KR20080025754A - Tolerance compensating connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A tolerance compensating connector (100) comprising a first member (10) having a threaded portion (12), a second member (20) comprising a bore (22) and an outer surface (21), the outer surface having a helical thread engagable with a receiver (40), the first member engaged with the bore, a third member (30) engaged with the first member and the second member, the third member transmitting a torque from the first member to the second member such that a first torque transmitted to the second member as the first member is turned in a first direction is sufficient to turn the second member in the receiver, the third member having a slipping engagement with the first member when the first torque is exceeded, and upon the first member being turned in a direction opposite the first direction the third member transmits a second torque to the second member sufficient to turn the second member in the receiver in a direction opposite the first direction. ® KIPO & WIPO 2008

Description

Tolerance Compensation Connector {TOLERANCE COMPENSATING CONNECTOR}

The present invention relates to a tolerance compensating connector, and more particularly, to a tolerance compensating connector having a torque transmitting member for transmitting a torque that depends on the direction of rotation of the fastener from the fastener to the compensating sleeve.

The assembly of the components of the equipment can be adversely affected by tolerances, ie the dimensional differences between the components that form the gaps at the fixing points to facilitate assembly. Although these tolerances can be eliminated, this can make assembly more difficult. Tolerances are also "stacked" or "accumulated" when more than two components are joined at a particular location, creating larger dimensional deviations or gaps.

 Tolerances can be very small, one millimeter of moisture, or very large, a few millimeters, depending on the environment. Typically, larger tolerances reduce manufacturing costs and make assembly easier.

In the prior art, attempts have been made to remove or correct tolerances in assembled devices. These typically comprise a shim or screw type device that fills the gap between the mating surfaces of the components to be joined. Shim or screw type devices are typically separate components from the fasteners.

A representative technique is US Patent Publication No. 2003/0077142 Al, issued by Stone, which discloses a device for mounting a tolerance correction that includes a bushing with a female thread and a male thread. The bushing is screwed into the part that is mounted to the surface. The bolt is then screwed into the bore of the bushing using a female threaded portion. The female threaded portion creates an interference fit between the bolt shank and the female threaded portion, temporarily preventing further bolts from being inserted. The bolt is then rotated, thereby rotating the bushing until the bushing is unscrewed from the part toward the mounting surface until the bushing abuts against the mounting surface, thus completely compensating the clearance gap. As the bolt is further rotated, the sacrificial internal thread of the bushing is abraded to allow the bolt to rotate sufficiently into the mounting surface hole, thereby compensating the tolerance gap and connecting the components.

What is needed is a reusable tolerance compensating connector with a torque transmitting member that transfers torque that depends on the direction of rotation of the fastener from the fastener to the compensation sleeve. The present invention meets these needs.

It is a principal aspect of the present invention to provide a reusable tolerance compensating connector having a torque transmitting member for transmitting torque dependent on the direction of rotation of the fastener from the fastener to the compensating sleeve.

Other aspects of the invention will be pointed out or made apparent by the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

The present invention provides a tolerance compensating connector comprising a first member having a threaded portion, a second member having an outer surface with a helical screw engaged with a bore and a receiver, and a third member engaged with the first member and the second member. The first member is engaged with the bore and the third member is configured such that the first torque transmitted to the second member when the first member is rotated in the first direction is sufficient to rotate the second member in the receiver. Transmits a first torque from the member to the second member, the third member slips into engagement with the first member when the first torque is exceeded, and when the first member is rotated in a direction opposite to the first direction The third member includes a tolerance compensating connector that transmits a second torque to the second member sufficient to rotate the second member in a receiver in a direction opposite to the first direction.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the invention.

1 is a side cross-sectional view of a tolerance compensating connector.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve.

3 is a perspective view of the sleeve.

4 is a side cross-sectional view of the coil member in FIG. 5.

5 is a plan view of the coil member.

6 is a cross-sectional view of another coil member in FIG. 7.

7 is a plan view of another coil member.

8 is a cross-sectional view of another sleeve.

9 is a perspective view of another sleeve.

The present invention includes a tolerance correction connector. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a tolerance compensating connector. The connector 100 includes a first member, that is, a fastener 10. The fastener 10 includes a threaded portion 12, a head 13 and a flange 14. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 shows a threaded portion 12 extending along the entire length of the fastener 10.

The fastener 10 may comprise a SAE or metric thread on the threaded portion 12. The screw portion 12 may include any one of a right screw and a left screw. The threaded portion 12 may comprise any of ordinary and fine screws of known styles and types. The fastener 10 may have a hex head, Torx head or any other suitable driver head known in the art. The threaded portion 12 has a diameter D2.

The second member, ie the sleeve 20, comprises a male screw portion 21 and a bore 22. The male screw portion 21 includes a helical screw that engages with the receiver portion 40. Male threaded portion 21 may include SAE or metric screws. The male screw portion 21 may include any one of a right screw and a left screw. The male screw portion 21 may include any of a conventional screw and a thin screw of any known style.

The male screw portion 21 meshes with the screw portion 41 of the receiver portion 40. Receiver portion 40 may include any component mounted to other components 50, such as a water pump mounted to engine block 50. Other components besides water pumps include starter motors, alternators, air conditioning compressors, fuel pumps and power steering pumps. The engine block 50 comprises a threaded receiver portion 51, ie a threaded hole. The receiver portion 51 includes a screw 52 that interlocks with the threaded portion 12 of the fastener 10. The surface 24 abuts the portion to which the component 40 is attached, in this case the surface of the engine block.

The third member 30 is engaged between the first member and the second member. The third member comprises a coil or coils 32 made of a wire or other elastic material wound around the fastener 10 to grip or tighten the fastener. The end 31 of the third member 30 is such that the third member cannot rotate with respect to the second member, but the third member can rotate with respect to the first member 10 in a predetermined direction R1. Meshes with the second member 20.

In use, the first member 10 is inserted into the bore 22 of the second member 20 at the same time as it rotates into the third member 30. The assembly of the first member, the second member and the third member constitute the tolerance compensating connector of the present invention.

Thereafter, the connector 100 is screwed to the receiver portion 40 by engagement of the screw portion 21 and the screw portion 41. Torque the fastener 10 to rotate the sleeve 20 until the fastener 10 abuts the receiver portion 51 or the surface 24 abuts the component 50. In most cases, surface 24 will abut component 50 before fastener 10 abuts receiver portion 51. After surface 24 abuts component 50 and fastener 10 engages receiver portion 51, fastener 10 then receives receiver portion until flange 14 engages surface 42. Fully screwed into 51 and torqued to final value.

The third member 30 transmits the first torque from the fastener 10 to the sleeve 20. The direction of the coil of the third member 30 is such that when the fastener 10 is screwed into the receiver portion 51 and the sleeve 20 is rotated into the threaded portion 41, the third member is fastener 10. ) Is not held tight. However, the gripping is sufficient to allow the sleeve 20 to rotate within the threaded portion 41. The third member 30 then slips on the fastener 10 when the first torque is exceeded, ie when the sleeve 20 stops rotating after the surface 24 is in contact with the component 50. After the sleeve 20 has stopped rotating, the fastener 10 is sufficiently screwed into the receiver portion 51 due in part to the slipping engagement of the third member 30 with the fastener 10.

During insertion of the fastener 10, the engagement of the third member 30 with the fastener 10 is not only sufficient to ensure contact of the surface 24 with the component 50, but also the sleeve 20 has a surface 24. Should be sufficient to receive sufficient torque to ensure proper engagement, i.e. overcome the parasitic friction between the surfaces, so that substantially the entire surface 24 is in contact with the component 50. This ensures that the load bearing capacity of the sleeve 20 is sufficiently exhibited to ensure adequate rigidity of the assembled components.

The sleeve 20 fills the gap "T" between the components to which it is coupled. The size of the gap T that can be filled is limited only by the length of the sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 only needs to have enough threads to engage the receiver portion 40 to sufficiently represent the theoretical shear strength required by the application. As long as the fastener 10 receives sufficient torque, the sleeve 20 is held in place by the compressive load. Thus, the number of threads 21 that must engage the threaded portion 41 of the receiver portion is a function of the maximum preload in the fastener, and thus the shear load applied to the threaded portion 21.

To withdraw the connector, the fastener is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction used to engage the fastener 10. When the fastener 10 is rotated, the third member 30 tightly grips the fastener 10 due to the direction of the coil of the third member 30. The third member 30 is tight enough so that a sufficient second torque is transmitted from the fastener to the sleeve by the third member such that the sleeve 20 is released from engagement with the component 50 and withdrawn from the receiver portion 41. Gripping fasteners. Unlike the first direction, the third member does not slip on the fastener when the second torque is transmitted to the sleeve. In other words, the torque applied to the sleeve by the third member depends on the direction of rotation of the fastener.

The insertion torque or first torque is typically less than the second torque or the drawing torque, but this is not always the case. In some cases, the sleeve 20 will be locked in place once installed.

The connector 100 may be completely withdrawn from the components that were attached together using the connector. The connector can be reused because the manner of operation of the connector is sacrificial or does not damage any of the parts of the connector.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve. The sleeve 20 includes a male screw portion 21. The male screw portion 21 may be formed along the axial length of the sleeve as shown, or along a portion consisting of a length shorter than the axial length. Bore 22 receives fastener 10. The receptacle 23 may comprise a hole or other means for engaging the end 31 of the third member 30 (see FIG. 5). The male screw portion 21 has the same spiral direction as the screw portion 12 of the fastener 10. This causes the sleeve 20 to move in the same engagement direction as the fastener during engagement and release.

Since the bore 22 has an inner diameter D1 larger than the outer diameter D2 of the male screw portion 12, the fastener 10 and the sleeve bore 22 are loosely engaged. This also forms a sufficient play between the third member and the sleeve 20. The inner diameter D4 of the bore provides clearance for the third member 30.

3 is a perspective view of the sleeve. A hole 23 is shown disposed at one end of the sleeve 20 to prevent the end 31 from contacting the threaded portion 41 during engagement. The hole 23 can be placed anywhere on the sleeve 20 as long as the end 31 does not interfere with the threaded portion 41.

4 is a side cross-sectional view of the coil member in FIG. 5. The end 31 extends radially to engage a hole 23 in the sleeve 20. The coil 32 is wound in a predetermined direction around the fastener 10. The winding direction determines whether the third member 30 will lightly or tightly grip the fastener 10 in a given rotational direction. The inner diameter D3 (see FIG. 5) is selected to allow the coil to grip the threaded portion 12 of the fastener 10. The coil is composed of spring steel or equivalent, exerting spring force in response to the fastener “opening” the coil to a somewhat larger diameter than D3. In this way, the coil "grasps" the fastener 10 in a similar manner to the band brake operation.

The third member 30 further includes a larger coil 320 having an inner diameter D5. Since the inner diameter D5 is larger than the inner diameter D3, a slightly tapered outline is given to the third member 30. The inner diameter D5 facilitates the third member 30 to engage the openings 23 of the sleeve as well as the recesses 220 of the sleeve.

The coil gently grips the fastener when the fastener is rotated in the first direction, for example during insertion of the fastener. The coil holds the fastener tightly when the fastener is rotated in the opposite direction, for example during the withdrawal of the fastener. Only a sufficient number of coils 32 are needed to form the torque required to release the sleeve from the receiver portion 40 when the fastener 10 is disengaged from engagement with the receiver portion 51. The coil also needs to grip the fastener sufficiently tightly to allow the sleeve 20 to screw into the threaded portion 41 when the fastener 10 is rotated.

5 is a plan view of the coil member. The coil 32 has an inner diameter D3 and a thickness D6. The coil 320 has an inner diameter D5 as shown in FIG. The end 33 is angled slightly inward toward the fastener to allow the edge 34 of the end 33 to better engage the fastener. This increases the ability of the coil of the third member to hold the fastener. In other applications, the end 33 need not be keratinized. The third member may comprise any material capable of gripping the fasteners sufficiently to produce torque as described herein. For example, the third member 30 may include a metal material such as spring steel, steel, or aluminum. The third member may include not only nonmetal materials such as plastic, ceramics or polyurethane, but also combinations of the above metal materials and nonmetal materials, or equivalents of any of the above metal materials and nonmetal materials.

6 is a cross-sectional view of another coil member in FIG. 7. The other third member 30 includes a coil 32 as shown in FIG. However, the end part 31 is abbreviate | omitted in this modification. Holding the third member 30 in the sleeve 20 is accomplished by frictionally fitting the coil 320 to the recess 220 (see FIG. 8). That is, the coil 320 has an outer diameter D7 slightly larger than the inner diameter D4 (see FIG. 2) of the sleeve 20.

In this embodiment, a frictional fit is obtained between the third member 30 and the sleeve 20 by a snug fit of the coil 320 and the recess 220. . When the fastener 10 is rotated, the friction fit of the fastener 10 and the coil 320 and the friction fit of the coil 320 and the sleeve 20 are such that the sleeve 20 is removed from the receiver portion 40. Let it rotate Sleeve 20 rotates until surface 24 engages component 50 as described elsewhere herein. The rotational direction of the coil 30 is preferably the same as the insertion rotational direction of the fastener 10.

During detachment, frictional engagement of coil 30 and recess 220 causes coil 30 to rotate sleeve 20 such that sleeve 20 is a component when fastener 10 is unscrewed and detached. Departure from contact with (50). This describes the reusable feature of the device of the invention, since the device of the invention can then be reinserted and the device can be withdrawn from the installation position of the device whenever necessary

7 is a plan view of another coil member. Although the end part 31 is abbreviate | omitted in the 3rd member 30, the other part is as having demonstrated in FIG.

8 is a cross-sectional view of another sleeve. The recess 220 includes an inner diameter D4 as shown in FIG. 2. In the present embodiment, the sleeve 20 does not include the receiving portion 23.

9 is a perspective view of another sleeve. The threaded portion 21 is shown extending over the axial length of the sleeve. In this embodiment, the housing 23 is omitted.

The following information is provided to illustrate the advantages of the present invention. The following information is not provided to limit the breadth of the invention. The following values are approximate and will vary depending on the design and use conditions of the component.

Coil 32 to 1.5 of third member

Diameter (D5) of the fastener shank 6.9 mm

Nominal Diameter of Fasteners 8.00 mm

Inner diameter D3 of the third member 6.65 mm

Coil Wire Diameter (D6) 1.0 mm

Mounting torque (direction R1) 0.16 Ncm

Drawing torque (direction R2) 0.48 Ncm

It can be seen that the installation torque, i.e., the torque required to install the sleeve 20 in the receiver portion 40, is less than the torque required to pull the fastener 10 out of the sleeve 20. During installation, the sleeve 20 will be screwed into the receiver portion 40 until the surface 24 "touches the floor." Thereafter, the fastener 10 will continue to rotate in the third member as described. Extraction of the fastener 10 from the receiver portion 51 will cause the third member 30 to grasp the fastener 10 and thus the sleeve 20 to be taken out of the receiver portion 40.

The connector of the present invention can also be used to speed up machine assembly or to reduce machining costs. That is, when bolting two machined castings or products together, the surfaces to be joined are usually machined flat to ensure proper installation. Seals or sealants are used between the two surfaces. This requires surface roughness and flatness which can only be achieved by machining. This requires time and special equipment.

Machining of the casting typically results in some deformation that occurs when the stress on the outer “skin” of the casting is removed. In larger castings, a second pass is sometimes required to remove the deformation caused by the first machining pass. If no seal is required, or if the required sealing is achieved in other ways, there is a possibility to eliminate machining of the surfaces to be joined, taking into account cost savings. Instead of machining flat spaces, a viscous boss for tapping and dowels is used on the surface of the component to control lateral motion and for proper installation and alignment. The change in space or gap between the surfaces is adjusted by the use of the connector of the present invention. Moreover, the use of the connector of the present invention allows the parts to be disassembled later, for example for maintenance purposes, since the connector can be reused.

 While certain forms of the invention have been described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made in the processing, construction, and relationships of components without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein.

Claims (12)

A first member having a threaded portion, An outer surface with a helical screw that engages the receiver, a second member comprising a bore, and A third member engaged with the first member and the second member Wherein the first member is engaged with the bore, and the third member is sufficient for the first torque transmitted to the second member to rotate the second member in the receiver when the first member is rotated in the first direction. Transmits a first torque from the first member to the second member such that the third member slips into engagement with the first member when the first torque is exceeded, When the first member is rotated in a direction opposite to the first direction, the third member transmits a second torque to the second member sufficient to rotate the second member in the receiver in a direction opposite to the first direction; Tolerance compensation connector. 2. The tolerance compensating connector as in claim 1, wherein the third member comprises a coil. 2. The tolerance compensating connector as in claim 1, wherein said first member comprises a threaded fastener. The tolerance compensating connector according to claim 1, wherein the threaded portion of the first member and the helical screw of the outer surface are in the same direction. 2. The tolerance compensating connector as in claim 1, wherein the first torque is less than the second torque. With threaded fasteners, Sleeve with male thread and bore, and Coil member Wherein the fastener is engaged with the sleeve portion through a bore, the coil member is engaged between the fastener and the sleeve portion, and the coil member transfers the first torque to the sleeve portion when the fastener is rotated in the first direction. And the coil member slips on the threaded fastener when the first torque is exceeded, And the coil member grips the fastener to transfer the second torque to the sleeve when the fastener is rotated in the second direction. 7. The tolerance compensating connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the screw and the male screw portion of the threaded fastener are in the same direction. 7. The tolerance compensating connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the coil member comprises a nonmetal material. 7. The tolerance compensating connector as in claim 6, wherein the first torque is less than the second torque. 7. The tolerance compensating connector as in claim 6, wherein the first torque is greater than the second torque. With threaded fasteners, Sleeve with male thread and bore, and Coil member Wherein the fastener is engaged with the sleeve portion through a bore, and the coil member is engaged between the fastener and the sleeve portion such that torque is transmitted from the fastener to the sleeve portion and the torque is dependent on the direction of rotation of the fastener. connector. 12. The tolerance compensating connector as in claim 11, wherein the coil member slips into engagement with the fastener when a predetermined torque is exceeded.

Images