View source for ReChain positive locking mechanism


An energetic barrier against loosening of a connection. <br>
There are many ways to do this both in basic principle and concrete geometry of design. <br>

– Via cliplocks (may be energetically irreversible snapping or reversible silent opereatable) <br>
– Via van der Waals force at nanoscale possibly simplifying designs (may be combined with commensurately interdigitating surfaces) <br>

= Concrete designs =

== Indexed nut locking mechanisms ==

=== How it works ===

The lock-ring gets pushed up by a spring onto the nut. (Red TPU rubber in pic.) <br>
Thereby reliably preventing the nut from undesired turning and loosening. <br>

The lock-ring is prevented from rotating by rotationally locking to the <br>
(in pic obstructed) spacer below the nut which in turn locks to flat of the screw. <br>

Alternatively the spacer could lock to the the base via a [[RC/HirthJoint]] interface. <br>
This seems even better because it does not depend on a flat screw. <br>
(small diamondoid nanoscale screws can't really have their sides cut off) <br>

[[File:IndexedNutLockingMechanism.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Indexed nut locking mechanism.]] 
{{wikitodo| add image of individual parts – add arrows / numbers / text to the pic}}

{{todo|Things to improve from this first prototype: …}} <br>
– clearance need to be be given not only radially with a cycloid profile <br> 
– spring needs improvements: more clearance, more sturdy, make it twist instead of bulging <br> 
– earlier nuts where to weak but this one is too beefy – fatter screw or thinner nut? <br>
– change the spacer to lock to base via a [[Hirth joint]] interface rather than locking to the screw <br>

=== Usage ===

'''The idea is to avoid using the screw directly for tensioning''' to: <br>
– avoid application of high torques to the structure <br>
– avoid the necessity to either transmit high forces or complex big gearing mechanisms at an end-effector <br>

{{wikitodo| add scan of paper sketch here …} 

'''This hall work as follows:''' <br>
– a second nut B in a tool/end-effector gets screwed onto the screw (pushing back the lock-ring) <br>
– a nonlinear high leverage double hinge mechanism pushes screw B and lock-ring (or better base) apart <br>
– … <br>

For details see: [[ReChain force hydrant]] 

= Related =

* [[ReChain]]
* [[ReChain tensioner]]
* [[ReChain force hydrant]]
* [[ReChain core chain]]

= External links =

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_locking_device