WO2007118531A1

WO2007118531A1 - Device including a master spindle arrangement with overload protection

Info

Publication number: WO2007118531A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/000770
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthias Rhode; Christian Hemming; Klaus Thanisch
Original assignee: Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa
Priority date: 2006-04-06
Filing date: 2007-01-30
Publication date: 2007-10-25
Also published as: DE102006016178A1

Abstract

The object of the invention is a device with a master spindle arrangement, wherein a master with internal screw thread and a spindle with external screw thread interlock with at least one stop (14) that limits the axial distance between both components. Devices of this kind can be used to deliver spreadable materials.

Description

Device comprising a nut-spindle arrangement with overload protection

The invention relates to a device with a nut-spindle arrangement in which an internally threaded nut and a spindle with external thread are engaged with at least one stop, which limits the axial displaceability between the two components. Such devices can be used in particular generally as a propulsion unit, for example in mechanical engineering and are used, for example, for dispensing spreadable materials.

From the prior art, a variety of devices for dispensing spreadable materials are known, which are used for example in the form of a pen as a deodorant, adhesive, lip, release agent, shaving soap or colored pencils. All of these devices comprise a sleeve-shaped receiving element optionally having a cap which can be closed off and has at least one discharge end, with a product mass which is located in the sleeve-shaped receiving element, preferably spreadable, being dispensed through a nut. This nut is longitudinally axially movable over the length of the sleeve-shaped receiving element and can be configured as the piston-shaped element.

A device of this kind is known inter alia from EP 1 367 919 B1. The device for dispensing spreadable materials described therein has a sleeve-shaped receiving element. This sleeve-shaped element has a delivery end on the distal side, relative to the user of the device. In the sleeve-shaped element, in the longitudinal direction from the proximal sleeve bottom of the receiving element to the distal delivery end, a piston-type shaped element displaced and arranged against rotation. This piston-shaped element, which is provided with an internal thread and carries the spreadable material, is displaceable by means of an externally operable, provided at the proximal end of the receiving element sockeiförmigen rotary handle. In this case, the rotary handle has a rotatably mounted in a passage opening of the sleeve bottom and held in the axial direction of the screw spindle, which cooperates with the internal thread of the piston-shaped element. The piston-shaped element is displaceable up to an axial stop at the proximal end of the receiving element. In order to avoid that during further rotation of the spindle, despite reaching the stop of the piston-shaped element, the spindle is loaded so that it breaks off or tears off, the external thread of the spindle in the area adjacent to the sleeve bottom area in a thread-free region of the spindle over. This has a smaller outer diameter relative to the inner diameter of the internal thread of the piston-shaped element. Such that the thread of the spindle in the lowest position of the piston-shaped element on further rotation is no longer in engagement with the thread of the piston-shaped element.

However, devices of this type have the disadvantage that it can not be reliably ensured that the external thread of the spindle during pre-rotation, ie upon rotation of the spindle with the movement of the piston-shaped element in the direction of the distal discharge end is achieved again with the internal thread of the piston-shaped Elementes arrived.

The object of the invention is therefore to improve a generic device such that on the one hand a load on the spindle, in particular by torsion and / or train, even with incorrect operation and consequent spindle demolition is reliably avoided, on the other hand ensures that when pre-turning the external and internal threads in each case are engaged. This object is solved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The basic idea of the invention is to use a nut-spindle arrangement, wherein at least one threaded region of the nut and / or the spindle is designed at least partially radially yielding. In this way, even with a faulty operation of the device according to the invention, a load on the spindle and a spindle tear associated therewith can be avoided. Upon reaching the stop which limits the axial displaceability of the nut and the spindle to each other, at least one threaded portion of at least one component yields radially in an elastic manner. In this way, a load on the spindle and in particular a spindle break or break is avoided. When pre-turning after such over-rotation, the radially yielding threaded portion relaxes again. This ensures that the external thread of the spindle during pre-rotation again comes into engagement with the internal thread of the nut. Another advantage is achieved by the higher torque that the user of the device for rotating the spindle must apply, resulting from the deformation of at least one threaded part and the concomitant increase in friction between male and female threads by the user's further rotation is noticeably difficult ,

In one embodiment of the invention allows the radial compliance of the at least one threaded part in a further rotation after reaching the stop slipping of the thread in a subsequent thread. This provides additional protection against the load on the spindle. On the one hand, the user of the device is inhibited in case of incorrect operation by over-rotation of the nut-spindle assembly beyond the stop by the radial compliance of at least one threaded part on further rotation, as it by the deformation of at least one threaded part a higher torque to cope with. On the other hand, destruction of the arrangement is avoided even under further load, since slippage of the resilient threaded part is ensured in the next thread.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the nut and / or the spindle, or at least one threaded area, are made of elastic materials. Thus, both the radial compliance on reaching the stop, as well as the relaxation of the resilient member for a secure threaded engagement after overloading can be ensured. This can be achieved, for example, by making the nut and / or the spindle of elastic plastic, such as POM.

Additionally or alternatively, it can be provided to manufacture the nut and / or the spindle in each case from a plurality of materials. In this way, both the strength, as well as the flexibility for one / the components can be ensured. For example, the mother can be made of several plastics of different properties, for example in bi-injection molding. As a result, only threaded portions, made of a resiliently elastic plastic material, while the remaining part of the nut, which are immaterial to the compliance, would be made of more economical materials.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is considered advantageous to form the nut sleeve-shaped and divide the thread of the nut into at least two separate segments. In this case, for example, each of these longitudinal segments only on the nut side, which faces the stop, which limits the axial displaceability between the two components, be attached. This shape allows for compliance in the event of overloading by spreading the segmented threaded portions radially outward from the male thread of the spindle. So a load and a spindle tear can be avoided. The sleeve-shaped design of the nut offers sufficient space for the radial compliance of the segments. The subdivision of the Thread of the nut is possible in two or in several segments. Preferably, three longitudinal segments are used, since in this case the forces on the nut side, which faces the stop, are less than in only two segments.

In an embodiment of the invention is advantageously provided to use a sleeve-shaped nut, wherein the thread of the nut is divided into at least two segments, which are connected by walls with reduced wall thickness. Through this thin material point of the wall area is weakened and represents a kind of predetermined breaking point, which tears at this point, if necessary, defined as overload. The compliance with overloading of the arrangement can be achieved by elastic design of the material thin point or after a tearing of the material thin point by the radial spreading apart of the segmented threaded parts. As a result, a load and a spindle break can be avoided. Such material thin points can be realized simpler and cheaper tool technology, as to completely segment the thread of the nut.

Another advantage is the use of a hollow and / or slotted spindle. This shape allows for radial compliance in the event of overloading by pushing the hollow and / or slotted spindle radially inwardly from the internal thread of the nut. As a result, a load and a spindle break can be avoided.

It is also advantageous to arrange the external thread of the spindle only on a part of the circumference of the spindle. In this way, the engagement of the internal thread of the nut and the external thread of the spindle is interrupted. Thus, even with an overload, the internal thread of the nut does not work with the entire thread on the external thread of the spindle, which additionally supports the avoidance of an overload and a tore of the spindle. In one embodiment of the invention, the device is used with a nut spindle arrangement as a propulsion unit, in particular for dispensing a spreadable material. In this case, either the spindle or the nut is axially fixed and rotatable and the respective other component, the nut, or the spindle, axially displaceable and arranged against rotation within the device. This may preferably be a deodorant, lip, release agent, shaving soap or colored pencil. Such dispensing devices can be used for a long time with the mother-spindle assembly according to the invention even after incorrect operations, as destruction of the spindle or a thread of the engaged nut and spindle is avoided.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a sectional side view of the device according to the invention with a nut-spindle assembly, as used for dispensing a spreadable material used.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a nut of the nut-spindle assembly with segmented internal thread.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a nut of the female-threaded female screw arrangement, the segments being connected by material thin points.

A device according to the invention with a nut-spindle arrangement is used in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 as a device for dispensing a spreadable material. This device for dispensing a spreadable material is generally designated 1 in the drawing and in the embodiment designed as an adhesive stick, that is, the material is an adhesive mass. The device can of course also as Lip balm, be designed as a deodorant, release agent, shaving soap or colored pencil, other applications are also possible.

The device 1 according to the invention initially has a sleeve-shaped receiving element 2, the distal, in use open discharge end is denoted by 3, in the region of the discharge end 3 is provided on the outside of the sleeve-shaped receiving element 2, a taper 4 with a circumferential locking bead 5, which serves to , a detachable cap 6 latching and tight.

The hϋlsenförmige receiving element 2 has at the open dispensing end 3 opposite proximal end of a sleeve bottom 7 with a central passage opening 8. In this case, the sleeve bottom 7 has a horizontal bottom portion 23 and a conically extending, the passage opening 8 delimiting opening portion 22, which merges into a tubular, the passage opening 8 surrounding area 9.

In the passage opening 8 or in the tubular region 9 of the sleeve bottom 7, a sockeiförmiger rotary handle 10 is mounted on the receiving element 2. For this purpose, the sockeiförmige rotary handle 10 on top of a pipe extension 11, which is provided with a circumferential locking groove 12, in which a circumferential latching bead 13 of the sleeve bottom 7 engages, which limits the passage opening 8. Furthermore, 9 guide beads 17 may be provided for further guidance or storage of the sockeigörmigen rotary handle 10 in the tubular region.

In the operating position shown in Figure 1, the sockeiförmige rotary handle 10 is held in the axial direction between the locking bead 12 and the free end 24 of the tubular portion but rotatably mounted. The tubular extension 11 of the sockeige rotary handle 10 merges into a conically tapered region 14 and preferably flows integrally into a spindle 15 whose length corresponds approximately to the height of the interior of the receiving element 2. This spindle 15 is provided with an external thread 16. In this case, the external thread 16 the spindle 15 may be arranged only on a part of the circumference, for example on half of the circumference.

After mounting the sockeige rotary handle 10 with spindle 15 in the receiving element 2, the mother, which is formed in the present embodiment as a piston-shaped element 18 which is equipped with an internal thread 19, introduced from the free, distal discharge end 3 ago and on the spindle 15th screwed. It is essential to the invention that the region of the internal thread 19 of the piston-shaped element 18 is designed so elastically deformable that increases the cross section of the threaded sleeve of the piston-shaped element 18 when loaded radially outward. This is achieved in the present embodiment of Figure 1 by the use of elastic plastic as a material for the piston-shaped element 18. Of course, a deformation essential to the invention can also be achieved by the use of a slotted and / or hollow spindle 15 whose diameter is elastically deformed and reduced under load.

Furthermore, the piston-shaped element 18 has on the outer circumferential surface at least one groove 25 into which engages the at least one elongate projection 20 of the sleeve-shaped receiving element 2. In this way, a rotation protection of the piston-shaped element 18 is achieved with respect to the receiving element 2. By rotating the spindle 15, the piston-shaped element 18 is thereby displaced in the longitudinal direction relative to the receiving element 2 in the proximal or distal direction.

The piston-shaped element 18 has on the inside a receiving region 21, which is used as a carrier of the mass, not shown, as in the embodiment, for example adhesive. It can be almost completely filled with the mass, not shown in the new state, the receiving element.

The piston-shaped element 18 can, via the rotation of the spindle 15, up to a stop 14 at the proximal end between the piston-shaped element 18 and the taper of the spindle 15 are moved to a lowermost position. Of course, the stop 14 can also be configured between the piston-shaped element 18 and the sleeve bottom 7 or receiving element 2. In case of incorrect operation of the spindle 15 by further rotation in the same direction, the piston-shaped element 18, which is already in the lowermost position on the stop 14, can not be moved further in the proximal direction. By further rotation of the spindle 15 in the present embodiment, the external thread spreads the elastically configured region of the internal thread 19 of the piston-shaped element 18 in the radial direction. This spreading apart of the internal thread 19 allows slipping of the external thread 16 of the spindle 15 relative to the internal thread 19 of the piston-shaped element 18. Thus, an excessive load on the spindle 15 is avoided and this particular can not tear off the sockeiförmigen rotary handle 10. The slipping of the external thread 16 in the next thread of the internal thread 19 takes place in the present embodiment by an audible noise, so that the user is made clear that a maloperation has occurred.

By slipping through the external thread 16 in the next thread of the internal thread 19 is ensured for the user that the threading 16,19 are in each case in engagement with each other during pre-rotation, so that then again an axial feed can be done.

In one embodiment of the invention, the elastic deformability of the internal thread 19 of the piston-shaped element 18 is effected by a segmentation of the internally threaded region, as shown in FIG. The region of the internal thread 19 of the piston-shaped element 18 is divided in the present embodiment into three segments 26, which are completely separated from each other.

When using such a component in a device shown in Figure 1 as a piston-shaped element 18, the spindle spreads the segments 26 of the internal thread 19 in a further rotation of this after reaching the stop (14) through the piston-shaped element 18 radially outward. As a result, a slipping of the external thread 16 of the spindle 15 relative to the internal thread 19 of the piston-shaped element 18 is made possible and a load on the spindle 15 and in particular a spindle break avoided.

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention. Here, the segments 26 of the threaded portion 19 of the piston-shaped element 18 are connected by material thin points 27. These material thin points 27 represent a predetermined breaking point, which optionally breaks at this point defined after exceeding a certain force. Of course, it is also possible in particular to manufacture the thin material point of such an elastic material, which expands under load, instead of tearing. The advantage over the sleeve-shaped element shown in exemplary embodiment 2 is that such a material thin point can be realized in a simpler and more cost-effective manner from a tool engineering point of view.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1. Device for dispensing a spreadable material

2. hϋlsenförmiges receiving element

3rd delivery end

4. Rejuvenation

5. Circumferential locking bead

6. Removable cap

7. Hollow bottom

8. Central passage opening

9. Tubular area

10. Socket-shaped twist grip

11. Pipe neck

12. circumferential locking groove

13. Circumferential locking bead

14. stop

15th spindle

16. external thread

17. Guide beads

18. Piston-shaped element

19. internal thread

20. Oblong projection

21. Recording area

22nd opening area

23rd floor area

24. Free end

25. Groove

26th segment

27. Material thin point

Claims

claims

1. A device with a nut-spindle assembly (1), wherein a nut (18) with internal thread (19) and a spindle (15) with external thread (16) are engaged with at least one stop (14), the axial displaceability limited between two components characterized in that the threaded portion (16,19) of the nut (18) and / or the spindle (15) is at least partially designed radially resiliently / are.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the radial compliance of the at least one threaded portion (16,19) when reaching the stopper (14) allows slipping of the thread (16,19) in the nearest thread.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nut (18) and / or the spindle (15) is at least partially made of elastic materials / are.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nut (18) and / or the spindle (15) each consist of several materials / consist.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nut (18) is sleeve-shaped and that the thread (19) of the nut (18) is divided into at least two separate segments (26).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nut (18) is sleeve-shaped and that the thread (19) of the nut (18) in at least two segments te (26) is divided, wherein the at least two segments (26) are connected by walls with reduced wall thickness (27).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spindle (15) is hollow and / or slotted.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external thread (16) of the spindle (15) is arranged only on a part of the circumference of the spindle (15).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for dispensing a spreadable material (1) can be used, wherein either the spindle (15) or the nut (18) axially fixed and rotatable and the respective other component, the Nut (18), or the spindle (15), axially displaceable and is arranged against rotation