JP2005240896A - Mounting member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mounting member for securing fixing force of a screw, while securing a degree of freedom of a mounting position in attaching parts to a support member. <P>SOLUTION: A shaft diameter (root diameter) of a shaft part 14 of a self-tapping screw 10 is d1 and its outer diameter is d2. The support member 20 is made from resin material, and the self-tapping screw 10 is screwed into a long-hole shaped lower hole 22 with width b of the support member 20. The width b of the lower hole 22 is narrower than the shaft diameter d1 of the self-tapping screw 10. As the self-tapping screw 10 is screwed into the lower hole 22, elastic recovery force is generated in the support member 22 so that the support member 20 pushes the self-tapping screw 10 from both sides. Further, the support member 20 is plastic-deformed around the self-tapping screw 10 so that a part of the support member 20 wraps around the self-tapping screw in a circumference direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an attachment member, and more particularly, to an attachment member using a self-tapping screw that is screwed while forming a female screw portion in a pilot hole provided in a support member.

  Self-tapping screws are often used for fastening parts in automobiles and the like for the purpose of reducing the manufacturing cost because processing for forming a female screw in a pilot hole provided in a support member is unnecessary.

  The pilot hole into which the self-tapping screw is screwed is generally formed in a round hole that is larger than the shaft diameter of the self-tapping screw (diameter at the root of the screw root) and smaller than the outer diameter (diameter including the thread height). .

  Conventionally, when the pilot hole is formed in a round hole shape, the pilot hole may be destroyed due to multiple times of screwing, oblique entry of screws, adhesion of water or oil, or over torque during tightening. In addition, since it is not possible to obtain the degree of freedom of the mounting position when mounting a part with one pilot hole, it is common to provide a plurality of pilot holes adjacent to each other.

  Furthermore, when attaching a sensor or the like that requires delicate attachment adjustment to the support member, if the pilot hole has a round hole shape, even if a plurality of pilot holes are provided in advance, the sensor may be attached at the stage of attachment to the support member. The mounting position cannot be continuously fine-tuned.

In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-304010 makes it possible to attach a part to a support member a plurality of times by making the pilot hole provided in the support member into a long hole shape. An attachment mechanism using a self-tapping screw that enables continuous position adjustment is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-304012 A

  However, in the mounting mechanism disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-304012, the contact area between the self-tapping screw and the lower hole is reduced by making the lower hole into a long hole shape. Compared to the above, the fixing force of the screw is reduced. Furthermore, when the clearance of the screw portion increases due to creep of the support member (strain that changes over time) or the like, the fixing force of the screw further decreases.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the object of the present invention is to secure the fixing force of the screw while ensuring the degree of freedom of the mounting position when attaching the component to the support member. It is to provide a member.

  According to this invention, the mounting member includes the support member provided with the lower hole, and the self-tapping screw that is screwed into the lower hole while forming the female screw portion in the lower hole by the screw thread provided in the shaft portion. The hole has a long hole shape longer than the outer diameter of the shaft portion of the self-tapping screw, and the width of the lower hole is narrower than the diameter at the bottom of the shaft portion of the self-tapping screw.

  Preferably, the support member presses the self-tapping screw from both sides by the elastic recovery force of the support member generated when the self-tapping screw is screwed into the prepared hole.

  Preferably, when the self-tapping screw is screwed into the prepared hole, the support member is further plastically deformed so as to go around in the circumferential direction of the self-tapping screw.

  Preferably, the support member is made of a resin material.

  In the mounting member according to the present invention, the pilot hole provided in the support member is formed in a long hole shape longer than the shaft diameter of the self-tapping screw, so that the degree of freedom of the screwing position of the self-tapping screw is improved. And since the width | variety of the pilot hole which consists of a long hole shape was made narrower than the valley bottom diameter of the self-tapping screw, when a self-tapping screw is screwed in a lower hole, a supporting member will press a self-tapping screw from both sides.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the mounting position of the component with respect to the support member can be freely adjusted, and a decrease in screw fixing force due to the lower hole having a long hole shape is prevented.

  In the mounting member according to the present invention, when the self-tapping screw is screwed into the prepared hole, the supporting member is elastically deformed, and the elastic recovery force generated at this time becomes the pressing force from the supporting member to the self-tapping screw.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to separately provide pressing means for generating the pressing force, and the fixing force of the screw can be secured with a simple structure.

  Further, in the mounting member according to the present invention, when the self-tapping screw is screwed into the lower hole, the support member is plastically deformed so as to go around in the circumferential direction of the self-tapping screw. Increases area.

  Therefore, according to this invention, the fixing force of the screw can be increased with a simple structure.

  In the mounting member according to the present invention, since the support member is made of a resin material, when the self-tapping screw is screwed into the lower hole, the resin material has a certain strength and undergoes plastic deformation and elastic deformation.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, a mounting member that can freely adjust the mounting position of the component with respect to the support member and that can prevent the screw fixing force from being lowered due to the lower hole having a long hole shape can be manufactured at low cost. Can be realized.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a side view of a self-tapping screw used in a mounting member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, self-tapping screw 10 is made of a member harder than a support member made of a resin material described later, such as iron or stainless steel. The self-tapping screw 10 includes a head portion 12 and a shaft portion 14, and the shaft portion 14 is provided with a thread 16 on the outer periphery. The shaft diameter of the self-tapping screw 10 (diameter at the root of the screw) is d1, and the outer diameter of the self-tapping screw 10 (diameter including the height of the thread 16) is d2. The outer diameter of the tip of the self-tapping screw 10 is d3.

  The head 12 of the self-tapping screw 10 is a hexagonal head, but the shape of the head is not limited to this, and may be a pan head, a countersunk head, a round countersunk head, etc. The tightening means may be a slot or a cross hole.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of a support member used in the attachment member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  2, support member 20 is made of, for example, a resin material such as nylon 6 or nylon 66, and provided with a lower hole 22 into which self-tapping screw 10 is screwed. The lower hole 22 has a long hole shape, and the width b of the lower hole 22 has a size satisfying d3 <b <d1. That is, the lower hole 22 is formed such that the width of the long hole is narrower than the shaft diameter of the self-tapping screw 10 and wider than the outer diameter of the tip portion of the self-tapping screw 10.

  In FIG. 2, the shape of the lower hole 22 is typically a straight long hole shape. However, as will be described later, the shape of the lower hole 22 is a straight long hole shape. It is not limited, and may be a long hole shape that is planarly or three-dimensionally curved depending on the situation.

  Further, the support member 20 does not need to be entirely made of a resin material, and only the mounting portion where the lower hole 22 is provided may be made of a resin material, and the other portions may be made of a material other than the resin material.

  FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the structure of the mounting member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the mounting member includes self-tapping screw 10 shown in FIG. 1 and support member 20 shown in FIG. The component 24 is fastened to the support member 20 by this attachment member. The self-tapping screw 10 is screwed in while forming a female screw portion in a prepared hole 22 provided in the support member 20. Here, although the shaft diameter d1 of the self-tapping screw 10 is larger than the width b of the lower hole 22 as described above, since the support member 20 is made of a softer resin material than the self-tapping screw 10, the self-tapping screw 10 When 10 is screwed in, the support member 20 is pushed right and left. Therefore, the self-tapping screw 10 can be screwed into the prepared hole 22 of the support member 20.

  Here, when the self-tapping screw 10 pushes the support member 20 left and right, the support member 20 is deformed, and an elastic recovery force is generated according to the deformation. This elastic recovery force acts on the self-tapping screw 10, and the self-tapping screw 10 receives a pressing force from both sides in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure from the support member 20. This pressing force increases the fixing force of the self-tapping screw 10 with respect to the support member 20.

  In a conventional mounting member in which the lower hole has a round hole shape, generally, the screw is designed so that d1 <D <d2 where D is the diameter of the lower hole. Therefore, when the self-tapping screw is screwed into the lower hole, the pressing force from the support member to the self-tapping screw is not generated when the self-tapping screw is screwed into the lower hole. The fixing force of the screw is significantly reduced.

  4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section IV-IV of the mounting member shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 4, pilot hole 22 provided in support member 20 has a long hole shape, and therefore, the contact portion between self-tapping screw 10 and support member 20 is only a part of the outer periphery of self-tapping screw 10. Become. Therefore, in general, simply by making the lower hole into a long hole shape for the purpose of improving the degree of freedom of the screwing position of the self-tapping screw, the fixing force of the self-tapping screw with respect to the support member is larger than that of the case where the lower hole has a round hole shape. Will drop.

  However, in the mounting member according to this embodiment, the lower hole 22 is formed such that the width b of the lower hole 22 having a long hole shape is narrower than the shaft diameter d1 of the self-tapping screw 10. Therefore, the self-tapping screw 10 has a degree of freedom in the screwing position of the self-tapping screw 10 into the lower hole 22 (that is, the mounting position of the component 24 with respect to the support member 20) due to the long hole shape of the lower hole 22. The self-tapping screw 10 is secured to the support member 20 by the pressing force that the self-tapping screw 10 receives from the support member 20 by being screwed into the lower hole 22.

  For example, if the width b of the lower hole 22 is designed such that b ≦ 0.9 × d1, the pressing force from the support member 20 to the self-tapping screw 10 is sufficiently ensured.

  Furthermore, in the mounting member according to this embodiment, when the self-tapping screw 10 is screwed into the lower hole 22, the supporting member 20 is plastically deformed near the contact portion between the supporting member 20 and the self-tapping screw 10, and the self-tapping screw 10 The support member 20 goes around along the circumferential direction of the tapping screw 10. Thereby, the contact area between the self-tapping screw 10 and the support member 20 is increased, and the fixing force of the self-tapping screw 10 to the support member 20 is further ensured.

  As described above, according to the mounting member according to this embodiment, the mounting position of the component 24 is increased by the pressing force acting on the self-tapping screw 10 from the supporting member 20 and the increase in the contact area between the supporting member 20 and the self-tapping screw 10. The lowering of the screw fixing force due to the lower hole 22 having a long hole shape for the purpose of securing the degree of freedom is prevented.

[Example 1]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which components are attached by the attachment member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 5, a support member 32 to which a component 34 is attached is provided with a pilot hole 36 having a linear long hole shape. The component 34 is fastened to the support member 32 by the self-tapping screw 10. The self-tapping screw 10 can be screwed at a free position in the pilot hole 36, and thereby the degree of freedom of mounting the component 34 to the support member 32 is improved. Although not particularly specified, as described above, the width of the lower hole 36 is narrower than the shaft diameter of the self-tapping screw 10.

[Example 2]
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another state in which the component is attached by the attachment member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  With reference to FIG. 6, a support member 42 to which a component 44 is attached is provided with a pilot hole 46 having an arc-shaped long hole shape along a virtual circle C centered on a point S. The component 44 is fastened to the support member 42 by the self-tapping screw 10. The self-tapping screw 10 can be screwed at a free position in the lower hole 46 having an arcuate long hole shape, thereby improving the degree of freedom of attachment of the component 44 to the support member 42. In the second embodiment as well, the width of the lower hole 46 is narrower than the shaft diameter of the self-tapping screw 10 although not particularly specified.

[Example 3]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing still another aspect in which the component is attached by the attachment member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 7, the support member 52 to which the component 56 is attached has a cylindrical shape, and the support member 52 is provided with an attachment portion 54 that is integrally formed along the circumferential direction of the support member 52. . The attachment portion 54 is provided with a lower hole 58 having a long hole shape. The component 56 is fastened to the support member 52 (attachment portion 54) by the self-tapping screw 10. The self-tapping screw 10 can be screwed at a free position in the lower hole 58 having a long hole shape, thereby improving the degree of freedom of mounting the component 56 to the support member 52. In the third embodiment as well, the width of the lower hole 58 is narrower than the shaft diameter of the self-tapping screw 10 although not clearly shown.

[Example 4]
As described above, self-tapping screws are often used for fastening parts in automobiles for the purpose of reducing manufacturing costs. Here, in an automobile, low cost, downsizing, high performance, high reliability, etc. are strongly demanded. However, according to the mounting member according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost of processing internal threads by using a self-tapping screw. Cost can be reduced. In addition, since the pilot hole has a long hole shape, the degree of freedom in mounting the component to the support member is improved, downsizing is achieved by improving layout efficiency, and higher performance is achieved by improving the mounting accuracy of, for example, a sensor as a component. be able to. Furthermore, since the fixing force of the self-tapping screw with respect to the support member is ensured, it has high reliability against vehicle vibration.

  FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are diagrams showing examples when the mounting member according to the embodiment of the present invention is used in an engine portion of a vehicle.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the wire harness is attached to the intake manifold of the engine.

  Referring to FIG. 8, an intake manifold 60 is an intake pipe for introducing an air-fuel mixture to an engine cylinder. The wire harness 62 is a group of wires connected to a spark plug, a sensor, and the like, and is attached to the intake manifold 60 by a wire harness bracket 64. The wire harness bracket 64 is fixed to the attachment portion 67 of the intake manifold 60 by a self-tapping screw 66.

  In an automobile, an enormous number of wire harnesses are stretched, and when all of them are actually attached, it is necessary to securely attach them to each predetermined part while securing a certain degree of freedom of attachment.

  Here, the lower hole 68 in the attachment portion 67 has a long hole shape and is designed so that its width is narrower than the shaft diameter of the self-tapping screw 66. Therefore, the degree of freedom of attachment of the wire harness 62 to the intake manifold 60 is ensured, and the fastening force of the wire harness bracket 64 to the intake manifold 60 is ensured even in an engine portion where vibration is particularly large.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the pressure sensor is attached to the intake manifold of the engine.

  Referring to FIG. 9, an intake manifold 70 is an intake pipe for guiding an air-fuel mixture to an engine cylinder. The pressure sensor 72 is a sensor for measuring the atmospheric pressure in the intake manifold 70. The detection portion of the pressure sensor 72 is inserted into the pressure detection port 76 and is fixed to the attachment portion 77 of the intake manifold 70 by a self-tapping screw 74.

Since the air pressure in the intake manifold 70 affects the engine characteristics, it is necessary to accurately measure the pressure by the pressure sensor 72. For this reason, when the pressure sensor 72 is attached to the intake manifold 70, it is necessary to securely attach it while ensuring a certain degree of attachment adjustment. In addition, it is desirable that the pressure sensor 72 has a degree of freedom from the viewpoint of connectivity with a wire harness (not shown).

  Here, the lower hole 78 in the mounting portion 77 has an arc-shaped long hole shape along a virtual circle centered on the pressure detection port 76, and its width is narrower than the shaft diameter of the self-tapping screw 74. Designed. Therefore, the degree of freedom of attachment of the pressure sensor 72 to the intake manifold 70 is ensured, and the fastening force of the pressure sensor 72 to the intake manifold 70 is ensured even in an engine portion where vibration is particularly large.

  As described above, according to the mounting member according to the embodiment of the present invention, as described above, it is possible to contribute to cost reduction, size reduction, performance enhancement, and high reliability of the vehicle.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scope of claims for patent, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the scope of claims for patent and all modifications within the scope.

It is a side view of the self-tapping screw used for the attachment member by embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the supporting member used for the attachment member by embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical sectional view showing the structure of the mounting member according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the cross section IV-IV of the attachment member shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that components are attached with the attachment member by embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the other mode that components are attached with the attachment member by embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows further another mode that components are attached by the attachment member by embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that a wire harness is attached to the intake manifold of an engine. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that a pressure sensor is attached to the intake manifold of an engine.

Explanation of symbols

  10, 66, 74 Self-tapping screws, 12 heads, 14 shafts, 16 threads, 20, 32, 42, 52 Support members, 22, 36, 46, 58, 68, 78 Pilot holes, 24, 34, 44 , 56 parts, 54, 67, 77 mounting portion, 60, 70 intake manifold, 62 wire harness, 64 wire harness bracket, 72 pressure sensor, 76 pressure detection port.

Claims (4)

A support member provided with a pilot hole;
A self-tapping screw that is screwed into the lower hole while forming a female screw portion in the lower hole by a screw thread provided on the shaft portion;
The lower hole has a long hole shape longer than the outer diameter of the shaft portion of the self-tapping screw,
The width of the said lower hole is a mounting member narrower than the diameter in the valley bottom of the axial part of the said self-tapping screw.   The mounting member according to claim 1, wherein the support member presses the self-tapping screw from both sides by an elastic recovery force of the support member generated when the self-tapping screw is screwed into the lower hole.   The mounting member according to claim 2, wherein the support member is further plastically deformed so as to go around in a circumferential direction of the self-tapping screw when the self-tapping screw is screwed into the lower hole.   The mounting member according to claim 1, wherein the support member is made of a resin material.

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