EP2116678B1 - Connection between at least two components - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a connection between at least two components of a truck, trailer and / or semi-trailer, with a connecting element, wherein the one component is a metallic base body with an opening, wherein the other component is an attachment with also an opening, wherein a connecting pin of Connecting element passes through the opening of the attachment, wherein on the side facing away from the base body of the opening of the attachment, the connecting element has a connecting head, the connecting head by its size prevents removal of the attachment from the connecting pin, wherein the connecting element is integrally formed and wherein the connecting pin at least partially inserted into the opening of the body and is held directly in the opening of the body.

Compounds of the type mentioned have long been known in various embodiments. These are in particular screw connections, riveted joints or connections with a bolt, which is secured by means of a split. These types of connections are also used in the assembly of trucks, trailers of trucks or so-called semi-trailers, in particular of their structures, used (see, eg DE 32 45 205 A ).

The compounds mentioned can be easily produced today, but this requires the handling of special tools and / or a series of steps, which increases the assembly times and installation costs drives. This is particularly important in the production of the aforementioned goods, since a whole series of said compounds is required. In addition, the installation of such facilities causes a significant portion of the total cost. For this reason, there is a need for as simple and fast to produce connections to reduce installation costs.

The present invention is therefore based on the object, the compound of the type mentioned in such a way and further, that the possibility of manipulation of commercial vehicle bodies is reduced.

The aforementioned object is achieved by a compound according to claim 1.

The invention has recognized that the assembly can be accelerated and simplified by the use of a connector, since no special tools for mounting are needed. The connecting element does not have to be screwed into a previously cut thread, as is the case with screw connections, nor must the connection be secured from the back of the base body with a split pin. Also can be dispensed with the cumbersome insertion of a rivet and the subsequent attachment of the rivet. The connecting element is simply plugged in, without further work steps must be provided. It is therefore not about a connection created in the manner of a dowel, in which after the actual insertion of the connecting element nor a spreading of the connecting element must be guaranteed.

The term insertion is understood here quite generally the insertion by hand without an additional tool or the impact, Einschießen and / or impressions using a corresponding tool.

Due to the one-piece structure, it is achieved that the connection does not first have to be created by assembling the actual connecting element of several individual parts. In addition, the connecting pin is held in the opening of the base body. A counter or the like of the back of the body is thus dispensable, as well as the creation of a through opening. A basic body with a blind opening or preferably a blind bore would be perfectly adequate. The opening may, if necessary, also be formed as a passage opening.

The main body and the attachment are part of a truck, trailer and / or trailer, in particular of an open or closed structure of a truck, trailer and / or trailer.

In a first embodiment of the connection can be provided that the main body is a door of a closed structure of a truck, a trailer and / or a trailer and the attachment is a hinge. Such a connection is preferred because it is easy and quick to assemble and in any case can partially absorb the high forces to hold the door on the hinge anyway.

The connection head is held against rotation on, preferably in, attachment. This ensures a predetermined orientation of the connection head, which is about a permanent Can represent information for a user. In a closed structure can be prevented by the connecting head, which is against rotation, a rotational movement thereof preferably both in one direction and in the other direction. For an arrangement of the connection head in the attachment, the attachment preferably has a recess for at least partially receiving the connection head.

By way of example, the connection can also provide a duty-proof closure, for example between the hinge and the door of a closed structure. These closures are required on the customs side, if an unauthorized and unrecognizable opening of the structure by third parties should be prevented. Then the doors of a truck or trailer are sealed. However, this alone does not provide sufficient security against unauthorized and undetected permanent access to the goods located in the closed structure, if it is possible to release the hinges of a door of the structure and then mount again in the original way to the door.

To ensure that the hinges can not be undetected, customs are currently calling for the use of so-called asymmetric welding solutions. The hinges are fastened with commercially available screws to the doors, for example, at least one screw head is arranged in an elongated recess of a hinge. A likewise elongated steel plate corresponding to the inner contour of the recess is placed on the screw head and welded to the screw head via a small through-hole in the steel plate. The steel plate lies in the recess of the hinge in such a way that the screw connected to the steel plate can not be unscrewed out of the door without the steel plate being torn off from the screw head or being noticeably damaged.

A manipulation of the hinge would therefore be detectable from damage to the steel plate or require a great deal of time and equipment for restoring the original state, since a steel plate must be welded onto the corresponding screw head again after the hinge has been opened. Both unjustifiably safe from an opening of the duty-locked structure from.

The welding of the steel plate with the screw head is associated with a strong heating of the screw and the hinge. As a result of this heating, there is the risk that the structure of the material will change and a surface protection of the screw in the form of a lacquer layer, galvanizing or other finishing will be damaged. Such damage causes the tendency to corrosion increase significantly. Another disadvantage is that the installation of the customs fuses takes a long time.

Due to the one-piece nature of the connecting element, it is possible to dispense with the welding process known from the prior art which on the one hand leads to an acceleration of the assembly and on the other hand to avoid structural changes and damage to the surface protection as a result of elevated temperatures. At the same time, however, the connecting element can no longer be screwed to a door of the structure due to its one-piece nature, as is known from the prior art.

In this connection, it should be noted that the non-rotatable arrangement of the connecting element in the hinge serves less to avoid the actual solution of the connection than to the detection in which the fastening element used is the connection element which indicates the secure connection. In other words, customs-friendly and non-customs-cleared connections must be clearly distinguished. In addition, the connection head serves the customs to determine whether the connection is undamaged.

A rotationally secure arrangement of the connecting head on the attachment, in particular on the hinge, is ensured by the fact that the connecting head has a non-rotationally symmetrical outer contour.

A simple and cost-effective production of the connecting element is thereby ensured, for example, that the connecting head has a substantially elongated, preferably oval outer contour. Alternatively, of course, other elongated embodiments of the connecting head can be provided. A non-rotationally symmetrical outer contour results in this context also for connecting heads with star-shaped and rectangular cross-sections or the like.

It is particularly expedient if the connection head is provided in a recess of the attachment and the inner contour of this recess substantially or at least partially corresponds with the outer contour of the connection head. In this case, it can be ensured in a simple manner that a rotation of the connecting head is prevented, regardless of the direction of rotation. Alternatively or additionally, however, it would also be conceivable for the attachment to have an abutment surface against which the connecting head of the connecting element strikes during the rotation thereof. Further preferably, the attachment or the hinge on two abutment surfaces, so that the connecting element abuts in both directions of rotation on the attachment.

In a further embodiment of the connection is alternatively or additionally provided that the outer, remote from the connecting pin end of the connecting head embedded at least flush in the recess of the fixture, preferably recessed in the recess of the fixture is. In this way it is ensured that can no longer be easily attacked with a tool on the connection head after assembly of the connecting element, so that unauthorized withdrawal of the connecting element is avoided. This is particularly advantageous in connection with a bonded closure of a closed structure.

The connecting element is preferably non-positively, positively, frictionally and / or cohesively held in the opening of the body. In this way it is possible to introduce the connecting element, in particular the connecting pin, in the opening of the base body, without the connecting pin would have to be rotated about its own axis. The connecting element can therefore be inserted and / or driven in easily and quickly, which considerably shortens the necessary assembly time.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the connecting pin has a knurling for connecting the connecting element to the opening of the main body. This knurling allows, for example, on the one hand, the turning of the connecting element in the body without twisting the connecting element and at the same time the firm non-positive and possibly positive fixing of the connecting pin in the attachment, which is particularly advantageous for the connection between the hinge and door of the closed structure. Therefore, the connecting element can not be easily removed again. Alternatively, the knurling could also be designed such that the connecting pin is held only frictionally in the door, but lower extraction forces can be realized. Also in this case, the connection can not be solved easily again. Furthermore, it is conceivable, although less preferred, that the knurling of the connecting pin serves for firmly gluing the connecting element in the base body.

The knurling can be designed differently. In any case, however, the knurling has at least one projection and thus differs from the substantially smooth remainder of the connecting pin.

In this context, it further lends itself to when the knurling has a plurality of ribs spaced from each other in the longitudinal extent of the connecting pin. Such ribs withstand high pull-out forces. If this is sufficient in terms of pull-out forces, only a single rib can be provided.

If the ribs each extend in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the connecting pin or in a plane approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the connecting pin, particularly high pull-out forces can be absorbed by the connection. The described arrangement of the ribs also allows embracing the ribs through the body after the introduction of the connecting element, so that in this way a positive connection and / or a frictional connection can be established.

On the one hand to be able to bring the connecting element without excessive force in the opening of the body and on the other hand to avoid loosening of the connecting element, the flanks of the individual ribs may have different inclinations. The inclination of the free end of the connecting pin facing edge of the ribs is flatter than the inclination of the connecting head facing flanks of the ribs. In other words, the flanks are chamfered towards the free end of the connecting pin. The remaining flanks extend On the other hand, preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the connecting pin or even inclined to the connection head. The ribs ultimately form a series of barbs.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the structure of the connecting pin in a blind hole of the body, preferably the door, in particular a special fitting of the door, introduced. In this way it is prevented that the connecting head milled out and the connecting pin forcibly knocked out of the body, for example, knocked into the closed structure, is. In such a case, the door could be opened and then closed by introducing a new connection element such that the interim opening is no longer readily recognizable.

When inserting the connecting pin in the blind hole, it may happen that the previously located in the blind hole atmosphere is compressed so much that the introduction of the connecting pin in the blind hole can not be performed or only with a very high force. So that the connecting element can also be positioned in a blind hole without increased expenditure of force, at least one flow channel for the escape of the atmosphere displaced by the connecting pin from the blind hole can be provided between the connecting pin and the blind hole.

This can be realized in a structurally particularly simple manner in that the ribs have at least one recess or interruption along the circumference of the connecting pin. This will not cause the ribs a shutter of the blind hole against the compressed atmosphere within the blind hole. Instead, the compressed atmosphere may escape through the recesses or breaks in the fins, more or less along a flow channel formed in this manner.

Fig. 1

einen Lastkraftwagen mit einem Kofferaufbau für einen Auflieger umfassend die erfindungsgemäße Verbindung,

Fig. 2

ein Detail II des Kofferaufbaus aus Fig. 1 im Bereich eines Scharniers,

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt durch das in der Fig. 2 dargestellte Detail entlang der Schnittebene III-III gemäß Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

ein Verbindungselement der erfindungsgemäßen Verbindung in einer Seitenansicht und

Fig. 5

das Verbindungselement aus Fig. 4 in einer Draufsicht aus der Richtung V aus Fig. 4.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one embodiment.
In the drawing shows

Fig. 1

a truck with a box body for a semi-trailer comprising the compound according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a detail II of the box body Fig. 1 in the area of a hinge,

Fig. 3

a cut through that in the Fig. 2 shown detail along the section plane III-III according to Fig. 2 .

Fig. 4

a connecting element of the compound according to the invention in a side view and

Fig. 5

the connection element Fig. 4 in a plan view from the direction V from Fig. 4 ,

In the Fig. 1 is a truck L with a trailer A, a so-called trailer, shown, which carries a closed structure 1 in the form of a box body. Alternatively, this could also be a semi-trailer in the form of a bunk. Such platforms have in Contrary to the illustrated box body no fixed side walls, but only plan on. Also flatbeds have, if necessary, rear doors, which are fastened by hinges to a rear wall frame.

The representation of a semitrailer, if one is also generally preferred, is to be regarded as exemplary. Alternatively, a structure of a trailer could alternatively be the construction of a truck or a conventional trailer.

The illustrated and so far preferred closed structure 1 has a roof panel 2, two side wall panels 3, a not shown in detail floor panel and a door 4 having the rear wall 5. The doors 4 of the rear wall 5 are fixed by means of hinges 6 to a rear wall frame 7, which may be formed in part by the side wall panels 3.

That in the Fig. 1 shown, a hinge 6 comprehensive detail II is in the Fig. 2 shown enlarged. The hinge 6 is fastened via a corresponding suspension to the rear wall frame 7 or the side wall panel 3. The other half of the hinge 6 is connected by two screws 8 with the door 4, wherein the screws 8 have round screw heads, which are embedded in corresponding circular recesses 9 of the hinge 6. Between the screws 8, a connecting element 10 is arranged, which also connects the hinge 6 fixed to the door 4. Also, the connecting head 11 of the connecting element 10 is received in a corresponding recess 12 of the hinge 6. Unlike the Screw heads, the connecting head 11 of the connecting element 10 is elongated, namely oval, formed. Since the connecting head 11 of the connecting element 10 is arranged in a corresponding, that is oval, recess 12, the connecting head 11 and thus the entire connecting element 10 is fixed against rotation in the hinge 6. In addition, due to the oval configuration of the connecting head 11, the connecting element 10 can be readily recognized from the outside as a customs safeguard and thus distinguished from the usual screwed connections. As is the case with ordinary screws, the connecting element 10 is also formed in one piece, in particular machined out of a blank by machining.

Another difference between in the Fig. 2 illustrated connecting head 11 and the screw heads also shown is that the connecting head 11 has no special surfaces for engaging a screwing. Corresponding surfaces are not required because the connecting element 10 is inserted or wrapped in the hinge 6 and not screwed.

The way in which the door 4 is connected to the hinge via the connecting element 10 is particularly in the Fig. 3 shown. The Fig. 3 shows a horizontal section at the level of the connecting element 10 by in the Fig. 2 shown part of the back wall 5. The in the Fig. 3 illustrated and so far preferred door 4 has an outer fitting element 13 which bears against the hinge 6. The fitting element 13 serves for the local stiffening of the door 4 and has a blind hole 14 in the form of a blind bore into which the connecting element 10 is inserted. At the transition between the connecting pin 15 and the connecting head 11, the illustrated and so far preferred connecting element 10 has a cross-sectional widening on which the connecting element 10 is supported relative to the hinge 6 and the hinge 6 so permanently in contact with the fitting element 13 of the door 4 holds.

An unintentional disconnection of the connection is achieved by the provided at the free end of the connecting pin 15 knurling 16 which engages positively in the fitting element 13 of the door 4. Even if in the illustrated preferred embodiment, the connecting head 11 of the connecting element 10 would be milled off, the remaining connecting pin 15 could not be easily pushed or pushed into the interior of the box body by the rear wall 5, since the free end of the connecting pin 15th of the connecting element 10 in the blind hole 14 of the fitting element 13 of the door 4 is arranged.

That in the Fig. 3 illustrated connecting element 10 is enlarged in the Fig. 4 shown. The connecting head 11 of the connecting element 10 is slightly inclined with respect to the longitudinal extent of the connecting pin 15. This inclination of the connecting head 11 with respect to the connecting pin 15 can be varied in other areas, without affecting the functionality of the connecting element 10 in connection with the hinge 6. The knurling 16 in the region of the free end of the connecting pin 15 is formed by a plurality of parallel ribs 17, each in a plane substantially perpendicular to Longitudinal extent of the connecting pin 15 are arranged circumferentially.

In order to bring the connecting element 10 without much effort in the door 4 and in the fitting element 13 of the door 4, the free end of the connecting pin 15 facing flanks 18 of the ribs 17 are chamfered, the flanks 18 away from the free end of the Connecting pin 15 are inclined.

The opposite, the connecting head 11 facing flanks 19 of the ribs 17 are aligned in the illustrated and so far preferred connecting element 10 substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the connecting pin 15. The ribs 17 therefore represent individual barbs, which dig into the material of the fitting element 13 of the door 4. The connection between the fitting element 13 and the connecting element 10 can therefore absorb very high pull-out forces.

The ribs 17 of the illustrated and so far preferred connecting element 10 each have four interruptions 20 over their circumference, wherein the interruptions 20 of the ribs 17 are aligned in each case in the longitudinal extension of the connecting pin 15. As a result of these interruptions 20, which may alternatively be formed as recesses and not aligned, resulting between the connecting element 10 and the fitting element 13 of the door 4, a flow channel 21, compressed by the insertion of the connecting pin 15 in the blind hole 14 and displaced Atmosphere, especially air, can escape to the outside. As a result of this flow channel 21 can form no appreciable overpressure within the blind hole 14, which would adversely affect the forces required for the introduction of the connecting element 10. Such a flow channel 21 is exemplary in the Fig. 3 shown.

In the in the Fig. 5 illustrated and so far preferred connecting element 10, the respective ribs 17 four interruptions 20. One could therefore also alternatively see each individual rib 17 as given by four sub-ribs. All four interruptions 20 of each rib 17 are aligned one behind the other in the longitudinal extent of the connecting pin 15. Although this is not absolutely necessary, but allows a quick and safe venting of the blind hole 14 during insertion of the connecting pin 15. Further, in the Fig. 5 Again, the preferred embodiment of the connecting head 11 with an oval contour in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the connecting pin 15 is shown.

It is not shown in detail that the illustrated and so far preferred connecting element 10 has a coating. The coating is provided on the entire connecting element 10, although only partially applied coatings would be possible. In the connection region between connecting element 10 and door 4 and hinge 6, the coating prevents the occurrence of contact corrosion in the manner known in the prior art. At the top of the connecting head 11, the coating performs optical purposes and also prevents corrosion. The upper side of the connecting head 11 can already be finished before connecting to the door 4, since these Surface is not damaged by screwing, welding or the like when mounting the customs fuse.

Claims (12)

1. Connection between at least two components of a lorry (L), trailer and/or semi-trailer (A), having a connecting member (10), one component being a metal main body having an opening and the other component being an attached part which likewise has an opening, a connecting pin (15) belonging to the connecting member (10) passing through the opening in the attached part, the connecting member (10) having a connecting head (11) at the end of the opening in the attached part which is remote from the main body, the connecting head (11), due to its size, preventing the attached part from being withdrawn from the connecting pin (15), the connecting member (10) being of a one-piece form and at least a section of the connecting pin (15) being inserted in the opening in the main body and being held directly in the opening in the main body, characterised in that the connecting head (11) has an external outline which is not symmetrical in rotation and is thereby held on and/or in the attached part to be secure against being turned.
2. Connection according to claim 1, characterised in that the main body is a door (4) of an enclosed body (1) of a lorry (L), trailer and/or semi-trailer (A) and the attached part is a hinge (6).
3. Connection according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the connecting head (11) has an elongated, and in particular a substantially oval, external outline.
4. Connection according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the connecting head (11) is provided in a recess (12) in the attached part and the internal outline of this recess substantially corresponds to the external outline of the connecting head (12).
5. Connection according to claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the outer end of the connecting head (11) which is remote from the connecting pin (15) is inset into the recess (12) in the attached part at least to be flush with the surface.
6. Connection according to claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the connecting pin (15) is held in the opening in the main body by force, by positive engagement, by friction and/or by bonding or coalescence.
7. Connection according to claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the connecting pin (15) has a knurling (16) to connect the connecting member (10) to the opening in the main body.
8. Connection according to claim 7, characterised in that the knurling (16) has a plurality of ribs (17) which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the connecting pin (15).
9. Connection according to claim 8, characterised in that the inclination of those flanks (18) of the ribs (17) which face towards the free end of the connecting member (10) is lower than that of those flanks (19) of the ribs (17) which face towards the connecting head (11).
10. Connection according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the connecting pin (15) engages in a blind hole (14) in the main body.
11. Connection according to claim 10, characterised in that at least one flow passage (21) is provided between the connecting pin (15) and the blind hole (14) to allow atmosphere which is displaced by the connecting pin (15) to escape from the blind hole (14).
12. Connection according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterised in that, around the circumference of the connecting pin (15), there is at least one recess (20) or interruption in each of the ribs (17).

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