SE539263C2

SE539263C2 - Fastening device, primarily for installation of an antenna on a vehicle

Info

Publication number: SE539263C2
Application number: SE1551294A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Lundin Michael; ZETTLER Roland
Original assignee: Scania Cv Ab
Priority date: 2015-10-08
Filing date: 2015-10-08
Publication date: 2017-06-07
Also published as: WO2017061923A1; SE1551294A1; BR112018007113A2; BR112018007113B1; DE112016004037B4; DE112016004037T5

Abstract

ABSTRACT The invention relates to a fastening device (3), comprising abase plate (4) for fixation of an antenna rod (5) to a bodypanel (2), a cover (6) fixed to the base plate (4) from aboveand a substantially square formed clamping element (10)located below the base plate (4) and connected to the baseplate (4) by means of e.g. a screw (13). The invention isachieved by that a first guiding element (15) is arranged asan end stop intended to abut an edge (8a) of a key grip (8)arranged in the mounting hole (7). The first guiding element(15) and the key grip (8) are arranged to automaticallyorientate the fastening device (3) in a correct rotational/-angular position in the body panel (2). As the first guidingelement (15) is arranged inside the circumference of themounting hole (7,9) makes it possible to install the antennaassembly (1) also in a basic circular hole (9) having no “key grip” (8). (Figure 4)

Description

FASTENING DEVICE, PRIMARILY FOR INSTALLATION OF AN ANTENNA ONA VEHICLE TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a fastening device, preferablyintended for a roof antenna, or an antenna for installationon the side, of a vehicle such as a commercial vehicle like atruck, a bus or similar, comprising a base plate for fixationof the antenna and for accommodating other necessary antennaelements which are covered by an cover that is fixed to thebase plate. An antenna according to the invention is intendedto be mounted from only one side of a substantially flatsurface of a vehicle body, particularly a vehicle roof.Connecting means are embodied in the base plate and aclamping element is connected to the base plate and movableduring installation in relation to the base plate. Thepresent application also refers to a vehicle provided with a fastening device according to the invention.

BACKGROUND ART The installation of a roof antenna to the body of a vehicle,such as a truck, is usually carried out by an integrallythreaded pin fixed downwards from the bottom plate of theantenna, and which pin is inserted from the outside of thevehicle into a hole in a body panel of the vehicle. A nut isscrewed with a tightening torque from the other side onto thepin in order to finally fix the antenna assembly to the body of the vehicle.

In many applications it is a desire to be able to mount anantenna from only one side of the vehicle body, e.g. from outside of a body panel, as it may be difficult to reach a screw from behind the body panel. One important advantages ofbeing able to mount the antenna from only one side is that itis faster and more flexible in production, and the service/-aftermarket do not have to dismantle the interior of thevehicle to access the fastening device from inside. It isalso a desire that the antenna assembly may be installed onlyin the correct orientation/direction in the vehicle as wellas that a secure electrical contact is obtained between theantenna base plate and the metal in the vehicle body panel. Afurther desire is that the installation of the antenna assem- bly should be easy and fast and therefore cost effective.

Many attempts have previously been made to provide a secure,easy and user friendly solution to the problems mentioned anda number of different solutions have been known on the market for a period of time.

EP1641068 illustrates, for example, an antenna assembly anddescribes a method for installation of such an antenna on amotor vehicle by means of a clamping device. This antennaassembly is provided with a clamping element connected to thebase plate of the antenna assembly by a centrally locatedscrew. The clamping element is axially movable by means ofthe screw. The antenna assembly is initially mounted by thatthe clamping element is formed as a bayonet disc comprisingsix heels. The hole in the vehicle panel is formed in acorresponding way. The clamping element is lowered into thehole and then turned/rotated where after the clamping elementis tightened by the screw in such a way that some parts ofthe clamping device abut the body panel near the hole, frombelow. A disadvantages of this method, and this device, isthat the very special formed hole must be done with specialtools and that this solution makes it possible to install theantenna in an incorrect orientation as the antenna ispossible to mount in many different angles in relation to the vehicle.

WO2006/108589 illustrates a similar solution of an antennaassembly. Here the clamping element and the hole are squareformed. Also in this solution the clamping element is rotatedin order to secure the antenna assemble to the surface of thebody panel. In this solution heals are arranged in the baseplate for having the antenna assembly to be oriented in a correct angle in relation to the vehicle.

DE202013010506 describes a further example of an antennaassembly. This solution facilitates that the angle of theinstalled antenna assembly will be correct. For installationthe antenna assembly, and the clamping element, have to betilted when the clamping element is lowered into a squareformed hole. Thereafter the assembly is moved forwards insuch a way that the clamping element is in its entirety lowerthrough the hole. The assembly is fixed from outside to the panel by means of a screw.

EP2276111 describes a still further example of an antennaassembly. This device is mounted, in a square formed hole inthe vehicle body panel, by lowering a clamping elementdownwards in the hole. The clamping element is then rotated45 degrees and tightened in this position by a screw. In thisway the clamping elements four arms abut the edges of the hole from below and are fixed against the body panel.

Other similar solutions, involving various forms of fasteningdevices with the aim of being able to mount an antennaassembly from outside a vehicle body panel exists on themarket but none of these known systems show an antennaassembly or a fastening device that e.g. will be possible to mount in a circular/round hole.

SUMARY OF INVENTION An object of the invention is thus to solve the aboveproblems and to provide a flexible fastening device thatfacilitates the installation of an antenna assembly either ina specially formed hole, in which the fastening device easilyand automatically may be correctly orientated (a so calledpoka-yoke-solution), or that the device is possible toinstall in a basic circular/round hole, that do not require special tools to make, as an aftermarket service.

Another object of the invention is that the fastening device should be easy to install, even in tight spaces.

A further object of the invention is that the fasteningdevice should be able to be manufactured in a cost effective ITIEBIIDGI .

These and further objects and advantages are achieved by theinvention by a fastening device designed in accordance with the features described in the independent claim l.

The invention concerns a fastening device primarily intendedfor a roof antenna, or a side mounted antenna, for a vehicle.The fastening device comprises a base plate e.g. for fixationof the antenna and for accommodating necessary antennaelements, and a clamping element. The base plate and theantenna elements are protected by a cover that is fixed tothe base plate. The clamping element is attached to the baseplate, located below the base plate, by means of a screw. Theclamping element is movable downwards or upwards in relationto the base plate. The antenna and its fastening device isintended to be mounted from only one side of a substantiallyflat surface of e.g. a vehicle like a truck or a bus, particularly on the vehicles roof. Electrically connecting means are also embodied in the base plate and are reached through holes in the clamping element.

The clamping element of the fastening device is designed/-formed in such a way that it may be installed in differentformed holes in the vehicle body. In one first application itis important that the fastening device may be installed in afast and easy manner but still in a completely correctorientated way. This is necessary in the production of thevehicle where specially formed holes are already punched out,or cut by laser, in the body panels. Such holes could easilybe designed with a “key grip” making it easy, duringinstallation, to orientate the antenna assembly in acompletely correct angle/orientation. These holes requirespecial tools to make and these are expensive to distributeand use in the aftermarket, when antennas are to be installedafter that the vehicle is manufactured. In the aftermarket itis easier and more cost effective to make round holes, usingstandard tools. It is an advantage if the same antennaassembly could be used both in the production of the vehicleas well as in the aftermarket. The antenna according to theinvention could be installed both in a hole formed with a key grip and in a completely circular hole without any key grip.

The invention is achieved by that the clamping element issubstantially square formed and that a first guiding elementis arranged in the base plate facing downwards. The width ofthe square formed clamping element is substantially equal to,or less then, the diameter of the mounting hole in the bodypanel. This makes it possible to slide the clamping elementthrough the mounting hole, in an angle. The first guidingelement, arranged on the base plate, is formed as an end stopand is intended to abut the edge of the key grip of thespecially formed mounting hole, when installed in the correctposition, thereby forcing the antenna assembly to be located in a specific predetermined rotational or angular position in the hole, in relation to the vehicle. The key grip isarranged as a nose or tongue in the mounting hole, having anedge facing inwards the center of the mounting hole. Thefastening device according to the invention could also bemounted in a completely circular hole without any key grip,as the first guiding element, when located in the mountinghole, is arranged inside the circumference of the mounting hole.

Further features and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following, more detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings and further claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described below in some preferred embodiments referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an antenna assembly mounted on a body panel surface of a vehicle.

Figure 2 illustrates a mounting hole with a substantially circular shape but formed with a “key grip”.

Figure 3 illustrates a mounting hole with a simple/basic circular shape.

Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of an antennaassembly, according to the invention, in a first mountingstep with the clamping element loosened to its outermost position.

Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of an antenna assembly, according to the invention, in a second mounting position, where the clamping element is partly slided through the hole from above/outside of the vehicle body.

Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view from below of theantenna assembly and its clamping element partly through the mounting hole.

Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view from below of a thirdmounting position where the antenna assembly and its clampingelement is in a position completely through the mountinghole.

Figure 8 illustrates a perspective side view of the antennaassembly in the same position as in figure 7 where the clamping element is located below/inside the body panel.

Figure 9 illustrates a side view of the antenna assemblyresting on the outside of the body panel surface and the clamping element still in its loose position.

Figure 10 illustrates a side view of the antenna assembly ina fourth mounting stage where the clamping element has been fastened by rotating the centrally located screw (indicated).

Figure 11 illustrates a view from below mainly showing theclamping element and the first guiding element and how the clamping element abuts the guiding element.

Figure 12 illustrates a perspective view from an angle belowshowing the antenna assembly including the clamping elementand the first guiding element as well as a second guidingelement for guiding the clamping element also in itsoutermost loosened position, as well as further guidingelements for centralizing the antenna assembly in the hole by abutting the inner edge of the hole.

Figure 13 illustrates a view showing the clamping element andits different holes for connectors/cables as well as therecess for the first guiding element and the hole for the second guiding element.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention thus concerns a fastening device intended forfastening of a roof antenna, or similar, onto a vehicle body.The main advantage with the fastening device according to theinvention is that the same designed antenna assembly could beused in the production line as well as in the aftermarket,i.e. in an specially formed mounting hole as well as in a hole with a basic circular shape.

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an antennaassembly l mounted on a body panel 2 of a vehicle (notshown). The antenna assembly l is fixed to the body panel 2by a fastening device 3 (see figure 4) comprising a baseplate 4 (see figure 4) for supporting the antenna 5 and foraccommodating other necessary antenna elements (not shown).The base plate 4 and the antenna elements are protected by a cover 6 that is fixed to the base plate 4.

Figure 2 illustrates a mounting hole 7, for the antennaassembly l and its fastening device 3 (see figure 4), with asubstantially circular shape, formed with a “key grip” 8. Thekey grip 8 is arranged as a nose/tongue in the mounting hole7, having an edge 8a, possibly having a recess 8b, facinginwards the centre of the mounting hole 7. It is importantthat the fastening device 3 may be installed in a fast andeasy manner, especially in the production of the vehicles,but still completely correct oriented in relation to thevehicle. In the production line especially formed holes 7 may be already punched out, or cut by laser, in the body panels 2 used. These holes 7 may easily be designed with the “keygrip” 8, to orientate the antenna assembly l in the correct angle/orientation.

Figure 3 illustrates a mounting hole 9 but with a basiccircular/rounded shape. A hole 7 (see figure 2) with a keygrip 8 requires special tools that are very expensive todistribute and to use in the aftermarket. In the aftermarketit is therefore easier and more cost effective to makecircular/round holes 9 with standard tools. It is anadvantage if the same antenna assembly l (see figure l) couldbe used both in the initial production of the vehicle, withspecially manufactured holes 7, as well as in theaftermarket. This means that only one design/product could beused in different situations giving higher production volumes and thereby lower costs.

Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of an antennaassembly l, according to the invention, in a first mountingstep with the clamping element lO loosened to its lowest oroutermost position. The clamping element lO is prevented torotate in relation to the base plate 4 by means of a guidingpin ll. The antenna assembly l and its fastening device 3,the base plate 4 and the clamping element lO is intended tobe mounted from only one side, the outside, of a substanti-ally flat surface of e.g. a vehicle like a truck or a bus,and particularly on the vehicles roof or its side panel (notshown). Electrically connecting means (not shown) areembodied in the base plate 4 inside the cover 6 and theclamping element lO is located below the base plate 4 andconnected to the base plate 4 by means of a screw 13. Thescrew 13 can be rotated from the top of the cover 6, via ahole l4 (see figure 5). The clamping element lO is movabledownwards or upwards, in relation to the base plate 4, by means of the screw 13.

Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of an antennaassembly l, according to the invention, in a second mountingposition, where the clamping element 10 is partly slidedthrough the hole 7 from above/outside of the vehicle bodypanel 2. The antenna assembly l is somewhat tilted and movedsideways in order to slide the clamping element lO through the mounting hole 7.

Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view from below of theantenna assembly l and its clamping element lO, partly slidedthrough the mounting hole 7. The movement is stopped as soonas the entire clamping element lO has passed through the mounting hole 7.

Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view from below of theantenna assembly l (see figure 6) where the clamping elementlO has moved completely through the mounting hole 7 andthereby arrived to a horizontal position below/inside thebody panel 2. The antenna assembly l is then moved a bit inthe opposite direction until the fastening device 2 is positioned centralized over the mounting hole 7.

Figure 8 illustrates a perspective side view of the antennaassembly l slightly above the body panel 2 and where theclamping element lO is located below the body panel 2, still loose from the antenna assembly l.

Figure 9 illustrates a side view of the antenna assembly lpressed/guided through the body panel 2 by further guidingelements l4a-c (see figure ll) and resting on the outside ofthe body panel 2. The clamping element lO is here still in its loose position.

Figure 10 illustrates a side view of the antenna assembly l where the clamping element lO has been fastened by rotating 11 the centrally located screw 13 (just indicated inside the cover 6 by dotted lines in the picture).

Figure 11 illustrates a view from below showing the clampingelement 10 and a first guiding element 15, flange, and howthe clamping element 10 abuts the first guiding element 15.The first guiding element 15, the flange, has a centrallylocated substantially circular rod 17 for reinforcing thefirst guiding element 15, the flange, and to fit in a recess8b (see figure 13) arranged in the nose/tongue 8 (see figure2) for securing the locking function against the key grip 8(see figure 2). The guiding pin 11 is preventing the clampingelement 10 from rotating in relation to the base plate 4.Further guiding elements 14a-c are arranged on the base plate4, facing downwards, for centralizing the base plate 4 when fitted into the mounting hole 7 (see figure 2).

Figure 12 illustrates a perspective view, from an anglebelow, showing the antenna assembly 1 including the clampingelement 10 and the first guiding element 15 as well as theguiding pin 11 for guiding the clamping element 10, keepingit from rotating, also in its outermost loosened position, aswell as the further guiding element 14a for centralizing theantenna assembly 1 in the hole 7 by abutting the inner edge 8a,b of the hole 7 (not shown).

Figure 13 illustrates a view from below showing the separatedclamping element 10 and its different recesses/holes 16a-dintended for connectors/cables (not shown) as well as thehole 17 for the guiding pin 11. A recess 18 in the clampingelement 10 is arranged to abut the first guiding element 15 (see figure 12).

The above description is primarily intended to facilitate theunderstanding of the invention. However the invention is of course not in any way restricted to only the disclosed 12 embodiments, but many possibilities to modifications would beapparent to a person skilled in the art within the scope ofthe invention without departing from the basic idea of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. l. Fastening device (3), primarily intended for fastening ofan antenna assembly (l) on a vehicle from only one side ofe.g. a substantially flat surface like a body panel (2),comprising a base plate (4) for fixation of an antenna rod(5), a cover (6) fixed to the base plate (4) from above and asubstantially square formed clamping element (lO) locatedbelow the base plate (4) and connected to the base plate (4)by means of e.g. a screw (l3) which allow the clamping element(lO) to be movable downwards or upwards in relation to thebase plate (4), characterised by that a first guiding element (l5) is brranged in the base plate (4) facing downwardä as an end stop intended to abut the /ßfíK°mmemm¶d“NAn,R%Q5mm25% edge (8a) of a key grip (8) when installed into a mountinghole (7) provided with a key grip (8), that the first guiding element (l5) is arranged to abut the clamping element (lO), that the first guiding element (l5) and the key grip (8) arearranged to automatically orientate the fastening device (3)in a correct angular/rotational position in the body panel (2)when installed into a mounting hole (7) provided with a keygrip (8), that the first guiding element (l5) and the key grip (8) arearranged to automatically lock the fastening device (3) fromrotating when installed into a mounting hole (7) provided witha key grip (8), and that the first guiding element (l5) is arranged inside thecircumference of the mounting hole (7,9) making it possible toinstall the fastening device (3) also in a basic circular/- round hole (9) having no key grip (8).

2. Fastening device (3) according to claim l, characterised bythat the key grip (8) is arranged as a nose/tongue in themounting hole (7), having an edge (8a) facing inwards the centre of the mounting hole (7).

3. Fastening device (3) according to claim l or 2,characterised by that the first guiding element (l5) is arranged as a flangefixed to the base plate (4), facing downwards in relation to the antenna assembly (l).

4. Fastening device (3) according to any preceding claims,characterised bythat the first guiding element (l5) is arranged to abut the edge (8a) of the nose/tongue in the mounting hole (7).

5. Fastening device (3) according to any preceding claims,characterised by that the first guiding element (l5) has a centrally locatedsubstantially circular rod (l7) for reinforcing the firstguiding element (l5) and to fit in a recess (8b) arranged in the key grip (8) for securing the locking effect.

6. Fastening device (3) according to any preceding claims,characterised bythat the clamping element (lO) and first guiding element (l5) are made of metal.

7. Fastening device (3) according to any preceding claims,characterised by that a screw (l3) is arranged to move the clamping element(lO) upwards or downwards in relation to the base plate (4)and for final assembly of the antenna assembly (l) to the body panel (2).

8. Vehicle characterized in that a fastening device (3) of anyone of the claims l to 7 is used/installed.