CONNECTING ELEMENT AND CONNECTING ARRANGEMENT
20220341448 · 2022-10-27
Inventors
- Hans Herzog (Strullendorf, DE)
- Norman Huemmer (Ebensfeld, DE)
- Michael Jahn (Bad Staffelstein, DE)
- Uwe Rausch (Tambach-Dietharz, DE)
- Daniel Spindler (Friedrichroda, DE)
- Manuel Stoebe (Finsterbergen, DE)
- Jan Stoetzer (Tambach-Dietharz, DE)
Cpc classification
F16B19/008
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16B21/02
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
B60R13/0206
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
F16B5/0642
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16B29/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
Abstract
A connecting element for mechanically connecting at least two components has a closure head for abutment against a first component and having a closure foot for abutment against a second component and for bracing the latter against the first component in a rotated final-mounting position. A stem portion extends between the closure head and the closure foot, which is spaced apart axially from the closure head in the longitudinal direction of the stem. The closure head has a sealing surface that extends in the longitudinal direction of the stem portion and sealingly abuts against a corresponding sealing surface of a recess in the first component. There is also described a connecting arrangement with a first component and at least one second component and a corresponding connecting element. The latter may be made from a single material component.
Claims
1. A connecting element for mechanically connecting at least two components, the connecting element comprising: a closure head for abutment against a first component; a closure foot for abutment against a second component and for bracing the second component against the first component in a rotated final installation position of the connecting element; a stem portion extending between said closure head and said closure foot, wherein said closure foot is axially spaced apart from said closure head in a longitudinal direction of said stem portion; said closure head being frustoconical with a sealing surface tapering towards said closure foot and extending in a longitudinal direction of said stem portion, for sealing abutment against a corresponding sealing surface of a recess formed in the first component.
2. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein said closure head with said sealing surface, said closure foot, and said shaft portion together form a single-component plastics component.
3. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein said closure head is formed with an annular space and radial inner struts formed in said annular space.
4. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein said stem portion is a hollow body.
5. The connecting element according to claim 4, wherein said hollow body is closed off on a free end side by a stem foot.
6. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein said closure foot is formed with a joining element for releasably latching to a corresponding latching element of the first component.
7. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein said closure foot is formed with lock arms extending radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said stem portion and having lock flanks running V-shaped or wedge-shaped with respect to one another and a lock apex connecting said lock flanks and facing said closure head.
8. The connecting element according to claim 7, wherein one of said lock flanks of at least one of said lock arms runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stem portion and another one or said lock flanks of said lock arm runs at an angle obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of said stem portion.
9. The connecting element according to claim 8, wherein said lock flank, which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stem portion, of said one lock arm is arranged opposite said lock flank, which runs obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of said stem portion, of the other said lock arm.
10. The connecting element according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a stop element or a securing cam.
11. The connecting element according to claim 10, wherein said at least one stop element or securing cam is formed on said closure head.
12. A connecting arrangement, comprising: a first component having a recess formed therein with a sealing surface; a second component each being formed with a passage opening; and a connecting element, having: a closure head for abutment against said first component; a closure foot for abutment against said second component and for bracing said second component against said first component in a rotated final installation position of said connecting element; a stem portion extending between said closure head and said closure foot and axially spacing said closure head and said closure foot apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of said stem portion; said closure head having a sealing surface extending in the longitudinal direction of said stem portion, for sealing abutment against said sealing surface of said recess formed in said first component; wherein, in a preassembly position, said connecting element is held on said first component and said closure foot is located in said passage opening of said first component; wherein, in a final installation position, with said passage openings axially aligned with one another, said connecting element reaches through said passage openings of said first and second components and a connection between said first and second components is produced when said connecting element is rotated from an angular insertion position into an angular end position; and wherein a pair of sealing surfaces is formed in said first component between said connecting element and said first component, with said sealing surface of said closure head sealing against said sealing surface in said recess of said first component.
13. The connecting arrangement according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said sealing surface of said closure head or said sealing surface of said recess is cone-shaped or conical.
14. The connecting arrangement according to claim 12, wherein one or both of the following is true: said connecting element is releasably latched in the preassembly position to said closure foot and, by way of said passage opening, to said first component by way of corresponding joining and latching elements; and said closure head has a perimeter wall and is configured with said perimeter wall to be radially elastic.
15. A connecting arrangement, comprising: at least one function carrier, a body part, and a connecting element connecting said body part to said function carrier; said connecting element having holding structures at a first end thereof; said body part being formed with an aperture through which said first end of said connecting element, in an introduction position, can be passed together with said holding structures in a connecting direction; wherein, after rotation about an angle of rotation, said holding structures are interlocked in a closed position against said body part; said function carrier having a passage opening formed therein with a conically running abutment wall and with a base surface in which said passage opening of said function carrier is formed; said connecting element having a closure head with a perimeter wall; and wherein, following a rotation of said connecting element into a closed position, said perimeter wall lies in a radially sealing manner against a side wall or inner wall of said passage opening and said function carrier is clamped axially against said body part.
16. The connecting arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said connecting element is formed in two parts comprising a sleeve which is formed with a thread and which expands in a thread-bearing part, and which is connected to said closure head, by rotation of said closure head in relation to said sleeve.
17. The connecting arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said sleeve has a central bolt with an external thread, and wherein: a stem adjoining said closure head of said connecting element is hollow-cylindrical and formed with an internal thread; and/or said central bolt is surrounded by a hollow-cylindrical outer wall.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
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[0064] Mutually corresponding parts and dimensions are provided with the same reference signs throughout the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0065] Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, in particular, to
[0066] In other words, the closure head 4 is frustoconical and has a perimeter wall or encircling skirt 6 which forms the sealing surface 7 tapering along the stem portion 6 towards the closure foot 5. The closure head 4 extends axially in the direction of the center axis M of the connecting element 1 or along the longitudinal axis L of the stem portion 6. The latter is designed as a hollow body with a stem foot 9, which is closed on the free end side or base side, at the stem end facing away from the closure head 4. The axial direction based on the longitudinal axis L of the stem and on the center axis M of the connecting component 1 is denoted by A in
[0067] The connecting element 1 is a connecting component in the style of a quarter-turn fastener or quick-acting closure. The closure foot 5, suitably in helical form, is spaced apart axially from the closure head 4 along the stem portion 6 in the longitudinal direction L of the stem. The connecting element 1 with the closure head 4 with its sealing surface 7 and with the closure foot 5 and also with the stem portion 6 is a single-component plastics component (1C component).
[0068] In the exemplary embodiment, two web-like stop elements 10 are provided or are integrally formed on the closure head 4 and protrude radially over the closure head 4. A radial securing cam 11 is mounted upstream of each of the stop elements 10 in the circumferential direction U, the securing cam being integrally formed on the outer circumference of the closure head 4 in a manner offset axially with respect to the sealing surface 7 and protruding radially over the closure head 4. In addition, the connecting element 1 has, on or in the closure head 4, a tool-holder 12 for receiving a corresponding tool. In the exemplary embodiment, the tool holder 12 is designed in the form of a hexagon socket for receiving an Allen wrench as the tool. The stop elements 10 can also be provided at other positions on the connecting element 1.
[0069] As can also be seen in
[0070] In
[0071] Advantageously, the axial height h of the closure head 4 corresponds to between 30% and 40% of the axial height or length H of the connecting element 1 and between 50% and 60% of the axial height or length l of the stem 16. The axial height b of the closure foot 5 preferably corresponds to between 40% and 50% of the axial height or length H of the connecting element 1 and to between 65% and 75% of the axial height or length l of the stem 16.
[0072] As is apparent comparatively clearly from
[0073] The angle (cone angle) α illustrated in
[0074] As is apparent from
[0075] The perimeter wall 8 of the closure head 4 and the inner wall (abutment wall) 17 of the recess 19 of the first component 2 form a pair of sealing surfaces 7, 18. In other words, the perimeter wall 8 and the inner wall (abutment wall of the carrier) 17 form a pair of sealing surfaces in the form of a truncated cone. When the closure head 4 or the perimeter wall 8 thereof buts against the inner-circumferential inner wall 17 of the bead-like recess 19 of the first component (carrier) 2, a high degree of tightness (sealing) of the connecting element (1) and of the first component 2 is provided without additional, for example flexible and/or elastic sealing elements (sealing lip or the like). As illustrated in the figures, the sealing surfaces 7, 18 formed by the abutment-collar-side perimeter wall 8 and by the component-side inner wall 17, or the pair of sealing surfaces, are or is encircling.
[0076] The closure foot 5 and the stem 16 carrying the latter and with the stem portion 6 between the closure head 4 and the closure foot 5 are provided and designed for rotatably passing the connecting element 1 through corresponding passage openings (apertures) 20, 21 in the components 2, 3.
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[0078] In the installation state or joining state (final installation state) shown in
[0079] In the final installation state, the connecting element 1 is secured on the first component 2 by means of the stop elements 10 against further rotation and by means of the securing cams 11 against inadvertent reverse rotation and release. For this purpose, for the respective stop element 10, a corresponding stop contour 10a is provided on the first component 2.
[0080] The closure foot 5 has two diametrically opposite wings or lock arms 24, which run radially with respect to the stem portion 6 or to the stem axis L thereof, as holding structures. The two components 2, 3 are thereby braced against one another in the final installation state between the closure head 4 and the closure foot 5. The lock arms 24 of the closure foot 5 have lock flanks 24a, 24b running in a V-shaped or wedge-shaped manner with respect to one another. A lock apex 24c connecting the lock flanks 24a and 24b faces the closure head 4.
[0081] One of the lock flanks 24a, 24b, here the lock flank denoted by 24a, runs parallel to the stem portion 6 or to the longitudinal axis L of the stem, while the other lock flank 24b runs obliquely or at an inclination at a wedge angle β with respect to the stem portion 6 or with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stem and center axis L, M (
[0082] As can be seen in
[0083] The connecting arrangement 25 illustrated in
[0084] In the angular end position (final installation state) of the connecting arrangement 25 shown in
[0085] The connecting element 1 shown in
[0086] The connecting element 1 with the closure head 4 with its sealing surface 7 and with the closure foot 5 and also with the stem portion 6 is likewise preferably a single-component plastics component (1C component). Also in this embodiment, the closure head 4 has, as sealing surface 7, a lateral surface or abutment surface tapering frustoconically along the stem portion 6 toward the closure foot 5.
[0087] As can also be seen in
[0088] In this embodiment, the first component 2 as mating surface to the frustoconical perimeter wall 8 of the closure 84 of the connecting element 1 has a cylindrical inner wall or abutment wall 17 with a correspondingly cylindrical sealing surface or abutment surface 18 of the recess 19 of the first component 2, the recess receiving the closure head 4 over part of its axial height h. The perimeter wall 8 of the closure head 4 and the inner wall (abutment wall) 17 of the recess 19 of the first component 2 in turn form a pair of sealing surfaces 7, 18.
[0089] As is apparent from
[0090] In the installation state or joining state (final installation state) shown in
[0091] During said rotational movement of the connecting element 1, the axially acting bracing force leads to the closure head 4 being pressed into the component-side recess 19. The resultant surface pressure of the closure head 4 in the recess 19 of the first component 2 leads to a corresponding (radial) deformation of the closure-head-side perimeter wall 8 and/or of the component-side, here cylindrical, inner wall 17 of the first component (carrier) 3. For this purpose, the wall thickness x, y of the closure-head-side perimeter wall 8 or of the component-side inner wall 17 has correspondingly thin dimensions.
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[0093] The connecting element 30 of this design, which is illustrated perspectively in
[0094] That part of the connecting element 30 which has the closure head (head) 31 has a hollow-cylindrical stem 38 which is fixedly connected to the head 31 and which has an internal thread corresponding to the external thread of the bolt 34. The stem 38 can therefore be screwed to the bolt 34 of the sleeve 32. During rotation of the head 31 in the tightening direction of rotation, the head 31 and the sleeve 32 are moved with respect to one another.
[0095] As illustrated in
[0096] In summary, the invention relates to a connecting element 1, preferably made from one material component, for the mechanical connection of at least two components 2, 3, having a closure head 4 and a closure foot 5 for bracing the second component 3 against the first component 2 in a final installation position, and also a stem portion 6, wherein the closure head 4 has a sealing surface 7, which extends axially (in the longitudinal direction L of the stem), for sealing abutment against a sealing surface 18 of a recess 19 of the first component 2. A module arrangement or connecting arrangement according to the invention comprises a first component 2 and at least one second component 3, and also such a connecting element 1 or 30.
[0097] The claimed invention nis not restricted to the exemplary embodiment described above. On the contrary, it is also possible for other variants of the invention to be derived therefrom within the scope of the disclosed claims by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the subject matter of the claimed invention. In particular, all individual features described in conjunction with the various exemplary embodiments may furthermore also be combined with one another in some other way within the scope of the disclosed claims, without departing from the subject matter of the claimed invention.
[0098] In addition, the described solution can be used not only in the specifically illustrated application, but also in a similar embodiment in other motor vehicle applications, for example in door systems and tailgate systems, in power windows, in vehicle locks, in adjustable seat systems and interior systems, and in electric drives, controllers, sensors and the arrangement thereof in the vehicle.
[0099] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: [0100] 1 Connecting element [0101] 2 First component/function carrier [0102] 3 Second component/body part [0103] 4 Closure head/abutment collar [0104] 5 Closure foot/transverse lock [0105] 6 Stem/stem portion, or shaft [0106] 7 (Abutment-collar-side) sealing/abutment surface [0107] 8 Perimeter wall/skirt [0108] 9 Stem foot [0109] 10 Stop element [0110] 10a Stop contour [0111] 11 Securing cam [0112] 12 Tool holder [0113] 13 Wall [0114] 14, 14a Annular space [0115] 15 Inner strut [0116] 16 Stem [0117] 17 Inner wall/abutment wall [0118] 18 (Component-side) sealing/abutment surface [0119] 19 Recess/cup [0120] 20, 21 Passage opening/aperture [0121] 22 Securing groove [0122] 23 Opening edge [0123] 24 Lock arm/wing [0124] 24a Parallel lock flank [0125] 24b Oblique lock flank [0126] 24c Lock apex [0127] 25 Connecting arrangement [0128] 26 Joining element/radial groove [0129] 27 Latching element/latching cam [0130] 28 Parallel wall [0131] 30 Connecting element [0132] 31 Closure head [0133] 32 Sleeve [0134] 33 Outer wall [0135] 34 Bolt [0136] 35 Form-fitting structure [0137] 36 Outer drive [0138] 37 Perimeter wall/skirt [0139] 38 Stem [0140] 39 Wall [0141] 40 Cup [0142] A Axial direction [0143] D Diameter of the abutment collar [0144] H Axial height of the connecting element [0145] L Longitudinal axis of the stem [0146] M Center axis [0147] R Radial direction [0148] U Circumferential direction [0149] b Axial height of the transverse lock [0150] h Axial height of the abutment collar [0151] l Axial height of the stem [0152] x, y Wall thickness [0153] α Cone angle [0154] β Wedge angle