TOLERANCE COMPENSATION DEVICE

Abstract

A tolerance compensation device includes a base device having a tubular fastening portion that includes an internal, right-hand thread for receiving a screw-like fastening element. A tubular connecting portion, for connecting to a compensation structure, has an outer jacket wall that includes an external thread for connecting to a compensation structure, and a compensation structure having a flange-like setting element. An inner jacket wall of the setting element includes a threading configured to correspond to the external thread, and a socket-like anti-rotation element is disposed in a through-opening of the setting element, and an outer jacket wall of the anti-rotation element is connected to an inner jacket wall of the tubular connecting portion in a non-rotatable manner. The compensation structure is configured for presetting a distance in axial direction between the base device and a contact wall of the compensation structure extending orthogonally to the axial direction.

Claims

1. A tolerance compensation device (1) including a base device (2) having a tubular fastening portion (9), wherein the fastening portion (9) comprises an internal thread (10) for receiving a screw-like fastening element (11), wherein the internal thread (10) is configured as a right-hand thread, and a tubular connecting portion (12) for connecting to a compensation means (3), wherein an outer jacket wall (13) of the connecting portion (12) comprises an external thread (14) for connecting to a compensation means (3), and a compensation means (3) having a flange-like setting element (15), wherein an inner jacket wall (16) of the setting element (15) comprises a threading configured to correspond to the external thread (14) of the connecting portion (12), and wherein a socket-like anti-rotation element (18) is disposed in a through-opening (17) of the setting element (15), and wherein an outer jacket wall (19) of the anti-rotation element (18) is connected to an inner jacket wall (16) of the tubular connecting portion (12) in a non-rotatable manner, wherein the compensation means (3) is configured for presetting a distance in axial direction (20) between the base device (2) and a contact wall of the compensation means (3) extending orthogonally to the axial direction (20).

2. The tolerance compensation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the outer jacket wall (19) of the anti-rotation element (18) and the inner jacket wall (16) of the tubular connecting portion (12) is configured as a friction-locking connection, wherein the two jacket walls contacting one another have a corresponding coefficient of friction relative to one another.

3. The tolerance compensation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the outer jacket wall (19) of the anti-rotation element (18) and the inner jacket wall (16) of the tubular connecting portion (12) is configured as a form-locking connection, wherein the respective jacket walls comprise webs (21) and recesses (22) configured to correspond to one another and extending in axial direction (20), or vice versa.

4. The tolerance compensation device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the webs (21) and recesses (22) are semicircular in cross-section.

5. The tolerance compensation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the socket-like anti-rotation element (18) comprises a through-opening (17) which extends in axial direction (20), wherein an elastic deformation of the socket-like anti-rotation element (18) which leads to loosening of the connection between the outer jacket wall (19) of the anti-rotation element (18) and the inner jacket wall (16) of the tubular connecting portion (12) is blocked by disposing a fastening element (11) in the through-opening (17).

6. The tolerance compensation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a radially inward extending and radially circumferential connecting web (24) is provided in the through-opening (17) of the socket-like anti-rotation element (18) extending in axial direction (20) for engaging in an external thread (14) of a fastening element (11).

7. The tolerance compensation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the base device (2) has a clip-like configuration, wherein a component to be fastened can be disposed in a receiving recess (7) extending approximately orthogonally to the axial direction (20) between the base device (2) and the compensation means (3), or wherein the base device (2) is provided a latching means device for connecting to a component to be fastened.

8. The tolerance compensation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a captive securing means (26) which forms an end stop (26) is provided to limit a rotational movement between the compensation means (3) and the base device (2), wherein a stop element (25) is provided on the base device (2) and a counterstop element (28) is provided on the compensation means (3).

9. The tolerance compensation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the external thread (14) of the outer jacket wall (13) of the connecting portion (12) for connecting to the compensation means (3) is configured as a left-hand thread or as a right-hand thread.

10. The tolerance compensation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensation means (3) is configured as a two-component injection molded part, wherein the setting element (15) is made of a hard component and the socket-like anti-rotation element (18) is made of a soft component, such as TPE.

11. A tolerance compensation device (1), including: a base device (2) and a compensator (3), the base device (2) having a tubular fastening portion (9), wherein the fastening portion (9) comprises an internal thread (10) for receiving a screw-like fastening element (11), wherein the internal thread (10) is configured as a right-hand thread, and a tubular connecting portion (12) for connecting to the compensator (3), wherein an outer jacket wall (13) of the connecting portion (12) comprises an external thread (14) for connecting to the compensator (3), and the compensator (3) having a flange-like setting element (15), wherein an inner jacket wall (16) of the setting element (15) comprises a threading configured to correspond to the external thread (14) of the connecting portion (12), and wherein a socket-like anti-rotation element (18) is disposed in a through-opening (17) of the setting element (15), and wherein an outer jacket wall (19) of the anti-rotation element (18) is connected to an inner jacket wall (16) of the tubular connecting portion (12) in a non-rotatable manner, wherein the compensator (3) is configured for presetting a distance in axial direction (20) between the base device (2) and a contact wall of the compensator (3) extending orthogonally to an axial direction (20).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] The present invention will be described in more detail on the basis of design examples shown in the figures. The figures show:

[0051] FIG. 1 a perspective exploded view of a tolerance compensation device according to the invention according to a first design example including a base device and a compensation means,

[0052] FIG. 2 a lateral sectional view of the tolerance compensation device according to the invention in an initial state,

[0053] FIG. 3 a cross-section along line A-A showing the connection between the base device and the compensation means,

[0054] FIG. 4 a lateral sectional view of the tolerance compensation device with a component to be fastened, a carrier component and a fastening element having a preset distance in a final assembled state,

[0055] FIG. 5 a further lateral sectional view of the tolerance compensation device with the fastening element, and

[0056] FIG. 6 the tolerance compensation device according to the invention according to a second design example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] A tolerance compensation device 1 according to the invention is described in the following on the basis of a first design example (FIGS. 1 to 5).

[0058] The tolerance compensation device 1 includes a base device 2 and a compensation means 3.

[0059] The base device 2 has a clip-like configuration and comprises a compensation leg 4 and a fastening leg 5, which are approximately plate-shaped and are disposed parallel to and spaced apart from one another. A different suitable latching means device for connecting to a component can alternatively be provided.

[0060] The compensation leg 4 and the fastening leg 5 are connected to one another via a connecting leg 6. A receiving recess 7 for receiving a portion of a component 8 to be fastened is configured in the region between the compensation leg 4 and the fastening leg 5.

[0061] A fastening portion 9 is integrally formed on the side of the fastening leg 5 facing away from the receiving recess 7. The fastening portion 9 comprises an internal thread 10 for receiving a screw-like fastening element 11. The internal thread 10 is configured as a metric right-hand thread.

[0062] A tubular connecting portion 12 for connecting to the compensation means 3 is provided on the side of the compensation leg 4 facing away from the receiving recess 7.

[0063] An outer jacket wall 13 of the connecting portion 12 comprises an external thread 14 for connecting to the compensation means 3. The external thread 14 is preferably configured as a left-hand thread. The thread can alternatively also be configured as a right-hand thread.

[0064] In the context of the present invention, it is provided that the threads are configured to extend in opposite directions. It would thus theoretically also be possible for the internal thread 10 to be configured as a left-hand thread and the external thread 14 as a right-hand thread.

[0065] The compensation means 3 comprises a flange-like setting element 15. An inner jacket wall 16 of the setting element 15 comprises an internal thread 29 configured to correspond to the external thread 14 of the connecting portion 12.

[0066] An elastic and/or flexible socket-like anti-rotation element 18 is disposed in a through-opening 17 of the setting element 15.

[0067] An outer jacket wall 19 of the anti-rotation element 18 comprises webs 21 which extend in axial direction 20 in a radially circumferential manner and equidistant from one another.

[0068] The inner jacket wall 16 of the tubular connecting portion 12 comprises recesses 22 which extend in axial direction 20 in a radially circumferential manner and equidistant from one another. The recesses 22 are configured to correspond to the webs 21.

[0069] In the context of the present invention, it can also be provided that recesses 22 are disposed on the anti-rotation element 18 and the webs 21 are correspondingly disposed on the inner jacket wall 16 of the tubular connecting portion 12.

[0070] The socket-like anti-rotation element 18 comprises a fastening element through-opening 23 that extends in axial direction 20. This fastening element through-opening 23 is axially aligned in the compensation leg 4 as well.

[0071] Inserting the fastening element 11 into the fastening element through-opening 23 prevents elastic and/or flexible deformation of the socket-like anti-rotation element 18. Such a deformation of the anti-rotation element 18 in the direction of the through-opening leads to a loosening of the connection between the outer jacket wall 19 of the anti-rotation element 18 and the inner jacket wall 16 of the connecting portion 12.

[0072] A radially inward extending and preferably radially circumferential connecting web 24 is provided in the fastening element through-opening 23 of the socket-like anti-rotation element 18 for engaging in an external thread or a shaft of the fastening element 11.

[0073] In addition, a stop element 25 of a captive securing means 26 is provided on the compensation leg 4 of the base device 2.

[0074] A corresponding counterstop element 28 of the captive securing means 26 is configured on an outer jacket wall 27 of the setting element 15. The captive securing means 26 also creates an end stop.

[0075] The stop element is configured as an arm which extends approximately in axial direction. The counterstop element 28 can be an integrally formed projection on the setting element.

[0076] If the compensation means 3 is rotated relative to the base device 2 via the corresponding threaded connection, or if the two components are rotated relative to one another, the counterstop element 28 will eventually strike the stop element 25 and thus limit the rotational movement between the base device 2 and the compensation means 3. This also ensures that, in the assembled state, the base device 2 and the compensation means 3 do not become detached from one another during transport.

[0077] The tolerance compensation device 1 can preferably be made of a plastic using an injection molding process. The compensation means 3 is preferably configured as a two-component injection molded part, wherein the setting element 15 is made of a hard component and the socket-like anti-rotation element 18 is made of a soft component, such as TPE.

[0078] A compensation device according to the invention according to a second design example is briefly described in the following (FIG. 6).

[0079] The tolerance compensation device 1 according to the second design example corresponds substantially to the tolerance compensation device 1 according to the first design example. Unless otherwise described, the same components are present, which are accordingly provided with the same reference signs.

[0080] In the tolerance compensation device 1 according to the second design example, the connection between the outer jacket wall 19 of the anti-rotation element 18 and the inner jacket wall 16 of the tubular connecting portion 12 is configured as a friction-locking connection. The friction-locking connection is provided by the two jacket walls 13, 16 having a corresponding coefficient of friction relative to one another.

[0081] A locking region between the compensation means and the base device thus prevents a rotational movement of the compensation means, preferably by means of a form fit. A loss of position during transport or due to rattling is not possible. If the compensation means is rotated by hand or using a tool, the anti-rotation element (TPE component) deforms in the center so that it can be rotated further, whereby the anti-rotation element is then locked to the connecting portion again and secured by a form fit. The predefined value for the distance and a later gap dimension can thus be preset. According to the second design example having the friction-locking connection, the jacket surfaces 16 and 19 are embodied as smooth surfaces. There are no elements that snap into one another. And the soft component also does not deform inward when rotated. The invention simply provides for a suitably large contact surface between the soft component and the jacket surface 16 to produce such a large amount of friction that the fastening/compensation screw cannot rotate on its own, but rather has to be subjected to a specific amount of torque manually or via a tool to rotate and thus set the position. The blocking function of the screw would be lost in this variant, but there is instead a completely continuously variable adjustment of the gap dimension.

[0082] Inserting the fastening element 11 into the fastening element through-opening 23 prevents elastic and/or flexible deformation of the socket-like anti-rotation element 18. Alternatively, a pin or another blocking element can be provided for this purpose instead of the screw.

[0083] A trim part or a body component can alternatively also be fastened by clipping a pin into the base part.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0084] 1 Tolerance compensation device

[0085] 2 Base device

[0086] 3 Compensation means

[0087] 4 Compensation leg

[0088] 5 Fastening leg

[0089] 6 Connecting leg

[0090] 7 Receiving recess

[0091] 8 Component

[0092] 9 Fastening portion

[0093] 10 Internal thread

[0094] 11 Fastening element

[0095] 12 Connecting portion

[0096] 13 Outer jacket wall of the connecting portion

[0097] 14 External thread

[0098] 15 Setting element

[0099] 16 Inner jacket wall

[0100] 17 Through-opening

[0101] 18 Anti-rotation element

[0102] 19 Outer jacket wall of the anti-rotation element

[0103] 20 Axial direction

[0104] 21 Web

[0105] 22 Recess

[0106] 23 Fastening element through-opening

[0107] 24 Connecting web

[0108] 25 Stop element

[0109] 26 Captive securing means/end stop

[0110] 27 Outer jacket wall

[0111] 28 Counterstop element