opposite the open first end 130, to substantially enclose a bolt provided within the internal cylindrical volume 120. In some embodiments, the enclosed second end 140 includes on an exterior surface for one or more flats 145 to enable engagement with a tool such as a spanner. In other embodiments, additional flats may be provided, for example, to accommodate other tools such as socket wrenches. In some embodiments, a top surface 147 of the enclosed second end may be configured to accept driver too! heads such as fiat head, Philips head, star-shaped head, or other configurations of driver tool heads, or other tools capable of manipulating the protective sleeve nut 100 In a bolted application.

[0025] In one example, the one or more flats 145 extend a partial length of the body 110. In another example, the one or more fiats 145 extend the entire length of the body 110. The one or flats 145 are located at the enclosed second end 140, opposite the opening 130. Because the threads of the internal cylindrical volume 120 extend substantially the entire length of the internal volume 120, wrench torque can be applied to a distal end (e.g., the enclosed second end 140). Locating the one or more flats 145 at the enclosed second end 140 reduces potential interferences when applying a wrench to the flats, thus facilitating user engagement. Moreover, locating the one or more flats 145 at the enclosed second end 140 allows for use of standard-well-depth sockets, rather than requiring custom deep well sockets when using oversized-length bolts.

[0026] In exemplary embodiments, such as to accommodate an M24 bolt, the inner diameter 125 may be chosen to be 24 mm while the outer diameter 117 may be 40 mm. In embodiments to accommodate an M20 bolt, the inner diameter 125 may be chosen to be 20 mm, while the outer diameter 117 may be 33 mm. In embodiments to accommodate an M16 bolt, the inner diameter 125 may be chosen to be 16 mm, while the outer diameter 117 may be 28 mm. Additional bolts may be accommodated, while maintaining a ratio of the measurement of the inner diameter 125 to the measurement of the outer diameter 117 to be around 0.6. One of skill in the art will appreciate that other suitable ratios for a particular application may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 2 depicts an embodiment of an implementation 200 of the protective sleeve nut 100. In embodiments, the implementation 200 includes a protective sleeve nut 100, a first body 210, a second body 220, and a bolt 230.

[0028] In embodiments, the first body 210 has a first hole 215 there through, and the second body 220 has a second hole 225 formed there through. In some embodiments, at least one of the first hole 215 and 225 is threaded.

[0029] The bolt 230 is disposed in the first hole 215 and the second hole 225, with an exposed portion 235 of the bolt 230 substantially enclosed within the protective sleeve nut 100. In embodiments, the threads of the bolt 230 are engaged in the threads of the internal cylindrical volume 120 (of Figure 1), while in other embodiments threads of bolt 230 may be engaged in threads of the first body 210, second body 220, and the protective sleeve nut 100.

[0030] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.