BEARING ASSEMBLY, FASTENING DEVICE HEREWITH, AND MOUNTING PART FOR VEHICLES COMPRISING SAID FASTENING DEVICE

Abstract

The description relates to a bearing assembly for rotatably or pivotally connecting a first (4) and a second (6) component to each other, wherein the two components (4, 6) are connected by a connecting element (8) disposed to be coaxial to a rotary or pivot axis (A); each of the two components (4, 6) comprises at least one first contact zone (10.4, 10.6), the contact zones (10.4, 10.6) having first abutment faces (12.4, 12.6) which are complementary with respect to each other; the respective first abutment faces (12.4, 12.6) being urged towards each other with an elastic preload force by a biasing part; and a latching geometry acting as a first latching means (14) being arranged between the first abutment faces (12.4, 12.6). Each of the two components (4, 6) has at least one second contact zone (18.4, 18.6).

Claims

1. A bearing assembly for rotatably or pivotally connecting a first and a second component to each other, wherein the two components are connected by a connecting element disposed to be coaxial to a rotary or pivot axis; each of the two components comprises at least one first contact zone, the contact zones having first abutment faces which are complementary with respect to each other; the respective first abutment faces being urged towards each other with an elastic preload force by a biasing part; and a latching geometry acting as a first latching means being arranged between the first abutment faces, wherein each of the two components has at least one second contact zone, the second contact zones comprising second abutment faces which can be made to interact with each other; each of the second contact zones is arranged so as to be radially further outside with respect to the rotary or pivot axis than the first contact zones; and the second abutment faces of the second contact zones abut each other and hence interact with each other only in at least one defined relative position of the two components.

2. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second abutment faces, when in mutual abutment in the at least one defined relative position of the two components, are complementary to each other such that they lock said relative position.

3. The bearing assembly according to claim 2, wherein the locking of the at least one relative position includes a cancelable positional fixing of the two components, relative to each other and/or an additional support, in particular a torque support of the rotatable or pivotable connection of the two components in the area of the rotary or pivot axis.

4. The bearing assembly according to claim 3, wherein the cancelable positional fixing of the two components is established by a latching geometry, between the second abutment faces, acting as a second latching means.

5. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first contact zones together with the first abutment faces provided therein each have the shape of a ring which is concentric to the rotary or pivot axis, and the second contact zones together with the second abutment faces provided therein are radially spaced from the outer circumference of the ring.

6. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second contact zones together with the second abutment faces provided therein surround the first contact zones in annular fashion, in particular in the shape of a ring segment.

7. The bearing assembly according to claim 6, wherein the ring segments of the second abutment faces are disposed to be symmetric relative to the rotary or pivot axis.

8. The bearing assembly according to claim 7, wherein the position of the ring segments corresponds to at least one defined operating position of the two components relative to each other.

9. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first contact zones together with the first abutment face provided therein is situated radially within a surrounding sealing with respect to the rotary or pivot axis.

10. The bearing assembly according to claim 9, wherein a lubricant is provided in the space limited by the surrounding sealing.

11. The bearing assembly according to any-ef claim 4, wherein the latching geometry between the two first abutment faces is formed by a first latching toothing and the latching geometry between the two second abutment faces is formed by a second latching toothing.

12. The bearing assembly according to claim 11, wherein the flank pitches of the teeth differ from each other in the first and the second latching toothing.

13. The bearing assembly according to claim 12, wherein the flank pitch of the first latching toothing is larger than that of the second latching toothing.

14. The bearing assembly according to claim 11, wherein the tooth spacing in the first latching toothing differs from that of the second latching toothing.

15. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second contact zone is formed in one piece on the first and second component, respectively.

16. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second contact zone is an element which is separate from the first and second component, respectively, and non-rotatably connected to the first and second component, respectively.

17. The bearing assembly according to claim 16, wherein the contact zones and the components are made from different materials.

18. A fastening device for attaching at least one mounting part to a vehicle, comprising at least one component on the vehicle side and at least one component on the side of the mounting part, wherein the components are connected to each other by at least one bearing assembly according to claim 1.

19. A mounting part for vehicles, in particular commercial vehicles, comprising a fastening device according to claim 18.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Further details, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent more clearly from the following description on the basis of the drawings in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows in a partial schematic sectional view the construction and arrangement of a bearing assembly according to the invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 schematically shows in simplified form a top view of a bearing assembly of the invention according to an embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a view of a further embodiment corresponding to FIG. 2;

[0028] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 schematically show in greatly simplified fashion the relative positions of the active surfaces in the respective latching geometries in the operating position and the rotary position, respectively;

[0029] FIG. 6 is a graphic representation for illustrating the respective pitches in the two latching geometries;

[0030] FIG. 7 is a side view of a bearing assembly according to the invention and a fastening device;

[0031] FIG. 8 is a perspective view as seen from obliquely above to the component (on the side of the vehicle) which is at the left in FIG. 7 together with a view of the bearing assembly there;

[0032] FIG. 9 is a sectional view through the bearing assembly of FIG. 7; and

[0033] FIG. 10 is a view of a further embodiment corresponding to FIG. 2 or 3.

[0034] In the individual Figures of the drawing, which throughout are neither true to scale nor identical in size, the same reference symbols refer to identical or corresponding elements, components or portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] A bearing assembly as a whole designated with 2 in the drawing serves for rotatably or pivotally connecting two components to each other, namely a first component 4 and a second component 6. The rotary or pivot movement of the two components 4 and 6 relative to each other takes place here around an axis A.

[0036] In the illustrated application example and for the purpose of the following description, which however is not to be understood as being limited thereto, the two components 4 and 6 are parts of a support arm or cantilever arm of an indirect vision system for vehicles. In this context, the component 6 may be a component arranged on the side of a vehicle and having its (not shown) end on the right in FIG. 1 secured to a body part of the vehicle. The component 4 is a component on the side of the vision system and carries an indirect vision system on its (not shown) end on the left in FIG. 1, for instance an external mirror, a rear view camera or the like.

[0037] The connection between the two components 4 and 6 is made via a connecting element 8 (FIG. 9) in the form of a bolt, a screw or the like which is coaxial to axis A. This connection is spring-loaded in known manner in the axial direction of the connecting element 8. The spring loading is achieved for instance by a helical compression spring, as is illustrated in the Figure, or by Belleville springs or any other energy storing elements. The construction and functioning of such spring-loaded connections are generally known, so that they are not discussed in further detail here.

[0038] The connecting element 8 penetrates a first contact zone 10.4 on the part of the first component 4 and a first contact zone 10.6 on the part of the second component 6. The two contact zones 10.4 and 10.6 each have complementary first abutment faces 12.4 on the part of the first component 4 and 12.6 on the part of the second component 6. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a latching geometry serving as a first latching means 14 works between the abutment faces 12.4 and 12.6. As can be best seen in FIG. 8, the first latching means 14 (here on the part of the second component 6) is formed by a number of latching protrusions or latching teeth, which are circumferentially formed in annular fashion to be coaxial to axis A. Arranged on the outer circumference of the first latching means 14 is an annularly surrounding sealing 16 which seals off the interior of the first latching means 14 towards outside. Thus, the interior space of the first latching means 14 encapsulated by the sealing 16 may be filled with a suitable lubricant.

[0039] The sealing 16 may be implemented as a separate sealing element, for example in the form of an O-ring which is seated in a corresponding sealing groove. Just as well, the sealing may be formed by intermeshing surrounding profiles on the part of the contact zones 10.4 and 10.6 which in cooperation form a labyrinth seal. This allows to do without a separate sealing element, reducing the expenditure for assembly and maintenance and increasing the service life.

[0040] It is to be noted that the illustrated and described latching geometry of the first latching means 14 is to be understood only as an exemplary embodiment. In general, any type of functioning and/or supporting mechanism may be formed between the abutment faces 12.4 and 12.6, including impeding faces, frictional faces and support faces or the like.

[0041] In addition to the first contact zones 10.4 and 10.6, second contact zones 18.4 and 18.6 are provided which comprise second abutment faces 20.4 and 20.6 which like the first abutment faces 12.4 and 12.6 are complementary to each other and define a second latching means 22 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment.

[0042] It is also to be noted here that the illustrated and described latching geometry of the second latching means 22 is to be understood only as an exemplary embodiment. In analogy to the first abutment faces 12.4 and 12.6, any kind of functioning and/or supporting mechanism may be basically defined between the abutment faces 20.4 and 20.6, including impeding faces, frictional faces and support faces or the like.

[0043] The second abutment faces 20.4 and 20.6 which in the exemplary embodiment form or define the second latching means 22 between them arein analogy to the first latching means 14formed by a toothed profile in the respective abutment faces 20.4 and 20.6.

[0044] The toothed profile of the second latching means 22 is situated on a circle which is concentric to the toothed profile in the first latching means 14 or to axis A and is radially spaced from the outer circumference of the first latching means 14, as can be best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 8.

[0045] Accordingly, an open space or transition zone 24 is defined between the latching means 14 and 22.

[0046] The spacings of the respective toothings in the latching means 14 and 22 may be identical. They may also be different, wherein according to FIG. 8 the spacing of the toothing in the second latching means 22 is larger than that in the first latching means 14.

[0047] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pitch of the active surfaces in the toothing of the first latching means 14 is larger than in the second latching means 22. If the pitch of the active surfaces in the first latching means is designated with S14 and the pitch of the active surfaces in the second latching means 22 is designated with S22, S14>S22 applies. Here, the pitch of the active surfaces in the latching means is the theoretical spiral path which would be covered by the latching face or active face (which corresponds to a helical surface) in one revolution around axis A.

[0048] FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate the advantage resulting from these differing pitches. FIG. 4 shows the operating position of the two components 4 and 6 relative to each other, i.e. that position which corresponds to the normal operating state of the bearing assembly 2 in which the two components 4 and 6 extend for instance in elongated/co-linear manner or at a defined angle relative to each other, with the component 4 carrying the indirect vision system or a comparable accessory part at its free end. The two latching means 14 and 22 are in mutual abutment with their respective active surfaces, so that both latching means 14 and 22 are in operative engagement and provide a reliable rotary locking of the bearing assembly 2 in the operating position. Further, a torque support is also realized on the two components 4 and 6, if necessary.

[0049] In the course of a forced rotation, for instance of the first component 4 relative to the second component 6 around the axis A, the active surfaces in the first latching means 14 slide on each other. Due to the larger pitch of the active surfaces of the first latching means 14, the active surfaces of the second latching means 22 are disengaged from each other according to FIG. 5, i.e. the second abutment faces 20.4 and 20.6 separate from each other, so that any latching effect of the second latching means 22 is eliminated.

[0050] This results in the advantage that the active surfaces in the second latching means 22 are not subjected to any wear and tear even with frequent actuation of the bearing assembly 2, so that the second latching means 22 can achieve a very long service life and in designing the bearing assembly 2 it is not necessary to pay special attention to a high abrasion resistance of the materials used there. Furthermore, any sealing and lubricating measures in the area of the second latching means 22 are dispensable.

[0051] The respective second abutment faces 20.4 and 20.6 in the second latching means 2 are not required to be continuously formed in annular fashion around the first latching means 14, but may be formed according to FIGS. 2 and 8 in the form of two ring segment portions. FIG. 3 shows the possibility of arranging in total four ring segment portions of the second abutment faces 20.n around the first inner latching means 14.

[0052] In FIGS. 2 and 3, the arrangement of the ring segment portions of the second abutment faces 20.n is symmetric with respect to axis A. In case of the design of FIG. 2, the position of the two ring segment portions may also be offset relative to each other by 90 degrees or in any other angle. Furthermore, the design of FIG. 2 may also be realized such that one of the two ring segments is omitted.

[0053] The position of the ring segments of the second abutment faces 20.n or 20.4 and 20.6 defines the reliably secured operating position of the first component 4 relative to the second component 6. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, said secured operating position would be an elongated/co-linear arrangement of the first component 4 relative to the second component 6, as is shown for instance in FIG. 7. Having the design of FIG. 3, both the mentioned elongated/co-linear arrangement and a position rotated to either side by 90 degrees relative thereto would be a reliably secured one. In all intermediate positions, the bearing assembly 2 is of comparably smooth-running nature, as the mechanism of the differing pitches explained on the basis of FIGS. 4 and 5 neutralizes the function of the second latching means 22 in the intermediate positions.

[0054] FIG. 10 shows the possibility of a non-symmetric arrangement of the second latching means 22 and the second abutment faces 20.4 and 20.6 relative to axis A. The second abutment faces 20.4 and 20.6 are disposed here for instance as a pair on one side of the axis A or the first latching means A.

[0055] It is also conceivable to combine the embodiments of FIG. 2 or 3 and 10 with each other.

[0056] A transition zone not shown in further detail in the drawing may be provided in the free space or transition zone 24, and such transition zone may be designed for forming a transition between the profile of the active surfaces in the first latching means 14 and that of the second latching means 22.

[0057] It is to be highlighted again that the possibility of a latching between the two components 4 and 6 is to be understood merely as an exemplary embodiment. The respective abutment faces 12.4 and 12.6 or 20.4 and 20.6 may also have other functions and may serve for instance as frictional faces or inhibiting faces and/or as pure support faces. Depending on the latter, the design and/or configuration and/or arrangement and/or the material and the material combination of the abutment faces 12.4 and 12.6 and 20.4 and 20.6 can be designed or selected.

[0058] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the design of the first latching means 14 and second latching means 22 is not necessarily limited to the toothing illustrated in the exemplary embodiment. Other latching geometries in the form of defined faces are conceivable as well. Moreover, ball-type latching means or similar latching elements may be used, too. Such other embodiments may replace the illustrated toothing completely or in part and/or be used in combination therewith.

[0059] The first contact zones 10.4 and 10.6 and the second contact zones 18.4 and 18.6 may be formed in one piece with the material of the respective first and second components 4 and 6. Just as well, these contact zones may also be formed as separate elements which are manufactured from the same material or also a material other than that used for the components 4 and 6 and connected to the respective components 4 and 6 in a non-rotatable manner. This allows to select corresponding material combinations in the area of the abutment faces or latching means, which are optimized for the respective intended use.

[0060] Due to the fact that the second latching means 22 in the form of the two abutment faces 20.4 and 20.6 has a comparably large distance to the axis A, said second latching means is able to take up or absorb high torques, or exert a high holding torque against any turning movement in the bearing assembly 2. Nevertheless, the entire bearing assembly 2 is space-saving and compact in particular in the design of FIGS. 2, 7, 8 and 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0061] A axis [0062] 2 bearing assembly [0063] 4 first component [0064] 6 second component [0065] 8 connecting element [0066] 10.4, 10.6 first contact zone [0067] 12.4, 12.6 first abutment face [0068] 14 first latching means [0069] 16 sealing [0070] 18.4, 18.6 second contact zone [0071] 20.4, 20.6 second abutment face [0072] 22 second latching means [0073] 24 transition zone