Patent Publication Number: US-2015068015-A1

Title: Embedded nut and method of assembling the embedded nut to an amorphous alloy sheet

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to embedded nuts, and more particularly, to an embedded nut assembled in an amorphous alloy sheet, and a method of assembling the embedded nut to an amorphous alloy sheet. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Amorphous alloys have certain physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, such as high strength, high hardness, high wear resistance, high corrosion resistance, high plasticity, high resistance, good superconductivity, and low magnetic loss; thus, they have been applied in a wide range of fields, such as mechanics, medical equipment, electrical applications, and for military purposes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet taken along a line II-II as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embedded nut. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the embedded nut as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet assembled with embedded nuts. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet assembled with embedded nuts as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one”. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a zirconium-based (hereinafter referred to as Zr-based) amorphous alloy sheet  10 . The Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10  can include at least one assembly hole  110 . In the illustrated embodiment, there are two assembly holes  110 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates that the assembly hole  110  can be a circular hole through the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10 . The assembly hole  110  includes a stepped surface  111 , which divides the assembly hole  110  into a top assembly hole  112  upon the stepped surface  111  and a bottom assembly hole  113  below the stepped surface  111 . A diameter of the bottom assembly hole  113  is smaller than a diameter of the top assembly hole  112 , thus the assembly hole  110  is a stepped hole. In another embodiment, the number and the structure of the assembly hole  110  can be designed according to requirements. 
     The Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10  is made by pressure embedding process, and can include about 50 to 70 percent by weight zirconium (Zr), 10 to 15 percent by weight copper (Cu), 5 to 10 percent by weight nickel (Ni), 5 to 20 percent by weight niobium (Nb), and 5 to 10 percent by weight aluminum (Al). The Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10  can have other elements. 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  illustrate the embedded nut  20 . The embedded nut  20  can be hollow and post-shaped and includes a top portion  210 , a middle portion  220 , and a bottom portion  230 . The top portion  210  and the bottom portion  230  are positioned at two ends of the middle portion  220 . The embedded nut  20  can further include a round screw hole  240  in the center thereof. 
     The middle portion  220  of the embedded nut  20  can be hollow and post-shaped, and an outer surface of the middle portion  220  is a cylindrical surface  221  which is smooth. The cylindrical surface  221  is matched with the assembly hole  110 , and a diameter of the cylindrical surface  221  can be substantially equal to the diameter of the bottom assembly hole  113 . 
     The top portion  210  includes a shoulder  211  connected with the middle portion  220 . The shoulder  211  and the middle portion  220  can form a stepped structure. The edge of the shoulder  211  defines a toothed portion comprising a plurality of teeth  212 . The plurality of teeth  212  have a thickness substantially equal to the shoulder  211 . As the embedded nut  20  includes a plurality of teeth  212 , the embedded nut  20  which has a lower hardness is easy to be embedded into the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10  which has a higher hardness, and the connection strength of the embedded nut  20  and the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10  is improved. The top portion  210  further includes a plurality of concave spaces  213  between two neighboring teeth  212 . When pressing the embedded nut  20  into the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10 , the edge of the teeth  212  can be cut, thus metal scraps from the teeth  212  can be generated. The metal scraps can be received in and removed from the concave spaces  213 . A diameter of the top portion  210  is slightly larger than the diameter of the top assembly hole  110 , so that the embedded nuts  20  can be assembled in the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10  by an interference fit. 
     The bottom portion  230  includes a first side surface  231  and a second side surface  232  connected with the first side surface  231 . The first side surface  231  and the second side surface  232  are annular, and connected with the middle portion  220 . The first side surface  231  defines a circular hole in the center. The bottom portion  230  further includes a chamfered portion  233  which is annular between the first side surface  231  and the second side surface  232 . The chamfered portion  233  prevents any shifting of the embedded nut  20  when being initially pressed into the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10 . 
     The embedded nut  20  further includes a threaded portion  250  arranged on the inner surface of the top portion  210 , the middle portion  220 , and the bottom portion  230 . 
     In at least one embodiment, the embedded nut  20  is made of titanium alloy to have high hardness. The embedded nut  20  can include Al, manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), hydrogen (H), oxygen ( 02 ), titanium (Ti), and other impurities. The embedded nut  20  can also be made of an alloy including Al, vanadium (V), Fe, C, N, H, O2, Ti, and impurities. For example, the embedded nut  20  includes 1.0 to 2.5 percent by weight of Al, 0.7 to 2.0 percent by weight of Mn, equal to or less than 0.30 percent by weight of Fe, equal to or less than 0.08 percent by weight of C, equal to or less than 0.05 percent by weight of N, equal to or less than 0.012 percent by weight of H, equal to or less than 0.15 percent by weight of 02, equal to or less than 0.4 percent by weight of impurities, and the remainder of Ti. 
       FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  illustrate the embedded nut  20  assembled in the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10 . At least one assembly hole  110  is initially defined in the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10 . When pressing the embedded nut  20  into place, the bottom portion  230  is aligned with the assembly hole  110 , and the embedded nut  20  is assembled in the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10  by an interference fit. 
     The precision of the assembly can be increased and the embedded nut  20  does not shift in the assembly hole  110  because the bottom portion  230  of the embedded nut includes the chamfering  233 . After the embedded nut  20  is assembled into the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10 , the shoulder  211  is squeezed into the assembly hole  110  until substantially coplanar with the surface of the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10 . The teeth  212  are inserted into the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10 , thus the connection strength is increased. Only a few portions of the teeth may be cut, and the metal scraps can be received in the spaces  213  between the teeth and removed those spaces. After the embedded nut is assembled, the Zr-based amorphous alloy sheet  10  presents a neat and clean appearance, and the fitment-size of the alloy sheet  10  will not be affected. 
     The embedded nut  20  has the advantages of high assembly accuracy and high tensile strength. In testing, the compressive strength shows about 200 to 400 Mpa, and the torsional capabilities are about 3.0˜6.0 kgfcm. The embedded nut  20  satisfies the requirements of a welded assembly in the electronics industry. 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the embodiments or sacrificing all of its material advantages. The embodiments described herein are illustrative only and should not be construed to limit the following claims.