GB2322665A

GB2322665A - Connecting two components

Info

Publication number: GB2322665A
Application number: GB9801964A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Josef Loibl
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 1997-01-31
Filing date: 1998-01-29
Publication date: 1998-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-29
Also published as: GB9801964D0; DE19703676A1; DE19703676C2; FR2759125B1; GB2322665B; FR2759125A1

Abstract

A device for the rigid connection of two components comprises at least one attachment (4) provided on the one component (2) and at least one recess (10) provided on the other component (8), in each case with a micro-toothing (6, 12) on one side face of attachment (4) and recess (10). In order to connect the two components, the attachment (4) is inserted into the recess (10). A round pin attachment can be employed.

Description

2322665 Method and device for the connection of two components. The

invention relates to a method for the is connection of two components. The invention further relates to a device for the connection of two components.

In practice, there is often the problem of rigidly connecting two components to each other. This can, for example, be a matter of connecting two housing portions to each other, fastening a housing portion on a carrier plate, etc. In general, it depends on the two components to be connected being fixed relative to each other in a precise manner and without a high expenditure.

A control unit is known from DE-C2-4215041, the housing portions of which are connected to a supporting frame by means of the fact that the supporting frame is provided with pins which protrude through openings which are formed in circumferential flanges of the housing portions. The rigid connection of the housing portions to the supporting frame takes place by means of the fact that the free ends of the pins which protrude through the openings of the housing portions are flattened in a mushroomshaped manner by means of ultrasound or by heat treatment, so that a formlocking connection is ensured. The treatment by means of ultrasound or the heat treatment requires an expensive device, something which makes the housing more expensive.

A housing for an electronic circuit is known from DE-Al-3933123, in which a frame is provided with split, mushroom-shaped round pins, which, with a reduction in their diameter, can be inserted into openings which are formed in a ring flange of a housing portion. After the mushroom heads have penetrated the openings, the pins expand so that the mushroom heads grip behind the ring flange and a form-locking connection between the is frame and the housing portion is produced. A characteristic feature of this connection technique lies in that the split pins which are provided with the mushroom-shaped, snap-in heads have to be produced with a high level of precision in order that the housing portion is held without play on the frame.

Furthermore, only one assembly position is possible, namely precisely the one in which the mushroom-shaped heads grip behind the edge of the associated openings.

Apart from this, excess pressure is required in order to connect frame and housing portion, because the mushroom heads must penetrate the openings completely.

DE-Al-3047133 discloses a device for connecting two components in a position-securing manner, which device permits tolerance variations of holding edges arranged at a distance from each other. Each of the components has a connecting element. The two connecting elements extend into an overlap region by means of locking means and counter-locking means in mutual engagement.

An apparatus housing having a device for connecting housing portions without screws is known from DE-Al-3933644. For this purpose, two U-shaped housing shells are provided with locking elements.

There is formed in a side wall of the housing a locking hook, which is locked in a corresponding locking chamber of the respective other housing shell.

A connection arrangement for adjustably locking surfaces with adjacent side edges is known from FR 2136745. In order to form the lock, a barbed fastening element is hooked onto a wall which is provided with ramp-like teeth.

The underlying object of the invention is to develop a method and a device for connecting two components, with which method and which device it is possible to connect two components to each other rigidly or securely in a tolerance-exact manner, in a cost-favourable and simple way.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for the connection of two components one of which is provided with at least one attachment and the other is provided with at least one recess the crosssection of which is matched to the attachment, with the attachment being inserted into the recess, wherein:

at least one side face of the attachment or of the recess is formed with a toothing which extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the direction of insertion; a corresponding side face of the recess or of the attachment is formed with projections for a formlocking engagement with the toothing; and the attachment is inserted into the recess so that the toothing and the projections pass over one another and so that the corresponding side faces spring back, with the precision of the relative positions of the two components that are connected to each other, which relative positions are retained after the insertion movement has ended, being determined by the tooth spacing of the toothing.

Preferably, by using a micro-toothing to establish the form-locking engagement between recess and attachment, the components remain connected to each other precisely in the position in which a further insertion of the attachment into the recess is ended. The precision is given by the tooth spacing of the micro-toothing. A tolerance-exact connection is therefore possible, i.e. any manufacturing tolerances are'corrected, with it being possible for further components, such as seals, printed-circuit boards, etc, to be held between the components. Furthermore, no complicated additional tools-or working pro-,edures are necessary in order to connect the two components.

Preferably, the attachment is inserted into the recess with a predetermined force. In this case, predetermined pressing forces are achieved which are necessary, for example, for the mutual sealing of the components, possibly with intermediate arrangement of a seal.

The present invention also provides a device for the connection of two components, comprising:

at least one attachment provided on the one component and at least one recess provided on the other component with the cross-sections of the recess and of the attachment being matched to each other in such a way that in order to connect the two components, the attachment can be inserted into the recess, wherein:

at least one side face of the attachment or of the recess is formed with a toothing which extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the direction of insertion; a corresponding side face of the recess or of the attachment is formed with projections for a formlocking engagement with the toothing; and the attachment is able to be inserted into the rec - ess so that the toothing and the projections pass over one another so that the corresponding side faces spring back, and so that the precision of the relative positions of the two components that are connected to each other, which relative positions are retained after the insertion movement has ended, is determined by the tooth spacing of the toothing.

The at least one attachment and the at least one recess are advantageously constructed integrally with the'components to be connected.

Preferably, the projections of the recess or of the attachment are in the form of a toothing corresponding to the toothing of the attachment or the recess, respectively.

Preferably, the corresponding side faces of the attachment and of the recess, which side faces have been constructed for a mutually-locking form-locking engagement, are parallel to the direction of insertion.

Preferably, the attachment is constructed as a round pin which is provided with a toothing on its circumferential surface, and wherein the recess is constructed as a hole which is provided with a toothing on its inside surface.

Preferably, the round pin has a longitudinal slot.

Preferably, the tooth surfaces of the toothing form acute angles with the perpendiculars with respect to the direction of insertion.

Preferably, in each case one of two adjacent tooth surfaces of the toothing extends perpendicularly with respect to the direction of insertion.

The invention is described by way of example and with further details in the following with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective partial view of two components which are to be connected to each other; Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic side view of the arrangement inaccordance with Figure 1, cut in the direction of the line 11-2 in Figure 1, with enlarged detail views of the micro-toothings; Figure 3 shows a perspective partial view of a modified embodiment of two components which are to be connected to each other; and Figure 4 shows a side view of an embodiment which has been modified with respect to Figure 1.

In accordance with Figure 1, a component 2 (shown is + 1 1 -F- 1 F 11 A I., CL V /;-- cL v =.L.i CL %-J " 11'd p provided in one piece with a tongue-like attachment 4, the cross-section of which is, as a whole, rectangular and which is bevelled conically towards the bottom.

The right-hand (in accordance with Figure 1) side face 5 of the attachment 4 is provided with a micro-toothing 6, the teeth of Which extend in the widthways direction of the attachment 4 or perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal extent thereof.

A further component 8, for example a base plate or a housing base, has a recess 10 which corresponds to the attachment 4 and the side face 11 of which (hidden in perspective in Figure 1) is provided with a microtoothing 12 (not visible) which corresponds to the micro-toothing 6.

The upper portion of Figure 2 shows the attachment 4 in the state in which it has been inserted into the recess 10. As can be seen, the recess 10 is constructed so as to be slightly overdimensioned with respect to the attachment 4, so that when the attachment 4 is inserted into the recess 10, the microtoothings 6 and 12, making use of the gap 14 between the side faces of the attachment 4 and recess 10 that face away from the micro-toothings, can pass over or slide over each other. In this connection, when the toothings pass over each other, the attachment 4 is in each case bent elastically to the left and then springs back, so that the toothings 6 and 12 engage in each other. It is understood that the relative position of the components 2 and 8 in the horizontal direction is ensured as a result of the fact that several attachments and recesses are provided, which are in each case arranged in such a way that a transverse movement of the components 2 and 8 is not possible. The side faces 5 and 11 which are provided with the micro-toothing are advantageously parallel to the direction of insertion.

The circular cut-outs in the lower portion of Figure 2 represent enlarged views of the microtoothings 6 and 12.

The left-hand cut-out shows the micro-toothings in a construction in which the upwards facing tooth surface of the micro-toothing 6 and also the downwards facing tooth surface of the micro-toothing 12 each extend horizontally and the respective other tooth surfaces are sloping, so that during insertion, the two toothings are distanced from each other and can pass over each other. In the event of an attempt to pull the attachment 4 out of the recess, however, no expanding force results, so that the toothings are held rigidly in each other.

Inside the right-hand circle in accordance with Figure 2, micro-toothings 6 and 12 are engaged in each other, and all of their tooth surfaces extend in each case at an angle to the direction of insertion and to the horizontal. With this type of micro-toothing, an expansion takes place both when the attachment 4 is inserted into the recess 10 and upon pulling out, in which case the force for inserting and the force for pulling out can be different, depending on the angle of the tooth surfaces in each case.

Typical dimensions of the micro-toothings 6 and 12, which are advantageously constructed so as to be the same as each other, are a tooth spacing of, for example, 0.1 to 0.3 mm and a tooth height of a similar Metals, such as aluminium for example, or plastics, such as polyamide 6.6 for example, possibly reinforced with glass fibre, are suitable materials.

In order to connect the components 2 and 8 securely or rigidly, the attachments 4 of the component 2 are inserted into the recesses 10, with this advantageously taking place with a predetermined force F, which results in the micro-toothings 6 and 12 passing over each other in a sawtoothed manner until the insertion force F ends. In this inserted position, the components 2 and 8 then remain directly rigidly connected to each other, with the precision being given by the spacing of the teeth of the micro-toothing. It is understood that the components 2 and 8 can be brought into direct mutual contact; there can also, however, be received between the components 2 and 8 a further component, for example a disc, seal, etc, which, when the components 2 and 8 are inserted into each other, comes to rest securely against respective contact surfaces of the components 2 and 8. By observing a predetermined insertion force, it is ensured that this insertion force is then essentially the force with which the components which are connected to each other are in mutual contact.

It is understood that numerous modifications are possible. For example, the cross-sections of the attachment 4 and the recess 10 can correspond exactly and micro-toothings can be formed on both of their side faces, in which case the attachment 4 then advantageously consists of an elastically flexible material between its micro-toothings, so that when the other micro-toothings slide over, its micro-toothings can move towards each other.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment which has been modified with respect to Figure 1, in which the attachment on the structural component 2 is constructed as a round pin 16 which is provided with a longitudinal slot 15 and tapers conically towards the front. The round pin 16 is formed with a micro-toothing 6 over its whole circumferential surface. There is constructed on the component 8 a hole 18, the cross-section of which corresponds to the cross-section of the round pin 16 and the inside surface of which is provided with a micro-toothing 12. When the round pin 16 is inserted into the hole 18, the two limbs of the round pin 16 are pressed together, reducing the diameter of the pin 16, so that the microtoothing 6-can move over the micro- -g- is toothing 12 until the insertion force ends. After passing over of a toothing, the round pin 16 expands in each case, as a result of the elasticity of its limbs, so that a form closure between the micro- toothings 6 and 12 results, as a result of which the two components 2 and 8 are securely connected to each other in the position in which the insertion force F stops.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment which has been modified with respect to Figure 1. The micro-toothing 6 of the side face 5 of the attachment 4 is here not formed up to the root of the attachment 4, but instead a region 20 remains free of teeth. The side face 11 of the recess 10 is formed with individual knob-like micro-projections 22, which do not extend over the whole width of the side face 11 and the spacing of which in the direction of insertion advantageously corresponds to an integral multiple of the tooth spacing of the micro-toothing 6. Furthermore, a seal 24 for sealing is provided between the components 2 and 8.

The region 20 of the attachment 4 that is free of micro-toothing has the advantage that when inserting the attachment 4 into the recess 10, there is no excess strain on the micro-toothing as a result of a very high necessary elastic deformation of the attachment 4. The micro-projections 22 act like a micro-toothing, in which case, however, not all of the teeth of the microtoothing 6 are used for the form-locking engagement. When inserting the attachment 4 into the recess 10 with a predetermined force, the component 2 comes to rest against the seal 24, which is elastically deformed under the predetermined force. After the force ends, the'attachment 4 moves back by at most half a tooth spacing in order to form a lock, the micro-toothing 6 locking with the projections 22. The predetermined force is therefore substantially maintained depending on the elasticity of the seal 24, so that a reliable sealing is guaranteed. Manufacturing tolerances of the seal 24 of the components 2 and 8 are automatically corrected as a result of the fact that each of the several attachments 4 that are normally present is inserted into the recess 10 with the predetermined force, so that a reliable locking and a defined holding force are achieved.

is

Claims

1. A method for the connection of two components one of which is provided with at least one attachment and the other is provided with at 1 ' east one recess the cross-section of which is matched to the attachment, with the attachment being inserted into the recess, wherein:

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the attachment is inserted into the recess with a predetermined force.

3. A device for the connection of two components, comprising:

at least one side face of the attachment or of the recess is formed with a toothing which extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the direction of insertion; a corresponding side face of the recess or of the attachment is formed with projections for a formlocking engagement with the toothing; and the attachment is able to be inserted into the recess so that the toothing and the projections pass over one another so that the corresponding side faces spring back, and so that the precision of the relative positions of the two components that are connected to each other, which relative positions are retained after the insertion movement has ended, is determined by the tooth spacing of the toothing.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the projections of the recess or of the attachment are in the form of a toothing corresponding to the toothing of the attachment or of the recess, respectively.

5. A device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the corresponding side faces of the attachment and of the recess, which side faces have been constructed for a mutually-locking form-locking engagement, are parallel to the direction of insertion.

6. A device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein that the attachment is constructed as a round pin which is provided with a toothing on its circumferential surface, and wherein the recess is constructed as a hole which is provided with a toothing on its inside surface.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the round pin has a longitudinal slot.

8. A device according to claim 4, wherein the tooth surfaces of the toothing form acute angles with the perpendiculars with respect to the direction of insertion.

9. A device according to claim 4, wherein in each case one of two adjacent tooth surfaces of the toothing extends perpendicularly with- respect to the direction is of insertion.

10. A method according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4.

11. A device according to claim 3, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4.

12. Method for the tolerance-exact connection of two components one of which is provided with at least one attachment and the other is provided with at least one recess the cross-section of which is matched to the attachment, with the attachment being inserted into the recess, characterised in that at least one side face of the attachment or of the recess is formed with a micro-toothing which extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the direction of insertion, in that a corresponding side face of the recess or of the attachment is formed with micro-projections for a form-locking engagement with the micro-toothing, and in that the attachment is inserted into the recess with a passing over of the micro-toothing and the micro-projections that is accompanied by a respective springing back of the corresponding side faces, with the precision of the relative positions of the two components that are connected to each other, which relative positions are retained after the insertion movement has ended, being given by the tooth spacing of the micro-toothing.

13. Device for the tolerance-exact connection of two components, comprising at least one attachment provided on the one component, and at least one recess provided on the other component, with the cross-sections of the recess and of the attachment being matched to each other in such a way that in order to Connect the two components, the attachment can be inserted into the recess, characterised in that at least one side face of the attachment or of the recess is formed with a micro-toothing which extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the direction of insertion, and in that a corresponding side face of the recess or of the attachment is formed with micro-projections for a form-locking engagement with the micro-toothing, with the attachment being able to be inserted into the recess with a passing over of the micro-toothing and the micro-projections that is accompanied by a respective springing back of the corresponding side faces, so that the precision of the relative positions of the two components that are connected to each other, which relative positions are retained after the insertion movement has ended, is given by the tooth spacing of the micro- toothing.