Abstract
A shaped component includes a main metal sheet and at least one torsion tab. The torsion tab has a torsion region and a tab head. An extension of the torsion region perpendicular to a center longitudinal axis of the torsion tab is less than an extension of the tab head perpendicular to the center longitudinal axis of the torsion tab such that the tab head provides a clamping region for clamping a sheet metal component such as a cable guide component to the main metal sheet. Also, the shaped component can include at least two torsions tabs such that at least two sheet metal components can be clamped to the shaped component.
Claims
1. A shaped component for connecting two components, the shaped component comprising: a main metal sheet with at least two torsion tabs, wherein each of the at least two torsion tabs comprise a torsion region and a tab head, wherein an extension of the torsion region perpendicular to a center longitudinal axis of the torsion tab is smaller than an extension of the tab head perpendicular to the center longitudinal axis of the torsion tab, and wherein the tab head comprises a clamping region and wherein the torsion tabs extend from the main metal sheet and protrude from a main metal sheet plane.
2. The shaped component according to claim 1, wherein the at least two torsion tabs are connected to the main metal sheet as a single piece.
3. The shaped component according to claim 1, wherein the main metal sheet further comprises at least two screw holes and a distance of a midpoint of each of the at least two screw holes to a corresponding torsion tab is equal to about one-half of a hex-head wrench width, wherein the hex-head wrench width correlates with a nominal diameter of each of the at least two screw holes.
4. The shaped component according to claim 1 further comprising at least one positioner extending from the main metal sheet.
5. The shaped component according to claim 1 further comprising at least one material attenuation between the at least two torsion tabs.
6. The shaped component according to claim 1, wherein the shaped component is configured as at least one of a cable guide, a cable channel, a cable trough and a cable trough covering.
7. The shaped component according to claim 1, wherein the main metal sheet comprises at least one tool opening for twisting of one torsion tab of a second shaped component.
8. The shaped component according to claim 1, wherein the at least two torsion tabs are connected to the main metal sheet as a single piece and the main metal sheet further comprises at least two screw holes with a distance of a midpoint of each of the at least two screw holes to a corresponding torsion tab equal to about one-half of a hex-head wrench width, wherein the hex-head wrench width correlates with a nominal diameter of each of the at least two screw holes.
9. The shaped component according to claim 8 further comprising at least one positioner extending from the main metal sheet.
10. The shaped component according to claim 9 further comprising at least one material attenuation between the at least two torsion tabs.
11. A method for connecting of at least two cable guide components, the method comprising: guiding a first torsion tab of a shaped component through a first recess of a first cable guide, wherein the shaped component comprises a main metal sheet with the first torsion tab and a second torsion tab; twisting the first torsion tab by about 10 to about 170 about a center longitudinal axis of the first torsion tab, wherein a first tab head of the first torsion tab cooperates with the first cable guide component such that the first tab head tensions the first cable guide with the main metal sheet of the shaped component; guiding a second torsion tab of the shaped component through a second recess of a second cable guide; and twisting the second torsion tab by about 10 to about 170 about a center longitudinal axis of the second torsion tab, wherein a second tab head of the second torsion tab cooperates with the second cable guide component such that the second tab head tensions the second cable guide with the main metal sheet of the shaped component.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the shaped component is bent along a material attenuation before connecting the first cable guide component to the second cable guide component.
13. The method according to claim 11, wherein a hex-head screw or a nut associated with a screw hole of the shaped component is held in a twist-preventing manner by one of the first and second torsion tabs before it is twisted.
14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first and second torsion tabs are connected to the main metal sheet as a single piece and the main metal sheet further comprises at least two screw holes with a distance of a midpoint of each of the at least two screw holes to a corresponding torsion tab equal to about one-half of a hex-head wrench width, wherein the hex-head wrench width correlates with a nominal diameter of each of the at least two screw holes.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first cable guide is positioned relative to the shaped component with a first positioner and the second cable guide is positioned relative to the shaped component with a second positioner.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first cable guide and the second cable guide connected to each other end-to-end.
17. A system of a sheet metal structure comprising: a first cable guide component, a second cable guide component and at least one shaped component configured as a connecting element between the first cable guide component and the second cable guide component, the at least one shaped component comprising a main metal sheet, at least one first torsion tab extending from the main metal sheet and through at least one first recess of the first cable guide component, and at least one second torsion tab extending from the main metal sheet and through at least one second recess of the second cable guide component, wherein the at least one first torsion tab is twisted by about 10 to about 170 about a first torsion tab center longitudinal axis such that a tab head of the at least one first torsion tab engages the first cable guide component and the main metal sheet of the shaped component is tensioned with the first cable guide component, and the at least one second torsion tab is twisted by about 10 to about 170 about a second torsion tab center longitudinal axis such that a tab head of the at least one second torsion tab engages he second cable guide component and the main metal sheet of the shaped component is tensioned with the second cable guide component.
18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the first cable guide is positioned relative to the shaped component with a first positioner and the second cable guide is positioned relative to the shaped component with a second positioner.
19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the first positioner and the second positioner extend from the main metal sheet.
20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one shaped component further comprises a material attenuation and the at least one shaped component is bent along the material attenuation.
Description
DRAWINGS
[0096] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0097] FIG. 1 is a shaped component in isometric view;
[0098] FIG. 2 is the shaped component from FIG. 1 in a top view;
[0099] FIG. 3 is the shaped component from FIG. 2 in cross section III-III;
[0100] FIG. 4 is the shaped component from FIG. 2 in cross sectional view IV-IV;
[0101] FIG. 5 is a detailed view V from FIG. 4;
[0102] FIG. 6 is a system comprising the shaped component and also two sheet metal components;
[0103] FIG. 7 is a detailed view VII from FIG. 1;
[0104] FIG. 8 is a top view of the shaped component in which the torsion tabs and the positioning means are located in the main metal sheet plane;
[0105] FIG. 9 is an alternative form of a shaped component;
[0106] FIG. 10 is a cable duct;
[0107] FIG. 11 is a shaped component used as a tool; and
[0108] FIG. 12 is a detailed view from FIG. 11.
[0109] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0110] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
[0111] FIG. 1 shows a shaped component 10 in an isometric view. The shaped component 10 is designed as a connecting element, also designated as a connector. The shaped component 10 features a main metal sheet 12 and the main metal sheet 12 comprises a surface 13 that is arranged in a main metal sheet plane 39. There are four torsion tabs 14 extending from the main metal sheet 12 in the depicted form shown in FIG. 1. Positioners 16 and screw holes 20 are each associated with the torsion tabs 14. The torsion tabs 14 extend essentially perpendicular to the main metal sheet plane 39 from the surface 13 of the main metal sheet 12. In some variations of the present disclosure, each of the torsion tabs 14 extend in the same direction from the surface 13 of the main metal sheet 12. The positioners 16 are likewise elevated and/or extend from the main metal sheet plane 39. Both the torsion tabs 14 and the positioners 16 are detached from, for example punched out from the material of the main metal sheet 12. By bending the torsion tabs 14 out from the main metal sheet plane 39, openings 18 are produced which are allocated to the torsion tabs 14. Furthermore, FIG. 1 indicates that the main metal sheet 12 features a number of rectangular material attenuations 22 which are arranged in or along a straight line. The material attenuations 22 each separate two mirror-symmetrical pairs of torsion tabs 14 with associated positioners 16 and screw holes 20 along a deformation line 23 (see FIG. 2) formed by the material attenuations 22. In some variations the material attenuations 22 are structured such that a slight bending along the deformation line 23 which is evident in FIG. 2, and is created by the material attenuations 22, is easily possible by using a hand tool (not illustrated) or by hand.
[0112] FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the shaped component 10 from FIG. 1. In this view it is evident that the main metal sheet 12 features four torsion tabs 14 and each torsion tab 14 is associated with a screw hole 20 and one positioner 16 and one opening 18.
[0113] The torsion tabs 14 are arranged upon the main metal sheet 12 such that every two torsion tabs are arranged mirror-symmetrical to each other, wherein in particular the deformation line 23 formed by the material attenuation 22 forms the axis of symmetry. For example, from FIG. 2 it is evident that the openings 18 from which the torsion tabs 14 are bent out, are each arranged as pointing in the same direction relative to the torsion tabs 14. Furthermore, the positioners 16 are each allocated to the openings 18. Also the configuration of the positioners 16 is such that every two positioners 16 are arranged along an axis of symmetry reflected on the main metal sheet 12. In particular, the positioners 16 feature tilting areas 46 directed toward each other on one side of the deformation line 23. The tilting areas 46 are the sections of the positioners 16 which are bent around such that the positioners 16 extend from the main metal sheet plane 39 out over the main metal sheet 12, as depicted in FIG. 1. Simultaneously the tilting area 46 is of the section of the positioners 16 which is connected to the main metal sheet material.
[0114] In some variations of the present disclosure, a torsion tab 14 can be configured as a twist guard for a nut or hex-head screw (not illustrated). In this regard the screw hole 20 is allocated to the torsion tab 14 and a distance s from a midpoint M of the screw hole 20 to the torsion tab 14 corresponds to one half the wrench width which is allocated to a nominal diameter n of the screw hole 20 according to DIN EN 24014 Standard in connection with DIN EN 24017 Standard dated February 1992.
[0115] FIG. 3 depicts a cross sectional view III-III of the shaped component 10 from FIG. 2. FIG. 3 indicates that the torsion tabs 14 are materially connected to the main metal sheet 12, that is, the main metal sheet 12 and the torsion tabs 14 are designed and formed as a single piece. The positioners 16 are also materially connected to the main metal sheet 12, that is, designed and formed as a single piece, by double bending. The screw holes 20 are through openings that are not threaded in the illustrated form. It is also evident in FIG. 3 that the positioners 16 features an area extension 17 that is parallel to the main metal sheet plane 39.
[0116] FIG. 4 presents a view IV-IV from FIG. 2. This view shows the shaped component 10 with the main metal sheet 12 from which the torsion tabs 14 and the positioners 16 extend from the main metal sheet plane 39 defined by the surface of the main metal sheet 12.
[0117] FIG. 5 provides a detailed view V from FIG. 4. The main metal sheet 12, the positioners 16, and the torsion tab 14 are indicated in this view. The torsion tab 14 has a torsion region 34 and a tab head 30. The tab head 30 features an extension 33 which is significantly broader than an extension 29 of the torsion region 34. The tab head 30 features a clamping region 32 which broadens, for example consistently or continuously, proceeding from the torsion region 34 in the direction of the center longitudinal axis 31 and away from the torsion region 34. In the depicted form, cheeks 36 of the clamping region 32 are designed as being arranged straight in a longitudinal section in a top view. The cheeks 36 feature an angle 38 to the main metal sheet plane 39 which ranges, in some variations of the present disclosure, from about 12 up to about 28. The torsion region 34 comprises a foot region 35 which is an angled and/or a bent section, and the foot region 35 is, in some variations, materially connected or is connected as a single piece to the main metal sheet 12. It should be understood that the torsion region 34 is that section of the torsion tab 14 which is primarily deformed by the twisting or torsion 44 of the torsion tab 14 about the center longitudinal axis 31. Depending on a torsion 44 on the torsion tab 14, a deformation can also occur in the tab head 30, for example in the clamping region 32 and/or in the region of the clamping region 32 adjoining the torsion region 34. Furthermore, the clamping region 32 is designed or configured such that after the torsion 44 of the torsion tab 14, the clamping region 32 features a distance (not illustrated), at least in one partial region, which corresponds to an expected sheet thickness b of a sheet metal component 40, 42 which is connectable to the shaped component 10 and is shown in FIG. 6. In some variations, the sheet metal component 40 is plate-shaped, but can also feature any other shape; for example, it can be designed as a cable guide component. Due to the illustrated form, for example due to the cheek 36 of the clamping region 32 arranged at an angle to the main metal sheet plane 39, different sheet metal components 40, 42 with different sheet thicknesses b can be connected to the shaped component 10. The direction of the torsion 44 shown in the figures is arbitrary and can also occur in the opposite direction.
[0118] FIG. 6 shows a system of a sheet construction 41 comprising a first sheet metal component 40 and a second sheet metal component 42 and also the shaped component 10. The shaped component 10 is disposed up against the sheet metal components 40 and 42 such that the torsion tabs 14.1 and 14.2 extend through a first recess 47 and a second recess 48. The first torsion tab 14.1 extends here through the first recess 47 of the first sheet metal component 40, and the second torsion tab 14.2 extends through the second recess 48 of the second sheet metal component 42. The sheet metal components 40 and 42 are joined together edge to edge. The torsion tabs 14.1 and 14.2 are twisted in the direction of the arrow or opposite the direction of the arrow 44, around the particular longitudinal axis 31.1 and 31.2 to obtain a positive-locking and frictional connection of the shaped component to the sheet metal components 40 and 42. The clamping regions of the torsion tabs 14.1 and 14.2 and the clamping regions 32.1 and 32.2 act here on the sheet metal components 40 and 42.
[0119] FIG. 7 provides a detailed view VII from FIG. 1. From this illustration it is evident that the positioner 16 features a surface 50 which extends in the direction of the area extension 17, which is likewise shown in FIG. 3, and the surface 50 of the positioner 16 is parallel to a surface 13 of the main metal sheet 12. An edge 53 generates a definable boundary of the positioner 16 as does the tilting areas 46 such that a defined positioning of the sheet metal component 40 or 42 is provided. Furthermore, in FIG. 7 it is evident that the main metal sheet 12 features a material thickness d which is essentially identical to the material thickness p of the positioner 16. Furthermore, the torsion tab 14 features a material thickness t which is essentially identical to the material thickness d of the main metal sheet 12. The material thickness d of the tab head 30 and of the torsion region 34 is essentially the same.
[0120] FIG. 8 shows the shaped component 10 in a variant in which the torsion tabs 14 and also the positioners 16 are located in the main metal sheet plane 39, wherein in an additional form, the positioner 16 can also protrude from the main metal sheet plane 39. In particular, the torsion tabs 14, the positioner 16, and also the screw holes 20 and the material attenuation 22 are punched out from the main metal sheet 12 for example in one work step. A bending and/or edging of the torsion tabs 14 and of the positioners 16 does not occur. This reduces in particular the warehousing costs and shipping costs, since a shaped component punched out in this manner requires significantly less storage space. The positioners 16 and/or the torsion tabs 14 can each be bent out and mounted as needed at the installation site.
[0121] FIG. 9 depicts an alternative design of the shaped component 10 which features tool openings 52 in addition to the torsion tabs 14, the positioners 16, and the screw holes 20. In the illustrated design the tool openings 52 are disposed in all four corners of the main metal sheet 12. The tool openings 52 are of rectangular and elongated configuration, in particular such that a torsion tab 14 of an additional shaped component 10 can be inserted through the tool opening 52. In some variations, a longitudinal extension 56 of the tool opening 52 is disposed at an angle 54 of about 45 to an outer edge 58 of the main metal sheet 12.
[0122] FIG. 10 depicts a cable duct 60 comprising two cable duct components 62 and 64. The cable duct components 62 and 64 feature recesses 70 and positioning openings 72 disposed at the ends 66 of their walls 68. These recesses 70 are configured to accommodate the torsion tabs 14. The positioning openings 72 are configured to accommodate the positioners 16. The two cable duct components 62 and 64 are joined together edge to edge. The torsion tabs 14 of the shaped components 10.1 and 10.2 each engage in the recesses 70 of the cable duct components 62 and 64 so that they are connected together. The cable duct component 64 is designed as a corner component with which the cable duct 60 can be twisted by about 90. The shaped component 10.1 has a bent configuration by about 45 along the material attenuation 22 in order to connect together the walls 68 of the cable duct components 62 and 64 standing at an angle of about 45 to each other. The shaped component 10.2 is indicated by dashed lines and is not bent and connects the mutually aligned walls 68 of the cable duct components 62 and 64. From FIG. 10 the assembled state shows how the torsion tabs 14 are not yet twisted to effect a friction-locked and positive-locking connection of the shaped components with the cable duct components 62 and 64.
[0123] FIG. 11 shows the cable duct 60 from FIG. 10 with the cable duct components 62 and 64 in a front view. The shaped component 10.2 indicated by dashed lines connects the two cable duct components 62 and 64, wherein the torsion tabs 14, which engage through the recesses 70, are not yet twisted. An additional shaped component 10.3 is bent off by about 90 around the material attenuation (not illustrated in FIG. 11). The tool opening 52 of the shaped component 10.3 engages in a torsion tab 14 of the shaped component 10.2.
[0124] FIG. 12 shows a detailed view XII of FIG. 11. It is evident that the tool opening 52 is arranged on the shaped component such that a rotation of the shaped component 10.3 about an angle 74 of about 45 causes a sufficient torsion of the torsion tab 14 in order to clamp the shaped component 10.2 to the cable duct component 64. As already indicated in FIG. 9, a longitudinal extension 56 of the tool opening 52 is disposed at an angle 54 of about 45 to an outer edge 58 of the main metal sheet 12. In particular the tool opening 52 is installed in the main metal sheet 12 such that a rotation of the shaped component 10.3 into a horizontal position, that is, a position in which the outer edge 58 of the shaped component 10.3 is essentially parallel to a component edge 76 of the cable duct 60, causes a sufficient torsion of the torsion tab 14 to clamp the shaped component 10.2 to the cable duct component 64.
[0125] With the described shaped component comprising a main metal sheet and at least one torsion tab, with the method for connecting of at least one first sheet metal component to one such shaped component and with the system of a sheet construction comprising at least a first sheet metal component and at least one shaped component, in an advantageous manner any particular favorable connection of sheet metal components can be implemented, in particular of cable guide components such as cable ducts. In particular, no time-consuming and costly assembly steps are needed to connect sheet metal components to each other.
[0126] Unless otherwise expressly indicated herein, all numerical values indicating mechanical/thermal properties, compositional percentages, dimensions and/or tolerances, or other characteristics are to be understood as modified by the word about, essentially or approximately in describing the scope of the present disclosure. This modification is desired for various reasons including industrial practice, material, manufacturing, and assembly tolerances, and testing capability.
[0127] As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.
[0128] The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
