WO2002070907A1 - Press-fitted spacer nut - Google Patents

Press-fitted spacer nut Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002070907A1
WO2002070907A1 PCT/US2002/006587 US0206587W WO02070907A1 WO 2002070907 A1 WO2002070907 A1 WO 2002070907A1 US 0206587 W US0206587 W US 0206587W WO 02070907 A1 WO02070907 A1 WO 02070907A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
base plate
metal base
spacer nut
flange
press
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2002/006587
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Mitsuhiro Minami
Original Assignee
Newfrey Llc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Newfrey Llc filed Critical Newfrey Llc
Publication of WO2002070907A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002070907A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
    • B23P19/00—Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes
    • B23P19/04—Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes for assembling or disassembling parts
    • B23P19/06—Screw or nut setting or loosening machines
    • B23P19/062—Pierce nut setting machines
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B37/00—Nuts or like thread-engaging members
    • F16B37/04—Devices for fastening nuts to surfaces, e.g. sheets, plates
    • F16B37/06—Devices for fastening nuts to surfaces, e.g. sheets, plates by means of welding or riveting
    • F16B37/062—Devices for fastening nuts to surfaces, e.g. sheets, plates by means of welding or riveting by means of riveting
    • F16B37/068—Devices for fastening nuts to surfaces, e.g. sheets, plates by means of welding or riveting by means of riveting by deforming the material of the support, e.g. the sheet or plate
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B4/00—Shrinkage connections, e.g. assembled with the parts at different temperature; Force fits; Non-releasable friction-grip fastenings
    • F16B4/004—Press fits, force fits, interference fits, i.e. fits without heat or chemical treatment

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a press-fitted spacer nut having one end to be embedded into a metal base plate through press working.
  • a press-fitted spacer nut is used to fix another component at a position away from a base member, such as a metal base plate, with press-fitting one end of the spacer nut into the base member.
  • a conventional press-fitted spacer nut has a flange 11 integrally formed at one end of a cylindrical body 15.
  • a groove 13 is provided adjacent to the flange 11 and on the outer periphery of the body 15.
  • a female screw 16 is provided inside the cylindrical body. A bolt can be engaged with the female screw to fix another component to the spacer nut.
  • Fig. 11 shows the state when the conventional spacer nut 10 is press-fitted into and fixed to a metal base plate 20.
  • the press-fitted spacer nut is press-fitted into the metal base plate 20 to bring the upper surface 11a of the spacer nut coplaner with the upper surface of the metal base plate 20 and to make the resulting plastically deformed portion of the metal base plate flow into the groove 13 so as to attach the spacer nut to the metal base plate 20.
  • another component is fixed to the end of the spacer nut on the opposed side of the flange 11 with a bolt or the like.
  • the plastically deformed portion of the metal base plate can flow only into the groove.
  • the material of the metal base plate could not adequately flow into the groove and flowed out around the spacer nut.
  • the flange portion of the spacer nut could not be sufficiently embedded into the metal base plate and thereby not brought coplaner with the metal base plate.
  • a high pressure is required to perform the press fit operation.
  • the conventional spacer nut has a disadvantage that if the flange portion is insufficiently embedded into the metal base plate, the spacer nut is subject to drop off from a metal base plate due to insufficient fixing.
  • the present invention is. directed to solve such problems. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a press-fitted spacer nut capable of being fixed to a base plate readily and reliably without any rotational movement and dropping off, with good appearance.
  • the present invention relates to a press-fitted spacer nut having one end to be embedded into a metal base plate through press working so as to attach the spacer nut to the metal base plate.
  • This press-fitted spacer nut comprises a cylindrical body having a female screw inside thereof, a flange provided at one end of the body and having a flat end surface, and a plurality of ribs provided adjacent to the flange and on the outer periphery of the body. Further, when the spacer nut is press-fitted into and attached to the metal base plate, the resulting plastically deformed material of the metal base plate is filled in a space between the ribs.
  • the press-fitted spacer nut may include a groove adjacent to the ribs and on the outer periphery of the body, and the groove allows the plastically deformed material of the metal base plate to be filled therein.
  • Each of the ribs may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the ribs may be arranged at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the body.
  • the flange may have a polygon shape, such as hexagon.
  • the flange may have a circular shape partially including a linear contour.
  • the present invention relates to a method for attaching to a metal base plate a press-fitted spacer nut including a cylindrical body, a flange at one end of the body, and a plurality of ribs provided adjacent to the flange and on the outer periphery of the body, with embedding the flange into the metal base plate.
  • the metal base plate is placed on the upper surface of a jig with matching a hole of the metal base plate with a hole of the jig, and the spacer nut is placed on the metal base plate. Then, the body of the spacer nut is inserted into the hole of the metal base plate.
  • the metal base plate having the spacer nut placed thereon may be placed on a jig.
  • a pressing machine is moved toward the metal base plate, and one end of the spacer nut is pressed by the end surface of the pressing machine to push the spacer nut into the metal base plate.
  • the ribs and the flange of the spacer nut plastically deform a part of the metal base plate to allow the plastically deformed material of the metal base plate to be filled in a space between the adjacent ribs and in the groove, and the end surface of the flange is brought coplaner with the surface of the metal base plate, whereby the spacer nut is fixed to the metal base plate.
  • the jig may include a chamfered portion on the upper side of the inner periphery thereof, and the chamfered portion allows the material of the metal base plate to flow therein when the press machine pushes the spacer nut into the metal base plate.
  • Fig. 1 (a) is a fragmentary sectional side view of a press-fitted spacer nut according to a first embodiment of the invention, and (b) is a bottom view of the same.
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a press-fitted spacer nut according to the first embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the operation of attaching the spacer nut to a metal base plate by a press machine.
  • Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the state when the spacer nut is attached to the metal base plate.
  • Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the state when another component is attached to a spacer nut attached to a metal base plate.
  • Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the operation of attaching a spacer nut to a thin metal base plate through a press machine, according to a second embodiment.
  • Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the state where the spacer nut is attached to the metal base plate according to the second embodiment.
  • Fig. 8 (a) is a fragmentary sectional side view of a press-fitted spacer nut according to a third embodiment, and (b) is a bottom view of the same.
  • Fig. 9 (a) is a fragmentary sectional side view of a press-fitted spacer nut according to a fourth embodiment, and (b) is a bottom view of the same.
  • Fig. 10 is a side view of a conventional press-fitted spacer nut.
  • Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing the state when the conventional press- fitted spacer nut is attached to a metal base plate.
  • Fig.1 (a) is a fragmentary sectional side view of a press-fitted spacer nut 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention, and Fig.1 (b) is a bottom plane view of the same.
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the press-fitted spacer nut 10.
  • the term "upper” means the upward direction in Fig.1 , or the direction of the flange 11.
  • the spacer nut 11 comprises a cylindrical body 15.
  • the body 15 is formed with a flange 11 at one end thereof, and the flange 11 has a flat upper surface 11 a.
  • the body 15 has an outer diameter smaller than that of the flange 11.
  • the cylindrical body 15 includes an inside hole which penetrates through both the body 15 and flange 11 and has a female threaded inner surface 16 to which a bolt can be fixed.
  • a plurality of ribs 12 are provided on the outer periphery of the body 15 on the underside of the flange 11 and at suitable intervals to form a space between the adjacent ribs 12.
  • An outer diameter defined by the plurality of the ribs 12 arranged around the outer periphery of the body is smaller than that of the flange 11.
  • each of the ribs 12 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the ribs are arranged at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the body.
  • this shape allows the spacer nut to be readily pushed into the metal base plate 20.
  • any other suitable shape may also be applied to the ribs 12.
  • a step portion 14 may be provided on the outer periphery of the body.
  • a groove 13 is formed in the outer periphery of the body 15.
  • the groove 13 may be omitted.
  • the spacer nut 10 is provided by integrally forming the flange 11 , the plurality of ribs 12, the step portions 14 and the body.
  • the spacer nut 10 may be made, for example, of a metal, such as nickel silver.
  • a metal base plate 20 for mounting the spacer nut 10 thereon is made of a metal having a lower hardness than that of the spacer nut 10.
  • the material of the metal base plate can be deformed to flow into the space between the adjacent ribs 12 and into the groove 13.
  • a hole 21 is formed at a portion of the metal base plate 20 on which the spacer nut is mounted.
  • the hole 21 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the body 15, so as to allow the body 15 to be inserted therein. This inner diameter of the hole 21 is smaller than the outer diameter of the ribs 12.
  • a jig 30 includes a hole 31 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the body 15, and the jig 30 has a flat upper surface.
  • a press machine 40 has a flat bottom surface. The press machine 40 can move vertically with respect to the hole 31 to push the spacer nut 10 into the metal base plate 20.
  • the metal base plate 20 is placed on the upper surface of the jig 30 with matching the hole 21 of the metal base plate with the hole 31 of the jig 30.
  • the spacer nut 10 is inserted into the hole 21 of the metal base plate 20 until the body 15 of the spacer nut 10 is inserted into the hole 31 of the jig 30.
  • each bottom surfaces of the ribs 12 of the spacer nut 10 is brought into contact with and stopped by the upper surface 20a of the metal base plate 20. Then, the press machine 40 is moved downward. The bottom surface of the press machine 40 presses the upper surface 11a of the spacer nut 10 to attach the spacer nut 10 to the metal base plate 20.
  • each of the ribs 12 of the spacer nut 10 bites into the metal base plate 20 while plastically deforming a part of the metal base plate 20.
  • the flange 11 is also brought into contact with the metal base plate 20, and bites into the metal base plate 20 while plastically deforming a part of the metal base plate 20.
  • the resulting plastically deformed portion of the metal base plate 20 flows into the space between one of the ribs 12 and the adjacent rib 12 and into the groove 13, and fills up them.
  • the press machine 40 is move downward until the upper surface 11 a of the flange 11 is brought coplaner with the upper surface 20a of the metal base plate 20.
  • the spacer nut 10 is fixed to the metal base plate 20.
  • Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the state when the spacer nut 10 is fixed to the metal base plate 20.
  • the upper surface of the flange 11 a of the spacer nut 10 is in coplaner with the upper surface 20a of the metal base plate 20, and each of the spaces between the ribs 12 and the groove 13 is filled with the plastically deformed material of the metal base plate 20.
  • the spacer nut 10 can be reliably attached to the metal base plate 20 through press working as a simple processing method.
  • the plastically deformed material of the metal base plate can flow into the spaces between the ribs 12 and into the groove 13.
  • the spacer nut can be pushed in with a relatively small pressing pressure.
  • the spacer nut includes a sufficient space allowing the plastically deformed material to flow therein. This prevents the plastically deformed material from flowing out to the upper surface of the metal base plate.
  • the flange can be pushed until its upper surface is brought coplaner with the upper surface of the metal base plate, which provides a good appearance of the fixed portion.
  • the material flowing into the spaces between ribs 12 acts to fix the spacer nut 10 so as not to rotate, and the material flowing into the groove 13 acts to fix the spacer nut 10 so as not to drop off. This provides a reliable fixing structure.
  • Fig. 5 shows one application of the metal base plate 20 with the spacer nut 10 attached thereto according to the embodiment of the invention.
  • another component such as a base plate 70 having a hole 71
  • a bolt 80 is inserted through the hole 71 of the base plate 70, and the thread of the bolt 80 is engaged with the female screw 16 of the spacer nut 10 to fix the base plate 70 to the spacer nut 10.
  • the base plate 70 can be attached to the metal base plate 20 with leaving a given distance therebetween.
  • the metal base plate 50 has a thickness thinner than that of the metal base plate 20. This causes the possibility that when the press-fitted spacer nut 10 is pushed into the metal base plate 50 with the press machine, the plastically deformed portion cannot be absorbed sufficiently within the thin metal base plate 50.
  • a chamfered portion 35 is provided at the upper portion of the hole 31 of the jig 30 to allow the plastically deformed material of the metal base plate 50 to flow therein.
  • the spacer nut 10 As the spacer nut 10 is pushed into the metal base plate 50 by the press machine, the resulting plastically deformed material flows into the chamfered portion 35, and simultaneously a part of the material flows into the groove 13 to fix the spacer nut 10 to the metal base plate 50.
  • Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the state when the spacer nut 10 is fixed to the metal base plate 50 by using the jig 30 with the chamfered portion 35 according to the second embodiment of the invention.
  • the material of the metal base plate 50 is filled in the space of the chamfered portion of the jig 30 to form a slant surface 51 in the metal base plate 50.
  • a part of the material of the metal base plate 50 is filled into the groove 13 to fix the spacer nut 10 to the metal base plate 50.
  • the chamfered portion can absorb the distortion of the metal base plate 50. Further, when the spacer nut 10 is press-fitted into the vicinity of the edge of the metal base plate 50, there has been the case that the edge of the metal base plate 50 was distorted.
  • the jig 30 with the chamfered portion can also be used in a fixing operation for a metal base plate 20 having a regular thickness as well as a fixing operation for a thin metal base plate.
  • Fig. 8 shows a spacer nut according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • a flange 61 of the spacer nut is not formed in a circular shape but in a hexagonal shape in a top plan view.
  • Other constructions are the same as those of the first embodiment.
  • the spacer nut is fixed to a metal base plate by using the jig 30 and the press machine 40 identical with those of the first embodiment.
  • the hexagonal flange 61 is press- fitted into a metal base plate, the spacer nut is more reliably fixed in the rotational direction.
  • Fig. 9 shows a spacer nut according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • a flange 62 of the spacer nut has two planer or two-dimensional surfaces 62a on the side thereof.
  • Other construction is the same as that of the first embodiment.
  • the spacer nut is fixed to a metal base plate by using the jig 30 and the press machine 40 identical with those of the first embodiment.
  • the spacer nut is more reliably fixed in the rotational direction.
  • the space nut can be pushed in with a relatively low pressure.
  • the fixed portion can provide a good appearance because any plastically deformed material never flows out.
  • the spacer nut can be reliably fixed without any rotational movement and dropping off.
  • the spacer nut can be reliably attached to a metal base plate through press working as a simple processing method.

Abstract

A press-fitted spacer nut (10) comprises a cylindrical body (15) having a female screw (16) inside thereof. The spacer nut also includes a flange (11) provided at one end of the body. The flange has a flat upper surface and an outer diameter larger than that of the body. The spacer nut further includes a plurality of ribs (12) provided on the underside of the flange and around the outer periphery of the body. The body of the spacer nut is inserted into a hole of a metal base plate (20), and then the upper surface of the spacer nut is pressed by a pressing machine (40) to push the spacer nut into the metal base plate. the flange and the ribs of the spacer nut plastically deform a part of the metal base plate so as to make the part flow into a space between the ribs and into a groove (13), and the end surface of the spacer nut is brought coplaner with the surface of the metal base plate, whereby the spacer nut is fixed to the metal base plate.

Description

PRESS-FITTED SPACER NUT
FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a press-fitted spacer nut having one end to be embedded into a metal base plate through press working.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, a press-fitted spacer nut is used to fix another component at a position away from a base member, such as a metal base plate, with press-fitting one end of the spacer nut into the base member. As shown in Fig. 10, a conventional press-fitted spacer nut has a flange 11 integrally formed at one end of a cylindrical body 15. A groove 13 is provided adjacent to the flange 11 and on the outer periphery of the body 15. A female screw 16 is provided inside the cylindrical body. A bolt can be engaged with the female screw to fix another component to the spacer nut.
Fig. 11 shows the state when the conventional spacer nut 10 is press-fitted into and fixed to a metal base plate 20. Through press working, the press-fitted spacer nut is press-fitted into the metal base plate 20 to bring the upper surface 11a of the spacer nut coplaner with the upper surface of the metal base plate 20 and to make the resulting plastically deformed portion of the metal base plate flow into the groove 13 so as to attach the spacer nut to the metal base plate 20. Then, another component is fixed to the end of the spacer nut on the opposed side of the flange 11 with a bolt or the like.
However, in this conventional press-fitted spacer nut, when attached to the metal base plate, the plastically deformed portion of the metal base plate can flow only into the groove. Thus, there has been the case that the material of the metal base plate could not adequately flow into the groove and flowed out around the spacer nut. Further, in some cases, the flange portion of the spacer nut could not be sufficiently embedded into the metal base plate and thereby not brought coplaner with the metal base plate. In addition, a high pressure is required to perform the press fit operation. As mentioned above, the conventional spacer nut has a disadvantage that if the flange portion is insufficiently embedded into the metal base plate, the spacer nut is subject to drop off from a metal base plate due to insufficient fixing. The present invention is. directed to solve such problems. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a press-fitted spacer nut capable of being fixed to a base plate readily and reliably without any rotational movement and dropping off, with good appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a press-fitted spacer nut having one end to be embedded into a metal base plate through press working so as to attach the spacer nut to the metal base plate.
This press-fitted spacer nut comprises a cylindrical body having a female screw inside thereof, a flange provided at one end of the body and having a flat end surface, and a plurality of ribs provided adjacent to the flange and on the outer periphery of the body. Further, when the spacer nut is press-fitted into and attached to the metal base plate, the resulting plastically deformed material of the metal base plate is filled in a space between the ribs. The press-fitted spacer nut may include a groove adjacent to the ribs and on the outer periphery of the body, and the groove allows the plastically deformed material of the metal base plate to be filled therein.
Each of the ribs may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the ribs may be arranged at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the body. The flange may have a polygon shape, such as hexagon. Alternatively, the flange may have a circular shape partially including a linear contour.
Further, the present invention relates to a method for attaching to a metal base plate a press-fitted spacer nut including a cylindrical body, a flange at one end of the body, and a plurality of ribs provided adjacent to the flange and on the outer periphery of the body, with embedding the flange into the metal base plate.
In this method, the metal base plate is placed on the upper surface of a jig with matching a hole of the metal base plate with a hole of the jig, and the spacer nut is placed on the metal base plate. Then, the body of the spacer nut is inserted into the hole of the metal base plate. Alternatively, the metal base plate having the spacer nut placed thereon may be placed on a jig.
Then, a pressing machine is moved toward the metal base plate, and one end of the spacer nut is pressed by the end surface of the pressing machine to push the spacer nut into the metal base plate. In this step, the ribs and the flange of the spacer nut plastically deform a part of the metal base plate to allow the plastically deformed material of the metal base plate to be filled in a space between the adjacent ribs and in the groove, and the end surface of the flange is brought coplaner with the surface of the metal base plate, whereby the spacer nut is fixed to the metal base plate.
The jig may include a chamfered portion on the upper side of the inner periphery thereof, and the chamfered portion allows the material of the metal base plate to flow therein when the press machine pushes the spacer nut into the metal base plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 (a) is a fragmentary sectional side view of a press-fitted spacer nut according to a first embodiment of the invention, and (b) is a bottom view of the same.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a press-fitted spacer nut according to the first embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the operation of attaching the spacer nut to a metal base plate by a press machine.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the state when the spacer nut is attached to the metal base plate. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the state when another component is attached to a spacer nut attached to a metal base plate.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the operation of attaching a spacer nut to a thin metal base plate through a press machine, according to a second embodiment. Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the state where the spacer nut is attached to the metal base plate according to the second embodiment.
Fig. 8 (a) is a fragmentary sectional side view of a press-fitted spacer nut according to a third embodiment, and (b) is a bottom view of the same.
Fig. 9 (a) is a fragmentary sectional side view of a press-fitted spacer nut according to a fourth embodiment, and (b) is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 10 is a side view of a conventional press-fitted spacer nut.
Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing the state when the conventional press- fitted spacer nut is attached to a metal base plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, embodiments of the present invention will now be described.
Fig.1 (a) is a fragmentary sectional side view of a press-fitted spacer nut 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention, and Fig.1 (b) is a bottom plane view of the same. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the press-fitted spacer nut 10. In the description of the press-fitted spacer nut 10 herein, the term "upper" means the upward direction in Fig.1 , or the direction of the flange 11. The spacer nut 11 comprises a cylindrical body 15. The body 15 is formed with a flange 11 at one end thereof, and the flange 11 has a flat upper surface 11 a. The body 15 has an outer diameter smaller than that of the flange 11. The cylindrical body 15 includes an inside hole which penetrates through both the body 15 and flange 11 and has a female threaded inner surface 16 to which a bolt can be fixed.
A plurality of ribs 12 are provided on the outer periphery of the body 15 on the underside of the flange 11 and at suitable intervals to form a space between the adjacent ribs 12. An outer diameter defined by the plurality of the ribs 12 arranged around the outer periphery of the body is smaller than that of the flange 11. In this embodiment, each of the ribs 12 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the ribs are arranged at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the body. When the spacer nut 10 is press-fitted by a press machine as described later, this shape allows the spacer nut to be readily pushed into the metal base plate 20. However, any other suitable shape may also be applied to the ribs 12. In each space between the ribs, a step portion 14 may be provided on the outer periphery of the body.
On the underside of the flange 11 , a groove 13 is formed in the outer periphery of the body 15. The groove 13 may be omitted.
The spacer nut 10 is provided by integrally forming the flange 11 , the plurality of ribs 12, the step portions 14 and the body.
The spacer nut 10 may be made, for example, of a metal, such as nickel silver.
Referring to Fig. 3, a metal base plate 20 for mounting the spacer nut 10 thereon is made of a metal having a lower hardness than that of the spacer nut 10. Thus, when the spacer nut is attached, the material of the metal base plate can be deformed to flow into the space between the adjacent ribs 12 and into the groove 13. A hole 21 is formed at a portion of the metal base plate 20 on which the spacer nut is mounted. The hole 21 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the body 15, so as to allow the body 15 to be inserted therein. This inner diameter of the hole 21 is smaller than the outer diameter of the ribs 12. Thus, when the spacer nut 10 is inserted into the hole 21 of the metal base plate 20, each bottom surface of the ribs 12 is brought into contact with and stopped by the upper surface 20a of the metal base plate.
With reference to Fig. 3, the operation of attaching the spacer nut 10 to the metal base plate will be described. A jig 30 includes a hole 31 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the body 15, and the jig 30 has a flat upper surface. A press machine 40 has a flat bottom surface. The press machine 40 can move vertically with respect to the hole 31 to push the spacer nut 10 into the metal base plate 20. The metal base plate 20 is placed on the upper surface of the jig 30 with matching the hole 21 of the metal base plate with the hole 31 of the jig 30. The spacer nut 10 is inserted into the hole 21 of the metal base plate 20 until the body 15 of the spacer nut 10 is inserted into the hole 31 of the jig 30. At this moment, each bottom surfaces of the ribs 12 of the spacer nut 10 is brought into contact with and stopped by the upper surface 20a of the metal base plate 20. Then, the press machine 40 is moved downward. The bottom surface of the press machine 40 presses the upper surface 11a of the spacer nut 10 to attach the spacer nut 10 to the metal base plate 20.
During this operation, according to the pressure of the press machine 40, each of the ribs 12 of the spacer nut 10 bites into the metal base plate 20 while plastically deforming a part of the metal base plate 20. When the press machine 40 is further moved downward, the flange 11 is also brought into contact with the metal base plate 20, and bites into the metal base plate 20 while plastically deforming a part of the metal base plate 20. The resulting plastically deformed portion of the metal base plate 20 flows into the space between one of the ribs 12 and the adjacent rib 12 and into the groove 13, and fills up them. The press machine 40 is move downward until the upper surface 11 a of the flange 11 is brought coplaner with the upper surface 20a of the metal base plate 20. Thus, the spacer nut 10 is fixed to the metal base plate 20.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the state when the spacer nut 10 is fixed to the metal base plate 20. The upper surface of the flange 11 a of the spacer nut 10 is in coplaner with the upper surface 20a of the metal base plate 20, and each of the spaces between the ribs 12 and the groove 13 is filled with the plastically deformed material of the metal base plate 20.
According to this embodiment, the spacer nut 10 can be reliably attached to the metal base plate 20 through press working as a simple processing method. The plastically deformed material of the metal base plate can flow into the spaces between the ribs 12 and into the groove 13. Thus, the spacer nut can be pushed in with a relatively small pressing pressure. Further, the spacer nut includes a sufficient space allowing the plastically deformed material to flow therein. This prevents the plastically deformed material from flowing out to the upper surface of the metal base plate. The flange can be pushed until its upper surface is brought coplaner with the upper surface of the metal base plate, which provides a good appearance of the fixed portion. In addition, the material flowing into the spaces between ribs 12 acts to fix the spacer nut 10 so as not to rotate, and the material flowing into the groove 13 acts to fix the spacer nut 10 so as not to drop off. This provides a reliable fixing structure.
Fig. 5 shows one application of the metal base plate 20 with the spacer nut 10 attached thereto according to the embodiment of the invention. On the end of the spacer nut 10 on the opposite side of the metal base plate 20, another component, such as a base plate 70 having a hole 71 , is placed with matching the hole 71 to the hole of the spacer nut 10. Then, a bolt 80 is inserted through the hole 71 of the base plate 70, and the thread of the bolt 80 is engaged with the female screw 16 of the spacer nut 10 to fix the base plate 70 to the spacer nut 10. In this manner, the base plate 70 can be attached to the metal base plate 20 with leaving a given distance therebetween. Fig. 6 shows the operation of attaching the spacer nut 10 to another metal base plate according to a second embodiment of the invention. In the second embodiment, the metal base plate 50 has a thickness thinner than that of the metal base plate 20. This causes the possibility that when the press-fitted spacer nut 10 is pushed into the metal base plate 50 with the press machine, the plastically deformed portion cannot be absorbed sufficiently within the thin metal base plate 50. Thus, in the second embodiment, a chamfered portion 35 is provided at the upper portion of the hole 31 of the jig 30 to allow the plastically deformed material of the metal base plate 50 to flow therein. As the spacer nut 10 is pushed into the metal base plate 50 by the press machine, the resulting plastically deformed material flows into the chamfered portion 35, and simultaneously a part of the material flows into the groove 13 to fix the spacer nut 10 to the metal base plate 50.
Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the state when the spacer nut 10 is fixed to the metal base plate 50 by using the jig 30 with the chamfered portion 35 according to the second embodiment of the invention. The material of the metal base plate 50 is filled in the space of the chamfered portion of the jig 30 to form a slant surface 51 in the metal base plate 50. A part of the material of the metal base plate 50 is filled into the groove 13 to fix the spacer nut 10 to the metal base plate 50. The chamfered portion can absorb the distortion of the metal base plate 50. Further, when the spacer nut 10 is press-fitted into the vicinity of the edge of the metal base plate 50, there has been the case that the edge of the metal base plate 50 was distorted. However, such distortion of the metal base plate 50 can be eliminated by using the jig 30 with the chamfered portion. This allows the spacer nut 10 to be press-fitted into the vicinity of the edge of the metal base plate. According to the second embodiment, the press-fitted spacer nut can be fixed equally to a thin metal base plate. In addition, the jig 30 having the chamfered portion 35 can also be used in a fixing operation for a metal base plate 20 having a regular thickness as well as a fixing operation for a thin metal base plate.
Fig. 8 shows a spacer nut according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, a flange 61 of the spacer nut is not formed in a circular shape but in a hexagonal shape in a top plan view. Other constructions are the same as those of the first embodiment. The spacer nut is fixed to a metal base plate by using the jig 30 and the press machine 40 identical with those of the first embodiment. According to the third embodiment, since the hexagonal flange 61 is press- fitted into a metal base plate, the spacer nut is more reliably fixed in the rotational direction.
Fig. 9 shows a spacer nut according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, a flange 62 of the spacer nut has two planer or two-dimensional surfaces 62a on the side thereof. Other construction is the same as that of the first embodiment. The spacer nut is fixed to a metal base plate by using the jig 30 and the press machine 40 identical with those of the first embodiment.
According to the fourth embodiment, since the flange 62 having the planar surfaces 62a is press-fitted into a metal base plate, the spacer nut is more reliably fixed in the rotational direction. As described above, according to the present invention, the space nut can be pushed in with a relatively low pressure. The fixed portion can provide a good appearance because any plastically deformed material never flows out. In addition, the spacer nut can be reliably fixed without any rotational movement and dropping off. According to the present invention, the spacer nut can be reliably attached to a metal base plate through press working as a simple processing method.

Claims

CLAIMS I claim:
1. A press-fitted spacer nut having one end to be embedded into a metal base plate through press working so as to attach said spacer nut to said metal base plate, said press-fitted spacer nut comprising: a cylindrical body having a female screw inside thereof; a flange provided at one end of said body, said flange having a flat end surface; and a plurality of ribs provided adjacent to said flange and on the outer periphery of said body, wherein when said spacer nut is press-fitted into and attached to said metal base plate, said flange or said ribs is operative to push and plastically deform a material of said metal base plate to allow said plastically deformed material to be filled in a space between said ribs.
2. A press-fitted spacer nut as defined in claim 1 , which further includes a groove adjacent to said ribs and on the outer periphery of said body, said groove allowing said plastically deformed material of said metal base plate to be filled therein.
3. A press-fitted spacer nut as defined in claim 1 , wherein each of said ribs has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, said ribs being arranged at equal intervals on the outer periphery of said body.
4. A press-fitted spacer nut as defined in claim 1 , wherein said flange has a polygon shape.
5. A press-fitted spacer nut as defined in claim 1 , wherein said flange has a circular shape partially including a linear contour.
6. A method for attaching to a metal base plate a press-fitted spacer nut including a cylindrical body, a flange at one end of said body, and a plurality of ribs provided adjacent to said flange and on the outer periphery of said body, wherein said flange is embedded into said metal base plate, said method comprising the steps of: placing said metal base plate on the upper surface of a jig with matching a hole of said metal base plate with a hole of said jig; placing said spacer nut on said metal base plate; inserting said body of said spacer nut into said hole of said metal base plate; and moving a pressing machine toward said metal base plate, and pressing one end of said spacer nut by the end surface of said pressing machine to push said spacer nut into said metal base plate, wherein said ribs and said flange of said spacer nut is operative to plastically deform a part of said metal base plate to allow the plastically deformed material of said metal base plate to be filled in a space between the adjacent ribs and in said groove, and the end surface of said flange is brought coplaner with the surface of said metal base plate, whereby said spacer nut is fixed to said metal base plate.
7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said jig includes a chamfered portion on the upper side of the inner periphery thereof, said chamfered portion allowing said material of said metal base plate to flow therein when said press machine pushes said spacer nut into said metal base plate.
PCT/US2002/006587 2001-03-02 2002-03-01 Press-fitted spacer nut WO2002070907A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2001-058264 2001-03-02
JP2001058264A JP2002257123A (en) 2001-03-02 2001-03-02 Press-in-spacer nut

Publications (1)

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WO2002070907A1 true WO2002070907A1 (en) 2002-09-12

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WO2004034760A1 (en) * 2002-10-11 2004-04-22 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Portable terminal
WO2008078343A1 (en) * 2006-12-22 2008-07-03 S.B.E. SOCIETÁ BULLONERIA EUROPEA S.p.A. Coupling element for connecting accessories to the chassis of vehicles
FR2973455A1 (en) * 2011-04-04 2012-10-05 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Device for fixing wheel pivot on e.g. steel sheet plate in car, has nut traversed from end to end by opening, and proximal part whose outer diameter is constant over length between end of nut and plane perpendicular to axis
EP3591244A4 (en) * 2017-05-30 2020-04-15 Aoyama Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Staking bolt
US10813270B2 (en) 2017-09-14 2020-10-27 Cnh Industrial America Llc Shear block equipment mounting system for an agricultural product applicator
US11498166B2 (en) * 2017-05-09 2022-11-15 Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corp. Fastener and installation method for very thin sheets
US11913488B2 (en) 2021-05-27 2024-02-27 Rb&W Manufacturing Llc Self-clinching and self-piercing construction element with multi-purpose pilot

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US3938239A (en) * 1973-05-14 1976-02-17 Lauth Fasteners Limited Method of forming a self-flanging nut joint
EP0640770A1 (en) * 1993-08-23 1995-03-01 Emhart Inc. Female clinch fastener with cold-formed locking flange and associated installation method
EP1033502A1 (en) * 1999-02-12 2000-09-06 Kaptifast Europe Limited Captive fastener and installation method

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004034760A1 (en) * 2002-10-11 2004-04-22 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Portable terminal
WO2008078343A1 (en) * 2006-12-22 2008-07-03 S.B.E. SOCIETÁ BULLONERIA EUROPEA S.p.A. Coupling element for connecting accessories to the chassis of vehicles
FR2973455A1 (en) * 2011-04-04 2012-10-05 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Device for fixing wheel pivot on e.g. steel sheet plate in car, has nut traversed from end to end by opening, and proximal part whose outer diameter is constant over length between end of nut and plane perpendicular to axis
US11498166B2 (en) * 2017-05-09 2022-11-15 Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corp. Fastener and installation method for very thin sheets
EP3591244A4 (en) * 2017-05-30 2020-04-15 Aoyama Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Staking bolt
US10813270B2 (en) 2017-09-14 2020-10-27 Cnh Industrial America Llc Shear block equipment mounting system for an agricultural product applicator
US11913488B2 (en) 2021-05-27 2024-02-27 Rb&W Manufacturing Llc Self-clinching and self-piercing construction element with multi-purpose pilot

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