MXPA97009256A - Working system for fixing an element of plastic material in a sopo structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plastic component having a fastening assembly for securing the component to a support structure, the combination comprises: said support structure further comprising a substantially flat metal sheet or sheet having an opening to receive the plastic component, said opening is provided with at least one peripheral groove extending radially outwardly, said fastening assembly further comprising: at least one contact surface on said plastic component adapted to contact one side of the support structure, when said plastic component is received through said opening in said support structure, at least one securing element on said plastic component, which faces toward said at least one contact surface, said at least one securing element is configured to pass through. said at least one slot cando said co The component is received through said opening in said support structure, and then, by partially rotating said plastic component in said opening to contact an opposite side of said support structure from said at least one contact surface, and at least one projection. fitted on the plastic component, to prevent the plastic component from loosening, each of said secured elements has a turning ramp surface, to facilitate its passage on said opposite side of said support structure

Description

WORKING SYSTEM FOR FIXING AN ELEMENT OF PLASTIC MATERIAL IN A SUPPORT STRUCTURE The present invention relates to a plastic material element with a locking system, as well as a support structure for fixing the plastic material element.

From DE-D-12 49 599 it is known to provide a sealing connection for tubular parts with the wall of a filter housing. The filter housing is constituted by a metal sheet, which has a square die-cut portion, into which the tubular piece is inserted and fixed by a rotating movement. A disadvantage of this known system lies in the fact that the area of the die cut portion is substantially larger than the cross section of the tube separately. Due to this, problems arise in terms of sealing and safety, particularly in the case of amusement and trepidation. A large number of variants of locking systems are known for fixing elements of plastic material in a support structure. For example, the elements of plastic material can be provided with spring locks. They can also be provided with bayonet type locks. Particularly in the case of automotive vehicles, a large number of plastic elements are fixed in a support structure, for example in a body, by means of latching or spring locks. In these cases, it is a matter of achieving a union resistant to vibrations and simultaneously also low manufacturing costs and a quick assembly. The present invention has the purpose of proposing a locking system that offers these advantages and that is also able to reliably fix more complex elements of plastic material in a simple support structure.

This purpose is fulfilled by the fact that the plastic material element has a bearing surface against the support structure as well as fixing elements opposed to the supporting surfaces and that after the introduction of the plastic material element in the neck of the supporting structure and making a turning movement fix the plastic material element in the support structure. The fundamental idea of the invention resides in constituting the element of plastic material in such a way that the support structure does not require expensive machining processes or that additional elements are not required in the support structure. This is achieved by the fact that the plastic material element is provided both with a supporting surface and also with fixing elements so that the supporting structure only needs a neckline. According to another feature of the invention, it is proposed to provide locking peaks in the plastic material element or in the support structure, which prevent loosening of the plastic material element. Another advantageous feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of entanglement slopes in the fastening elements. These ensure a simple and fast assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the support structure is made of sheet metal. This metal sheet is, for example, part of the body of a motor vehicle and has a thickness of the order of 0.3 to 3 mm. The neckline in the metal sheet is conveniently done by matrixing. A convenient application of the locking system occurs in the suction tube of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle. This suction tube generally crosses a part of the bodywork in a region of the vehicle in which air can be sucked that has the minimum possible contamination with dirt or moisture or that has not been heated by the engine. It was known to fix these suction tubes to a part of the body by means of lugs or similar elements and through sheet metal screws. Although this type of fixation is very reliable, it has high costs and requires greater assembly complexity. If the suction tube is made with the characteristics of the plastic material element, a simple but simultaneously reliable fixing is possible and resistant to vibration. These and other preferred embodiments of the invention arise not only from the claims but also from the specification and drawingsThe individual characteristics can be realized by themselves or several of them in the form of subcombinations, in the embodiment of the invention and in other fields that can conveniently constitute self-protected embodiments, for which protection is claimed herein. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, which are explained in more detail below. The drawings show: Figure 1, an element of plastic material, particularly a suction tube disposed on a flat plate. Figure 2, an element of plastic material in a side elevation view. Figure 3, the element of plastic material in a plan view. Figure 4, the support structure with its neckline. Figures 5a-d, the assembly steps for fixing the element of plastic material on the metal sheet. Figure 1 shows an element of plastic material 10, particularly a part of the suction tube of an internal combustion engine. This plastic material element is fixed to a flat plate, for example in a metal sheet 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 in the side elevation view, the plastic material element 10 has bearing surfaces 12, 13. These constitute the contact with the metal sheet 11. Furthermore, in the plastic material element, fixing elements or opposing support surfaces 14,15 are provided which, after assembly of the plastic material element in the metal sheet, prevent detachment. A non-illustrated extension tube is connected to the plastic material element or to the suction tube via a fixing region 16. Figure 3 shows a plan view of the suction tube with the bearing surfaces 12, 13, the opening 17 infundibuliform with the fastening elements 14, 15. In the vicinity of the fastening elements, the bearing surfaces 12 are made, 13 The symmetrical structure of the plastic material element allows the arrangement of other support surfaces 18,19 as well as other fixing elements , 21. In this figure it is also possible to observe a lead-in slope 22 disposed on the support surface 13. Figure 4 shows a partial view of a metal sheet 11 with the neck 23 cut by matrixing for the reception of the plastic element . While the fastening elements 14, 15 as well as 20, 21 pass through the necklines 24, 25, 26, 27, the bearing surfaces 12, 13 and 18, 19 of the plastic element support against the extending segments. between the necklines. Figures 5a to d show the assembly stages in detail. These detailed representations are sectional representation along the line A-A of figure 3. Figures 5a to d show the support surfaces 12, 18 of the plastic material element as well as the fastening element 14. On the bearing surface 12 or the bearing surface 13, respectively, according to FIG. 3, is the leading slope 28. The metal sheet 11 with the region 27 in the position illustrated in figure 5a is not yet in abutment against the plastic material element. Figure 5b shows the position in which the plastic material element 10 is in its final axial position. Then, according to FIG. 5c, a rotation of the plastic material element 10 in the direction of arrow 29 is performed.

The fastening element 14 with its sliding surface 31 moves elastically downwards in the direction of the arrow 30. The metal sheet 11 slides on the left side above the leading slope 28. Figure 5d shows the final position of the plastic material element 10 in its immobilized position. The neck 27 of the metal sheet is now above the leading slope 28. The fastening element 14, due to its elasticity, exerts an upward pressure against the metal sheet 11. In combination with the leading edge 28, a fixing of the plastic material element or the suction tube 10 is achieved in the desired position illustrated here. The various steps show that a simple manual assembly of the plastic material element is possible and after the assembly of the plastic material element is fixed in an impervious manner against the support structure. By applying an ear on the back face (facing the leading edge 28) the lock can be easily unlocked and the piece of plastic material removed.

Claims (4)

1. CLAIMS 1.- Element of plastic material with locking system, as well as a support structure for fixing the plastic material element, the support structure being a substantially flat plate having a neck for the housing of the plastic material element and the plastic material element being insertable into the neck of the support structure and fixed by a rotating movement of the plastic material element in the support structure,
2. CHARACTERIZED because the support structure has necklines and the locking system has fastening elements, which pass through said necklines, the plastic material element having a support surface resting against the support structure, the elements of which are Fixation counterposed to the support surfaces. 2. Lock system according to claim 1, characterized in that locking peaks are provided in the plastic material element or in the support structure to prevent detachment.
3. 3. Lock system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fastening elements have sliding surfaces.
4. 4. - Lock system according to one of the preceding claims, particularly for the application in the suction pipe of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, the plastic element constituting a part of the suction pipe. R E S U M E N A locking system is proposed for fixing an element of plastic material in a support structure. The supporting structure is a substantially flat plate, particularly a metal sheet, which has a neck for receiving the plastic material element. The plastic material element has at least one support surface for support against the support structure. Furthermore, fastening elements are provided, which are opposite the support surfaces and which, after the insertion of the plastic material element in the neck, fix this plastic material element in the support structure.