WO2016131573A1

WO2016131573A1 - Sealing plug

Info

Publication number: WO2016131573A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/050798
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Jatzke
Original assignee: Trw Automotive Electronics & Components Gmbh
Priority date: 2015-02-16
Filing date: 2016-01-15
Publication date: 2016-08-25
Also published as: DE102015102169A1; DE102015102169B4

Abstract

A plug for sealing an opening (44) in a component (46), more particularly in a body component of a motor vehicle, has a first main element (14) which can cover the opening (44), and a second main element (16) which has at least one clip element that can engage an edge of the opening (44) from behind so that it lies against the side of the component (46) facing away from the first main element (14). The first and second main elements (14, 16) each have a clip geometry (28, 36), and the two main elements (14, 16) are fixed to each other by the clip geometries (28, 36).

Description

sealing plug

The invention relates to a sealing plug for closing an opening in a component, in particular a body component of a motor vehicle. In the manufacture of vehicle bodies, it is necessary to seal openings in various components to prevent the ingress of dirt or water. These openings are sealed, for example, before painting or afterwards. For this purpose, sealing plugs are used, which are inserted into the opening of the body component and which are fixed, for example by means of suitable locking elements which engage behind the opening of the component.

The sealing plug can simultaneously effect a sealing of the opening, wherein it is also known to permanently adhere at least a portion of the sealing plug to the edge of the opening. For example, a portion of the sealing plug is made of a melting or expanding upon exposure to temperature material, so that upon heating of the component of the sealing plug is materially connected to the edge of the opening. Sometimes, however, it is also desirable to use sealing plugs, which are fixed only purely mechanically in the opening. In DE 10 2006 007 914 B4 a closure plug is described, which is composed of two elements which are welded together at a bottom surface of one of the elements, which completely covers the opening, to create a pressure compensation chamber. There are provided two sealing rings of a hot-melt adhesive material, which are arranged circumferentially on an edge of a support lip or a locking lip and stick together when the component is heated to the edge of the opening. The object of the invention is to make the production of a sealing plug cheaper. In addition, the variation of the dimensions of the sealing plug should be simplified.

This is achieved according to the invention with a sealing plug for closing an opening in a component, in particular in a bodywork component of a motor vehicle, having a first base member that can cover the opening, and a second base member having at least one locking element, the one Can reach behind the edge of the opening so that it lies on the side facing away from the first body member side of the component. A latching geometry is provided on each of the first and second basic body elements, and the two basic body elements are fixed to one another via the latching geometries. In this way, a two-part closure plug is created in which both basic body elements can be manufactured separately. The individual base body elements can be produced as one-component part in simply designed injection molding tools, which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Before assembly of the sealing plug on the body component, the two basic body elements are assembled, for example by nesting, so that the locking geometries engage each other and fix the two basic body elements permanently together.

The two basic body elements are preferably non-detachably connected to each other after assembly at their locking geometries. After assembly, the two basic body elements are preferably completely fixed relative to one another in the axial direction.

The assembly of the two basic body elements is normally carried out before the closure plug is inserted into the opening in the body part. During and after insertion into the opening, the axial distance between the two basic body elements is no longer changed. The latching geometry consists, for example, each of a circumferential latching edge on each of the base body elements, wherein the two latching edges mesh. The first base member preferably forms a closed cap, so that after insertion of the sealing plug, the opening is completely covered and closed. On the first base member, a circumferential support lip may be formed, which projects in the mounted state radially outwardly beyond the edge of the opening in the component.

The locking element on the second basic element is, for example, a circumferentially completely or partially circumferential locking lip, which engage behind the rear edge of the opening in the component, so in particular overlap with the rear edge of the opening at least a few millimeters, and may optionally come into contact on the back of the component. The locking lip is advantageously formed with a radially outer, free edge, which can engage behind the edge of the opening.

The support lip and the latching element are advantageously axially spaced from each other. In the assembled state, the edge of the opening of the body component is located axially between the support lip and the latching element.

If the two basic body elements are assembled, this results in a sealing plug which is easy to insert into the opening and which seals well.

The two body elements should be at least partially elastic, they may for example consist of a suitable plastic having a Shore D hardness of 40 to 50.

The design of the sealing plug with two initially separate body elements also allows a modular design. Different first and second basic body elements can be combined with one another, so that closure stoppers with different opening diameters and / or different axial lengths can be provided with a smaller number of individual parts than in one-piece production and / or sealing stoppers with different material combinations can be realized.

The first base body element and / or the second base body element may have a closed peripheral wall, wherein the closed peripheral wall on the one hand facilitates the latching of the two base body elements together and the stability of the entire sealing plug increased and on the other hand over an axial length of the peripheral wall also simply the entire axial length of the sealing plug can be varied.

For use in different opening diameters, for example, first and / or second basic body elements with different radial lengths of the latching or supporting lip can be provided, which are then assembled in a modular manner for the respectively required intended use.

The sealing plug may be limited to the first and the second basic body element, so that no independent seal is provided on the sealing plug. However, it is also possible to provide a sealing element which is arranged in the axial direction between sections of the base body elements.

The sealing element is resilient and elastic and has, for example, a Shore D hardness of less than 40. It is possible to make the sealing element of a melting or expanding material upon heat, so that upon heating of the component, a bonding with the edge of the opening becomes.

The sealing element is preferably arranged so that it comes into contact with the component in the region of the opening when the sealing plug is inserted into the opening. The sealing element may, for example, have a first sealing lip which runs along the supporting lip of the first basic body element, and / or a second sealing lip which runs along the locking lip of the second basic body element.

Preferably, the sealing element has a peripheral wall, which is positioned radially outside the latching connection between the two base body elements and in particular integrally connects the two sealing lips of the sealing element with each other.

In its form, the sealing element preferably follows the contour of the component facing portions of the support lip, the peripheral wall and the locking lip. The peripheral wall of the sealing element should be at the Abut peripheral wall of the first base body element or the second base body element.

Especially if the sealing element consists of a hot melt adhesive, it is advantageous if the sealing element extends radially further outward than the support lip, so that upon heating of the component, an adhesive bond between the component and the support lip is formed.

During assembly, the sealing element between the two base body elements are placed before they are locked together, and it is held firmly and captively between them after locking the body elements.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings show:

Figure 1 shows a detail of a sealing plug according to the invention in a schematic perspective view;

FIG. 2 a closure plug according to the invention before the individual parts are assembled in a sectional view;

Figures 3 to 6 steps of assembling the individual parts of the sealing plug according to the invention; - Figure 7 shows a detail of a latching connection between the two basic body elements of the sealing plug according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a detail view of the sealing plug according to the invention with a sealing element;

Figure 9 is a schematic representation of a possible variation of the sealing plug according to the invention;

Figures 10 and 1 1 show two variants of a sealing plug according to the invention with different axial length in a sectional view; and FIG. 12 shows the closure stopper from FIG. 1 inserted into an opening in a component.

FIG. 1 shows a sealing plug 10, which has a main body 12, which is composed of a first main body element 14 and a second main body element 16. In addition, a sealing element 18 is still provided, which is mounted on the base body 12.

The three individual parts of the sealing plug 10 are shown in FIG.

The first base member 14 is cap-shaped with a continuous closed lid portion 20 which merges into a circumferentially circumferential support lip 22 which terminates in a free radially outer edge 24. In addition, the first base member 14 has a peripheral wall 26 which is disposed radially inwardly of the support lip 22. At the free axial end of the peripheral wall 26, a first latching geometry 28 is formed, which here has the shape of a circumferential, radially outwardly directed locking edge. The entire first base member 14 is made in one piece.

The second base body element 16 has a circumferential here circumferential locking lip 30 which acts as a latching element 31 and which ends at a radially outer free edge 32. On the other side, the latching lip 30 merges into a peripheral wall 34, which is arranged radially inside the latching lip 30. The locking lip 30 could also be designed interrupted in the circumferential direction. The peripheral wall 34 terminates at its axially free end in a second latching geometry 36, in this case a circumferentially encircling, radially inwardly directed latching edge.

The locking lip 30 is designed to extend the lever arm and to reduce the Verbaukräfte as long as possible. However, it should be designed so that it lies completely radially within the support lip 22.

Also, the second base member 16 is integrally formed.

In this example, the second base body element 16 is designed to be open on the inside, that is to say has a central opening which extends through in the axial direction A and lies below the cover section 20 of the first base body element 14 in the assembled state. The two latching geometries 28, 36 are designed so that they engage with each other and can lock to each other, so as to fix the first and second body member 14, 16 fixed and non-destructive releasably to each other. This latched state, which is produced prior to assembly of the sealing plug 10 to a vehicle body, is shown for example in FIG. In the assembled, latched state, the two base body elements 14, 16 are axially fixed and can not move in the axial direction substantially against each other. For this purpose, in the illustrated embodiment, the free end of the peripheral wall 34 in the locked state in abutment against the underside of the lid portion 20 of the first base member 14, so that further axial movement of the second base member 16 in the direction in which the locking connection is closed, is prevented , In the opposite direction, a movement is prevented by the engagement of the latching geometries 28, 36. The two peripheral walls 26, 34 are arranged concentrically, wherein in this example the peripheral wall 26 of the first base body element 14 is located within the peripheral wall 34 of the second base body element 16. The support lip 22 and the sealing lip 30 are axially spaced apart in the latched state. The sealing element 18 is to the shape of the underside of the support lip 22, the

Top of the locking lip 30 and the peripheral walls 26, 34 adapted. It has a first sealing lip 38 and a second sealing lip 40, wherein the first sealing lip 38 extends along the underside of the support lip 22 and the second sealing lip 40 along the upper side of the locking lip 30. The sealing lip 38 extends in the radial direction r over the edge 24 of the

Support lip 22 and surrounds this, as can be seen for example in Figures 1, 6 and 12.

A peripheral wall 42 connecting the sealing lips 38, 40 is arranged radially outside the circumferential walls 26, 34 and radially outside the latching geometries 28, 36 of the base body elements 14, 16 and bears against the radially outer peripheral wall 34 of the second base body element 16. The two basic body elements 14, 16 are manufactured separately, in this case in each case in an injection molding process. They are each one-component parts. Each of the base body elements 14, 16 is at least partially elastic and has, for example, a hardness of 40-50 Shore D.

The sealing element is manufactured separately from the two base body elements 14, 16 and consists of a material which is more flexible and elastic than the material of the base body elements 14, 16 and which, for example, has a Shore D hardness <40. In this example, the sealing element 18 consists of a hot melt adhesive, which melts when exposed to heat. However, it could also consist, for example, of a material that expands when exposed to heat.

The sealing element 18 is optional, the sealing plug 10 can also be used without it and then consists only of the two basic body elements 14, 16.

If a sealing element 18 is to be used, then it is placed axially between the first and the second basic body element 14, 16 during assembly of the sealing plug 10, and the two basic body elements 14, 16 are pushed into each other in the axial direction A until the locking geometries 28, 36 intermesh one above the other snap and are locked to each other.

This assembly process is shown in FIGS. 3 to 6.

The sealing element 18 is centered by the peripheral wall 34 of the second basic body element 16 lying within the peripheral wall 42 of the sealing element 18 and held in its position. The second basic body element 14 is centered by its circumferential wall 26 and the engagement of the locking geometries 28, 36 with respect to the second basic body element 16 and the sealing element 18. The peripheral wall 42 of the sealing element 18 exerts a radially inwardly acting force which increases the stability of the latching connection of the latching geometries 28, 36.

The use of separately manufactured base body elements 14, 16 for the production of the base body 12 of the sealing stopper 10 allows a modular, modular use. For example, first basic body elements 14 with cover sections 20 and support lips 22, 22 'with different diameters can be used with the same second basic body element 14 in order to cover areas of different sizes in one component. Likewise, by using first and / or second basic body elements 14, 16 with peripheral walls 26, 34 with different axial lengths different clamping heights can be realized. This is shown in FIGS. 9 to 11.

The finished assembled closure stopper 10 is inserted into an opening 44 of a component 46 (see FIG. 12), wherein the component 46 is, for example, a body component of a motor vehicle, not shown in greater detail. The closure stopper 10 is inserted into the opening 44 with the latching lip 30 of the second basic body element 14 first, the edge of the opening first deforming the latching lip 30 radially inward. After passing the edge of the opening 44, the locking lip 30 snaps radially outward and thus engages behind the edge of the opening 44 and fixes the sealing plug 10 in the component 46. The locking lip 30 lies on the other side of the body component than the cover portion 20, so that the edge the opening 44 between the locking lip 30 and the support lip 22 is located. The outer contour of the sealing plug 10 is therefore determined by sections of both base body elements 14, 16 in the region in which the sealing plug 10 surrounds the edge of the opening 44. The peripheral wall 26 of the first basic body element 14 in this exemplary embodiment does not protrude axially into the opening 44, so that the entire first basic body element 14 is arranged on one side of the component 46. Only the second basic body element 16 protrudes through the opening 44 to the other side of the component 46. The first basic body element 14 forms, as it were, the section of the closure plug 10 which effects the closure of the opening 44 from the insertion side, optionally cooperating with the sealing lip 38 of FIG Sealing element 18, while the latching element 31 of the second basic body element 16, the closure element 10 is latched on the opposite side of the component 46.

In this state, the sealing lip 38 of the sealing element 18 is located between an upper side of the component 46 and the support lip 22 and the sealing lip 40 of the Sealing element 18 is located radially within the locking lip 30 at a rear side of the component 46.

The component 46 is then heated, wherein the material of the sealing element 18 softens and creates a positive and cohesive connection between the base body 12 of the sealing plug 10 and the component 46 and so the closure plug 10 bonded to the component 46 and the opening 44 seals.

As mentioned, it is also possible to omit the sealing element 18. In this case, the sealing of the opening 44 by the contact of the edges 24, 32 of the support lip 22 and the locking lip 30 at the edge of the opening 44 and the component 46 is achieved.

Claims

claims

1 . A closure plug for closing an opening (44) in a component (46), in particular in a body component of a motor vehicle, comprising a first base element (14) which can cover the opening (44) and a second base element (16) which at least a latching element (31) which can engage behind an edge of the opening (44) so that it lies on the side of the component (46) facing away from the first basic body element (14), wherein the first and the second basic body element (14, 16) respectively a latching geometry (28, 36) is provided and the two basic body elements (14, 16) are fixed to one another via the latching geometries (28, 36).

2. Closure stopper according to claim 1, characterized in that the latching geometry (28, 36) each consist of a circumferential latching edge on each of the base body elements (14, 16), wherein the two latching edges mesh.

3. Closure stopper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the first base member (14) an at least partially circumferentially encircling support lip (22) is formed, which projects in the mounted state radially beyond the edge of the opening (44) in the component (46) ,

4. Closure stopper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching element (31) on the second base member (16) is a circumferential locking lip (30) which can engage behind the rear edge of the opening (44) in the component (46).

5. Closure stopper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first basic body element (14) and / or the second

Base member (16) has a closed peripheral wall (26, 34).

6. Closure stopper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sealing element (18) is provided which is arranged in the axial direction (A) between sections of the base body elements (14, 16).

7. Closure stopper according to claim 6, characterized in that the sealing element (18) consists of a material which upon exposure to heat form-fitting and / or cohesive connection with the base body elements (14, 16) and / or the edge of the opening (44) in the component (46) received, in particular a hot melt adhesive.

8. Closure stopper according to one of claims 6 and 7, as far as dependent on the claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the sealing element (18) has a first sealing lip (38) along the support lip (22) of the first basic element (14) extends and / or a second sealing lip (40) extending along the locking lip (30) of the second basic body element (16).

9. Closure stopper according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the sealing element (18) has a peripheral wall (42) which is positioned radially outside the locking geometries (28, 36) of the two base body elements (14, 16).

10. Closure stopper according to claim 9, as far as dependent on claim 5, characterized in that the peripheral wall (42) of the sealing element (18) on the peripheral wall (26, 34) of the first Grundkorperelements (14) or the second Grundkorperelements (16).