Classifications

• • 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
  • F16B5/00—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them
  • F16B5/02—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of fastening members using screw-thread
  • F16B5/0216—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of fastening members using screw-thread the position of the plates to be connected being adjustable
  • F16B5/0233—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of fastening members using screw-thread the position of the plates to be connected being adjustable allowing for adjustment perpendicular to the plane of the plates
• • 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
  • F16B43/00—Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts
  • F16B43/02—Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts with special provisions for engaging surfaces which are not perpendicular to a bolt axis or do not surround the bolt

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a spacer device that can be arranged between two supports so as to bridge the distance separating them.
• the invention finds particular application in the automotive field, to fill the free space between a carrier element and a roof body of a vehicle and allow, for example, the fixing of roof bars on this vehicle .
• EP2532568 discloses a spacing device intended to fill a space comprised between sheet metal elements which make up the structure of a vehicle and making it possible to compensate for dimensional deviations that may exist between these elements.
• This known spacing device comprises a fixing piece intended to bear and / or to be fixed on a first support and a spacer having a bearing end intended to come into contact with a second support, placed opposite from the first.
• the fastening piece and the spacer are assembled together at threads to move them relative to each other in an axial direction, to allow adjustment of the spacing device to the distance between the two supports.
• the spacer device is secured to a roof bar disposed on the outer face of the first support by means of a through screw.
• a bolt - washer system on the outer face side of the second support locks the spacer and securely holds the canvas bar on the first support.
• the spacer is rotated by the fixing screw of the roof bar.
• the distance adjustment separating the two supports and the fixing of the roof bar (or more generally the locking of the spacer device) are carried out simultaneously. If these two functions are not perfectly coordinated, it is possible that the locking occurs before the spacer is perfectly in place, which can lead to deforming one or other of the supports.
• the presence of the roof bar on the side of the first support requires working on the side of the second support, inside the vehicle, to adjust the spacer device.
• the small and confined space helps to make the installation of the spacing device difficult.
• the first support and the second support have an angular offset, that is to say when the facing faces of the supports are not perfectly parallel to each other, the contacting of the spacer part with the second support is imperfect. In this case, the locking of the spacer device by the fixing screw can lead to the deformation of one or the other of the supports.
• spacers are known from EP2130722, DE102010000134, DE202011100696 or from the document "Kugel-Austicians-in Kas", Antriebstechnik, vernier Anlagenmannlage, Mainz, DE, Vol 33, No. 11, 1/11/2014.
• the present invention aims to overcome all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks.
• the object of the invention proposes an angular retractable spacing device for filling the space separating a first support from a second support arranged facing the first support, the device of spacing comprising:
• a drive ring comprising a hooking system, the drive ring being housed in the spacer and coupled to this part;
• the fastener and the spacer being joined together at their respective threads and movable relative to each other in an axial direction to adjust the spacer to the distance between the two. supports.
• the spacing device comprises a support ring held against the spacer and retained by the hooking device of the drive ring, the bearing ring having a first planar face to bear on the second support and a second spherical cap face receiving the spherical bearing end of the spacer.
• the drive ring is provided with at least one boss or at least one cavity to facilitate the application of a torque by a tool
• the hanging system and the support ring have sufficient operating clearance to allow movement of the support ring;
• the attachment system is formed of at least one notch for receiving an internal shoulder of the support ring; - the notch is defined by an outer shoulder and a retaining collar carried by a flexible tongue;
• the fastener comprises a support body and a retaining member for securing the device to the first support.
• FIGS. 1a and 1b respectively show an exploded view and a sectional view of a spacer device according to a first embodiment and according to the invention
• FIGS. 2a to 2d show the different steps of setting up a particular example of the spacing device of the invention
• - Figure 3 shows an exploded view of a spacer device according to a second embodiment and according to the invention.
• a spacer device is intended to fill the space between a first support and a second support, arranged facing one another.
• the term "internal face” will be used to designate the faces of the first and second supports which are placed opposite one another; and “outer face” the faces of the first and second support opposite to these internal faces.
• the distance separating the first and the second support is not precisely known, and the device of the invention makes it possible to compensate for these deviations that may exist from one point to the other of the supports.
• several spacers may be disposed between the supports so as to more precisely control the distance separating them over all their expanses.
• these supports are planar, at least in the vicinity of the implantation position of the spacer device.
• the two supports may have an angular offset and not be perfectly parallel to each other, and the present invention is particularly intended to compensate for this angular offset.
• the first and second supports each have an opening arranged facing each other, making it possible to place the spacing device between the two supports and allowing the passage of a locking member retained on the side. each outer surface of the supports.
• the spacing device may also have the function of allowing the attachment of a complementary element to the external surface of one or the other of the supports.
• the locking member such as a through screw, also makes it possible to firmly press the complementary element against the outer face of one of the supports.
• Figures la and lb respectively show an exploded view and a section of a spacer device 1 according to a first embodiment according to the invention.
• the spacing device 1 comprises a fastener 2 having an internal thread or tapping 2c.
• the fastener 2 is intended to be secured to the first support.
• it may comprise a retaining member 2a and a bearing body 2b.
• the spacing device 1 can be introduced and positioned in the space between the two supports by an opening previously arranged in the first support.
• the retaining member 2a may comprise one or a plurality of flexible tabs 2a which contracts when the spacer is inserted into the opening to abut the outer face of the first support on the support body 2b, and which retracts to lock this position.
• the fastener 2 may also have a non-circular outer section so as to block its rotation vis-à-vis the support, once placed on the first support, as is clearly visible in Figure la.
• the spacing device 1 also comprises a spacer 3 having an external thread 3c.
• the spacer 3 and the fastener 2 are designed to be assembled to one another at their respective threads 3c, 2c.
• the rotational drive of the spacer 3 makes it possible to move the two parts relative to each other in an axial direction.
• the spacer 3 has a cylinder shape, the thread being formed on the outer surface of this cylinder, so that it can be screwed on and unscrewed on the fastener 2.
• the spacer 3 has two ends, one first drive end 3a oriented on the side of the fastener 2, and a bearing end 3b opposite the drive end 3a.
• the bearing end 3b has a spherical tip.
• the spacer also comprises a support ring 5 held against the spacer, on the side of its support end 3b, and having a first planar face to bear on the second support, and a second face to spherical cap for receiving the spherical bearing end 3b of the spacer 3.
• the flat face of the ring 5 has the function of resting on the second support to preserve the distance separating the two supports even in the presence of forces tending to bring them closer to each other.
• the ball-end bearing end 3b of the spacer 3 co-operates with the spherical cap of the bearing ring 5 to form a ball joint, allowing the bearing ring 5 to tilt and put in contact with each other. plan its first plane face with the second support, even if it has an angular offset with the first support.
• the device 1 according to the invention advantageously comprises a drive ring 4.
• the drive ring 4 is designed to be housed in the spacer 3, for example to inside the cylinder.
• the drive ring 4 may itself have the shape of a hollow cylinder whose outer diameter substantially corresponds to the internal diameter of the cylinder forming the spacer 3, to be inserted therein.
• the drive ring 4 and the spacer 3 are associated with each other so that an axial rotation torque applied to the drive ring 4 is transmitted to the spacer 3.
• This coupling can be achieved by any means known per se, for example by giving the inner cylinder of the spacer 3 and the outer cylinder of the drive ring 4 a non-circular section preventing the axial rotation of a part vis-à-vis the 'other.
• the drive ring 4 carries at least one impression or a boss allowing, by means of a suitable tool, to apply a driving torque to the ring 4, so as to move it in rotation .
• the impression or the boss may be formed on the inner wall of the ring 4.
• a plurality of such impressions or bosses may be arranged to form a slot, a star, a square in the drive ring 4 to facilitate cooperation with the end of a tool, such as a screwdriver, and its rotational drive.
• the drive ring 4 rotates the spacer 3 when it is itself rotated by a tool. In this way, it is possible to screw and / or unscrew the spacer 3 into the fastener 2 and adjust the axial displacement of the spacer 3 to bring the support ring 5 into contact with the second support .
• the drive ring 4 is provided with a hooking system 4a cooperating with an internal shoulder 5a of the support ring 5 for to secure them to one another.
• the hanging system 4a may comprise an outer shoulder 4b on the end of the end of the drive ring 4 facing the support ring 5 and at least one flexible tongue 4e carrying on its surface a retaining collar 4c.
• the retaining flange 4c and the outer shoulder 4b define a notch 4d for clipping the internal shoulder 5a of the bearing ring 5 on the drive ring 4.
• the notch 4d and the shoulder 5a have between them a operating clearance sufficient to allow movements of small amplitude of the bearing ring 5 vis-à-vis the drive ring 4.
• the hooked system 4a comprises a plurality of flexible tongues 4e, defining as many 4d notches distributed over the contour of the end of the drive ring 4.
• the operating clearance is in this case at each notch 4d and distributed around the spherical cap.
• the drive ring 4 is provided with four tabs 4e defined by four open slots.
• the retaining flange 4c and the outer shoulder 4b are carried by each flexible tongue 4e.
• FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the spacer device, in which the slots defining the tabs 4e of the hooking system 4a do not open on the end of the drive ring 4.
• the retaining flange 4c is carried by the flexible tongue 4e.
• the outer shoulder 4b is integral with the rest of the drive ring 4.
• the ring 5 is slid along the ring. 4, after having introduced it from the opposite end to that carrying the hanging system 4a.
• the bearing end 3b of the spacer 3 may comprise a recess whose dimensions are sufficient to accommodate the retaining collar 4c. So, it is possible to maintain the bearing ring 5 against the spacer 3, the spherical cap of the bearing ring 5 receiving the ball-end bearing end 3b of the spacer 3 to form a ball joint.
• a tool 6 is positioned on the side of the fastener 2, that is to say on the side of the outer face of the first support 7a on which is fixed the device 1.
• the tool 6 has a head cooperating with bosses or imprints formed on the inner face of the drive ring 4.
• FIG. 2d represents an enlarged view of the hooking system 4a of the drive ring cooperating with the shoulder 5a of the bearing ring 5, after the plane contact has been made. It is observed that the game has distributed in a differentiated manner in the notches 4d forming the hanging system, so as to allow the rotation of the support ring 5.
• the spacing device 1 also serves as a support for attachment to a complementary element
• the establishment and adjustment of the device 1 are realized before positioning the complementary element, for example on the outer face of the first support 7b, at the level of the fixing piece 2.
• the tool 6 can thus be introduced on this side of the support for the establishment of the device 1, then the optional complementary element can be fixed on the fastener 2 during the installation.
• a final assembly step for example by inserting a through fastening screw, introduced on the side of the outer face of the second support 7b, the complementary element then forming nut.
• the invention finds a particular application in the field of the automobile, for making a bar, forming the complementary element, on the roof of a vehicle.
• the device 1 is advantageously made of plastic material, obtained by molding or extrusion. But it could be made of another material or be obtained by another manufacturing process, for example by additive manufacturing.
• the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and variants can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Connection Of Plates (AREA)
• Prostheses (AREA)
• Standing Axle, Rod, Or Tube Structures Coupled By Welding, Adhesion, Or Deposition (AREA)
• Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=58162894

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (7)

• 2016
  • 2016-12-23 FR FR1663342A patent/FR3061119B1/fr active Active
• 2017
  • 2017-12-22 WO PCT/FR2017/053838 patent/WO2018115799A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2017-12-22 ES ES17837978T patent/ES2859523T3/es active Active
  • 2017-12-22 EP EP17837978.0A patent/EP3559483B1/fr active Active
  • 2017-12-22 CN CN201780079010.0A patent/CN110234890A/zh active Pending
  • 2017-12-22 US US16/472,814 patent/US20200191184A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2017-12-22 JP JP2019534276A patent/JP2020502448A/ja not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (7)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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