FASTENING DEVICE

Abstract

A fastening device for axially fastening a rotatably mounted threaded pin to a closing element, in particular a door, having a fastening element, which can be screwed onto the threaded pin, and having a backward-rotation prevention means for securing the screwed-on fastening element, wherein the backward-rotation prevention means has a sealing region for sealing the threaded pin with respect to the closing element. The disclosure also describes a closure actuator and a closing element incorporating the fastening device.

Claims

1. A fastening device for axially fastening a rotatably mounted threaded pin to a closing element, in particular a door, the fastening device comprising: a fastening element that can be screwed onto the threaded pin; and a back-rotation prevention means for securing the screwed-on fastening element; wherein the back-rotation prevention means has a sealing region that seals the threaded pin in relation to the closing element.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing region has a radial sealing portion for sealing the back-rotation prevention means in relation to the threaded pin.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fastening element has a first pressing region which is configured such that, upon being screwed onto the threaded pin, it presses the radial sealing portion radially onto the threaded pin.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the radial sealing portion is curved forward in the axial direction.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein has an axial sealing portion that seals the back-rotation prevention means in relation to the closing element.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the axial sealing portion is arranged on a front end of the back-rotation prevention means.

7. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fastening element has a second pressing region which is configured such that, upon screwing the fastening element onto the threaded pin, it presses the axial sealing portion axially onto the closing element.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back-rotation prevention means is be plugged nonrotatably onto the threaded pin.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back-rotation prevention means is connected to the fastening element.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back-rotation prevention means is latched with the fastening element.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the back-rotation prevention means has latching toothing with a plurality of latching steps.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the fastening element has locking toothing for engaging the latching toothing.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back-rotation prevention means is configured as a multicomponent plastics part wherein a first plastics component forms the sealing region, and a harder second plastics component forms the remaining regions of the back-rotation prevention means.

14. A closure actuator for actuating a closure element, in particular a cam latch, the closure element having a threaded pin and a fastening device for fastening the threaded pin to a closing element, wherein the fastening device comprises a fastening element that can be screwed onto the threaded pin; and a back-rotation prevention means for securing the screwed-on fastening element; wherein the back-rotation prevention means has a sealing region that seals the threaded pin in relation to the closing element.

15. A closing element, in particular a door, having an actuating element, a closure element, and a closure actuator, wherein the closure actuator for actuating the closure element, the closure element having a threaded pin and a fastening device for fastening the threaded pin to a closing element, wherein the fastening device comprises a fastening element that can be screwed onto the threaded pin; and a back-rotation prevention means for securing the screwed-on fastening element; wherein the back-rotation prevention means has a sealing region that seals the threaded pin in relation to the closing element.

Description

[0040] Further details and advantages of the fastening device, of the closure actuator and of the closing element will be explained in more detail below on the basis of the illustrations of an exemplary embodiment, in which:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a closing element having a fastening device for axially fastening a threaded pin to the closing element;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view according to FIG. 1;

[0043] FIG. 3a shows a sectional view of the fastening device according to FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 3b shows a detail view of the sectional view according to FIG. 3a;

[0045] FIGS. 4a, b show perspective views of the back-rotation prevention means;

[0046] FIGS. 5a, b show perspective views of the fastening element;

[0047] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the fastening device.

[0048] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a detail of a closing element 3 configured as a door. The door 3 has a bore 3.6 through which there extends a threaded pin 2 in the form of a square threaded pin from the outer side of the door 3.2 up and into the inner space adjoining the inner side of the door 3.1.

[0049] On the outer side of the door 3.2 there is arranged an actuating element 3.4 which, however, on account of the direction of view in FIG. 1, cannot be seen. It is possible, via the actuating element 3.4, for the square threaded pin 2 to be rotated about its longitudinal axis. At the end of the square threaded pin 2 that protrudes into the inner space, there is arranged a closure element 3.5, which is configured as a cam latch and via which the door 3 can be locked or unlocked. In the locking position, the cam latch 3.5 engages, for example, behind an undercut (not shown) and thus ensures that the door 3 can no longer be opened. In order to open the door 3 again, the cam latch 3.5 must first of all be moved out of the undercut again, for which purpose the square threaded pin 2 is rotated by way of the actuating element 3.4.

[0050] By virtue of the nonround configuration of the threaded pin 2, it is possible for the cam latch 3.5 to be mounted on the threaded pin 2 in a very simple manner. This is because the cam latch 3.5 need, in principle, only be secured against an axial movement, since it is positively rotatably coupled to the square threaded pin 2 by virtue of the cross-sectional shape of the latter. Accordingly, the cam latch 3.5 is able to be plugged onto the square threaded pin 2 in the axial direction, but is not rotatable relative to the square threaded pin 2.

[0051] In the illustration of FIG. 3, there can be seen both the actuating element 3.4 (not shown in FIG. 1) and the cam latch 3.5. The square threaded pin 2 and the fastening device 1 together form a closure actuator 7 for the cam latch 3.5.

[0052] On the outer side of the door 3.2, the square threaded pin 2 is fixed by way of the actuating element 3.4 in such a way that the square threaded pin 2 cannot be pulled into the inner space. However, the actuating element 3.4 does not secure the square threaded pin 2 against an axial movement in the direction of the outer side of the door 3.2, or in the direction of the outer space. For this reason, it is required for the square threaded pin 2 also to be secured on the inner side of the door 3.1 in the axial direction. In the illustration of FIG. 1, the square threaded pin 2 is secured by the fastening device 1 in such a way that it can no longer be moved in the axial direction.

[0053] As can be seen in the exploded representation according to FIG. 2, the fastening device 1 consists substantially of two individual elements, namely a back-rotation prevention means 4 and a fastening element 5. During the mounting operation, the back-rotation prevention means 4 is first of all pushed over the square threaded pin 2 in the axial direction until it lies against the inner side of the door 3.1. In a second step, the fastening element 5 is then screwed onto the square threaded pin 2. Since the back-rotation prevention means 4 and the fastening element 5 are independent of the actuating element 3.4 arranged on the opposite side of the door 3, it is possible, with the fastening device 1, for threaded pins 2, independently of the thickness of the door 3, to be fastened to the latter or to be axially secured on the latter.

[0054] The back-rotation prevention means 4 has a square-shaped cutout 4.2 which is adapted to the size of the square threaded pin 2. Therefore, although the back-rotation prevention means 4 is able to be pushed onto the square threaded pin 2, it is not able to be rotated with respect thereto, but is rotatably coupled thereto. During a movement of the square pin 2, the back-rotation prevention means 4 therefore rotates together with the square threaded pin 2 as a result of the positive connection in the direction of rotation.

[0055] The fastening element 5 has a threaded bore 5.6, via which it can be screwed onto the square threaded pin 2. The fastening element 5 is thus not able to be pushed axially onto the square threaded pin 2, but rather can only be screwed onto the latter in the manner of a nut. If the back-rotation prevention means 4 is plugged onto the square threaded pin 2, and the fastening element 5 has been screwed far enough onto the square threaded pin 2, the back-rotation prevention means 4 latches with the fastening element 5, which will be explained in more detail below on the basis of the further figures. If the two elements 4, 5 are latched with one another, they are no longer movable relative to one another. This is because, since the back-rotation prevention means 4 is not rotatable on the square threaded pin 2, the latter prevents the fastening element 5 from being able to be rotated. Furthermore, the fastening element 5 prevents the back-rotation prevention means 4 from being able to be moved axially, since said fastening element is only rotatable, but not purely axially movable. In this connected position illustrated in FIG. 1 and also in FIG. 6, the square threaded pin 2 can continue, by way of the actuating element 3.4, to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, but can no longer be moved in the axial direction. In this connected position, the back-rotation prevention means 4 is arranged between the closing element 3 and the fastening element 5.

[0056] Before any more detailed discussion is given below of the latching engagement between the back-rotation prevention means 4 and the fastening element 5, it will first of all be described by way of FIGS. 3a and 3b how the fastening device 1 not only axially secures the square threaded pin 2, but also seals the inner space in relation to the outer space or seals the threaded pin 2 in relation to the door 3.

[0057] The back-rotation prevention means 4 has a sealing region 4.3 with a radial sealing region 4.31 and an axial sealing region 4.32. The radial sealing region 4.31 serves for sealing the back-rotation prevention means 4 in relation to the square threaded pin 2, and the radial sealing region 4.32 serves for sealing the back-rotation prevention means 4 in relation to the door 3. In the text that follows, the axial sealing region 4.32 is also referred to as the second sealing region, and the radial sealing region 3.31 is referred to as the first sealing region.

[0058] It is thus possible, by way of the sealing portion 4.3, for the inner space to be reliably sealed in relation to the outer space, with the result that only a very small gas exchange, if any, is possible. It is therefore not absolutely necessary for the actuating element 3.4 arranged on the outer side of the door 3.2 also to have additional sealing.

[0059] If the back-rotation prevention means 4 is situated in the position shown in FIG. 3a and the second sealing portion 4.32 lies against the door 3, the fastening element 5 is screwed onto the square threaded pin 2. It is then possible, via the fastening element 5, for the first sealing portion 4.31 to be pressed against the square threaded pin 2 and for the second sealing portion 4.32 to be pressed against the inner side of the door 3.1 in order to correspondingly seal the inner space. The fastening element 5 has for that purpose a first and a second pressing region 5.3, 5.4 which can best be seen in the enlarged illustration of FIG. 3b.

[0060] The first pressing region 5.3 has a funnel-shaped contour which widens in the direction of the back-rotation prevention means 4. The flank angle of the funnel is approximately 45 degrees. The first sealing portion 4.31 has, by contrast, a contour that narrows in the direction of the fastening element 5. This contour can either, analogously to the funnel shape of the first pressing region 5.3, be funnel-shaped or cone-shaped. However, it is also possible for it to be rounded off, as is the case in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3b. If the fastening element 5 is screwed onto the square threaded pin 2, the first pressing region 5.3 comes into contact with the first sealing portion 4.31. By virtue of the contours of the two regions 4.31, 5.3, the pressing force Fp acting in the axial direction results in the first sealing portion 4.31 being pressed uniformly onto the square threaded pin 2 in the radial direction from all sides. In FIG. 3b, this is illustrated by the radial sealing force Fdr acting in the radial direction. The stronger the fastening element 5 is tightened, the greater the pressing by the first pressing region 5.3 of the first sealing portion 4.31 onto the square threaded pin 2.

[0061] Although FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate a situation in which the first sealing portion 4.31 and the first pressing region 5.3 overlap, what happens in reality, however, is that the first pressing region 5.3 displaces or deforms the softer first sealing portion 4.31, with the result that the latter adopts the contour of the first pressing region 5.3 and is correspondingly pressed onto the square threaded pin 2.

[0062] The fastening element 5 has, furthermore, a second pressing region 5.4 which interacts with the second sealing portion 4.32. The second pressing region 5.4 presses the second sealing portion 4.32 against the door 3 and thus seals the back-rotation prevention means 4 in relation to the door inner side 3.1. Here, the radial sealing force Fdr acts on the second sealing portion 4.32 or on the door 3. However, this force is smaller than the axial sealing force Fda, since considerably more sealing area is available for sealing between the back-rotation prevention means 4 and the door 3, and it is therefore not necessary for the back-rotation prevention means 4 to be pressed firmly onto the door 3.

[0063] In order to increase the sealing action between the second sealing portion 4.32 or that of the back-rotation prevention means 4 and the door 3, the second sealing portion 4.32 is additionally equipped with a sealing lip 4.33, which can engage into a groove 3.3, which is arranged on the door 3 and which is configured in the manner of an annular groove. This sealing lip 4.33 serves to improve the sealing and reduces the required axial sealing force Fda.

[0064] As is evident from the different hatchings in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the back-rotation prevention means 4 consists of two different components: a softer sealing component, of which the sealing region 4.3 consists, and a harder component, of which the remaining regions of the back-rotation prevention means 4 consist. The two components are each plastics, with the result that the back-rotation prevention means 4 can in principle be produced in one step by means of a two-component injection-molding method.

[0065] FIGS. 4a and 4b each illustrate the back-rotation prevention means 4 in a different perspective view. The back-rotation prevention means 4 is configured to be rotationally symmetrical and has a mushroom-shaped configuration. Projecting in the axial direction, the back-rotation prevention means 4 has a bearing bush 4.5, as can be seen in FIG. 3a, which can be plugged into the bore 3.6 of the door 3. This bearing bush 4.5 forms a bearing arrangement for the square threaded pin 2 and ensures that the latter can only rotate in the bore 3.6, but cannot move radially and thus possibly wedge.

[0066] Extending through the back-rotation prevention means 4 is a cutout 4.2 which is adapted to the contour of the square threaded pin 2 and, in the exemplary embodiment, is configured as a square cutout 4.2. The cross section of this cutout 4.2 ensures that the back-rotation prevention means 4 is rotatably coupled to the square threaded pin 2.

[0067] On the side of the back-rotation prevention means 4 that is opposite to the bearing bush 4.5, there is situated a latching toothing 4.4 which extends all the way round the cutout 4.2 in the manner of a latching rim. The latching toothing 4.4 has a plurality of sawtooth-shaped latching teeth which extend in the radial direction away from the cutout 4.2, as can be seen in FIG. 4b.

[0068] Within the rim of the latching teeth there can be seen the first sealing region 4.31, which is curved forward in the axial direction and which extends right around the cutout 4.2. What can also be seen is that the second sealing portion 4.32 extends from one side to the other side of the back-rotation prevention means 4, which can also be seen from the hatchings in FIGS. 3a and 3b. Since the sealing region 4.3 consists of a soft deformable material, what can also be seen in FIG. 4a are two webs which consist of the harder plastics component and which connect the bearing bush 4.5 to the latching toothing 4.4 likewise consisting of the harder plastics component.

[0069] Furthermore, the back-rotation prevention means 4 has a ring region 4.6, which likewise consists of the harder plastics component and which serves as a type of enclosure for the softer sealing region 4.3 and imparts the required stability to the back-rotation prevention means 4.

[0070] FIGS. 5a and 5b show the fastening element 5 in two perspective illustrations. It also substantially has a rotationally symmetrical shape. The first pressing region 5.3 and the second pressing region 5.4 can best be seen in FIG. 5b.

[0071] Furthermore, the fastening element 5 has a threaded bore 5.6 which extends centrally through the fastening element 5. The threaded bore 5.6 is provided with an internal thread which fits with the external thread of the square threaded pin 2, with the result that the fastening element 5 can be screwed onto the square threaded pin 2. Between the pressing regions 5.3, 5.4 that project in the axial direction, there is situated a receiving space 5.7 in which the latching toothing 4.4 is situated when the back-rotation prevention means 4 and the fastening element 5 are in the connected state, as can also be seen from the sectional illustrations of FIGS. 3a and 3b.

[0072] Protruding laterally into the receiving space 4.7 are locking teeth of a locking toothing 5.1 of the fastening element 6. The locking toothing 5.1 is pretensioned in the direction of the threaded bore 5.6, that is to say in the direction of the center of the fastening element 5. However, it is also able to be moved outwardly against the pretensioning force in the radial direction, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0073] The individual locking teeth of the locking toothing 5.1 also have a sawtooth-shaped contour. If the fastening element 5 is screwed onto the square threaded pin 2, the latching toothing 4.4 dips from a certain point into the receiving space 4.7, with the result that the latching toothing 4.4 and the locking toothing 5.5 come into engagement with one another. With a further rotation of the fastening element 5 in the screwing-on direction A, the locking toothing 5.1 is moved against the pretensioning thereof such that it latches successively in the manner of a ratchet into the various latching teeth of the latching toothing 4.4. By virtue of the sawtooth-shaped contour of the teeth, it is then no longer possible for the fastening device 5 to be rotated against the screwing-on direction A, since such a movement is blocked. The back-rotation prevention means 4 and the fastening element 5 are then positively connected to one another, at least in one direction of rotation.

[0074] Optionally, however, it is possible for the fastening element 5 to be rotated still further in the screwing-on direction A, at least until it has reached the end position illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b. The fastening element 5 and also the back-rotation prevention means 4 can then no longer be removed from the square threaded pin 2, and the square threaded pin 2 is secured in the axial direction and the inner space sealed.

[0075] In order to release the fastening element 5 from the back-rotation prevention means 4 again, the connection between the teeth must first of all be undone. The locking toothing 5.1 can for this purpose be moved against the pretensioning thereof, with the result that the latter and the latching toothing 4.4 are disengaged.

[0076] In order to release the connection, the tensioning device 5.2 that pretensions the locking toothing 5.1 has an unlocking pin. The latter projects in the radial direction beyond the contour of the fastening element 5, as can be seen in the illustrations of FIG. 5a and FIG. 6. A movement of the unlocking pin counter to the pretensioning then makes it possible for the locking teeth of the locking toothing 5.1 to be pulled out of the latching teeth of the latching toothing 4.4 and for the positive connection between the back-rotation prevention means 4 and the fastening element 5 to be undone.

[0077] Only then is it possible for the fastening element 5 to be unscrewed from the square threaded pin 2 counter to the screwing-on direction A. As soon as the fastening element 5 has been removed from the square threaded pin 2, it is then also the case that the back-rotation prevention means 4 can be removed from the square threaded pin 2 and, in a subsequent step, the square threaded pin can be pushed in the direction of the outer side of the door 3.2 and thus released from the door 3.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0078] 1 Fastening device [0079] 2 Threaded pin/square threaded pin [0080] 3 Closing element/door [0081] 3.1 Inner side [0082] 3.2 Outer side [0083] 3.3 Groove [0084] 3.4 Actuating element [0085] 3.5 Closure element/cam latch [0086] 3.6 Bore [0087] 4 Back-rotation prevention means [0088] 4.2 Cutout [0089] 4.3 Sealing region [0090] 4.31 Radial sealing portion/first sealing portion [0091] 4.32 Axial sealing portion/second sealing portion [0092] 4.33 Sealing lip [0093] 4.4 Latching toothing [0094] 4.5 Bearing bush [0095] 4.6 Ring region [0096] 5 Fastening element [0097] 5.1 Locking toothing [0098] 5.2 Tensioning device [0099] 5.3 First pressing region [0100] 5.4 Second pressing region [0101] 5.5 Handling region [0102] 5.6 Threaded bore [0103] 5.7 Receiving space [0104] 7 Closure actuator [0105] A Screwing-on direction [0106] Fp Pressing force [0107] Fdr Radial sealing force [0108] Fda Axial sealing force