CLAMPING DEVICE

Abstract

A clamping device, in particular for use with an installation device characterized by a first component having an internal thread with a side which forms a first clamping surface either directly or indirectly via separate part, by a second component having an internal thread and an external thread which is axially displaceably but rotationally fixedly attachable to the first component, with respective internal threads of the first component and of the second component being designed so they can be jointly attached in a vertically adjustable manner to a carrier by means of a bolt element having an external thread, and by a counter nut which can be screwed onto the external thread of the second component, with the side of the counter nut facing the first said clamping surface forming a second clamping surface.

Claims

1. A clamping device, comprising: a first component having an internal thread with a side which forms a first clamping surface either directly or indirectly via a separate part, a second component having an internal thread and an external thread which is axially displaceably but rotationally fixedly attachable to the first component, with respective internal threads of the first component and of the second component being designed so they can be jointly attached in a vertically adjustable manner to a carrier by means of a bolt element having an external thread and by a counter nut which can be screwed onto the external thread of the second component on which the side facing the first said clamping surface forms a second clamping surface either directly or indirectly via separate part, with the first and second mutually confronting clamping surfaces being designed for the clamping reception of an article or of the clamping region of the installation device.

2. The clamping device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the clamping device is configured for use with an installation device.

3. The clamping device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a first component is secured to the second component by means of a releasable connection.

4. The clamping device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the releasable connection is an easily releasable connection.

5. The clamping device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the easily releasable connection is formed by one of a click connection or a permanent connection such as a beaded over collar on the one component which engages into an undercut while retaining the relative axial displaceability.

6. The clamping device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second component has a tool mount for the releasable attachment of a rotatable tool.

7. The clamping device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the tool mount is arranged in the region of its end remote from the first component.

8. The clamping device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the tool mount of the second component is made smaller in its transverse dimension than the counter nut, so that second components on the counter can be jointly rotated or rotated relative to one another by different coaxial arranged rotatable tools.

9. The clamping device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the tool mount of the second component is formed by an internal mount.

10. The clamping device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the internal mount is provided at the end of the second component remote from the first component.

11. The clamping device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first component is provided with a tool mount.

12. The clamping device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the tool mount of the first component has the form of an external polygon.

13. The clamping device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first component is provided with a flange the end face of which adjacent the second component directly forms the first clamping surface, or acts on a washer which forms the first clamping surface.

14. The clamping device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the counter nut is provided with a flange the end face of which confronting the first component directly forms the second clamping surface, or engages on a washer which forms the second clamping surface.

15. The clamping device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer thread of the second component extends through a cutout in the clamping region of the installation device with the installation device being clampable between the first component and the counter nut screwed onto the second component.

16. The clamping device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first component is either provided with a laterally arranged lug the side of which confronting the second component directly forms the first clamping surface, or acts on a washer rotatably secured to the first component which is provided with a laterally arranged lug the face of which confronting the second component forms the first clamping surface.

17. The clamping device in accordance with claim 16, wherein a clamping recess is formed between the laterally arranged first clamping surface of the clamping device and the laterally arranged second clamping surface of the clamping device and in which the clamping region of the installation device or of another part to be clamped, such as the mirror of an interferometer, can optionally be clamped.

18. The clamping device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the counter nut is either provided with a laterally arranged lug the side of which confronting the first component directly forms the second clamping surface, or acts on a washer, with the washer optionally being rotationally connected to but displaceable axially relative to the first component and which has a laterally arranged lug, with the side of the lug which confronts the first component forms the second clamping surface.

19. The clamping device in accordance with claim 18, wherein a clamping recess is formed between the laterally arranged first clamping surface of the clamping device and the laterally arranged second clamping surface of the clamping device and in which the clamping region of the installation device or of another part to be clamped, such as the mirror of an interferometer, can optionally be clamped.

20. The clamping device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first component, the second component and the counter nut all consist of metal or some of them consist of metal and others of plastic (optionally with fiber reinforcement).

21. The clamping device in accordance with claim 20, wherein the parts consisting of metal are all formed as cold headed parts.

22. The clamping device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first component, the second component and the counter nut all consist of plastic, optionally fiber reinforcement which are optionally manufactured by the injection molding process.

Description

[0026] The installation device and the clamping device in accordance with the invention will now be explained in more detail in the following by way of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings, in which are shown:

[0027] FIG. 1A a perspective illustration of a projector of a head-up display which is provided at four points with installation devices,

[0028] FIG. 1B an enlarged perspective detail of the installation device of FIG. 1A shown in the circle,

[0029] FIG. 2A a perspective representation of a preferred installation location for a projector similar to the projector of FIG. 1A but with three installation points instead of four,

[0030] FIG. 2B an illustration similar to FIG. 2A but in which the faulty orientations and positions of the threaded pins provided for the installation are indicated,

[0031] FIG. 3A a sideview of the installation device of FIG. 1B seen in the direction of the arrow III,

[0032] FIG. 3B an enlarged representation of the encircled region of FIG. 3A,

[0033] FIG. 3C a plan view of the installation device of FIG. 3A seen in the direction of the arrow IV,

[0034] FIG. 3D an illustration similar to FIG. 3A but of the installation device in a form bent in an S-shaped manner,

[0035] FIG. 3E a representation similar to FIG. 1B but of the installation device in a position tilted in a transverse plane,

[0036] FIG. 4A-E a plan view (FIG. 4A), a sideview (FIG. 4B) and a perspective view (FIG. 4C) of an installation element in accordance with the invention, with FIG. 4D corresponding to the view of FIG. 4B but showing the installation element in the bent S-shape corresponding to FIG. 3D and FIG. 4E likewise corresponding to the view of FIG. 4B but with the clamping region of the installation element tilted in accordance with the illustration of FIG. 3E,

[0037] FIGS. 5A-C a plan view, a sideview and a perspective view of a spring element in accordance with the invention,

[0038] FIG. 6 a plan view of a three-armed installation element,

[0039] FIG. 7 a plan view of a four-armed installation element,

[0040] FIGS. 8A-C a perspective illustration of a clamping device in accordance with the invention which can be used with the installation device in accordance with the invention and in accordance with the previous Figures, a representation of the clamping device of FIG. 8B sectioned in the longitudinal direction and an enlarged representation of the encircled region of the illustration in accordance with FIG. 8B,

[0041] FIGS. 9A-F the first component of the clamping device of the invention of FIGS. 8A to C in a view from above, in a sectioned view in a longitudinal plane, in a sideview, in an enlarged perspective view of an inner region provided with longitudinal ribs, in a perspective view from below and in a perspective view from

[0042] FIGS. 10A-F the second component of the clamping device of FIGS. 8A to C in a view from above, in a view sectioned in a longitudinal plane, in a sideview, in an enlarged perspective view of an inner region provided with longitudinal ribs, in a perspective view from below and in a perspective view from above,

[0043] FIG. 11 a perspective illustration similar to FIG. 8A in which however the first component is provided with a lateral lug which forms the first clamping surface and the counter nut acts on a separate washer with a lateral lug which forms the second clamping surface, and

[0044] FIG. 12 a representation similar to FIG. 9C but with an alternative design of a first component with a hexagonal mount for a tool.

[0045] In FIGS. 1A and 1B three installation devices 10 are shown which permit an adjustable and fixable angular adaptation of an article 12, here in form of a projector for the head-up display, to a carrier 14. In the specific embodiment four installation devices 10 are present of which two are provided at the front side and two at the rear side of the parallelepiped shaped projector 2 adjacent to its vertical edges 16, with the one installation device at the rear side not being visible in the representation. Specifically, each installation device is secured at its ends by means of threaded bolts 35 (FIGS. 3A to 3E) to corresponding holders 20 of the projector. The carrier 14 is indicated here only by circles is however in this specific example normally formed by a sheet metal structure of a motor vehicle dashboard of which a section is shown in more detail in schematic form in FIG. 2A. However, in the example of FIG. 3A only three installation points for the projector 12 are used, here in the form of elongate pierce and rivet bolts 22 which are riveted to the sheet metal part. By way of example SBF pierced and rivet bolts of the applicants can be used which are riveted at their head part 24 to the sheet metal part. The shaft parts 22 of the pierce and rivet bolts which have upwardly directed threads respectively pass through a clamping device 28 at the center of each installation device as is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

[0046] FIG. 2B shows that the shaft parts 22 of the pierce and rivet bolts which will simply be called threaded pins in the following, can have faulty orientations and position errors which need to be compensated, which is possible with the installation devices 10 in accordance with the invention as will later be explained in more detail.

[0047] From FIG. 2B it is evident that the threaded pins 22A and 22B have angular deviations from the desired position which is shown by a broken line and the third threaded pin 22C is laterally displaced from the desired position.

[0048] The specific design of the installation device 10 will now be explained in more detail with reference to the further FIGS. 3A to 3E, 4A to 4E and 5A to 5C.

[0049] The installation device 10 includes at least one divided installation element 30 in accordance with FIGS. 4A to C of which the two separate parts 32 each have a section in the one end region 34 which enables an attachment to the article 12 directly or to a respective holder attached to the article. At their ends 36 remote from the respective section, which confront one another and are displaceable relative to one another, the parts 36 jointly form a clamping region 38 which enables an attachment to the carrier 14.

[0050] The two-part installation element 30 shown here can be said to be two-armed. However, three part or four part embodiments are also conceivable which are then termed three-armed or four-armed. Examples for such three- or four-armed installation elements are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and the description given here also applies in the same sense to the embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7 in which the corresponding reference numerals are entered to extent that this is meaningful.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C a plurality of divided, normally identically made, installation elements 30 are used in one installation device 10. They are laid on top of one another in an aligned manner and form an installation pack 40.

[0052] The parts 32 of the or each installation element 30 are made the same and are formed as sheet metal parts or as plastic parts, optionally with fiber reinforcement.

[0053] The sections at the ends 34 of the parts 32, which serve for the attachment to the article or to the holders of the article, normally have cutouts which are for exampled formed as attachment holes. They are attached to the holders 20 by means of attachment bolts 35.

[0054] The mutually confronting ends 36 of the parts 32 are displaceable relative to one another. In the aligned position in accordance with FIGS. 3A to 3C they can touch each other or can have a small distance from one another. On deformation of the installation elements, as shown in FIG. 3D or 3E they move somewhat apart. The parts can also mutually overlap at their ends 36. In this case the degree of the overlap on deformation of the installation element becomes smaller. In the embodiments shown the confronting ends 36 of the parts 32 which form the clamping region 38 have respective cutouts 42 which jointly form an opening 44 to receive a clamping device 28 (FIG. 1B).

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C each of the parts 32 of the installation element 30 forms a tongue in the region of the cutout 42 which extends laterally past the attachment element. With the shown two-part division of the installation element 10 the identically formed parts 32 are placed inversely to one another so that their tongues 46 frame the clamping device 28 at both sides. With the provision of plurality of installation elements these are respectively placed on one another rotated to 180 degrees about their longitudinal axis 48 which enhances the stability of the installation device.

[0056] It is preferred when a spring element 50 is placed at least on one side of the installation element 10 or the installation pack 40 which at least partly covers over the attachment section at the ends 34 by an areal region 52 and has between them at least one spring region 54 in the plane of the installation element 30, here two spring regions 54 are shown. The or each spring region has a snake-like or meandering form. Furthermore, the spring element 50 preferably has a central region 56 which at least partly overlaps the clamping region 38 and has an opening 58 which corresponds to the opening 44.

[0057] In the examples shown the spring element 50 is provided twice, with the spring elements being arranged one above the installation pack 40 and one below the installation pack 40. The spring element or each spring element can also be formed as a punched sheet metal part or as a plastic part, optionally with fiber reinforcement.

[0058] As already indicated each installation device also has a clamping device 28 which acts clampingly on the clamping region and can be attached in vertically adjustable manner or with an adjustable spacing to the carrier 14 by means of a threaded pin 22.

[0059] Specifically, the clamping device 28 in accordance with FIGS. 8A to C has the following components: [0060] A first component 62 having an internal thread 60 with a side 64 which forms a first clamping surface 66 either directly or indirectly via a separate part. [0061] A second component 72 having an internal thread 68 and an external thread 70 which is actually displaceable but rotationally fixedly attached to the first component 62, with the respective internal threads 60, 68 of the first component 62 and of the second component 72 being designed so that they can be axially adjustably jointly secured to the carrier 14 by means of a pin element 22 with an external thread. [0062] A counter nut 74 which is screwed onto the external thread 70 of the second component 72, with the side 76 of the counter nut facing the first said clamping surface 66 forming a second clamping surface 78.

[0063] The first and second mutually confronting surfaces 66, 78 are designed for the clamping reception of the clamping region 38 of the installation device 10.

[0064] The clamping device 28 can also be used for entirely different clamping purposes. In this case the article to be clamped is arranged between the clamping surfaces 66, 78.

[0065] The first component 62 is connected to the second component 72 by a releasable connection 80, in particular an easily releasable connection 80 which allows the relative axial displaceability to be maintained, in this embodiment by a click connection the details of which can best be seen from the FIGS. 9A to F and 10A to F.

[0066] The upper end of the first component is formed as a hollow cylinder 82 with longitudinal ribs 84 at the inner surface of the hollow cylinder, with a ring region 86 above the ribs being inclined slightly inwardly (best evident at 86 in FIG. 8C). The lower end 88 of the second component 72 is of smaller diameter than its external thread 70 and has internal longitudinal grooves 90 in which the longitudinal ribs 84 of the first component are slidingly received, whereby the mutual axial displaceability of the two components 62, 72 is ensured while retaining a rotationally fixed arrangement. In this connection the radially inwardly directed ring region 86 at the free end of the hollow cylinder 82 engages into a ring groove 92 behind the longitudinal grooves 90 of the second component 72. The cylindrical region 94 at the upper end of the second component thus engages in the hollow cylinder 82 of the first component 62. The two components 62 and 72 are thus secured together but are still axially displaceable relative to one another, with the extent of the axial displacement not having to be more than the axial length of one thread turn. The extent of the axial displacement can be determined by the width of the ring groove 92.

[0067] Instead of a click connection a permanent connection can also be achieved while retaining the relative axial displaceability if for example the ring region 86 is pressed more deeply into the ring groove 92 in the manner of a rivet bead.

[0068] The second component 72 has a tool mount 98 in the region of its upper end 96 remote from the first component for the releasable attachment of a rotatable tool. The tool mount 98 of the second component is made smaller in its transverse dimensions than the counter nut 74 so that the second component 72 and the counter nut 74 can be turned jointly or relative to one another using different coaxially arranged tools.

[0069] The tool mount 98 of the second component is most simply formed by an internal mount 100 in the manner of a socket head cap screw or a Torx recess which is preferably provided in the end of the second component remote from the first component.

[0070] The first component can likewise be provided with a tool mount 102, which can be formed in particular in the form of an outer polygon such as an outer hexagon as is shown in FIG. 12. This tool mount 102 can be of advantage, for example when the clamping device 28 is actuated by hand. Should a tool mount such as 102 be provided at the first component 62 then a tool mount such as 98 at the second component 72 could be dispensed with.

[0071] In the example of FIGS. 8A to C the first component is provided with an integrated flange 104 the end face of which confronting the second component directly forms first clamping surface. In the same manner the counter nut 74 can be provided with an integrated flange 106 the end face of which confronting the first component 62 directly forms the second clamping surface 78. As an alternative to this the counter nut 74 could, as shown in FIG. 11, engaged on a separate washer 112 which directly forms the second clamping surface 78.

[0072] One can see from FIGS. 3A to C that a region of the external thread 70 of the second component 72 and the region of the transition from the first component 62 into the second component 72 extend through the opening 44 of the installation device 10. In other words, the external thread 70 of the second component extends through the cutout in the clamping region 38 of the installation device 10, with the installation device being capable of being clamped between the first component 62 and the counter nut 74 screwed onto the second component 72.

[0073] The mutual axial displaceability of the first component 62 and of the second component 72 ensures that the thread of the stud 22 can straightforwardly pass through both components because the length compensation ensures a continuous thread groove despite the rotationally fixed arrangement. The rotatability of the clamping device as a unit on the stud 22 enables a precise positioning of the height of the one clamping surface 66 relative to the carrier 14. By turning the counter nut the other clamping surface 78 can then be moved in a direction towards the first clamping surface 66 and the installation device 10 clamped between the clamping surfaces 66 and 78, without the previously set position of the first said clamping surface 66, which ensures the vertical compensation, being disturbed. Since the installation unit 10 is flexible in a non-clamped state it can automatically adopt the S-form in accordance with FIG. 3D matching the faulty orientation of the stud 22 or the like automatically and easily as well as any tilted position of the clamping region in a transverse plane in accordance with FIG. 3E which lies with its full area on the first clamping surface 66. In this connection the clamping surface 78 formed by the counter nut 74 is guided parallel to the first clamping surface 66 so that this clamping surface 78 also comes into full area contact at the clamping region. On tightening the counter nut 74 the second component 72 is first removed minimally from the first component 72 as a result of the restricted axial displaceability between the first component 72 and the second component 72 with the counter nut 74 then unfolding its countering function and fixedly clamping the clamping region between the two clamping surfaces 66, 68. In this way the installation device is automatically frozen in the selected aligned position. The installation device has now been converted from a flexible structure into a stiffer structure, even though a certain damping action is still present.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 12 the clamping region of the clamping device can be displaced sideways from the central longitudinal axis. For this purpose, the first component is either provided with a laterally disposed lug 108, the side 110 of which confronting the second component 72 directly forms the clamping surface 66. The counter nut 74 then presses against a separate washer 112 which likewise has a laterally arranged lug 114 the side 116 of which confronts the first component 62 and forms the second clamping surface 78. The second clamping surface 78 and the first clamping surface 66 jointly form a U-shaped clamping recess 118.

[0075] Between the laterally disposed first clamping surface 66 of the clamping device 28 and the laterally arranged second clamping surface 78 of the clamping device 28 a U-shaped clamping mount is formed which, in the manner of a vice, can receive an article in a clamping manner, in this case the clamping region of the installation device 10.

[0076] The components of the clamping device are preferably all formed of metal, could however alternatively consist, some or all of them, of fiber reinforced plastic. When they are of metal then they are reasonably manufactured in the same way as fastener elements, generally as cold headed parts.

[0077] The assembly of the complete installation device can take place in different ways.

[0078] It is for example possible to secure the installation pack 40 of only the two parts of the single installation element 30 with or without the spring element 40 or both spring elements 50, if such spring element is provided at all, to the holders 20 of the article by means of attachment screws 35 which are introduced through the attachment holes which form the cutouts at the ends 34 of the parts 32 of each installation element. When a spring element 50 is provided the attachment bolts are also guided through the corresponding holes at the ends of the spring element. If only spring element 50 is used then this is normally placed beneath the heads of the attachment screws 35. If two spring elements are provided it is unimportant which of them lies at the top or at the bottom.

[0079] Next of all the clamping device 28 is installed. This can take place in such a way that the first component 62 is joined by means of the described click connection coming from the bottom with the lower end of the second component coming from above which is passed through the opening 44. The counter nut can previously have been screwed onto the second component or can only now be screwed into place, but not yet tightened. The article within the installed installation devices 10 is now positioned on the carrier so that each threaded pin 22 is aligned with the associated installation device 10. This can take place manually or automatically. A pronounced introduction cone at the lower end of each first component 62 offers help here. As the counter nuts 74 have not yet been tightened (it is only with one installation device 10) the installation elements 30 or the installation packs 40 are still flexible and adapt automatically to the actual angular position of the threaded pins 22. By rotation of the unit consisting of a first component 62 and a second component 72 this unit is moved along the respective threaded pin 22 until the desired position has been reached. The axial displaceability between the first component 62 and the second component 72 ensures that the thread of the threaded pin 22 can be passed through although these parts are rotationally fixedly connected to one another. Otherwise this would not be possible because the precise start of the two inner threads 60 and 68 with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the first component 62 and the second component 72 cannot be predicted with the customary manufacturing methods and must therefore be compensated.

[0080] When the desired position has been reached the counter nut 74 is pulled tight and the second clamping surface 78 comes into engagement with the clamping region 38 of the installation device 10 and the slightly deformed state of the respective installation element 30 or of the respective installation pack 40 is frozen. The installation has taken place.

[0081] It is also conceivable that the installation element 30 or the installation pack 40, optionally with one spring element 50 or with two spring elements 52 is assembled prior to the installation of the article 12 or its holders. The counter nut 74 can then be tightened in order to hold the installation device together. In this case the counter nut 74 then has to be loosened again prior to the attachment of the clamping device to the threaded pin 22. As an alternative to this, the attachment bolts 35 which are installed, and which serve for the attachment of the installation device 10 to the article 12 or to the holders 20, could be previously installed at the installation device 10 in order to ensure the holding together of the parts. For example, the attachment bolts 35 can be designed as thread forming or thread cutting bolts which only form or cut a thread in the lowest layer of the respective installation element 40 (depending on the design an installation element 30 or a spring element 50). With the final attachment to the article 12 or to its holders 20 the threads forming the lowest layer are destroyed on turning the fastening bolts 35 further but have already satisfied their purpose of provisionally holding the assembly together.

[0082] Other auxiliary means can also satisfy the purpose of the provisionally holding assembly together, for example a shrinkable hose can be used in order to keep the installation unit together.

[0083] The prior installation of the attachment bolts 35 also has advantages in automatic assembly. It would be particularly favorable if the attachment bolts 35 are attached coming from above to the article 12 or to its holders 20. Then the entire assembly of an installation unit 10 could take place with an automated device with a corresponding rotary tools coming from above.

[0084] In some installation situations the first component and the second component can be interchanged with advantage, for example in such a way that the first component 62 is arranged at the top and the second component 72 at the bottom.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0085] 10 installation device [0086] 12 projector, article [0087] 14 carrier [0088] 16 vertical edges of article 12 [0089] 20 holder [0090] 22 pierce and rivet bolts, attachment element [0091] 24 head part of the pierce and rivet bolt 22 [0092] 26 shaft part from the pierce and rivet bolt, threaded pin [0093] 28 clamping device [0094] 30 installation element [0095] 32 part of the installation element 30 [0096] 34 end region of the part 32, section [0097] 35 attachment bolt [0098] 36 other end of part 32 [0099] 38 clamping region of the installation element 30 [0100] 40 installation pack [0101] 42 cutout at the ends 36 of the parts 32, attachment hole [0102] 44 opening [0103] 48 tongue [0104] 50 longitudinal direction of the installation element 30 [0105] 52 spring element [0106] 52 areal region of the spring element 50 [0107] 54 spring region of the spring element 50 [0108] 56 central region of the spring element 50 [0109] 58 opening of the spring element 50 [0110] 60 internal thread of the first component 62 [0111] 62 first component [0112] 64 side of first component 62 [0113] 66 clamping surface [0114] 68 internal thread of second component 72 [0115] 70 outer thread of second component 72 [0116] 72 second component [0117] 74 counter nut [0118] 76 side of the counter nut [0119] 78 second clamping surface [0120] 80 connection between the first component 62 and the second component 72 [0121] 82 hollow cylinder of the upper end of the first component 62 [0122] 84 longitudinal ribs [0123] 86 ring region at the end of the hollow cylinder 82 [0124] 88 lower end of the second component 72 [0125] 90 internal longitudinal grooves at the cylindrical end of the second component 72 [0126] 92 ring groove [0127] 94 cylindrical region at the lower end of the second component 72 [0128] 96 upper end of the second component 72 [0129] 98 tool mount [0130] 100 internal mount [0131] 102 tool mount at the first component 62 [0132] 104 flange of the first component 62 [0133] 106 flange of the counter nut 74 [0134] 108 flange of the first component 62 [0135] 110 side of lug 108 [0136] 112 separate washer [0137] 114 lug of the washer 112 [0138] 116 side of separate washer 112 [0139] 118 clamping recess