EP1228284B1 - Adjustable damping element and method for adjustment thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable damper element (1) is disclosed, which can be braced against the bonnet or the boot lid of a car in a rattle-free manner. The tolerances during production of the chassis make it necessary to adjust the damping element (1). According to the invention, the above is embodied such that the adjustment occurs automatically on the first closure of the bonnet or boot. The damping element (1) thus comprises four functional pieces, namely a stop element (2), a housing (3), a clamp element (4) and a fixing element (5). Whilst the fixing element (5) is not completely screwed into the housing (3), there is a partial positive fit between the stop element (2) and the clamp element (4). The stop element (2) may thus be moved within the housing (3) in a ratchet for the purpose of adjustment. The desired adjustment is fixed by completely screwing in the fixing element (5) to the housing (3), whereby a positive fit between the stop element (2) and the clamp element (4) is formed.

Description

The invention relates to an adjustable damping element for a body opening closing flap with a consisting of a head and a shaft stop element, with a cup-shaped housing, with a concentrically arranged in the housing clamping element, which consists of at least two jaws, between which the shaft the stop element is located, and with a clamping element which can be brought from a first to a second position, wherein in the first position, an axial movement of the stop element in the housing relative to the jaws is possible and in the second position, the shaft is fixed in the housing.

Such a damping element is described in DE 195 14 944 C1. As will be explained in more detail below, the jaws for fixing the shaft of the clamping element are frictionally tilted against the shaft. This is to solve the problem described below.

The hood or the trunk lid of a vehicle store on so-called damping elements and are braced against this rattle. Tolerances in the production of the hood or the lid on the one hand and the body forming the opening make it necessary to provide an adjustable damping element, so that the height of the stop element relative to the body frame can be adapted to the particular circumstances. To a time-consuming manual setting to avoid in which the lid or the hood must be repeatedly closed and reopened to check the reached accuracy of adjustment, damping elements have already been proposed in which the setting almost automatically at the first closing of the hood or the lid takes place, so that subsequently only a fixation of the stop element in the set position is necessary.

Such a device is presented in EP 0 336 833 B1. Accordingly, the damping element consists of a stop element, which has a head and a tubular shaft, and a housing into which the shaft of the stop element is inserted, wherein the housing has a central tube, in the wall of which two opposite tabs are formed by means of a rotatable punch can be pressed to the outside, wherein arranged on the outside hooks engage in the inner wall of the shaft and fix it in the housing. Since the punch protrudes from the bottom of the housing, it is difficult to grip, so that the assembly is difficult.

From DE 195 14 944 C1 (see above), another possibility is known in which the shaft is formed by a cylinder which is encompassed by a cup-shaped clamping element consisting of a plurality of blades. At a so-called driving element a plurality of counter-bevels are formed, which correspond with corresponding slopes on the clamping element. At the same time, the driver element has extensions which engage in the spaces between the lamellae, so that upon rotation of the driver element, the clamping element is also rotated, where it, since it rests on the bottom of the housing rests, is pulled up against the counter slopes. These cause the tilting lamellae to be pressed inwards and thereby pinch the shaft. A disadvantage of this design is that the driver element, the shaft and the clamping element are indeed braced with each other, but no fixation relative to the housing takes place, so that it can not be ruled out that the arrangement dissolves due to vibrations occurring during driving. Moreover, it is disadvantageous that the pressure on the jaws is exerted only at the upper end, so that adjusts a frictional engagement only on a narrow annular surface. To generate the necessary holding force therefore a relatively large pressure on the shaft must be exercised.

The invention is thus based on the problem of providing an adjustable damping element, which is easy to assemble and ensures a secure retention of the fixed setting.

It is therefore proposed a damping element according to the preamble of claim 1 with the further features that the jaws are held radially displaceable at the bottom of the housing.

This arrangement of the jaws has the consequence that they can invest over their entire height to the shaft, which causes a much better fixation with less effort.

It is also proposed that in the first position of the clamping element, a radial movement of the jaws away from the shaft is allowed and that in its second position, the clamping element between a plant is arranged on the housing and the jaws, wherein the clamping element supported on the housing system, the jaws clamped form-fitting manner against the shaft. Due to the radial mobility, the jaws in the first position of the clamping element can either partially, which produces a Teilformschluss, which will be explained in more detail below, or completely detached from the shaft, but this requires that the resistance during insertion of the shaft other way is effected

Preferably, the fixation is improved in the second position by a positive connection, which is achieved by concentric grooves. The amplitude of the grooves easily determines the accuracy of the adjustment.

As already mentioned, the radial mobility can be limited to the outside in such a way that even a partial mold closure between the grooves on the jaws and on the shaft is established. The degree of gearing determines the resistance in the adjustment phase. This ensures that in the adjustment phase, the forces with which the shaft is held between the jaws, not too small, so that it would slip too far during the adjustment process. On the other hand, the once achieved setting is ensured in the long term by the positive locking in the second position.

In order to achieve the positive connection between the jaws and the shaft, the jaws are moved by the clamping element via a wedge gear inwards. This is realized as follows: the jaws are arranged concentrically to the shaft, wherein the lateral surface enclosing the outside of the jaws tapers in the manner of a truncated cone towards the open side of the housing, and the clamping element is provided with corresponding counter-bevels. In this case, the radial movement of the jaws takes place against the spring-yielding in the radial direction effect of the clamping element.

An extremely secure fixation is obtained when the clamping element is designed as an insert piece which can be screwed into the housing and the countersaws are present on lamellae which are arranged at a distance from a tubular thread collar carrying an external thread. There is a circumferential gap between the slats and the thread collar. In this gap, a web extending on the housing ridge protrudes as an attachment for the lamellae of the clamping element. The gap depth corresponds essentially to the height of the jaws. In addition, the web can simultaneously act as an inner support and guidance for the threaded collar.

Another way to hold the clamping element in the housing, consists in a slotted guide. For this purpose, the clamping element on a pin which slides in a slot which is formed by a groove on the inner wall of the housing. The scenery has a vertical and a circumferentially extending section. When driving through the vertical gate section, the clamping element is brought into a position in which the clamping element is fixed in the second position. By rotating the clamping element, wherein the pin passes through the peripheral portion, it is prevented that the clamping element can be solved. The securing of the clamping element in the respective achieved positions is achieved by notches in the groove.

In the solution described so far, the clamping element is axially offset from the first to the second position. It therefore projects slightly above the housing in the first position. For this purpose, the adjustment for the stop element is added, so that its top has a clear distance from the housing. In order to reduce the height of the unit from the housing, the stop element and the clamping element, the invention provides that the jaws are half cylinders having free cuts on both sides parallel to their direction of displacement, so that the common outer contour of the jaws is oval-shaped, and in that the clamping element has two opposite, inwardly directed lugs, which lie in the first position in the cutouts, so that the jaws are radially movable, and in the second position bear against the outside of the half cylinders and press the jaws against the shaft.

Since no contact of the clamping element with the shaft is given in this solution in the first position, it may be located deep in the housing even in the first position and be brought into the second position only by a rotation about the vertical axis of the housing. In the first position, the noses are in the free spaces formed by the free cuts in the housing.

The slight clamping action, which is necessary in adjusting, is effected in this solution not by a partial positive engagement of the shank with the jaws, but in that the clamping element has an inwardly directed collar with inwardly abutting the shank projections. This has the advantage that the clamping element does not have to be set up so that it exerts a resilient effect on the jaws in the first position. It may, as it is only the task has to realize the positive connection in the second position, be constructed much simpler.

In order to effect the rotation in the housing, the clamping element is guided rotatably guided about the vertical axis of the housing in a backdrop with a horizontal portion having a free path for a pin of at least 90 ° measured in the circumferential direction. In this solution, the pin moves in the horizontal section when the clamping element is brought from the first to the second position. The horizontal section should therefore have a length of 90 ° in the circumferential direction.

In order to introduce the pin in the horizontal portion of the backdrop, the backdrop has a vertical, approximately merging into the middle of the horizontal section vertical section.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for adjusting the damping element. This is according to the invention first explained is to first prepare the damping element for installation while screwing the clamping element so far into the housing that a displacement of the shaft between the jaws against a frictional force is still possible. The thus prepared damping element is inserted into the frame of the body opening. Then, the lid is closed, whereby the damping element is moved in the housing against the set Teilformschlusskraft. Subsequently, the clamping element is completely screwed into the housing, wherein the shaft is clamped between the jaws.

According to the solution described last, the method consists in that in a first step, the damping element is assembled, wherein the clamping element is inserted into the housing and oriented towards the housing, that it is in the first position, wherein the shaft against a small Resistance to the housing is displaceable, and wherein the stop element protrudes so far out of the housing, that all possibly adjusting distance dimensions are bridged, that in a further step, the thus prepared damping element in the body frame, which surrounds the opening to be closed, inserted and the flap is closed, wherein the stop element is moved against the resistance, and that in a final step, the clamping element is rotated in the horizontal portion of the gate, so that it occupies the second position in which the jaws fix the stop element.

The two methods differ in that in the first case, the insert for fixing the shaft is displaced vertically, while it is merely twisted in the second case.

The setting achieved in both cases of the stop element corresponds to a support of the lid without bias. To achieve such, an increase is attached or glued to the lid at the point of impact. The bias is achieved by either the head or the elevation being elastic.

Further embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

einen Schnitt durch ein Dämpfungselement mit verspannten Backen gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform und

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt durch ein Dämpfungselement nach Fig. 1 bei nicht verspannten Backen,

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt durch ein weiteres Dämpfungselement, bei dem ein Spannelement mittels einer Kulisse in einem Gehäuse geführt ist,

Fig. 4

in drei Teilfiguren a, b, c unterschiedliche Ausführungen der Kulisse,

Fig. 5

einen Schnitt durch ein Dämpfungselement mit freigegebenen Backen gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 6

einen Horizontalschnitt entlang der Linie VI - VI der Fig. 5, wobei die Backen freigegeben sind und

Fig. 7

ebenfalls einen Horizontalschnitt entlang der Linie VI - VI der Fig. 5, wobei allerdings die Backen verriegelt sind.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to two exemplary embodiments, illustrated in seven figures. Show this

Fig. 1

a section through a damping element with strained jaws according to a first embodiment and

Fig. 2

a section through a damping element according to FIG. 1 with non-strained jaws,

Fig. 3

a section through a further damping element, in which a clamping element is guided by means of a link in a housing,

Fig. 4

in three sub-figures a, b, c different versions of the scenery,

Fig. 5

a section through a damping element with released jaws according to a second embodiment,

Fig. 6

a horizontal section along the line VI - VI of FIG. 5, wherein the jaws are released and

Fig. 7

also a horizontal section along the line VI - VI of Fig. 5, but with the jaws are locked.

The damping element 1 consists of four functional parts, namely a stop element 2, a housing 3, a clamping element 4 and a clamping element 5. The mushroom-shaped stop element 2 consists of a head 6 and a shaft 7, wherein the head 6 carries an elastically resilient cap on which engages the flap closing a body opening, and wherein the shaft 7 can be fixed in the housing 3 by means of the clamping element 4 described in more detail below.

The pot-shaped housing 3 is inserted into a hole in a body frame forming the body frame 8. Two flat ears 9, 9 'on the housing 3 rest on the body frame 8, while two lugs 10, 10' engage under the sheet metal of the body frame 8. The attachment of the housing 3 on the body frame 8 also takes place by means of two expansion rivets 11, 11 ', which are hammered into the ears 9, 9' and thereby spread tongues that hook into frame holes and thereby engage under the sheet metal of the body frame 8.

In the bottom 12 of the housing 3 is a central opening 13, whose diameter is slightly larger than that of the shaft 7, so that it can optionally be passed through the bottom 12.

The concentrically arranged in the housing 3 clamping element 4 consists of two jaws 14, 14 'in the form of two half-shells. These stand with their undersides on the bottom 12 of the housing 3 and are hooked there by means of a clip 15, 15 'in openings. The openings for the clips 15, 15 'are slightly larger than the clips themselves, so that the jaws 14, 14' in radial Direction are movable. The two jaws 14, 14 'enveloping lateral surface runs conically upwards. On the cylindrical inner side of the jaws 14, 14 'are concentric grooves 16, which correspond to corresponding grooves 17 on the outside of the cylindrical shaft 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the case of non-strained jaws they are displaced so far radially outwards that the grooves 16, 17 engage only partially - which is to be referred to as a partial form closure - so that, in the case of a force exerted on the stop element from above this is ratcheted down.

Concentric with the clamping element 4, the clamping element 5 is arranged. It is a threaded into the housing 3 insert piece with a tubular threaded collar 18 which carries a thread on the outside, which corresponds to a corresponding internal thread on the housing wall. At a distance to this threaded collar 18 are further inside to form a gap 19 four arranged in a concentric circle lamellae 20 whose inner surface according to the slope of the jaws 14, 14 'have counter-bevels, so that a large-area contact between the inside of Slats 20 and the outside of the jaws 14, 14 'adjusts when the insert, as shown in Fig. 1, is completely screwed into the housing 3. The slats 20 are uniformly distributed on the circumference and have only a small angular distance between them. You can therefore yield resiliently to the outside.

At the bottom 12 of the housing 3 is a circumferential ridge 21, which is at a fully screwed Insert piece projects into the gap 19 and forms a stop for the slats 20. In the case of an insert piece (FIG. 2) which is only partially screwed in, the lower edge of the lamellae is located above the upper edge of the web 21, so that they can pivot over it.

At the top of the insert there is a circumferential flange 22 which has a plurality of receptacles 23 for a tool. Its diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the housing 3, so that it protrudes beyond the edge thereof. A collar 24 on the insert is directed inwardly and encloses a central opening for the passage of the shaft 7. This collar engages over the jaws 14, 14 ', so that it rests on the upper edge of the jaws and presses against the bottom 12, as soon as the insert has been completely screwed in.

The procedure is as follows: First, the damping element is preassembled as shown in FIG. 2: The jaws 14, 14 'are clipped into the bottom 12 of the housing 3, the insert is only partially screwed so that it still so far out of the Housing 3 protrudes that the slats 20 can be pivoted outwardly over the web 21. The stop element 2 is only inserted so far that it spans the greatest possible tolerance between the frame and flap. This should be indicated by the dash-dotted line. The grooves 17 on the shaft 7 engage so far in the grooves 16 on the jaws 14, 14 'that the stop element 2 does not slip.

This so prepared damping element is inserted into the body frame and as described above by means of the expansion rivet 11, 11 'attached. When at Closing the flap on the stop element 2 from above a force is exerted, results in a ratcheting effect: The jaws 14, 14 'soft outward against the resilient force of the lamella groove for groove. In addition, the jaws 14, 14 ', even resiliently widen, so that the grooves 16, 17 come out of engagement with those on the shaft in the edge zones. In this case, the stop element 2 is brought into a position which is typical for the respective vehicle.

To fix the stop element 2 in this position, the insert is screwed into the housing. In this case, press the counter-bevels on the blades 20 against the bevels on the jaws 14, 14 'and move them inwardly against the shaft 7, so that the grooves 16, 17 completely interlock and produce a positive connection. In this case, the outside of the slats 20 is supported on the web 21, so that they can no longer yield resiliently.

As far as the setting of a further bias for the flap is necessary, an optionally elastic increase is attached to the underside of the lid in the attachment point, with a corresponding bias is given.

Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the damping element, in which the clamping element 5 is guided by means of a slotted guide in the housing 3. The slotted guide consists of a pin 30 which protrudes laterally from the clamping element 5 at half height, and a groove corresponding to the pin 30, which forms the link 31.

As FIGS. 4 a, b, c show, in which a development of the housing wall is shown, the guide 31 extends in two sections, namely a vertical section 32 and a circumferentially extending section 33. The clamping element 5 is compressed to compress the clamping element 4 guided with the pin 30 through the vertical portion 32 of the guide 31, whereby it is brought into its lowest position in the housing 3. The clamping element 4 is thereby brought into its second position, in which a positive connection between the clamping element 4 and the shaft 7 is present. Subsequently, the clamping element 5 is rotated, wherein the pin 30 passes through the circumferentially extending portion 33 of the link 31. This rotation is done by hand. For this purpose, there is at the top of the clamping element 5, one or more wings 34th

Thus, the once reached positions of the clamping element 4 at the ends of the sections 32, 33 are each irreversible, located in the side walls of the link 31 forming groove locking elements 35, 36. A first locking element 35 is located at the end of the vertical section 32, so that the pin 30 is held at the end of this section and the clamping element 5 can not be pushed out of the housing 3 again. Also at the end of the circumferentially extending portion 33 is another locking element 36 to hold the clamping element 5 in its final position. The latching elements 35, 36 can each be designed as elevations in the groove wall, as shown in Fig. 4a. However, as shown in FIG. 4b, these elevations may be provided with undercuts in order to increase their flexibility. But they can also, as shown in FIG. 4c, be formed as tongues.

An embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 5-7 will now be described. The damping element 1 is also in this embodiment of four functional parts, namely a stop element 2, a housing 3, a clamping element 4 and a clamping element 5. The mushroom-shaped stop element 2 consists of a head 6 and a shaft 7, wherein the head 6 is an elastically resilient Carries cap on which the flap closing a body opening comes to rest and wherein the shaft 7 can be fixed in the housing 3 by means of the clamping element 4 described in more detail below.

The pot-shaped housing 3 is inserted into a hole in a body frame forming the body frame 8. There it is fastened in the manner as already described in the first embodiment.

In the bottom 12 of the housing 3 is a central opening 13, whose diameter is slightly larger than that of the shaft 7, so that it can optionally be passed through the bottom 12.

The concentrically arranged in the housing 3 clamping element 4 consists of two jaws 14, 14 'in the form of two half-cylinders with lateral cutouts, so that the common contour of the two jaws 14, 14' in a horizontal section have the shape of an oval, which in Figs. 6 and 7 is clearly visible. With their lower sides are the jaws 14, 14 'on the bottom 12 of the housing 3 and are hooked there in each case by means of a clip 15, 15' in openings. The openings for the clips are slightly larger than the clips themselves, so that the jaws 14, 14 'are movable in the radial direction. To improve the leadership are on the ground 12 rails 37 in the form of webs which extend into corresponding grooves on the underside of the jaws 14, 14 '.

The clamping element 5 consists of a cylinder 40 whose outer diameter corresponds to the inner diameter of the housing 3. At the upper end of the cylinder 40 has an outwardly directed flange 22 and an inwardly directed collar 24 having an opening for the shaft 7, in which this is guided with a relatively precise fit. In the opening are projections not shown here, which exert a slight clamping action on the shaft 7.

On the outside of the cylinder 40 are pins 30, each engaging in a slot in the side wall of the housing 3. The gate consists of a horizontal portion 41 and a vertical portion 42. The horizontal portion 41 includes an angle of approximately 90 °, so that the clamping element 5 can be rotated by this angle in the housing 3.

The vertical portion 42, which opens from the upper edge of the housing 3 coming into the horizontal portion 41, serves to be able to insert the pins 25 in the horizontal portion 41 can. To insert the clamping element 5 in the housing 3, the pins 30 are guided by the vertical portions 42 until they are in the horizontal portions 41. The clamping element 5 has then occupied the lowest position in the housing 3, as shown in Fig. 5.

The cylinder 40 has on an inner side two lugs 43, 43 ', which extend over the entire height of the cylinder 40 and whose inner sides are convexly curved. After the clamping element 5 in the housing 3 is introduced, it is rotated in one direction so that the lugs 43, 43 'lie in the free spaces formed by the cutouts, as shown in FIG. The clamping element 5 is now in the first position. The jaws 14, 14 'can now move radially outward when the shaft 7 is introduced into the housing 3 in the damping element 1. Since the jaws 14, 14 'are not resiliently loaded as in the first embodiment, they exert no lateral pressure on the shaft 7. The resistance to the shaft 7 is essentially caused by the projections in the opening of the collar 24.

When the shaft 7 has reached its desired position, the clamping element 5 is rotated by 90 ° in the other direction, so that the lugs 43, 43 ', as shown in Fig. 7, lie behind the jaws 14, 14' and these against push the shaft 7. The clamping element 5 is now in the second position. Since both the shaft 7 and the jaws 14, 14 'are provided with grooves 16, 17, results in a stable positive connection. The rotation of the clamping element 5 is carried out with a tool which is attached to the correspondingly shaped flange 22.

Since the pin 30, as already explained in the first embodiment, in the respective end positions by locking elements, which are not shown here again, are secured, the fixation of the shaft 7 in the housing 3 can not solve.

The adjustment of the damping element 1 is carried out as in the first embodiment with the difference that the clamping element 5 is brought from the first to the second position by rotation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

damping element

2

stop element

3

casing

4

clamping element

5

clamping element

6

head

7

shaft

8th

body frame

9

ear

9 '

ear

10

nose

10 '

nose

11

Spreizniet

11 '

Spreizniet

12

ground

13

opening

14

jaw

14 '

jaw

15

clip

15 '

clip

16

grooves

17

grooves

18

threaded collar

19

gap

20

slats

21

web

22

flange

23

admission

24

collar

25

spigot

26

scenery

30

spigot

31

scenery

32, 33

section

34

wing

35, 36

locking element

37

rail

40

cylinder

41, 42

gate section

43, 43 '

nose

Claims (23)

1. An adjustable damping element (1) for a flap closing an opening in a bodywork,
   comprising
   an impact element (2) consisting of a head (6) and a shank (7),
   a cup-shaped housing (3),
   a clamping element (4) which is arranged concentrically in the housing and consists of at least two cheeks (14, 14') between which the shank (7) of the impact element (2) is located, and also comprising
   a chucking device (5) which is moveable from a first into a second position, wherein an axial movement of the impact element (2) in the housing (3) relative to the cheeks (14, 14') is possible in the first position and the shank (7) is fixed in the housing (3) in the second position,
   characterised in that the cheeks (14, 14') are held in radially displaceable manner on the base (12) of the housing (3).
2. A damping element in accordance with Claim 1, characterised in that, in the first position of the chucking device (5), a radial movement of the cheeks (14, 14') away from the shank (7) is permitted and in that, in its second position, the chucking device (5) is arranged between the cheeks (14, 14') and a locating member on the housing (3) wherein the chucking device (5) that is supported on the housing locating member braces the cheeks (14, 14') against the shank (7).
3. A damping element in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that, in the second position, the shank (7) is positively fixed in the housing (3) between the cheeks (14, 14').
4. A damping element in accordance with Claim 4 [sic], characterised in that respective concentrically running grooves (16 and 17) are located on the inner surface of the cheeks (14, 24') and on the outer surface of the shank (7).
5. A damping element in accordance with either of the Claims 3 or 4, characterised in that, in the first position, there is a partial snug fit between the cheeks (14, 14') and the shank (7), wherein an axial movement of the impact element (2) in the housing (3) relative to the cheeks (14, 14') is still possible.
6. A damping element in accordance with Claim 5, characterised in that the cheeks (14, 14') are arranged concentrically relative to the shank (7), in that the envelope surface including the outer surface of the cheeks (14, 14') extends conically towards the open end of the housing (3) in the manner of a truncated cone and in that the chucking device (5) comprises counter-slopes corresponding to the envelope surface.
7. A damping element in accordance with Claim 6, characterised in that the chucking device (5) consists of an insert piece which is adapted to be screwed into the housing (3) and incorporates a tubular threaded collar (18) having an external thread and lamellas (20) incorporating the counter-slopes which are spaced from said collar and aligned in the axial direction wherein a gap (19) is formed between the lamellas (20) and the threaded collar (18).
8. A damping element in accordance with Claim 7, characterised in that a circular web (21) is disposed on the base (12) and functions as a locating member for the chucking device (5) in its second position.
9. A damping element in accordance with Claim 8, characterised in that the web (21) functions as an internal support for the threaded collar (18).
10. A damping element in accordance with Claim 9, characterised in that the gap depth substantially corresponds to the length of the cheeks (14, 14').
11. A damping element in accordance with Claim 7, characterised in that the height of the web (21) is selected such that, in the first position of the chucking device (5), the lamellas (20) are pivotal radially outwardly over the web (21).
12. A damping element in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the chucking device (5) is guided by means of a connecting link guidance means in the housing (3).
13. A damping element in accordance with Claim 12, characterised in that a peg (30) projects radially outwardly from the outer surface of the chucking device (5) and is guided in a guideway (31) formed by a groove in the inner wall of the housing (3).
14. A damping element in accordance with Claim 13, characterised in that the guideway (31) comprises a vertical section and a section running in the peripheral direction (32, 33).
15. A method for the adjustment of a damping element in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that, in a first step, the damping element (1) is assembled, wherein the insert piece is inserted only so far into the housing (3) that the chucking device (5) is located in the first position in which there is a partial snug fit between the cheeks (14, 14') and the shank (7) and the impact element (2) projects out from the housing (3) to such an extent that all possible lengths of path for the adjusting distance are covered, in that in a further step the thus prepared damping element (1) is inserted into the bodywork frame (8) which surrounds the opening that is to be closed and the flap is closed wherein the impact element (2) is displaced in latching manner between the cheeks, and in that in a subsequent step the insert piece is introduced completely into the housing (3) wherein it is moved into its second position wherein the cheeks (14, 14') fix the impact element (2).
16. A damping element in accordance with any of the Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the cheeks (14, 14') are half cylinders which comprise free spaces on both sides that are parallel to their direction of displacement so that the common outer contour of the cheeks (14, 14') is oval-shaped, and in that the chucking device (5) comprises two opposed, inwardly directed noses (43, 43') which lie in the free spaces in the first position so that the cheeks (14, 14') are radially displaceable and which rest on the outer surface of the half cylinders in the second position and thereby press the cheeks (14, 14') against the shank.
17. A damping element in accordance with Claim 16, characterised in that the chucking device comprises an inwardly directed collar (24) having inwardly directed projections which rest on the shank (7) whereby a light clamping effect is exerted on the shank (7).
18. A damping element in accordance with Claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the chucking device (5) is held and guided in a guideway having a horizontal section (41) such as to be rotatable about the main axis of the housing (3), said horizontal section comprising a free path for a peg (30) of at least 90° as measured in the peripheral direction.
19. A damping element in accordance with Claim 18, characterised in that, for the purposes of introducing the chucking device into the housing, the guideway has a vertically extending vertical section (42) which merges approximately into the centre of the horizontal section (41).
20. A damping element in accordance with Claim 14 or 19, characterised in that a latching element (35, 36) is provided at least at the end of a horizontal section (41) for making return movement of the peg (30) more difficult.
21. A damping element in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that an outwardly projecting flange (22) that is provided with a seating (23) for a tool is arranged on the upper end of the chucking device (5).
22. A method for the adjustment of a damping element in accordance with any of the Claims 16 - 21, characterised in that the damping element (1) is assembled in a first step wherein the chucking device (5) is introduced into the housing (3) and oriented with respect to the housing in such a way that it is located in its first position in which the shank is displaceable with respect to the housing against a slight resistance, and wherein the impact element (2) projects out from the housing (3) to such an extent that all possible lengths of path for the adjusting distance are covered, in that in a further step the damping element (1) prepared in such a manner is inserted into the bodywork frame (8) which surrounds the opening that is to be closed and the flap is closed, wherein the impact element (2) is displaced against the resistance, and in that in a subsequent step the chucking device (5) is rotated in the horizontal section (41) of the guideway so that it adopts the second position in which the cheeks (14, 14') fix the impact element (2).
23. A method for the adjustment of a damping element in accordance with Claim 16 or 22, characterised in that, after the adjustment has been effected, a possibly resilient raised part is attached at the position of the flap with which the head (6) of the impact element (2) engages.

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