Ball pin

Abstract

A coupling bolt or pin, in particular a ball pin, with a coupling head, such as a ball head, and a thread shaft. The thread shaft comprises a thread in a longitudinal portion of the thread shaft, which extends parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the thread shaft. Within the longitudinal portion of the thread a thread inhibition is provided by means of which a frictional connection between the thread and a counter thread engaging therein and being present at a radial inner wall of a thread opening is increasable. A disc-shaped support structure is provided between the coupling pin and the thread, a radial extension of which is adaptable to a diameter of the thread opening so that the coupling pin is supportable against a lateral load with respect to the axis of the coupling pin within the thread opening.

Claims

1. A coupling pin with a coupling head and a thread shaft, in which: a. the thread shaft comprises a thread in a longitudinal portion of the thread shaft which extends parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the thread shaft, b. a thread inhibition is provided within the longitudinal portion of the thread, wherein a frictional connection between the thread of the thread shaft and a counter thread engaging therein and being present at a radially inner wall of a thread opening is increasable by means of the thread inhibition, and c. a disc-shaped radial support structure is provided between the coupling head and the longitudinal portion of the thread, wherein a radial extension of the support structure is adaptable to a diameter of the thread opening so that the coupling pin is supportable against a lateral load with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the coupling pin within the thread opening, wherein d. the disc-shaped radial support structure is formed star-shaped or flower-shaped such that radially projecting sections and radially recessed sections are present which are arranged in a circumferentially evenly distributed manner and a radial end portion of the disc-shaped support structure is regularly circumferentially interrupted or comprises in the circumferential direction tapered portions regularly spaced apart from each other, which allows a compressing deformation of the radial end portion.

2. The coupling pin according to claim 1, in which the thread inhibition is comprised of a web-like structure or rib extending over several thread turns, which at least partially fills thread valleys and/or increases thread crests.

3. The coupling pin according to claim 2, in which the thread inhibiting web-like structure is deformable and/or removable during a screwing into a counter thread.

4. The coupling pin according to claim 3, in which the thread inhibition is at least one rib extending in the longitudinal direction of the thread shaft which is arranged centrally or eccentrically in the direction facing away from the head with respect to the axial extension of the thread on the thread of the thread shaft.

5. The coupling pin according to claim 4, which comprises a plurality of ribs for thread inhibition arranged distributed in the circumferential direction of the thread shaft.

6. The coupling pin according to claim 2, in which the thread inhibition is at least one rib extending in the longitudinal direction of the thread shaft which is arranged centrally or eccentrically in the direction facing away from the head with respect to the axial extension of the thread on the thread of the thread shaft.

7. The coupling pin according to claim 6, which comprises a plurality of ribs for thread inhibition arranged distributed in the circumferential direction of the thread shaft.

8. The coupling pin according to claim 1, in which the thread inhibition is comprised of an adhesive layer, which is applied to the thread in one or more subportions of the thread shaft.

9. The coupling pin according to claim 1, in which the coupling head comprises a drive means on a side facing away from the shaft.

10. A screw connection of a coupling pin according to claim 1 and a component with a thread opening, which at a radial inner wall comprises a counter thread to the thread of the thread shaft.

11. The screw connection according to claim 10, the thread opening of which in the component comprises a screw-in portion extending in the axial direction of the thread opening and a hollow cylindrical support portion, wherein the support portion is arranged adjacent to or neighboring to an entry into the thread opening and the inner wall of the support portion forms a support wall for the disc-shaped support structure.

12. The screw connection according to claim 11, in which the support portion comprises a larger inner diameter than the screw-in portion.

13. The screw connection according to claim 10, comprising a plurality of deformed ribs for thread inhibition as well as the disc-shaped support structure which is at least partially compressed in a radial edge portion.

14. The screw connection according to claim 10, in which the thread opening is comprised of a blind rivet nut fastened in the component or a thread insert.

15. An installation method of a coupling pin according to claim 1 in a component opening with a counter thread matching the thread of the coupling pin, comprising the following steps: a. screwing the thread shaft with the thread into the counter thread of the component opening, b. thereby deforming and/or removing at least one rib for thread inhibition as well as c. turning the coupling pin into the component opening so far that the disc-shaped support structure is supported with a radial outer portion at an inner side of the component opening.

16. The installation method according to claim 15, with the further step: deforming or cutting a radial outer portion of the disc-shaped support structure at or into the inner wall of the component opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The embodiments of the present disclosure are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. Showing:

(2) FIG. 1 a perspective side view of the ball pin with thread shaft,

(3) FIG. 2 a side view of the ball pin according to FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 a perspective view of the ball pin according to FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 4 an axial top view of the ball pin from the side of the ball shaft according to the embodiment of FIG. 1,

(6) FIG. 5 a schematic representation of the screw connection between ball pin and thread opening, wherein the thread opening is shown in a side sectional view,

(7) FIG. 6 a flow chart of an embodiment of a manufacturing method of the ball pin; and

(8) FIG. 7 a flow chart of an embodiment of an installation method of the ball pin in the thread opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) In FIGS. 1 to 4, the ball pin 1 is shown in various views as an example of a coupling pin in an embodiment. Accordingly, FIG. 5 shows a screw connection 70 made of the ball pin 1, which is screwed into a thread opening 80 of a component B. The thread opening 80 is a bore or a thread insert fastened in or at the component B (not shown). In FIG. 5, the thread bore 80 may be formed by a blind rivet nut 90 fastened in an opening of the component B. For this purpose the blind rivet nut 90 is retained in a known manner between a circumferential end collar 92 and a crimped portion 94 at the component B.

(10) The thread opening 80 of the blind rivet nut 90 is an example of a thread opening that would be provided by a thread insert or a bore directly provided in the component B. The thread opening 80 is comprised of at least two hollow cylindrical portions: a thread portion 82 and a support portion 86.

(11) The thread portion 82 provides a counter thread 84, which interacts with a thread 30 of the ball pin 1. The counter thread 84 in the thread portion 82 may be a pre-formed thread or a thread cut or grooved by the thread 30 of the ball pin 1. The counter thread 84 engages with its thread web 84, which extends circumferentially over several turns, in the valleys of the thread 30 of the ball pin 1.

(12) Contrary to a screw-in direction R above the thread portion 82, the support portion 86 is provided. This may be located adjacent or neighboring to an entry opening 88 of the thread opening 80. The support portion 86 provides a supporting radial inner wall 87, which may be formed continuously circumferential or all-round. The supporting inner wall 87 interacts with a support structure 50 of the ball pin 1, which is explained in detail below.

(13) The ball pin 1 comprises a ball head 10 and an adjoining thread shaft 20 with a thread 30. Adjacent to the thread 30, the support structure 50 is provided, which is formed disc-shaped with a radial extension with regard to the central longitudinal axis L of the ball pin 1. The support structure 50 may be arranged adjacent to or neighboring to the axial end of the thread 30 facing the head.

(14) It may also be preferred to position the support structure 50 still within the axial end portion of the thread 30 facing the head. An essential factor in the axial position of the support structure 50 on the thread shaft 20 is the alignment or arrangement of the support structure 50 within the hollow cylindrical support portion 86 in the screw connection 70, as illustrated in FIG. 5. This is because the support structure 50 dissipates lateral mechanical loads on the thread shaft 20 via a support at the inner wall 87 into the component B. The ball head 10 absorbs mechanical stress conditions in any orientation in space for example via a connection to another component. Since the ball pin 1 may offer no further support, the loading mechanical stress conditions are transferred to the thread shaft 20 and are dissipated from there into component B. In order to mechanically relieve the thread shaft 20 in this respect, the support structure 50 is provided.

(15) According to a further embodiment of the ball pin 1, a support collar 60 is provided. This would also dissipate mechanical load conditions into the component B if it were to be supported in the screw connection 70 according to FIG. 5 at the component B or at the edge of the entry opening 88, such as at the end collar 92.

(16) The thread 30 on the thread shaft 20 is designed as a standard thread, such as a metric thread, or as a special thread, depending on the case of application. The thread 30 engages in the thread 84 of the thread portion 82 or cuts or furrows or grooves it initially on its own in the thread portion 82.

(17) Various practical applications require a defined axial positioning of the ball pin 1 within the thread opening 80. For this purpose, the ball pin 1 maintains the set axial position even in the case of a mechanical load. Therefore, at least one thread inhibition 40 may be provided at the thread shaft 20 in the axial portion of the thread 30.

(18) According to a further design, the at least one thread inhibition 40 is comprised of at least one web-like structure or rib which overlays several thread webs of the thread 30. This mechanical thread inhibition 40 is deformable and/or removable when the thread shaft 20 is screwed into the thread opening 80, in particular when the thread 30 is screwed into the counter thread 84 of the thread portion 82. Due to the deformability and/or to the removability of the mechanical thread inhibition 40, the thread inhibition 40 remains at least partially intact in a gap between the thread 30 and the counter thread 84 and increases the frictional connection between the thread shaft 20 and the thread opening 80. This additional frictional connection may secure the axial position of the thread shaft 20 in the thread opening 80.

(19) It has been proven to be advantageous if the web-like structure or rib 40 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the thread shaft 20. It has also been found to be a preferred advantage in at least some applications if a plurality of web-like structures or ribs 40 are arranged evenly distributed and spaced apart from one another along the circumferential face of the thread shaft 20. Accordingly, the strength of the thread inhibition 40 can be adjusted by the geometric number, arrangement and shape of the web-like structures or ribs 40.

(20) It may also be preferred if the web-like structures or ribs 40 are arranged inclined on the thread 30 with respect to the longitudinal axis L. There, in the same way, they can fill valleys between adjacent turns or enlarge the radial extension of the thread webs.

(21) According to a further embodiment, the thread inhibition 40 is comprised of punctiform elevations which are arranged distributed over the thread shaft 20. Since these elevations (not shown) are also deformable and/or removable, they realize the above described thread inhibition 40 in an analogue manner.

(22) A further embodiment of the thread inhibition 40 provides for an adhesive layer (not shown) to be applied each in subportions of the thread 30. As soon as the screw connection 70 has been established, the at least one adhesive layer reinforces the frictional connection between the ball pin 1 and the component B or even creates a firmly bonded or material-bonded connection.

(23) To prevent the thread inhibition effect from increasing further and further as the thread 30 is screwed into the thread portion 82, the mechanical thread inhibition 40 is limited to an axial subportion of the thread shaft 20. The thread inhibition 40 may be arranged eccentrically with regard to the axial extension of the thread 30 in the direction of the end of the ball pin 1 facing away from the ball head.

(24) The ball pin 1 also includes the disc-shaped radial support structure 50. The latter is located between the ball head 10 and the thread 30 on the thread shaft 20. The support structure 50 may interact with the inner wall 87 of the support portion 86 of the thread opening 80 in order to dissipate off-axis mechanical loads of the ball pin 1 via the component B.

(25) Also a radial extension of the support structure 50 may be larger than an inner radius of the support portion 86, which forms the counter contour to the support structure 50. This geometric coordination forms the basis for a compensation of tolerances between the support structure 50 and the support portion 86. Because when the ball pin 1 is screwed into the thread opening 80, the support structure 50 may be at least partially sheared off and/or deformed and/or digs into the inner wall 87 of the support portion 86. This deformation process of the support structure 50 when establishing the screw connection 70 may ensure a reliable and play-free support or a support which is free of clearance between the support structure 50 and the support portion 86.

(26) In order to support or facilitate the adaptation of the radial extension of the support structure 50 to the support portion 86, the support structure 50 has a circular or star-shaped or flower-shaped form. Accordingly, radially projecting sections 52 which are arranged in a circumferentially evenly distributed manner and radially recessed sections 54 are present (see FIG. 1, 2, 4).

(27) According to a further design, the radial end portion of the support structure 50 is regularly circumferentially interrupted or has tapered portions which are regularly spaced from each other. The radially outward taper is shown in FIG. 1.

(28) The various alternatives of the above shaping, which may be used alone or in combination, ensure a compressing, radially inwardly directed deformation of the support structure 50 and/or facilitate a molding of subportions of the support structure 50 into the inner wall 87 of the support portion 86.

(29) In order to screw the ball pin 1 into the thread opening 80, a drive means 12, such as a Torx drive, may be provided at the ball head 10.

(30) The ball pin 1 is manufactured according to the present invention by means of an injection molding method. For this purpose, an injection mold is first created in a first step. This injection mold has geometrical shape features which are formed complementary to the characteristic constructive features of the ball pin 1. In a subsequent step, the injection mold is filled with liquid plastic. A thermoplastic or other plastic with or without fiber reinforcement may be used for this purpose. The ball pin 1 is manufactured according to common parameters and methods of the injection molding technology. Finally, the injection-molded ball pin is removed from the injection mold after cooling off.

(31) In addition, the present disclosure includes an installation method of the ball pin 1 as it has been described above according to different embodiments. As part of the installation method, the ball pin is screwed into the thread opening 80 of the component B in such a manner that the thread 30 of the thread shaft 20 produces a reliable thread connection with the counter thread 84 of the thread portion 82. This is done in the first step of the installation method, in which the thread shaft is screwed into the component opening 80. During the screwing in, the deforming and/or removing of the at least one thread inhibition 40, which may be formed as at least one rib or as a web-like structure, takes place in a parallel installation step. With the help of the deformation and/or removal of the thread inhibition 40, the frictional connection between the interengaging threads 30, 84 is specifically increased in order to ensure and stabilize an axial position of the screwed-in ball pin 1 in the thread opening 80. Correspondingly, in the final step, the screwing-in of the ball pin into the component opening takes place so far that the disc-shaped support structure 50 is supported by a radial outer portion on an inner side of the component opening 80. In this way, in addition to the defined axial position of the ball pin 1 within the thread opening 80, an additional lateral support of the ball pin 1 is provided via the support structure 50.

(32) For a suitable adaptation to the tolerances between the radial extension of the support structure 50 and the inner diameter of the support portion 86, at least one radial edge portion of the disc-shaped support structure or of a differently shaped support structure is deformed and/or formed or cut into the inner wall 87 of the support portion 86. In addition to compensating for tolerances in the radial dimensioning of the support structure 50 and the support portion 86, the last-mentioned installation step ensures a direct abutment of the support structure 50 at the inner wall 87 of the support portion 86. In this way, it is ensured that the lateral mechanical loads on the ball pin 1, which are introduced via the ball head 10 into the thread shaft 20, can be dissipated to the surrounding component B. In this way, the stability of the ball pin 1 and its lifespan are supported.