WO2014040238A1

WO2014040238A1 - Threaded fastener

Info

Publication number: WO2014040238A1
Application number: PCT/CN2012/081276
Authority: WO
Inventors: 王海军; 刘津津
Original assignee: 西门子公司
Priority date: 2012-09-12
Filing date: 2012-09-12
Publication date: 2014-03-20
Also published as: CN104641125A; CN104641125B

Abstract

Disclosed is a threaded fastener, comprising a ratchet mechanism composed of a pawl (1) and a ratchet (2), and a screw (3) with a thread, wherein the pawl (1) has pawl members (11), the ratchet (2) has ratchet teeth (213) engaged with the pawl members (11), and the screw (3) is connected to the pawl (1) or the ratchet (2) of the ratchet mechanism. When a user applies a torque to the ratchet mechanism to screw the threaded fastener, if the torque is less than a predetermined torque, the pawl members (11) cannot slide over one or more ratchet teeth (213) such that the screwing of the user can drive the screw (3) to rotate; and if the torque is more than or equal to the predetermined torque, the pawl members (11) would slide over all the ratchet teeth (213) such that the screwing of the user cannot drive the screw (3) to rotate further.

Description

Threaded fastener FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to the field of fasteners, and in particular to a threaded fastener such as a bolt or a screw. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Threaded fasteners, such as bolts or screws, are common components for connecting components. In some applications, on the one hand, it is necessary to ensure the tightness of the threaded connection to avoid loosening of the connection, and on the other hand, it is necessary to avoid applying excessive torque to the threaded fastener to cause damage to the threaded fastener itself or fastening with the thread. Damage to the connected components of the piece. Therefore, when screwing the threaded fastener, it is necessary to control the appropriate torque.

In the case where the above-described torque is required, the corresponding predetermined torque value is usually given in the instruction manual of the product to be connected by the threaded fastener. However, when the user manually installs, it is often difficult to guarantee the predetermined torque value. Or, the user has to install by means of a special tool, which leads to an increase in installation time and cost, which is not desirable.

Accordingly, a need exists to design a threaded fastener that is inherently constructed such that it limits the maximum torque applied to the screw of the fastener.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the present invention provides a torque-fixing threaded fastener in which the torque applied to the threaded fastener does not exceed its predetermined torque, thereby avoiding excessive torque and causing the threaded fastener. The thread is damaged or damaged associated with the threaded fastener.

In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention, a threaded fastener is provided, comprising: a ratchet mechanism comprised of a pawl and a ratchet, wherein the pawl has a pawl member having a wheel that engages the pawl member a threaded screw coupled to the pawl or ratchet of the ratchet mechanism; wherein when the user applies a torque to the ratchet mechanism to screw the threaded fastener, if the torque is less than the predetermined torque, the pawl The piece cannot slide over one or more of the teeth so that the user's screw can drive the screw to rotate; if the torque is greater than or equal to the predetermined torque, the pawl member will slide over all the teeth, thereby making the user's screwing impossible Further driving the screw to rotate. As can be seen from the above scheme, since the threaded fastener of the present invention has a ratchet mechanism, the ratchet mechanism serves to limit the transmission to the screw. The effect of high torque, thereby ensuring that the threaded fastener of the present invention is maintained at a predetermined torque after tightening, without the need for tools such as a torque wrench or a torque screwdriver.

In any of the above preferred embodiments of the present invention, further preferably, the ratchet has a body portion having a cavity, the inner periphery of the cavity forming a tooth, and the pawl member of the pawl being received in the cavity The middle meshes with the teeth, whereby the ratchet mechanism is formed as an internal meshing ratchet mechanism. As can be seen from the above, since the ratchet mechanism of the threaded fastener of the present invention employs the internal meshing ratchet mechanism, the entire threaded fastener is compact in structure. However, it should be noted that one of the inventive aspects of the present invention is that the externally engaged ratchet mechanism is equally applicable to the threaded fastener of the present invention by using a ratchet mechanism to control the maximum torque of the threaded fastener.

In any of the above preferred embodiments of the present invention, further preferably, the pawl has a lumen surrounded by a bottom wall and a side wall extending perpendicular to the bottom wall, the pawl member being located on the bottom wall, the inside of the side wall The cylindrical portion is such that the inner cavity is cylindrical, and the body portion of the ratchet has a cylindrical outer contour, whereby the body portion of the ratchet is housed in the inner cavity of the pawl, and the pawl member of the pawl is received in the concave cavity. As can be seen from the above, since the body portion of the ratchet of the threaded fastener of the present invention is housed in the inner cavity of the pawl, and the pawl member of the pawl is housed in the cavity of the ratchet, this structure makes the whole Threaded fasteners are compact and mechanically strong. However, it should be noted that in the present invention, the pawl and the ratchet may also adopt other mutual cooperation means.

In any of the above preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is further preferred that the inner side of the side wall of the inner cavity of the pawl is formed with an inwardly projecting engagement portion, and the outer periphery of the main body portion of the ratchet is formed with a ring shape. The groove, the engaging portion is engaged in the groove to engage the pawl and the ratchet. As can be seen from the above, since the pawl and the ratchet of the threaded fastener of the present invention are engaged by means of the engaging portion and the groove, the mutual rotation between the two is simply achieved. Connections that are not separated. However, it should be noted that in the present invention, the pawl and the ratchet may also adopt other mutual cooperation means, for example, an annular groove may be formed on the inner side of the side wall of the inner cavity of the pawl, and the main portion of the ratchet An outwardly projecting engaging portion is formed on the outer periphery.

In any of the above preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is further preferred that the outer periphery of the body portion of the ratchet is formed with a concave guide groove extending perpendicularly to the groove along which the engaging portion slides to form a card. Fit into the groove. As can be seen from the above, since the ratchet of the threaded fastener of the present invention has a guide groove, it is possible to smoothly press the pawl and the ratchet with each other by means of a relatively small pressing force. However, it should be noted that other guiding methods or even no guiding structures may be employed in the present invention.

In any of the above preferred embodiments according to the present invention, it is further preferred that the pawl is integrally molded from a plastic material. As can be seen from the above, since the pawl of the present invention is made of a plastic material, integral molding can be performed at low cost, and the pawl member of the pawl has appropriate elasticity and rigidity so that the pawl is Pawl and spine After the teeth of the wheel are engaged, by means of the rigidity of the pawl member, when the torque of the screwing threaded fastener is less than the predetermined torque, there is no relative rotation between the pawl and the ratchet; by virtue of the elasticity of the pawl member, When the torque of the threaded fastener is greater than or equal to the predetermined torque, the pawl member is elastically deformed such that relative rotation between the pawl and the ratchet occurs such that the torque transmitted to the screw does not exceed the predetermined torque. However, it should be noted that in the present invention, the pawl may also be made of other materials, and/or the pawl may be assembled from several components.

In any of the above preferred embodiments according to the present invention, it is further preferred that the screw is coupled to the ratchet and the screw and the ratchet have a common axis of rotation. As can be seen from the above, since the screw of the present invention is connected to the ratchet, the screw and the ratchet can be made of the same material, such as metal, to facilitate the connection. However, it should be noted that in the present invention, the screw can also be designed to be coupled to the pawl.

In any of the above preferred embodiments of the present invention, further preferably, the ratchet has a hollow boss for connecting the screw to the body portion, the inside of the boss having an internal thread for threadingly coupled to the screw . As can be seen from the above scheme, since the present invention connects the screw to the ratchet by means of a screw connection, the connection can be easily performed. However, it should be noted that in the present invention, the screw and the ratchet may be joined by other means such as welding.

In any of the above preferred embodiments according to the present invention, it is further preferred that the ratchet and the screw are integrally formed as one piece. As can be seen from the above, since the ratchet of the threaded fastener of the present invention is integrally formed with the screw, it can be manufactured at low cost, and the assembly step between the two can be omitted. However, it should be noted that in the present invention, the screw and the ratchet may also be separate components.

In any of the above preferred embodiments in accordance with the invention, the threaded fastener can be implemented as a screw or bolt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the <RTIgt

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a threaded fastener in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the pawl and ratchet of the ratchet mechanism of the threaded fastener are not yet assembled.

2 is a schematic illustration of a threaded fastener in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the pawl and ratchet of the ratchet mechanism of the threaded fastener have been assembled.

3 is a perspective view of a pawl portion of a threaded fastener in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a perspective view of a ratchet portion of a threaded fastener in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a perspective view of another perspective view of the ratchet portion of the threaded fastener of Figure 4 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic view showing the engagement of the pawl and the ratchet of the threaded fastener in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In order to clarify the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail by the following examples.

1 and 2, which are schematic views of a threaded fastener in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein in Figure 1, the pawl and ratchet of the ratchet mechanism of the threaded fastener are not yet assembled, but In 2, the pawl and the ratchet have been assembled by pressing the pawl against the ratchet. As shown, a threaded fastener in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a pawl 1, a ratchet 2 and a threaded screw 3. The pawl 1 and the ratchet 2 form a ratchet mechanism for defining the maximum torque applied to the screw 3. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the screw 3 is shown coupled to the ratchet 2 and the screw 3 and the ratchet 2 have a common axis of rotation. However, it should be noted that in other embodiments, the screw 3 can also be implemented to be coupled to the pawl 1. In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise stated or implied, the term "connected" includes both the case where the two parts are mechanically connected, and the case where the two parts/parts are formed as a single unit.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which is a perspective view of a pawl portion of a threaded fastener in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, a pawl 1 of a threaded fastener according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a bottom wall 13, a side wall 15 extending perpendicularly to the bottom wall 13, and a pawl member formed on the bottom wall 13. 1 1. The bottom wall 13 and the side wall 15 enclose an inner cylindrical cavity 17 having an inner side formed on the inner side of the side wall 15 with an inwardly projecting engaging portion 151 for corresponding to the ratchet The groove (described below) is snapped.

4 and 5, which are perspective views of a ratchet portion of a threaded fastener in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the viewing angles of Figures 4 and 5 are different, and additionally shown in Figure 5 A ratchet connected screw. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ratchet 2 includes a main body portion 21, and a hollow boss 23 connected to the main body portion 21 for connecting the screw 3. The inside of the hollow boss 23 has an internal thread for screwing the screw 3. The main body portion 21 has a cavity 21 1 (see FIG. 5), and the inner periphery of the cavity 21 1 is formed with teeth 213. Further, an outer periphery of the main body portion 21 is formed with: an annular groove 215 (see FIG. 4) for engaging with the engaging portion 151 of the pawl 1 to cause the pawl 1 and the ratchet 2 to be engaged; A concave guiding groove 217 extending in the groove 215 for sliding the engaging portion 151 of the pawl 1 along the guiding groove 217 in the guiding groove 217 to finally slide when the pawl 1 is mounted on the ratchet 2 It is into the groove 215 and is engaged in the groove 215. Since the engaging portion 151 of the pawl 1 is engaged in the groove 215 of the ratchet, the pawl 1 and the ratchet 2 can rotate relative to each other, but cannot be separated from each other. Preferably, the guiding groove 217 may be arranged to be gradually shallower in the direction of the groove 215, thereby facilitating the withdrawal of the pawl 1 from the ratchet 2 after the pawl 1 and the ratchet 2 are mounted in position.

Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown a schematic view showing the engagement of the pawl and the ratchet of the threaded fastener in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 6, and in conjunction with Figures 3-5, the pawl member 11 of the pawl 1 is received in and engaged with a cavity 21 1 of the ratchet 2, the body portion 21 of the ratchet 2 having a cylindrical outer contour It is housed in the cylindrical inner cavity 17 of the pawl 1, whereby the pawl 1 and the ratchet 2 are accommodated with each other, and the pawl member 1 1 of the ratchet 1 engages the teeth 213 of the ratchet 2, thereby causing the pawl 1 and the ratchet 2 together form an internal engagement ratchet mechanism.

In use, when the user applies a torque to the ratchet mechanism of the threaded fastener to screw the threaded fastener, in particular, for the embodiment illustrated herein, the user can screw the side wall 15 of the pawl 1 Rotating the threaded fastener from the outside, at the beginning, since the thread of the screw 3 of the threaded fastener and the thread on the component to be connected or the corresponding nut are not yet locked, only a small amount of torque is applied at this time. The threaded fastener can be screwed. In this case, the applied torque is less than the predetermined torque. Since the pawl member 11 has a certain rigidity, the magnitude of the applied torque is insufficient to cause the pawl member 11 to be sufficiently elastically deformed. One or more gear teeth 213 are slid over the pawl 2 (e.g., as shown in Figure 6), whereby the user's screwing can cause the screw 3 to rotate the upper fastener. As the fastener is continuously tightened, the required tightening torque is also constantly increased. When the torque is large to a predetermined torque, the pawl member is sufficiently elastically deformed to slide over all of the teeth 213, in which case Further, the user's further screwing can only cause mutual rotation between the pawl and the ratchet, and the screw 3 cannot be further rotated, so that the torque applied to the screw 3 is not greater than the predetermined torque.

The predetermined torque of the fastener can be adjusted, for example, by adjusting the number, shape, material of the pawl members; the shape of the teeth; the mutual positional relationship of the pawl members with the teeth. In order to realize a pawl member having a suitable elasticity and to facilitate the simplification of the manufacturing process, it is preferable that the pawl 1 can be integrally molded from a plastic material in the present invention.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the ratchet 2 is screwed to the screw 3, however, in the present invention, the ratchet 2 and the screw 3 may also be implemented as an integrally formed integral member such as a single member molded of metal.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the threaded fastener of the present invention is embodied as a screw structure, however, it is obvious that it can also be implemented as a bolt structure.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalents, improvements, etc., which are included in the spirit and scope of the present invention, should be included in the present invention. Within the scope of protection. List of reference signs:

1 pawl

11 pawl parts 13 bottom wall

15 side walls

151 Engagement 17 Inner cavity

2 ratchet

21 main part

211 cavity

213 teeth

215 groove

217 guide slot 23 boss

3 screw

Claims

1. A threaded fastener comprising:

a ratchet mechanism consisting of a pawl (1) and a ratchet (2), wherein the pawl (1) has a pawl member (11) having teeth that mesh with the pawl member (11) (213) ; and

a threaded screw (3) connected to the pawl (1) or ratchet (2) of the ratchet mechanism;

Wherein, when the user applies a torque to the ratchet mechanism to screw the threaded fastener, if the torque is less than the predetermined torque, the pawl member (11) cannot slide over the one or more teeth (213). So that the user's screw can drive the screw (3) to rotate; if the torque is greater than or equal to the predetermined torque, the pawl member (11) will slide over all the teeth (213), thereby making the user's rotation The screw cannot be driven to drive the screw (3) to rotate.

2. The threaded fastener of claim 1 wherein

The ratchet wheel (2) has a body portion (21) having a cavity (211), the inner periphery of the cavity (211) forming the gear teeth (213), the pawl ( The pawl member (11) of 1) is housed in the cavity (211) and meshes with the gear teeth (213), whereby the ratchet mechanism is formed as an internal meshing ratchet mechanism.

3. The threaded fastener of claim 2, wherein

The pawl (1) has a lumen surrounded by a bottom wall (13) and a side wall (15) extending perpendicular to the bottom wall (13)

(17), the pawl member (11) is located on the bottom wall (13), and the inner side of the side wall (15) is cylindrical so that the inner cavity (17) is cylindrical.

The body portion (21) of the ratchet (2) has a cylindrical outer contour,

Thereby, the body portion (21) of the ratchet (2) is received in the inner cavity (17) of the pawl (1), and the pawl member (11) of the pawl (1) is accommodated in In the cavity (211).

The threaded fastener according to claim 3, characterized in that the inner side of the side wall (15) of the inner cavity (17) of the pawl (1) is formed with an inward projection An engaging portion (151), an annular groove (215) is formed on an outer periphery of the main body portion (21) of the ratchet (2), and the engaging portion (151) is engaged with the groove The groove (215) is such that the pawl (1) and the ratchet (2) are snapped together.

The threaded fastener according to claim 4, wherein an outer periphery of the body portion (21) of the ratchet (2) is formed to extend perpendicularly to the groove (215) A concave guiding groove (217) along which the engaging portion (151) slides to be engaged in the groove (215).

The threaded fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pawl (1) is integrally molded from a plastic material. The threaded fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the screw (3) is connected to the ratchet (2), and the screw (3) and the ratchet (2) ) have a common axis of rotation.

The threaded fastener according to claim 7, characterized in that the ratchet (2) has a hollow boss connected to the main body portion (21) for connecting the screw (3) ( 23), the inside of the boss (23) has an internal thread to be screwed with the screw (3).

9. Threaded fastener according to claim 7, characterized in that the ratchet (2) and the screw (3) are integral parts integrally formed.

A threaded fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the threaded fastener is a screw or a bolt.