Fastening element

Abstract

Disclosed is a fastening element, which can be provided in particular as a wheel nut, to be screwed onto a thread. The fastening element includes a nut with an internal thread. In addition, the fastening element includes an expansion sleeve which connects axially to the nut. The expansion sleeve is developed without an internal thread and is realized in one piece with the nut. In addition, the fastening element includes a pressure plate. The pressure plate is arranged on a side of the expansion sleeve remote from the nut and is fastened so as to be captively rotatable on the expansion sleeve.

Claims

1. A fastening element adapted to be screwed onto a thread, the fastening element comprising: a nut with an internal thread; a threadless expansion sleeve axially connected to and formed in one piece with the nut; a pressure plate arranged on a side of the expansion sleeve remote from the nut, wherein the pressure plate is captively rotatable on the expansion sleeve and has a conical or curved development in an axial section plane parallel to an axis of the fastening element, wherein a cross section of the pressure plate widens continuously or in steps in an axial direction pointing away from the nut and wherein the pressure plate defines an inwardly facing, annular concave surface to thereby form a cup-shaped structure which generates a spring effect; and wherein the expansion sleeve comprises an unthreaded length that is located between an end of the pressure plate nearest the internal thread and an end of the internal thread nearest the pressure plate.

2. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expansion sleeve comprises a circular cylindrical lateral surface.

3. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure plate is connected to the expansion sleeve by a flanging.

4. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expansion sleeve comprises a length along an axis of the fastening element which is between 0.5 times and 6 times a diameter of the internal thread.

5. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nut and the expansion sleeve form a continuous bore, wherein the bore comprises a greater diameter in a region of the expansion sleeve than in a region of the nut.

6. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure plate comprises a greater outside diameter than the expansion sleeve.

7. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal thread is adapted to be screwed onto a thread at least as large as an M8 thread.

8. The fastening element as claimed in claim 7, wherein the internal thread is adapted to be screwed onto a thread at least as large as an M12 thread.

9. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening element is a wheel nut.

10. The fastening element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure plate defines a first annular contact surface facing the expansion sleeve and the expansion sleeve defines a second annular contact surface facing the pressure plate and wherein the first and second contact surfaces are in full flush contact in an unloaded condition and allow rotational movement between the pressure plate and expansion sleeve.

11. A fastening element adapted to be screwed onto a thread, the fastening element comprising: a nut with an internal thread; a threadless expansion sleeve axially connected to and formed in one piece with the nut; a pressure plate arranged on a side of the expansion sleeve remote from the nut, wherein the pressure plate is captively rotatable on the expansion sleeve and has a conical or curved development in an axial section plane parallel to an axis of the fastening element, wherein a cross section of the pressure plate widens continuously or in steps in an axial direction pointing away from the nut and wherein the pressure plate defines an inwardly facing, annular concave surface to thereby form a cup-shaped structure which generates a spring effect; and wherein the expansion sleeve comprises a length along an axis of the fastening element which is at least 0.5 times a diameter of the internal thread.

12. A fastening element adapted to be screwed onto a thread, the fastening element comprising: a nut with an internal thread; a threadless expansion sleeve axially connected to and formed in one piece with the nut; a pressure plate arranged on a side of the expansion sleeve remote from the nut, wherein the pressure plate is captively rotatable on the expansion sleeve and has a conical or curved development in an axial section plane parallel to an axis of the fastening element, wherein a cross section of the pressure plate widens continuously or in steps in an axial direction pointing away from the nut and wherein the pressure plate defines an inwardly facing, annular concave surface to thereby form a cup-shaped structure which generates a spring effect; and wherein the expansion sleeve comprises a length along an axis of the fastening element which is at least 0.5 times a length of the internal thread of the nut along the axis.

13. The fastening element as claimed in claim 12, wherein the length of the expansion sleeve along the axis of the fastening element is between 1.0 times and 10 times the length of the internal thread along the axis of the fastening element.

14. A method for fastening a wheel on a vehicle using a plurality of fastening elements according to claim 1, said method including the following steps: a) placing the wheel onto a wheel carrier of the vehicle, wherein studs or wheel bolts of the vehicle are pushed through holes in the wheel rim; b) placing the fastening elements onto the studs or wheel bolts; and c) screw-connecting the fastening elements to the studs or wheel bolts, wherein a tool is fitted on the outside contours of the nuts and wherein the pressure plates of the fastening elements come to rest on a rim of the wheel during the screw-connection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above-mentioned aspects of exemplary embodiments will become more apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a fastening element according to this disclosure; and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a part-sectioned representation of the fastening element according to FIG. 1 from the side.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a fastening element wherein a cross section of the pressure plate widens in steps in an axial direction pointing away from the nut.

DESCRIPTION

(5) The embodiments described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of this disclosure.

(6) FIGS. 1 and 2 show an exemplary embodiment of a fastening element 110 in the form of a wheel nut 112. In this case, FIG. 1 shows a top view of the fastening element 110, whereas FIG. 2 shows a partially sectioned representation of the fastening element 110 in a section plane perpendicular to the drawing plane in FIG. 1. FIG. 2, as an example, specifies lengths which are, however, not to restrict the invention and which can also be replaced by other measurements.

(7) The fastening element 110 includes a basic body 114 which is divided into a nut 116 and an expansion sleeve 118. The nut 116 and the expansion sleeve 118 are arranged coaxially with respect to an axis 120 and directly adjoin one another along the axis 120. The basic body 114 with the nut 116 and the expansion sleeve 118 are realized in one piece and can be produced, in particular, from a steel, for example, a grade 10 steel to DIN 74361-3. In addition, the basic body 114, as stated above, can be provided with a coating, for example, as corrosion protection.

(8) As can be seen, for example, from FIG. 2, the basic body 114 preferably comprises a continuous bore 122. In the region of the nut 116, said bore 122 comprises an inside diameter d.sub.1, and in the region of the expansion sleeve 118 an inside diameter d.sub.2. The inside diameter d.sub.1 of the nut 114 can correspond, for example, to a nominal diameter of an internal thread 124 of the nut 116, for example, a metric or non-metric internal thread, for example, with a nominal diameter M8. For example, wheel nuts M10, M12, M20 or even M22 are able to be produced. The inside diameter d.sub.2 of the threadless expansion sleeve 118 can be developed so as to be greater, for example, than the inside diameter d.sub.1, for example, by at least 1.3 times the diameter d.sub.1. In a transition region 126 between the expansion sleeve 118 and the nut 116, which can still be attributed to the expansion sleeve 118, the bore 122 can comprise, for example, a conical development, whereas the bore 122 is otherwise preferably developed in a cylindrical manner.

(9) A pressure plate 128 is arranged on the end of the expansion sleeve 118 pointing away from the nut 116. The pressure plate 128 is connected to the expansion sleeve 118 so as to be rotatable and captive, for example, by means of a flanging 130 or a crimp connection. The pressure plate 128 can comprise, for example, a support surface 140, by means of which the pressure plate 128 is able to be fitted onto a bearing surface, for example, a surface of a rim. When it is thus fitted, the expansion sleeve 118 preferably does not contact the rim such that the support surface 140 provides the furthest downwardly protruding surface in the axial direction in FIG. 2.

(10) The expansion sleeve 118 can comprise, for example, an outside diameter d.sub.3 which, as an example, can be about 46 mm. Other measurements are, however, also possible. The pressure plate 128 can comprise an outside diameter d.sub.4 which is preferably greater than the outside diameter d.sub.3 and which, as an example, can be about 53 mm. Other measurements are, however, also possible.

(11) The nut 116 comprises in the axial direction, for example, a length l.sub.1 which can be determined in particular by the length of the internal thread 124. The expansion sleeve 118 can comprise a length l.sub.2 in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 2, said length can be calculated upward from the end of the internal thread 124. The length of the expansion sleeve 118 downward can be defined, for example, up to the start of the flanging 130 such that the flanging 130 itself no longer contributes to the length of the expansion sleeve 118. As an alternative to this, the flanging 130 could, however, still be calculated in the length l.sub.2. For example, the length l.sub.1 can be between 5 and 25 mm, for example, 18 mm, whereas the length l.sub.2, as an example, can be between 20 and 80 mm, for example, 60 mm. Other dimensions are, however, also possible.

(12) In order to provide a sufficient expansion length, it is particularly preferred when the length l.sub.2 of the expansion sleeve 118 is at least 0.5 times the diameter d.sub.1 of the internal thread 124 of the nut 116, preferably at least 1.0 times and in a particularly preferred manner at least 1.5 times. Thus, the length l.sub.2 can be, for example, between 0.5 times and 5 times the diameter d.sub.1, preferably between 1.0 times and 6 times and in a particularly preferred manner 2 times. As an alternative to this or in addition to it, the length l.sub.2 of the expansion sleeve 118 can be at least 0.5 times, in particular at least 1.0 times, the length l.sub.1 of the internal thread 124 of the nut 116 and/or can be, for example, between 1.0 times and 10 times, preferably between 1 times and 5 times and in a particularly preferred manner between 2 times and 3 times the length l.sub.1. Other dimensions are, however, also possible.

(13) The expansion sleeve 118, as can be seen in FIG. 2, preferably comprises a predominantly cylindrical development, with a circular cylindrical lateral surface 142. Other contours are, however, also fundamentally possible. The pressure plate 128, in contrast, preferably comprises a conical development, for example, with a conical lateral surface 144. Other developments are, however, also possible.

(14) In the region of the nut 116, the fastening element 110 preferably comprises an outside contour 146 which enables a tool to be fitted thereon. As an example, this can be a hexagon, for example, a hexagon according to a metric or non-metric standard. An SW 34 hexagon is specified in FIG. 1 as an example.

(15) When using the wheel nut 112, a wheel can be fitted onto a wheel carrier of a vehicle, studs or wheel bolts of the vehicle being pushed through holes in the rim of the wheel. The wheel nut 112 can then be fitted according to FIGS. 1 and 2 onto the thread of the studs or wheel bolts and screw-connected with the studs or wheel bolts. In particular in the area of commercial vehicles, agricultural vehicles and construction vehicles, whether it be motor vehicles or also trailers, enormous loads occur in this case on account of the dimensions that are normal here. Said pre-tensioning force in the axial direction is able to be absorbed by the expansion sleeve 118. As in the exemplary embodiment shown there is no joint whatsoever between the nut 116 and the expansion sleeve 118, the fastening element 110 shown is additionally very unsusceptible to contamination and corrosion. In addition, the fastening operation is comparatively simple compared to normal fastening operations with a multiple-part development, for example, using a separate expansion sleeve.

(16) An alternative embodiment is shown in a highly schematic view in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, a fastening element 150 is shown and includes a basic body 152 including both the nut and expansion sleeve similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. The embodiment of FIG. 3 also includes a pressure plate 154 wherein a cross section of the pressure plate widens in steps in an axial direction pointing away from the nut. As noted above, FIG. 3 is a highly schematic representation and does not represent actual shapes, relative proportions and/or dimensions of the basic body and pressure plate.

(17) While exemplary embodiments have been disclosed hereinabove, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(18) 110 Fastening element 112 Wheel nut 114 Basic body 116 Nut 118 Expansion sleeve 120 Axis 122 Bore 124 Internal thread 126 Transition region 128 Pressure plate 130 Flanging 140 Support surface 142 Lateral surface 144 Conical lateral surface 146 Outside contour