EP3507512A1

EP3507512A1 - Functional device with upper bushings having pre-retention protruding front walls

Info

Publication number: EP3507512A1
Application number: EP17758597.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean Philippe VOISIN; Catherine GAERTNER MERCIER; Yoann CARRASCO
Original assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Current assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Priority date: 2016-08-31
Filing date: 2017-08-04
Publication date: 2019-07-10
Also published as: FR3055377B1; FR3055377A1; WO2018042097A1

Abstract

A functional device (DF) is intended to be secured to an inclined wall (PF) and is equipped with two upper screws (VS1, VS2) and with one lower screw (VI), and comprises, in a rear part (PR1), a base (ED) equipped with two upper bushings (DS1, DS2) through which the upper screws (VS1, VS2) can pass and each comprising a screw hole (PA1, PA2) delimited by an internal face (FI) comprising, in an upper front zone (ZVS), a protruding wall (PS1, PS2) having an edge that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane and able to become lodged between two adjacent portions of a thread of an upper screw (VS1, VS2) in order to pre-retain the base (ED) with respect to that screw (VS1, VS2).

Description

FUNCTIONAL DEVICE WITH SUPERIOR SLEEVES WITH HIGH WALLS BEFORE PRE-MAINTENANCE

The invention relates to the mounting of certain functional devices on an inclined wall of a system, and more specifically the pre-maintenance of these functional devices during their phase of attachment to an inclined wall.

Note that the invention relates to any functional device to be secured to an inclined wall, possibly at about 90 °, including and not limited to vehicle cranks.

As is known to those skilled in the art, in certain fields, such as for example vehicles (possibly of automobile type), the joining of a functional device to screws of an inclined wall requires an intermediate phase of pre-tensioning. maintenance. Indeed, we must first bring the functional device of the wall until the sleeves of a base located in its rear part are placed in front of the free ends of the screws of this wall. Then, the bushings are passed through the screws until the functional device is supported by the screws and is thus pre-held before being securely fixed relative to the inclined wall by screwing nuts on the ends. free of screws.

Due to this support of the functional device on screws of an inclined wall, it tends to swing by gravity forward, in particular when it has a center of gravity located in its front part (opposite the inclined wall ). There is then a high probability that it escapes from the screws while the technician releases it temporarily to recover the screwing tool.

To avoid the occurrence of this exhaust, and therefore the fall of the functional device, it can initially accommodate a pre-holding clip inside the screw passage of one of the upper sleeves of the base. This pre-holding clip generally comprises three clipping tabs, intended to allow its coupling inside the screw passage, and three flexible claws interposed between these clipping tabs and intended to be housed between adjacent portions of a thread of a screw to pre-maintain the base relative to the latter screw. These claws are in fact species of anti-recoil stops adapted to pre-maintain the functional device on the screws by preventing it from escaping. The flexibility of the claws, which is essential for the relative translation of the pre-holding screw, results not only from their shape, but also from the plastic material used (generally a polyamide (such as for example PA66.12)).

When the functional device comprises a plastic base, it may happen that we can not use such a premaintening clip, for example for economic reasons and / or because of the size of the sockets (they must indeed be oversized to accommodate the pre-hold clip). In this case, it is necessary to replace the pre-holding clip with three claws of similar shapes to those of the aforementioned pre-holding clip and molded at 120 ° in the bottom of the rear part of a top sleeve at the same time that we mold the base. However, to achieve the base and therefore the claws is forced to use a rigid material that does not allow to give the claws the same flexibility as in the pre-holding clip. This results in a less good pre-maintenance due to the inefficiency of the claws induced by their damage (or trimming) by the thread during the relative translation of the screw relative to the upper sleeve. In addition, when the radial extension of the claws is too large the upper sleeve may be blocked on the screw, which affects the final assembly, and conversely when the radial extension of the claws is too small pre-holding becomes insufficient. In addition, the three claws being made in the same plane, they do not fit all correctly in the helical thread of the associated screw.

It has certainly been proposed to use at least one upper bushing comprising a screw passage delimited by an inner face comprising, on the one hand, in an upper front zone at least one rigid claw and adapted to be housed between two adjacent portions of a thread of a screw to pre-hold the base relative to the latter screw, and, secondly, in a lower zone a decreasing radius of the lower front zone towards the zone lower back to facilitate the crossing of the screw participating in the pre-maintenance. However, obtaining such an arrangement of the inner face requires the use of two pins for final demolding, which is not compatible with some molds.

The invention is therefore particularly intended to improve the situation.

It proposes for this purpose a functional device, adapted to be secured to a wall which is inclined relative to a horizontal plane and provided with at least two upper screws and at least one lower screw, and comprising in a rear part. a base provided with two upper sleeves and at least one lower bushing adapted to be traversed respectively by the upper screws and lower screw.

This functional device is characterized in that its upper sleeves each comprise a screw passage defined by an inner face having in an upper front zone a projecting wall (constituting a claw) having an edge inclined relative to the horizontal plane and adapted to be housed between two adjacent portions of a thread of an upper screw to pre-maintain the base relative to the latter.

This provides a pre-maintenance of the simple and secure functional device (due to the lack of interlocking problem in the threads of the upper screws).

The functional device according to the invention may comprise other characteristics that can be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- The projecting walls may have edges inclined symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane and located equidistantly between the two upper sleeves;

each edge can be inclined at an average angle of between 25 ° and 65 °.

For example, each edge may be inclined at an average angle equal to 45 °;

each projecting wall may be defined in a plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the internal face;

the inner face of each upper bushing may have in a lower zone a thickness strictly less than a thickness that it present in an upper zone comprising the upper front zone to facilitate the crossing of the associated upper screw and then a support inclined against the latter during the pre-hold;

- The inner face of each upper sleeve may comprise at least in an upper rear zone an axial protrusion dedicated to the inclined support against the upper screw associated during the pre-holding;

- In a first embodiment each upper sleeve may comprise a metal insert of generally cylindrical circular shape and on which is molded a coating defining the inner face;

each protruding wall may be an integral part of the coating or each protruding wall may be an integral part of the metal insert and pass through the coating;

- In a second embodiment each upper sleeve may comprise an attached sleeve, immobilized in the screw passage, defining the inner face and comprising each projecting wall;

each projecting wall may be rigid;

- Each upper bushing may be an insert, fixedly secured to the base;

it can, for example, constitute a pedal to equip a vehicle.

The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of automobile type, and comprising at least one functional device of the type of that presented above.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings (obtained in CAD / CAD ("Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Design"), from which the apparently discontinuous nature of certain lines), on which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates, in a front view of the front side, an exemplary embodiment of a functional device according to the invention, at the beginning of its phase of securing to screws of an inclined wall of a vehicle ( not shown),

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates, in a front view, the side of its front part, the first upper bushing of the functional device of FIG.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates, in a front view, on the side of its front part, the second upper bushing of the functional device of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates, in a front view, on the side of its rear part, the first upper bushing of the functional device of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates, in a longitudinal sectional view, a portion of the functional device of FIG. 1, at the beginning of its phase of securing to screws of an inclined wall of a vehicle,

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates, in a view in longitudinal section, the first upper bushing of the functional device of FIG. 1, at the beginning of the securing phase,

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates, in a view in longitudinal section, the functional device of FIG. 1, at an intermediate stage of its securing phase during which it is pre-held on the screws,

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates, in a longitudinal sectional view, the first upper bushing of the functional device of FIG. 1, in the intermediate pre-holding stage,

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates, in a view in longitudinal section, the functional device of FIG. 1, just before the end of its securing phase,

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates, in a longitudinal sectional view, the first upper bushing of the functional device of FIG. 1, just before the end of its securing phase, and

- Figure 1 1 schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, an embodiment of the second bushing of the functional device of Figure 1, before the pre-hold phase.

The object of the invention is notably to propose a functional device DF intended to be secured to a support wall PF which is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane and which forms part of a system. In the following, we consider, by way of non-limiting example, that the inclined wall PF is part of a vehicle, possibly an automobile, such as a car. But the invention is not limited to this type of application. Indeed, a functional device DF can be part of any system having at least one inclined wall for supporting it. Therefore, it concerns in particular any type of vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air), any type of installation, including industrial type, and any material manufactured in large series (including household appliances, appliances entertainment (or game consoles), and furniture).

Furthermore, it is considered in the following, by way of non-limiting example, that the DF functional device is a crankset of a motor vehicle, for example for controlling the clutch or acceleration or braking. But the invention is not limited to this type of functional device. Thus, in a motor vehicle, the functional device DF may also be a housing comprising at least one electronic module, an air conditioning unit, a liquid reservoir (for example windshield washer), or an interior trim piece, for example example.

In addition, it is considered in the following, by way of non-limiting example, the functional device DF has a center of gravity CG located in a front portion PV1 opposite its inclined wall PF support. But this is not a necessity because it depends in particular on the angle of inclination of the support wall PF relative to the horizontal plane and the arrangement of the functional device DF.

FIGS. 1, 5, 7 and 9 show schematically a part of an example of a functional device DF according to the invention and a part of a support wall PF intended to support this functional device DF in a fixed manner and which is here part of of a motor vehicle.

The support wall PF is provided with at least two fixed upper screws VSj (j = 1 or 2) and at least one fixed lower screw VI. These upper screws VSj and lower (s) VI are intended to allow the fixed connection (by screwing) of the functional device DF. In the example illustrated nonlimitingly in FIGS. 5 to 10, the support wall PF is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane which is perpendicular to the plane containing the drawings and built in particular from the horizontal direction DH. But its inclination could be less than 90 °. Furthermore, in the sectional views illustrated without limitation, the support wall PF comprises two upper screws VS1 and VS2 and a lower screw VI. But it could include more than two upper screws VSj (for example three) and / or several lower screws (for example two).

As illustrated, a functional device DF according to the invention comprises a front portion PV1 and a rear portion PR1 comprising an ED base. In the illustrated example the center of gravity CG is located in the front part PV1.

The base ED is provided with at least two upper bushes DSj which each comprise a screw passage PAj through which a corresponding upper screw VSj of the support wall PF and of at least one lower bushing D1, which comprises a PAI screw passage adapted to be traversed by a lower screw VI corresponding to the support wall PF.

In what follows and what precedes, the notion of "rear" designates a part or zone of an element which is oriented towards the support wall PF, and the notion of "before" designates another part or zone of this element which is oriented opposite to the support wall PF.

According to the invention, and as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 to 3, the screw passage PAj of at least two upper sockets DSj of the base ED is delimited by an internal face FI which comprises in an upper front zone ZVS a protruding wall PSj (constituting a claw) having an edge BPj inclined relative to the horizontal plane and adapted to be housed between two adjacent portions of a thread FV of an upper screw VSj to pre-maintain the base ED relative to the latter (VSj).

Preferably, and as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 1 1, the protruding walls PSj (which constitute claws) may have edges BPj which are inclined symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane which is perpendicular to the horizontal plane ( serving as a reference for the inclination of the support wall PF), built in particular from the vertical direction DV (see FIG. 1), and located at an equal distance between the two upper sockets DS1 and DS2. This option is intended to allow an advantageous wedging effect of the protruding walls PSj against the upper screws VSj, for reinforcing the pre-hold of the base ED relative to the upper screws VSj.

For example, each edge BPj may be inclined at an average angle of between 25 ° and 65 °. Thus, each edge BP 1 can, for example, be inclined at an average angle of 45 °, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 1 1.

Moreover, each edge BPj is preferably linear.

Note that each projecting wall PSj may, for example, be defined in a plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the internal face FI (here the plane of the drawings of Figures 1 to 3, built from the horizontal directions DH and vertical DV ).

For example, the injection mold used may be associated with a single pin for demolding the hole PAj and the projecting wall PSj, and the bearing face of the nut can be unmolded by a lateral movement. This constraint requires that the face "side nut" of each protruding wall PSj be merged with the support plane of the nuts. The other face is then inclined to create a triangular section whose apex is the edge BPj.

By using another mold, the holes PAj could be demolded by means of two opposite movements, so that the edge BPj of the projecting wall PSj is slightly inclined, ideally depending on the angle of the threading, and that its section makes an isosceles triangle. equivalent to a screw thread.

Note also that in order to allow lateral pre-centering of the base ED relative to the upper screws VSj, the internal face FI of each upper sleeve DSj may also comprise between its upper front zone ZVS and its lower front zone ZVI, and at a distance from its protruding wall PSj, a centering lateral wall PCj comprising a substantially vertical edge.

Also preferably, and as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 to 1 1, the inner face FI of each upper bushing DSj may have in a lower zone a thickness which is strictly smaller than the thickness it has in the upper zone. who includes its upper front area ZVS. This option is intended to facilitate the crossing of each upper screw VSj in the screw passage PAj of the upper sleeve DSj associated, and an inclined support of the latter (DSj) against the upper screw VSj during the pre-hold. It therefore serves mainly for the coupling of the upper sockets DSj and lower (s) Dl respectively to the upper screws VSj and lower (s) VI. It will be understood that it prevents the protruding walls PSj prevent the translation of the base ED by lodging in neighboring portions of the nets FV. Indeed, once a technician has placed the screw passages PAj and PAI sockets DSj and Dl of the ED base in front of the free ends of screws VSj and VI, he must translate the functional device DF to the support wall PF by passing through the sockets DSj and Dl by the screws VSj and VI, until he estimates that the functional device DF can be supported by these screws VSj and VI. To avoid blockage by the protruding walls PSj, the technician straightens the functional device DF upwards, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, until the lower parts of the internal faces FI of the upper sockets DSj are substantially parallel to the lower parts of the upper screws VSj (and possibly in contact with the latter (VSj)).

In order to facilitate the inclination of the base ED relative to the screws VSj and VI, it is advantageous, as illustrated in FIG. 1, for each screw passage PAI of a lower screw VI to have an oblong shape (the largest dimension being in the vertical direction DV). This allows the switchover and suppression of hyperstatism.

The technical characteristic, relative to the presence of the protruding walls PSj in the front part of the upper sockets DSj, serves mainly during the pre-hold phase on the screws VSj and VI. It is designed to prevent the functional device DF from escaping screws VSj and VI while the technician loosens it temporarily to recover the screwing tool, in particular when its center of gravity CG is located in its front part PV1. It will be understood that, once the technician loosens the functional device DF which he has just placed on the screws VSj and VI, the functional device DF rockers by gravity forward until its protruding walls PSj find themselves lodged between two neighboring FV threads of the upper screws VSj, which prevents it from translating forward and thus pre-holds on the screws VSj and VI, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Then, the technician can place nuts on the free ends of screws VSj and VI, on the side of the front areas of the sockets DSj and Dl, then grasp its screwing tool to screw the nuts according to the expected torque. For example, the tightening of the nuts can automatically cause the recovery of the functional device DF and the plating of the latter (DF) against the support wall PF. In this case, under the effect of the thrust of the nuts, the protruding portions PSj disengage the FV threads, either by sliding on the thread or by deformation or local rupture.

Note that due to the presence of a single projecting wall PSj in each screw passage PAj of each upper sleeve DSj, there is no longer any problem of interlocking in the helical thread FV of the upper screw VSj associated.

It will also be noted, as illustrated in non-limiting manner in FIGS. 4, 6, 8, 10 and 11, that the inner face FI of each upper bushing DSj may possibly comprise at least in the upper rear zone ZRS an axial protrusion PR 'dedicated to inclined support against the upper screw VSj associated during the pre-hold. This makes it possible to constrain the maximum inclination of the base ED relative to the upper screws VSj.

In the nonlimiting example illustrated in Figures 1 to 1 1, the upper sleeves DSj form an integral part of the ED base. To do this, the upper sleeves DSj may be either entirely made of the same rigid material as the base ED, possibly together with the latter (ED), for example by molding (or injection) of a plastic material, or partially made of the same rigid material as the ED base.

In the second alternative, illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 10, the upper bushes DSj comprise a metal insert IM of generally cylindrical circular shape and on which is molded a coating EN which defines the inner face FI. This metal insert IM is intended to reinforce the stiffness and resistance of the upper sockets DSj. This coating EN is made of the same rigid material as the ED base at the same time as the latter (ED), for example by molding (or injection).

In this case, each protruding wall PSj may form an integral part of the encapsulation EN, as shown in non-limiting manner in FIGS. 5 to 10, and may therefore be produced by molding (or injection) at the same time as the ED base. In a variant not shown, each protruding wall PSj may be an integral part of the metal insert IM and thus passes through the coating EN. In this variant which is intended to increase the resistance of each protruding wall PSj, each protruding wall PSj may, for example, be carried out by stamping or stamping.

In an alternative embodiment, corresponding to the two alternatives but not shown, each upper sleeve DSj may comprise an attached sleeve which is immobilized in the screw passage PAj, defines the internal face FI and comprises each projecting wall PSj. This attached sleeve is, for example, force-fitted in the screw passage PAj, or comprises locking means for fixedly immobilizing it in the associated screw passage PAj, possibly cooperating with other locking means defined in the latter (PAj). In this variant, the attached sleeve can be made by molding (or injection) a material that is identical or different from that used for the ED base.

Also as an alternative embodiment, each upper sleeve DSj may be an insert, fixedly attached to the base ED, instead of being an integral part of the latter (ED).

It will also be noted that each lower bushing D1 may be an integral part of the ED base and may be made entirely of the same rigid material as the ED base at the same time as the latter (ED), or comprise a metal insert of general shape. circular cylindrical and on which is molded a coating, as shown without limitation in Figures 5, 7 and 9. Alternatively, each lower sleeve Dl may be an insert, fixedly secured to the base ED.

It will also be noted that each projecting wall PSj is preferably rigid. But it could be semi rigid. The invention offers several advantages, among which:

it allows a reduction of the mounting forces and a securing of the pre-hold,

it allows the use of a single pin for the final demoulding, it makes it easier to mount the functional device, while retaining the embodiment of at least its base,

- It is economical since there is no pre-hold clip to use.

Claims

1. Functional device (DF) adapted to be secured to a wall (PF) inclined with respect to a horizontal plane and provided with at least two upper screws (VSj) and at least one lower screw (VI), said device (DF ) comprising in a rear part (PR1) a base (ED) provided with two upper bushes (DSj) and at least one lower bushing (D1) adapted to be traversed respectively by said upper screws (VSj) and lower screw (VI). ), characterized in that said upper sleeves (DSj) each comprise a screw passage (PAj) delimited by an inner face (FI) comprising in an upper front zone (ZVS) a protruding wall (PSj) having an edge (BPj) inclined relative to said horizontal plane and adapted to be housed between two adjacent portions of a thread of an upper screw (VSj) to pre-maintain said base (ED) relative thereto (VSj).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said projecting walls (PSj) have edges (BPj) inclined symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to said horizontal plane and located equidistant between the two upper sleeves (DSj).

3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each edge (BPj) is inclined at an average angle between 25 ° and 65 °.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that each edge (BPj) is inclined at an average angle equal to 45 °.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each projecting wall (PSj) is defined in a plane perpendicular to said horizontal plane and perpendicular to said inner face (FI).

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said inner face (FI) of each upper sleeve (DSj) has in a lower zone a thickness strictly less than a thickness that it has in an upper zone comprising said upper front zone (ZVS) to facilitate the crossing of said associated upper screw (VSj) and then a support inclined against the latter (VSj) during said pre-hold.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said inner face (FI) of each upper bushing (DSj) comprises at least in an upper rear zone (ZRS) an axial protrusion (PR ') dedicated to the inclined support against the upper screw (VSj) associated during said pre-maintenance.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each upper sleeve (DSj) comprises a metal insert (IM) of generally cylindrical circular shape and on which is molded a coating (EN) defining said inner face (FI).

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that î o each upper sleeve (DSj) comprises an attached sleeve immobilized in said screw passage (PAj), defining said inner face (FI) and comprising each protruding wall (PSj).

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it constitutes a pedal for fitting a vehicle.