Fastening device for fastening a structural part consisting of a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic to a component, in particular a chassis component of a vehicle

Abstract

A fastening device is provided for fastening a structural part consisting of a carbon-fiber reinforced plastic, in particular a cell of a vehicle, to a component, in particular a chassis component of a vehicle. In order to provide a fastening device which ensures a secure fastening of structural parts consisting of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic to other vehicle components, a first connecting element is mounted on the structural part, on which first connecting element a second connecting element can be mounted. The first connecting element is connected to the structural part by an adhesive layer and has a protruding bush which passes through a bore in the structural part and which projects with its free end beyond the structural part.

Claims

1. A fastening device for a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic structural part to be fastened to a vehicle chassis, consisting essentially of: a first connecting element; a second connecting element; a first adhesive layer affixing the first connecting element to the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic structural part, a second adhesive layer that directly adheres the vehicle chassis to the carbon fiber-reinforced structural part, wherein the first connecting element includes a protruding bush that extends through a bore in the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic structural part with a free end extending beyond the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic structural part, the second connecting element is fixed to the first connecting element, and the first connecting element includes a thread and the second connecting element is a threaded fastener.

2. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic structural part is a cell of a motor vehicle.

3. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic structural part is a load-bearing vehicle body part.

4. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting element includes an internal thread and the second connecting element is a setscrew.

5. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the bush is arranged to bear against the vehicle chassis, and the structural part is positioned between the vehicle chassis component and the first connecting element.

6. A connection in a vehicle, consisting essentially of: a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic structural part; a vehicle chassis; a first connecting element; a second connecting element; a first adhesive layer affixing the first connecting element to the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic structural part; a second adhesive layer affixing the vehicle chassis to the carbon fiber-reinforced structural part, wherein the first connecting element includes a protruding bush that extends through a bore in the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic structural part with a free end extending beyond the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic structural part, the second connecting element is fixed to the first connecting element, and the first connecting element includes a thread and the second connecting element is a threaded fastener.

7. The connection according to claim 6, wherein the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic structural part is a cell of a motor vehicle.

8. The connection according to claim 6, wherein the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic structural part is a load-bearing vehicle body part.

9. The connection according to claim 6, wherein the first connecting element includes an internal thread and the second connecting element is a setscrew.

10. The connection according to claim 6, wherein the bush is arranged to bear against the vehicle chassis, and the structural part is positioned between the vehicle chassis component and the first connecting element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a fastening device according to the invention;

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of a fastening device according to the invention; and

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of a fastening device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(4) The figures show only the parts of the fastening device that are of interest here. All other parts have been omitted for the sake of clarity.

(5) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the fastening device according to the invention; it has a simple structure and can transmit high tensile forces.

(6) A structural part 1 (CFK structural part) consisting of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, such as a CFK cell or a load-bearing body part of a vehicle, for example, is glued to a first connecting element 3 via an adhesive layer 2. The first connecting element 3 has a protruding bush 4, which can be formed in a single (one) piece with the first connecting element 3. When viewed in cross-section, the connecting element 3 and the bush 4 form the form of a T, with the connecting element 3 forming the horizontal and the bush 4 forming the vertical leg of the T.

(7) The bush 4 of the first connecting element 3 extends through a bore 5 in the structural part 1 and protrudes with its free end beyond the structural part 1 on the side facing away from the first connecting element 3.

(8) To connect the structural part 3 to a component 6, which for example may be a chassis component of the vehicle, a second connecting element 7 is provided. The second connecting element 7 extends through a bore 8 in the component 6 and can be connected to the first connecting element 3. In this condition, the component 6 is supported at the bush 4. Because the bush 4 protrudes beyond the structural part 1, no clamping forces can be transmitted to the structural part 1, which is connected to the fastening device according to the invention exclusively via the adhesive layer 2.

(9) For example, the first connecting element 3 can be a screw nut with an interior screw thread, and the second connecting element 7 can be a setscrew that can be screwed into the screw nut, in particular a screw.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the fastening device according to the invention, which can transmit high lateral forces as well as high tensile and pressure forces.

(11) This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the structural part 1 is additionally connected to the component 6 via an adhesive 9, which makes it possible to transmit high lateral forces because of the relatively large adhesive surfaces 2 and 9. The structural part 1 is therefore glued on one side to the first connecting element 3 and on the other side to the component 6.

(12) FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the fastening device according to the invention, which can transmit high lateral forces as well as high tensile and pressure forces.

(13) In this embodiment as well, the structural part 1, which consists of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFK structural part), is glued to the first connecting element 3 via the adhesive layer 2. The first connecting element 3 has the same shape as the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. However, here the bush 4 protrudes away from the structural component 1.

(14) The second connecting element 7 is also used in this embodiment to connect the structural part 3 to the component 6. The second connecting element 7 extends through the bore 8 in the component 6 and can be connected to the first connecting element 3. Unlike in the first embodiment, where the component 6 is supported at the bush 4, in the present embodiment of FIG. 3, the component 6 is supported at a third connecting element 10. Because of this arrangement, a tube 11 is located at the side of the third connecting element 10 that faces away from the component 6 and extends through and protrudes beyond the structural part 1 there. The first connecting element 3 bears against said protruding tube 11. The tube 11 can be, in particular, formed in a single (one) piece with the third connecting element 10.

(15) In cross-section, the third connecting element 10 has the same shape as the first connecting element 3 and is also connected to the structural part 1 by an adhesive 9. Consequently, the structural part 1 is glued to the first connecting element 3 on one side, and to the third connecting element 10 on the other side. Unlike the first connecting element 3, the third connecting element 10 is merely a spacing element and not a fastening element. Therefore, the third connecting element 10 in particular does not have an internal thread.

(16) Instead of the way it was described and is shown in the figures, the bush 4 can also be arranged at the component 6 instead of at the first connecting element 3, or it can be developed as a separate structural part. Likewise, the tube 11 can also be provided as a separate structural part instead of at the third connecting element 10.

(17) The fastening device according to the invention facilities a high-strength connection, in particular of a CFK structural part to a component, and it can be realized in a cost-efficient and space-saving manner.

(18) The description above of the present invention is merely for illustrative purposes and not for the purpose of limiting the invention. In the scope of the invention, various changes and modifications are possible without leaving the scope of the invention as well as its equivalents.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(19) 1 Structural part 2 Adhesive layer 3 First connecting element 4 Bush 5 Bore 6 Component 7 Second connecting element 8 Bore 9 Adhesive 10 Third connecting element 11 Tube

(20) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.