CA2763103A1

CA2763103A1 - Eccentric adjusting element and eccentric disc for said eccentric adjusting element

Info

Publication number: CA2763103A1
Application number: CA2763103A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Thorsten Schraer
Original assignee: Ruia Global Fasteners AG
Current assignee: Ruia Global Fasteners AG
Priority date: 2009-04-02
Filing date: 2010-03-15
Publication date: 2010-10-07
Also published as: DE202009004589U1; WO2010112022A1; CN102741568A; EP2414686A1; DE112010001513A5

Abstract

The invention relates to an eccentric adjusting element (10) having a pin (18) having a profiled section (20) at at least one free end, and an external thread (22) connecting thereto at the end side and having a lesser diameter, wherein an eccentric disc (24) is placed on the profiled segment (20), said disc being secured by a nut (28) threaded onto the external thread, and a hollow cylindrical or tube-shaped spacer (26) is mounted between the eccentric disc (24) and the nut (28), and a method for threading such an eccentric adjusting element.

Description

Eccentric adjusting element and eccentric disc for said eccentric adjusting element Description Technical field [0001] The present invention relates to an eccentric adjusting element and to an eccentric disc for said eccentric adjusting element, and to a method for the production of an eccentric adjusting element of this type.

Prior art [0002] Eccentric adjusting elements are enjoying an ever increasing popularity in the automotive industry, in particular for the realisation of the adjustment functions on the chassis.

[0003] These eccentric adjusting elements originally comprised a bolt-type screw with an eccentric disc firmly attached directly below the head and an external thread which was interrupted by a profiling so that the second eccentric disc could be fitted onto this profiling with a defined angular position of eccentricity. The entire eccentric adjusting element was then secured or fixed by screwing a nut onto the external thread.

[0004] However, early on it was found that the corresponding external threads in-terrupted by a profiling are dangerous because, when loaded, they have unusual charac-teristics; in particular they suddenly fracture as the load increases, whereas continuous external threads exhibit a normal load behaviour.

[0005] Therefore, the eccentric adjusting elements with an external thread inter-rupted by a profile were set aside in favour of solutions in which the profiling and external thread are arranged separately on the shank of the bolt-type screw. In these solutions, provided approximately in the central region of the bolt is a profiling for attaching the second eccentric disc and towards the end of the bolt, an external thread adjoins this pro-filed portion, said external thread then being used for screwing on a nut.

[0006] Corresponding adjusting elements are known, for example from FR 2720 845 Al.

[0007] Eccentric adjusting elements also exist in which both discs are fitted onto a profiled shank. The profiling then either runs over the entire shank of the screw, as in DE
20 2007 0064 10 U 1 or, provided on both ends of a headless rod are a respective profiled portion and an external thread at the end thereof, as in DE 20 2007 013 473 U1.

[0008] Particularly preferred configurations of the profiling are found in DE

2009 000 623 U 1.

[0009] All of these solutions suffer from the problem that the nut cannot be screwed over the profiling. Therefore, the attached eccentric element cannot be tightened and fixed with a normal nut. Instead, as presented in each of the above-mentioned doc-uments, a specifically configured nut is required for this purpose in which a tubular or hol-low-cylindrical shoulder is provided which has a significantly larger internal diameter than the internal thread of the nut so that when the nut is tightened, said shoulder can engage over the profiling and can there exert the necessary pretensioning force onto the eccen-tric disc.

[0010] The production of nuts of this type is very expensive because they have to be produced as specific parts. In particular, it is difficult to realise the different internal diameters for the hole of the internal thread and for that part of the hole and furthermore the region over which the profile with a significantly larger internal diameter engages has to be adjusted to the respective case of use.
Presentation of the invention [0011] Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to make it possible to use normal commercially available standard nuts in the above-mentioned eccentric adjust-ing elements, instead of the specific parts which have been conventional hitherto. Up until now, it has been a major advantage of eccentric adjusting elements or eccentric adjusting screws provided with profilings cut into the external thread that the much cheaper and more readily available standard nuts could be used in this case.

[0012] This object is achieved according to the invention by an eccentric adjusting element comprising a pin with at least one free end having a profiled portion and an ex-ternal thread which adjoins at the end thereof and has a relatively small external diame-ter, in which eccentric adjusting element an eccentric disc is fitted onto the profiled por-tion and is secured by a nut which is screwed onto the external thread, in that a hollow cylindrical or tubular spacer is attached between the eccentric disc and the nut.

[0013] A particularly simple production of the spacer is provided when the spacer is inserted loosely between the eccentric disc and the nut. A correspondingly cut tubular piece is then satisfactory as the spacer.

[0014] However, a simpler assembly (fewer individual parts) is provided when the spacer is rigidly connected to the eccentric disc.

[0015] Recommended methods for connecting the spacer to the eccentric disc are adhesive bonding, caulking or welding methods.

[0016] A further preferred solution is that the spacer itself is provided internally with a counter profile matching the profile of the profiled portion and is pressed into a re-cess in the eccentric disc. In this manner, it is possible to produce different angular posi-tions of eccentricity between the profile and the eccentric disc with only one eccentric disc and only one spacer in that the spacer which alone bears the profile is pressed, bonded or welded into the eccentric disc at the respectively desired angle.

[0017] A particularly high flexibility with respect to the angular relationships to be realised between the profile in the spacer and the eccentricity of the eccentric disc is pro-vided when the spacer is configured to be circular on the outside and when the recess in the eccentric disc is also configured to be circular.

[0018] However, if a transmission of force is desired between spacer and eccentric disc which is as optimum as possible, it is recommended to configure the exterior of the spacer as a polygon, preferably as a square or hexagon and to configure the recess in the eccentric disc corresponding to t he external shape of the spacer.

[0019] The object according to the invention which has been described above can also be achieved with conventional eccentric adjusting elements when merely an eccentric disc according to the invention is used which is provided with a hollow cylindrical or tubu-lar spacer.

[0020] In this respect, the spacer is preferably adhesively bonded, caulked or welded to the eccentric disc.

[0021] Here as well it is preferred to provide the interior of the spacer with a pro-file and to press, bond or weld the spacer into a recess in the eccentric disc if an optimum flexibility is desired in respect of the association between eccentricity of the disc and a n-gular position of the profile.

[0022] In order to be able to realise a large number of very different angular posi-tions of this type, it is particularly preferred for the exterior of the spacer to be circular and for the recess in the eccentric disc also to be circular.

[0023] However, if the best possible transmission of force is desired between spacer (and thus the profile) and the eccentric disc, it is particularly preferred for the ex-terior of the spacer to be configured as a polygon, preferably as a square or hexagon and for the recess in the eccentric disc to be configured corresponding to the external shape of the spacer.

[0024] The spacer can preferably be inserted into the eccentric disc and caulked, welded or adhesively bonded therein.

[0025] In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

Brief description of the drawings [0026] Fig. 1 shows an eccentric adjusting element according to the invention, where an eccentric disc with an integrally form ed spacer is used;

[0027] Fig. 2 shows a further eccentric adjusting element according to the inven-tion with a spacer loosely inserted between eccentric disc and nut;

[0028] Fig. 3 shows an eccentric adjusting element according to the invention with a spacer inserted into the eccentric disc, each in a partially sectional view from the side;

[0029] Fig. 4 shows an eccentric adjusting element according to Fig. 1, 2 or 3, seen from the nut side;

[0030] Fig. 5 shows the section A-A according to Fig. 1 or 2; and [0031] Fig. 6 shows the section B-B from Fig. 3.
Best method for implementing the invention [0032] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an eccentric adjusting element 10 accord-ing to the invention with an eccentric screw 12 having a hexagonal head 14 which directly merges into a first eccentric disc 16. Adjoining this eccentric disc 16 is a circular shank 18 which is provided with a profiling 20 in a central region between the head 14 and the end of said shank 18. An external thread 22 with a relatively small external diameter adjoins the profiling 20 towards the end of the shank 18.

[0033] Instead of the eccentric screw 12 described here, an eccentric screw with a fully profiled shank can also be provided for the present invention, in which case the first eccentric disc 16 is not produced integrally with the head 14 or pressed or caulked onto the shank 18, but is also fitted onto the profile.

[0034] Similarly, the present invention can also be used in the case of an eccentric rod; here, instead of the head 14 and the first eccentric disc 16, in a mirror-inverted manner to the profiling and to the external thread shown here, the same construction is provided at the other end of the rod. Corresponding eccentric rods are known, for exam-ple from DE 20 2007 013 473 U1, to which reference is hereby made with respect to the description of an eccentric rod as such.

[0035] An eccentric screw with a profiling which extends over the entire shank and with two attached eccentric discs is known, for example from DE 20 2007 006 410 U 1.

[0036] However, in Fig. 1, unlike the prior art mentioned above, a simple second eccentric disc is not fitted onto the profiling 20. Instead, a specific second eccentric disc 24 is provided here which has, in a known manner, a hole or a punch-out which is pro-vided with a counter profile to the profile 20.

[0037] According to the invention, a tubular, i.e. hollow cylindrical shoulder 26 is attached in one piece to the eccentric disc 24. This shoulder 26 has the same internal di-ameter as the hole or punch-out in the eccentric disc 24. It can optionally also be pro-vided with the same profiling, although this is not compulsory for the operation of the present invention.

[0038] However, unlike the prior art, a specific nut with a hollow cylindrical shoul-der for screwing down the second eccentric disc 24 is not required. According to the in-vention, the shoulder 26 extends right up into the region of the external thread 22 and in this way the second eccentric disc 24 can be secured by screwing on a commercially available standard nut 28. Thus, it is now possible for the first time to use a commercially available standard nut 28 for securing or screwing down the eccentric disc 24 in the case of an eccentric adjusting element with a profiling which is spatially separated from the ex-ternal thread. According to the invention, the nut 28 no longer has to be able to partially engage over the profiled portion 20 in addition to the external thread 22.

Method(s) for implementing the invention [0039] Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of the present invention. Here, the same eccentric screw 12 is used in the illustrated example as in Fig 1. In this respect, ref-erence is made to the description of the eccentric screw in Fig. 1; the same features are characterised by the same reference signs.

[0040] In this further embodiment according to the invention, an eccentric disc 124 which is already known from the prior art and has a matching profiled hole or punch-out is fitted onto the profiling 20 of the shank 18 of the eccentric screw 12.

[0041] However, according to the invention, the commercially available standard nut 28 illustrated in Fig. 1 can also be used here for securing and screwing down the second eccentric disc 124.

[0042] This is achieved according to the invention in that in the present embodi-ment, a hollow cylindrical spacer 126, i.e. a spacer which corresponds in shape to a short tubular portion, is introduced between the eccentric disc 124 corresponding to the prior art and the nut 28. This spacer 126 merely needs to have an adequately large internal di-ameter. It does not need to have a profiling. Thus, the production of a spacer 126 of this type is extremely simple.

[0043] Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the present invention. Here as well, the eccentric screw 12 known from the prior art is used, as is described in detail in Fig. 1.
The same reference signs again denote the same components.

[0044] In this embodiment of the present invention as well, a specific second ec-centric disc 224 is fitted onto the profiling 20 of the shank 18 of the eccentric screw 12.
However, in the present case, the eccentric disc 224 consists of two parts. It comprises the actual eccentric disc which, however, in this embodiment is provided with a relatively large punch-out. Inserted by pressing, adhesively bonding or welding into this larger punch-out is a hollow cylindrical element 226 which has a coaxial inner hole provided with a counter profile which matches the profile 20. The spacer 226 has a circular or polygo-nally configured outer contour at least in the region with which this spacer 226 is inserted into the eccentric disc 224. The disc 224 has a punch-out or hole with a corresponding in-ternal diameter and a matching inner contour. The region of the spacer 226 which is in-serted into the disc 224 can have a relatively large diameter and/or a different outer con-tour to avoid errors during insertion, for example an insertion which is too deep or obli-que, in the region which is not to be inserted into the disc 224, so that a stop stage 228 is formed, against which the disc 224 rests after assembly of disc 224 and spacer 226.

[0045] The combination, provided here, of second eccentric disc 224 and spacer 226 can be screwed down and secured by a commercially available standard nut 28 which is screwed onto the external thread 22 of the eccentric screw 12.

[0046] Fig. 4 shows a view of the embodiments of the invention according to Fig.
1, 2 or 3 from the nut side, i.e. seen from the free end of the shank 18 of the screw 12. It should be noted that this view is identical for all embodiments according to Fig. 1, 2 or 3.

[0047] Fig. 4 shows how the second eccentric disc 24/124/224 is screwed down and secured by a commercially available nut 28 which is screwed onto the external thread 22 of the shank 18 of the screw 12.

[0048] Fig. 5 shows a view along the section A-A of Fig. 1 or 2. It should be noted that the two sectional views are identical.

[0049] It can be seen here how the eccentric disc 24 or 124, provided with a pro-file according to DE 20 2009 000 623 U 1 is fitted onto the shank 18 provided with a coun-ter profile which is also configured according to DE 20 2009 000 623 Ul.

[0050] Fig. 6 shows the section B-B from Fig. 3.

[0051] Here again it is possible to see the cut shank 18 of the eccentric screw 12 with the profile 20 according to DE 20 2009 000 623 U1. However, the corresponding counter profile is configured in the spacer 226 which, in this embodiment, extends through the eccentric disc 224. For this purpose, the eccentric disc 224 is provided here with a correspondingly larger hole or punch-out. At least the end of the spacer 226 di-rected towards the observer is provided with a corresponding outer contour. In the illu-strated embodiment, this is a hexagonal contour. However, other polygonal contours are also possible according to the invention, for example a square contour.
Furthermore, the outer contour of the spacer 226 can also be circular for other specific cases of use. The circular configuration allows a free association of the eccentricity of the disc 224 with the position of the counter profile in the spacer 226, while a configuration of the outer con-tour of the spacer 226 as a polygon allows a much better transmission of force onto the disc 224 between the spacer 226 and thus the profile 20, and therefore the screw 12, but at the cost that merely specific angular stages are still possible during the association be-tween eccentricity of the disc 224 and profile 20.

Claims

Claims [Claim 0001] Eccentric adjusting element (10; 10'; 10") comprising a pin (18) with at least one free end having a profiled portion (20) and an external thread (22) which adjoins at the end thereof and has a relatively small external diameter, an eccentric disc (24; 124; 224) being fitted onto the profiled portion (20) and being secured by a nut (28) screwed onto the external thread (22), characterised in that a hollow cylindrical or tubular spacer (26; 126; 226) is attached between eccentric disc (24; 124;
224) and nut (28).
[Claim 0002] Eccentric adjusting element (10') according to claim 1, characterised in that the spacer (126) is inserted loosely between eccentric disc (124) and nut (28).
[Claim 0003] Eccentric adjusting element (10; 10") according to claim 1, charac-terised in that the spacer (26; 226) is rigidly connected to the eccentric disc (24; 224).
[Claim 0004] Eccentric adjusting element (10; 10") according to claim 3, charac-terised in that the spacer (26; 226) is adhesively bonded, caulked or welded to the eccen-tric disc (24; 224).
[Claim 0005] Eccentric adjusting element (10") according to claim 1, characte-rised in that the spacer (226) is provided internally with a counter profile which matches the profile of the profiled portion (20) and is pressed into a recess in the eccentric disc (224).
[Claim 0006] Eccentric adjusting element (10") according to claim 5, characte-rised in that the exterior of the spacer (226) is configured to be circular and the recess in the eccentric disc (224) is configured to be circular.
[Claim 0007] Eccentric adjusting element (10") according to claim 5, characte-rised in that the exterior of the spacer (226) is configured as a polygon, preferably as a square or hexagon, and the recess in the eccentric disc (224) is configured corresponding to the external shape of the spacer (226).
[Claim 0008] Eccentric adjusting element (10") according to claim 7, characte-rised in that the spacer (226) is inserted into the eccentric disc (224) and is caulked, welded or adhesively bonded therein.
[Claim 0009] Eccentric disc (24; 224), characterised in that it is provided with a hollow cylindrical or tubular spacer (26; 226).

[Claim 0010] Eccentric disc (24; 224) according to claim 9, characterised in that the spacer (26; 226) is adhesively bonded, caulked or welded to the eccentric disc (24;
224).
[Claim 0011] Eccentric disc (224) according to claim 9, characterised in that the spacer (226) is provided internally with a profile and is pressed into a recess in the eccen-tric disc (224).
[Claim 0012] Eccentric disc (224) according to claim 11, characterised in that the exterior of the spacer (226) is configured to be circular and the recess in the eccentric disc (224) is configured to be circular.
[Claim 0013] Eccentric disc (224) according to claim 11, characterised in that the exterior of the spacer (226) is configured as a polygon, preferably as a square or hexagon and the recess in the eccentric disc (224) is configured corresponding to the external shape of the spacer (226).
[Claim 0014] Eccentric disc (224) according to claim 13, characterised in that the spacer (226) is inserted into the eccentric disc (224) and is caulked, welded or adhesively bonded therein.
[Claim 0015] Method for screwing down an eccentric adjusting element (10) formed by a pin (18) with at least one free end having a profiled portion (20) and an ex-ternal thread (22) which adjoins at the end thereof and has a relatively small external di-ameter and an eccentric disc (24) which is fitted onto the profiled portion (20), characte-rised in that for the screwing procedure, a commercially available standard nut (28) is used and a tubular spacer (126) is inserted between eccentric disc (124) and nut (28).
[Claim 0016] Method according to claim 15, characterised in that the spacer (126) is inserted loosely between the eccentric disc (124) and the nut (28).
[Claim 0017] Method according to claim 15, characterised in that before the ec-centric adjusting element (10) is screwed down, the spacer (126) is rigidly connected to the eccentric disc (124) by adhesive bonding, caulking or welding.