Automotive component with flange and mounting screws

Abstract

A vehicle component is described, comprising a flange (2) with a through hole (4) and a screw (3) inserted into the through hole (4). According to the invention, at least three clamping ribs (8) extending in the axial direction are arranged in the through hole (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an automobile component, which comprises a flange having a through hole and a screw inserted into the through hole. This type of automobile component may be, for example, an ignition coil, an air conditioning unit or other components installed in a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] This automotive component is delivered to the automaker by a supplier and then installed in the vehicle during the assembly process. Summary of the invention

[0003] One object of the invention is to show that such a component can be easily installed on a vehicle.

[0004] This problem is solved by the automotive component described in the present invention.

[0005] The automotive component according to the invention can be pre-installed with the screws required for fastening to a motor vehicle. Advantageously, the screw can be inserted into the through hole by the supplier and held in the through hole by friction by the clamping ribs. By means of at least three clamping ribs distributed in the circumferential direction, the screw can be centered in the through hole and kept axially aligned. The component is thus installed in the motor vehicle with the screw aligned, and it is thus possible to fasten the automotive component to the vehicle by tightening the screw very quickly and with minimal effort.

[0006] An advantageous refinement of the invention is that the length of each clamping rib is greater than the distance between two adjacent thread peaks of the screw thread and thus greater than the width of the screw thread. In the case of shorter clamping ribs, the risk of the screw tilting in the through hole and thus no longer being axially aligned is increasing.

[0007] Another advantageous development of the invention is that the length of the clamping rib does not exceed five times, preferably not more than four times, the distance between adjacent thread peaks of the screw. The longer the clamping rib, the less likely the screw is to tilt in the through hole. It is therefore disadvantageous if the clamping rib is too long, since it has proven to be very advantageous if the screw can be tilted slightly in the through hole opening in order to compensate for manufacturing tolerances in order to precisely align the end of the screw. Thus, the end facing away from the screw head is usually moved by less than 1 mm, for example only 0.7 mm or less, since the manufacturing tolerances compensated in this way are very small.

[0008] Another advantageous improvement of the invention is that the flange is manufactured by overmolding a sleeve with a plastic material, the sleeve preferably being a metal sleeve, wherein the sleeve has at least one hole filled with a plastic material forming the clamping ribs and preferably also having an annular bead from which the clamping ribs start. When the automotive component is mounted on the vehicle, the pressure exerted by the screw head can be borne by the sleeve, thereby preventing damage to the flange (which is possibly made of plastic material). The perforations or holes of the sleeve thus advantageously allow the flange and the clamping ribs to be manufactured in one step, namely by overmolding the sleeve with a plastic material. The sleeve preferably has a plurality of holes, in particular holes or perforations distributed in the circumferential direction. In this way, the overmolding and forming of the annular bead and the clamping ribs are advantageously simplified. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] With reference to the accompanying drawings, further details and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail by means of illustrative embodiments. As shown in the accompanying drawings:

[0010] Figure 1 is an embodiment of an automobile component according to the present invention;

[0011] Figure 2 Here is another view of the car parts;

[0012] Figure 3 It is a longitudinal view of a flange with screws of an automobile component;

[0013] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 cross section;

[0014] Figure 5 A sleeve is shown received in a flange;

[0015] Figure 6 yes Figure 3 Another portrait view of . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the automotive component 1 is an ignition coil, which comprises at least one flange 2 which is installed in a motor vehicle. The flange 2 has a through hole, into which a screw 3 is inserted. The following description relates to the pre-installation of a screw in an automotive component which, in addition to being an ignition coil, may also be a unit or another component of a vehicle air conditioning system which has a flange with a through hole. The flange may therefore be designed as a single piece with the housing of the automotive component.

[0017] Figure 3 A detailed view of a longitudinal cross section of a flange 2 is shown, the flange 2 having a through hole 4 into which a screw 3 is inserted. Figure 4 Shows Figure 3The cross section of Figure 6 Another longitudinal cross section is shown from another angle.

[0018] The flange 2 is manufactured by overmolding the sleeve 5, such as Figure 5 As shown. The sleeve may be made of metal and is overmoulded with plastic material. The sleeve 5 has a hole or perforation 6, through which the plastic material may pass during overmoulding, and an annular shoulder 7 is formed on the inner side of the sleeve 5 and therefore on the inner side of the through hole 4, and a clamping rib 8 starting from the annular shoulder 7 and extending in the axial direction.

[0019] In the pre-installed state, the clamping rib 8 presses against the thread of the screw 3 and fixes it in the axial direction. Therefore, in this way, the installation of an ignition coil or other vehicle component with such a flange 2 in a vehicle is greatly simplified. By accurately placing the flange 2 in the installation position, the screw 3 inserted into at least one through hole 4 of the flange 2 will be properly aligned with the corresponding screw hole. The slight tilt of the screw 3 can compensate for manufacturing tolerances in the range of a few tenths of a millimeter. Therefore, the screw 3 is screwed to such an extent that the screw shaft 9 is located in the area of ​​the clamping rib 8, but is not tightened. Therefore, the automotive component 1 is still movable to correct tolerances. It is possible to screw in and tighten the second screw 3, which is self-centering in the thread. It is more advantageous overall if the clamping rib 8 is not directly on the X-axis and Y-axis, so that the screw shaft 9 can be inserted deeper into the rib area.

[0020] The shorter the clamping ribs 8, the easier and farther the screw 3 can be tilted in the through hole 4 of the flange 2. In order to avoid unnecessarily complicating the alignment by compensating for manufacturing tolerances, it is advantageous if the length of the clamping ribs 8 in the axial direction does not exceed five times the distance between adjacent thread peaks of the thread of the screw 3. The clamping ribs 8 then contact only five points or less on the thread of the screw 3, respectively. In the exemplary embodiment shown, Figure 6 The clamping rib 8 in the embodiment contacts two points on the thread of the screw 3, namely two thread peaks. Therefore, the length of the clamping rib in the exemplary embodiment shown is greater than the thread width of the screw 3.

[0021] In the embodiment shown, exactly three clamping ribs 8 are arranged in the through-opening 4. It is also possible to increase the number of clamping ribs 8; however, no substantial advantages may be achieved thereby.

[0022] The screw 3 may have a portion of reduced diameter, such as a portion without threads, between the head and the threads. The reduced diameter is smaller than the inner diameter defined by the clamping rib 8, so that when the screw 3 is inserted deeper into the through hole 4, in particular during or after the final stage of assembly on the vehicle, the clamping rib 8 may not press against this portion of the screw 3.

[0023] The vehicle component 1 is delivered to the vehicle manufacturer with the screw 3 , which is inserted into the through hole 4 and thereby holds the clamping rib 8 due to the rib 8 pressing against the thread of the screw 3 .

[0024] Reference numerals list

[0025] 1Auto Parts

[0026] 2 Flange

[0027] 3 screws

[0028] 4 Through holes

[0029] 5 sleeve

[0030] 6. Perforation

[0031] 7 Annular shoulder

[0032] 8 Clamping ribs

[0033] 9 screw shaft

Claims

1. An automobile component, comprising: a flange (2) having a through hole (4), and A screw (3) is inserted into the through hole (4), At least three clamping ribs (8) extending in the axial direction are arranged in the through hole (4). An inwardly protruding annular shoulder (7) is arranged in the through hole, and the clamping rib (8) starts from the annular shoulder (7). The flange (2) is produced by overmolding a sleeve (5) with a plastic material, wherein the sleeve (5) has at least one perforation (6) which is filled with the plastic material forming the clamping rib (8).

2. The automobile component according to claim 1, characterized in that The length of the clamping rib (8) is greater than the distance between two adjacent thread peaks of the thread of the screw (3).

3. The automobile component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The length of the clamping rib (8) does not exceed four times the distance between adjacent thread peaks of the screw (3).

4. The automobile component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The screw (3) has a portion with reduced diameter between the head and the thread.

5. The automobile component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The sleeve (5) has a plurality of perforations (6) which are filled with a plastic material forming the annular shoulder (7) and the clamping ribs (8).

6. The automobile component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: In the through-opening (4) there is only a single annular shoulder (7) with a clamping rib (8).

7. The automobile component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Precisely three clamping ribs (8) are arranged in the through-opening (4).

8. The automobile component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The clamping rib (8) presses against the thread of the screw (3), thereby retaining the screw (3) in the through hole (4).

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