Connecting unit and method for producing a connecting unit

Abstract

A method for producing a connection unit (1) is proposed, the connection unit having a connector with a connector rod (6) and a disk (3) arranged on the connector rod (6) in a manner that cannot be lost. The disk (3) has an annular disk body (23), the inner contour (33) and the outer contour (34) of which are produced by plastic deformation of the disk body (23). The inner contour (33) is formed in such a way that the disk body (23) is fixedly held on the connector rod (6). At the same time, the initially non-circular outer contour (34) is formed in such a way that the outer contour is at least substantially circular. The deformation is achieved by introducing radial deformation forces into the outer circumferential surface (27) of the disk body (23). In addition, a connection unit (1) that can be produced by the method is proposed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a connecting unit, wherein the connecting unit has a connector, the connector having a connector rod with a connecting structure and a connector head arranged on the connector rod and radially protruding from the connector rod, and wherein the connecting unit also has an annular disk, the disk having an annular disk body that can be plastically deformed and a through hole surrounded by the annular disk body and penetrated by the connector rod, wherein the annular disk body has an outer circumferential surface that defines the outer contour of the disk body and an inner circumferential surface that defines the boundary of the through hole on the periphery and defines the inner contour of the disk body, wherein, in order to securely fix the disk mounted on the connector rod in an anti-loss manner, the inner contour of the disk body, when the disk is mounted on the connector rod, is deformed from a temporary inner contour that realizes a pre-fitting of the disk onto the connector rod to a final inner contour that facilitates the disk to be fixedly retained on the connector rod in an anti-loss manner and that is different from the temporary inner contour through plastic deformation of the disk body.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a connecting unit, which comprises: a connector, the connector having a connector rod equipped with a connecting structure and a connector head arranged on the connector rod, wherein the connector head radially protrudes from the connector rod; and an annular disk, the disk having an annular disk body made of a plastically deformable material, the disk body surrounding a through hole penetrated by the connector rod, the through hole being bounded on the periphery by an inner circumferential surface of the disk body, the inner circumferential surface defining an inner contour of the disk body produced by plastic material deformation of the disk body, wherein this inner contour is formed so that the disk is retained on the connector rod without being lost through cooperation with the connector rod, and wherein the annular disk body has an outer circumferential surface defining an outer contour of the disk body. Background Art

[0003] A connection unit of the aforementioned type, called a retainer unit, is known from DE 10 2014 118 342 A1, which can be manufactured by the method explained above. The known connection unit has a connector with a connector rod and a connector head, wherein an annular disc that is fixed in a way that it cannot be lost is inserted onto the connector rod provided with an external thread. The disc acts as a gasket and / or a sealing disc. This provides protection against loss of the disc, i.e., the annular disc body of the disc is plastically deformed radially inwardly in the region of its inner circumferential surface when placed on the connector rod, so that the through hole becomes smaller. This reduction causes a radial overlap of the disc body and the annular projection of the connector rod, so that the disc is blocked between the connector head and the annular projection and can no longer fall off the connector rod.

[0004] According to the applicant's internal knowledge, which has not been documented, it is also possible to achieve a loss-proof protection of the disk on the screw shaft by using an annular disk body which, before being placed on the screw shaft, is circularly contoured either radially on the outside or radially on the inside and which, when placed on the screw shaft, is pressed together from two diametrically opposite sides in such a way that an olive-shaped or oval annular contour is produced both radially on the inside and radially on the outside. However, this may result in unfavorable dimensional ratios, which may result in the screw head not being completely seated on the disk body when the screw unit is used as intended, which is particularly problematic when the disk is to be used to achieve a seal.

[0005] It is known from US Pat. No. 5,056,208 A that a retaining ring having inwardly projecting rectangular tongues on its inner circumference and outwardly projecting projections or recesses on its outer circumference is deformed radially by means of clamps in such a way that the tongues engage in longitudinal grooves of the screw shaft, so that the retaining ring can no longer be removed from the shaft.

[0006] According to DE 42 24 310 A1, the locking element is deformed by radial deformation into an annular groove of the rod in order to tighten the nut. The locking element has three radially protruding collars on the outside, which are used to introduce force during deformation. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide measures by which the disk can be fastened to the connector rod cost-effectively and process-safely in such a way that it cannot be lost, so that during the subsequent intended use of the connecting unit, a secure support of the connecting connector head on the disk can be ensured.

[0008] In order to achieve this object, it is provided in a method for producing a spiral unit of the type mentioned at the outset that

[0009] - the annular disk is provided with a temporary outer contour deviating from a circular shape before its plastic deformation and is placed onto the connector rod,

[0010] - the plastic deformation of the annular disk is carried out in such a way that a final inner contour of the annular disk is brought about in that radial deformation forces are introduced into the outer circumferential surface of the disk, which is placed on the connector rod and has a temporary outer contour,

[0011] wherein the plastic deformation of the annular disk is designed such that a final inner contour of the annular disk deviates from a circular shape and simultaneously forms a final outer contour of the disk that deviates from the provisional outer contour and is at least substantially circular.

[0012] In the method according to the present invention, the anti-loss disk has an annular disk body, which has a temporary outer contour before being put on the connector rod and therefore before its plastic deformation, and the temporary outer contour is non-circular in design. When the annular disk body is plastically deformed immediately afterwards, not only the inner contour of the disk body but also the outer contour of the disk body undergoes a shape change. Therefore, the temporary inner contour and the temporary outer contour of the annular disk body that exist before the plastic deformation are deformed into the final inner contour and the final outer contour through the deformation process, and the final outer contour deviates from the previous temporary contour outline. The deformation force required for the deformation is introduced into the outer circumferential surface of the disk body that still has a temporary outer contour with a radial orientation when the disk body is placed on the connector rod. In this way, the plastic deformation of the annular disk body is completed, so that a non-circular final inner contour is produced. Based on this non-circular final inner contour, such an anti-loss protection is obtained by the cooperation between the disk and the connector rod, so that the disk will no longer fall from the connector rod. The final inner contour can be shaped in particular in such a way that the disk is at least partially inserted into a prefabricated annular groove-shaped recess of the connector rod and / or is pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the connector rod, so that there is a press fit. In addition, the plastic deformation of the annular disk is designed in such a way that an at least substantially circular final outer contour of the disk is obtained. During the plastic deformation, the initially non-circular outer contour is thus pressed into an at least substantially circular shape. This ensures a particularly uniform axial contact between the connector head and the disk when the spiral unit is subsequently used as required. This deformation also has advantages from an aesthetic point of view, because the outer contour of the disk is uniformly matched to the outer contour of the connector head on all sides.

[0013] The manufacturing method can be carried out simply, cost-effectively and with high process reliability even in large quantities using a correspondingly adapted deformation tool. The deformation can be designed in a targeted manner such that despite the deviation from a circular final inner contour, a reliable annular support of the screw head on the disk is ensured when the screw unit is used as intended. The manufacturing method can be used independently of a specific shape of the connector rod, since the deformation process can be carried out without problems specifically for the connector rod.

[0014] When the finished connection unit is used as intended, the disk serves, for example, as a gasket and / or sealing disk. The non-lost fastening of the disk to the connector rod enables the two components to be handled uniformly during storage, transport and use as a component that is combined to form the connection unit. It is not necessary for the user to tediously join connector and disk to form the connection unit shortly before intended use. In addition, it can be ensured that the connection unit always includes a functionally suitable combination of connector and disk.

[0015] Advantageous developments of the method according to the invention can be derived.

[0016] In particular, the plastic deformation of the annular disk body is designed such that the final inner contour of the circumferential surface is produced, wherein consecutive surface sections of the inner circumferential surface in the circumferential direction of the through-hole alternate and have different radial distances from the disk center.

[0017] It is considered to be advantageous if the annular disk body is plastically deformed in such a way that the inner circumferential surface has concavely curved and convexly curved surface sections that alternately follow one another in the circumferential direction of the through-hole after the final inner contour has been formed. In particular, the areas of the annular disk body that have convexly curved surface sections mechanically cooperate with the connector rod for loss protection. The convexly contoured surface sections expediently protrude radially inwards toward the center of the disk relative to the concavely curved surface sections.

[0018] It is also considered advantageous to design the plastic deformation in such a way that the final inner contour of the disk is completely concavely curved, wherein the surface sections of the inner circumferential surface alternate with different degrees of curvature in the circumferential direction of the through hole. Such a final inner contour is designed in the form of an olive arc or an elliptical arc.

[0019] The disk to be fastened has a temporary inner contour before being placed on the connector rod, which temporary inner contour gives the through-hole a sufficiently large cross-sectional area so that it can be placed on the connector rod without any problems. It is particularly easy to place the annular disk on the connector rod, with the connector rod then passing through the through-hole, if the temporary inner contour of the disk is a circular inner contour, and this circular inner contour is preferably at least substantially circular.

[0020] The temporary outer contour of the annular disk that deviates from a circle is expediently a temporary outer contour that is convexly curved on all sides in the circumferential direction of the through-hole, with surface sections having different curvatures alternating in the circumferential direction of the through-hole.

[0021] Before its plastic deformation, the annular disk body has, for example, a polygonal temporary outer contour, which is convexly rounded all around in the circumferential direction of the through-hole and therefore also in the corner regions. In this case, the convex curvature in the corner regions is expediently greater than in the regions of the disk body between the corner regions. The polygonal contour is preferably a uniformly rounded polygonal contour.

[0022] It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the annular disk body, before its plastic deformation, provides a temporary outer contour with three lobes and is placed on the connector rod. The three-lobed contour has the basic shape of a triangle of the outer contour, but is completely rounded, wherein the diameter of the annular outer contour is the same at every point of the outer circumference. There is only a positional deviation at the center of the diameter. Outer contour sections with large and small radii of curvature are each arranged diametrically opposite in pairs.

[0023] Another temporary outer contour which is very well suited for the method according to the invention is an olive or oval shape.

[0024] During the plastic deformation of the annular disk body, the region of the temporary outer contour configured as a radial protrusion is appropriately deformed radially in the direction of the disk center, wherein the deformation causes the metal material at the inner circumference of the disk to be displaced in the direction of the disk center. In conjunction with a circular temporary inner contour and the subsequent deformation so that the final outer contour is circular, the deformation behavior of the disk body is particularly manifested in that the non-circular temporary outer contour is transferred to the correspondingly shaped final inner contour.

[0025] In a method sequence that is considered to be particularly advantageous, the annular disk body is provided with a temporary outer contour and a temporary inner contour before its plastic deformation, so that the disk body has alternating successive annular segments with different radial thicknesses in the circumferential direction of the through-hole, so that the annular segments with the smallest radial thickness alternate with the annular segments with the largest radial thickness in the circumferential direction of the through-hole. During the plastic deformation, the radial deformation force is introduced in such a way that after the plastic deformation, the disk body still has alternating successive annular segments with the smallest radial thickness and annular segments with the largest radial thickness in the circumferential direction of the through-hole, but the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the annular disk body are configured such that the surface sections at the annular segments with the largest radial thickness have a smaller distance to the disk center after the plastic deformation than before the plastic deformation. In the annular segments with the smallest radial thickness, the distance of the surface sections belonging to the inner circumferential surface from the disk center is preferably the same or greater after the deformation than before the deformation.

[0026] Even if the connector rod in the area where the disk is located has an outer diameter that is larger or the same as that of the longitudinal section of the connector rod adjacent to the free rod end, the disk can still be reliably secured in a manner that prevents loss if the annular disk body is pressed radially onto the connector rod during its plastic deformation so that the disk is tensioned on its inner circumference with a radial press fit with the connector rod.

[0027] If necessary, the disk can also be fixed with a press fit when the disk is placed on the connector rod in the region of the annular groove-shaped recess. The disk is then pressed against the base surface of the annular recess.

[0028] The disk can also be deformed for fastening to the connector rod in such a way that the disk is loosely fastened to the connector rod without a radial press fit. This is achieved in these cases in that the connector and in particular the connector rod are structured at their outer circumference in such a way that the deformed disk is axially supported, for example, by a recess in the connector rod which is deformed radially inwards into the shape of an annular groove.

[0029] For example, the annular groove-like recess, which is produced as a cutout of the puncture hole, can be placed at any point along the connector shaft.

[0030] In a suitable embodiment of the method, the connector rod is provided with a groove-shaped recess before the disk to be secured in a captive manner is placed on it, which is delimited on the side of the free end of the connector rod by the recess side facing the front of the connector head. The disk is placed on the connector rod before the disk body is plastically deformed so that the disk is axially at the level of the groove-shaped recess. The subsequent plastic deformation of the disk body is carried out in such a way that the inner circumference of the disk body at least partially penetrates into the groove-shaped recess and a radial overlap is produced between the disk body and the recess side facing the front of the groove-shaped recess.

[0031] The connector rod preferably has the following shape as a screw rod in one design, that is, the front recess side directly limits the external thread section of the screw rod in the axial direction. However, different from this, the annular groove-shaped recess can also be configured with an axial spacing from the external thread section that may exist.

[0032] An annular groove-shaped recess can also be realized in that the connector shaft has a radially protruding annular bead with an axial spacing from the connector head.

[0033] The disk body of the disk is suitably manufactured as a stamped part for forming the temporary inner contour and the temporary outer contour. The disk body can alternatively also be manufactured by a casting method or chip removal, such as by milling.

[0034] The material used to make the plate body is, for example, a metal, such as steel or copper. In principle, however, any ductile material suitable for plastic deformation can be used for the plate body, so that, for example, plastic materials or composite materials can also be used.

[0035] The connecting unit is preferably produced as a screw unit, wherein the connector is designed as a screw and the connector shaft is provided with a connecting structure designed as an external thread.

[0036] The connector can be implemented, for example, as a bayonet connector, which has a connection structure at its connector rod, which is configured as a bayonet connection structure. The connector can alternatively be, for example, also a plug connector, which has a spring-elastic connection structure at the connector rod. An equally possible design of the connector is a screw connector in which the connector rod is a screw and the connector head is at least one nut screwed onto the screw.

[0037] The connecting unit is particularly preferably configured as a screw unit, in which the connector is a screw having a screw shaft as a connector shaft. The screw shaft has a connecting structure configured as an external thread. A screw head is firmly and particularly integrally arranged on the screw shaft as a connector head.

[0038] The object on which the invention is based is also achieved by a connecting unit which, in addition to the features mentioned at the outset, is distinguished by:

[0039] The annular disk is designed as a deformation part, wherein the inner contour is based on a radial plastic deformation of the disk provided in the shape of the perforation, which is caused by introducing radial deformation forces into the radial outer circumferential surface of the disk;

[0040] - the outer contour of the annular disk is at least substantially circular;

[0041] - And the inner contour of the annular disk body is non-circular in design.

[0042] In this way, the connecting unit has a disk which is placed on the connector rod in a loss-proof manner, and the disk body of the disk has a circular outer contour and a non-circular inner contour. This outer contour and inner contour are the final contours produced by the radial plastic deformation of the annular disk body, which is configured as a deformation part, which has only a temporary inner contour and outer contour before the plastic deformation. The circular outer contour ensures a reliable, annular, axial support of the connector head on the disk body when the spiral unit is used as required, so that the tightening force can be evenly transmitted. In addition, when the disk acts as a sealing disk, a reliable seal can be ensured in this way. By means of the non-circular inner contour, the annular disk body is securely and loss-proof fixed to the connector rod.

[0043] The inner circumferential surface defining the inner contour of the annular disk body is preferably shaped in such a way that it has surface sections which are at different radial distances from the center of the disk and which alternately follow one another in the circumferential direction of the through-opening.

[0044] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the inner contour of the annular disk is completely concavely curved, surface sections of the inner circumferential surface having different curvatures alternating in the circumferential direction of the through-opening.

[0045] The inner contour of the annular disk is preferably olive-shaped or oval-shaped. An alternative configuration provides that the inner circumferential surface has concavely curved surface sections and convexly curved surface sections that alternately follow one another in the circumferential direction of the through-hole.

[0046] It is considered advantageous that the outer contour and the inner contour of the annular disk body are formed in such a way that the annular disk body has annular segments of different radial thicknesses which are arranged alternately in a circumferential direction of the through hole, so that the annular segments with the smallest radial thickness alternate with the annular segments with the largest radial thickness in the circumferential direction of the through hole, wherein the surface segment of the inner circumferential surface at the annular segment with the largest radial thickness has a smaller radial spacing from the center of the disk than the surface segment of the inner circumferential surface at the annular segment with the smallest radial thickness.

[0047] The connecting unit is preferably a screw unit, the connector of which is a screw, wherein the connector shaft is a screw shaft having an external thread as the connecting structure.

[0048] If the connector for carrying out the production method or for realizing the connecting unit is a screw, then such a screw preferably has a screw head which is suitably provided with an inner and / or outer profile in order to form a tool engagement section, where a screwing tool can be placed when the connecting unit is used as intended. The inner and / or outer profile is designed, for example, as a polygon and in particular as a hexagon.

[0049] In the sense that the contour is at least substantially circular, this means, in particular, that a circular shape is preferably present, but slight deviations from the circular shape may also exist due to manufacturing measures or manufacturing tolerances.

[0050] According to the invention, a convexly curved surface is particularly a surface that is curved forward toward the observer, particularly in such a way that a central surface area is convex compared to the adjacent surface areas on both sides. According to the invention, a concavely curved surface is particularly a surface that is curved concavely away from the observer, particularly in such a way that a central surface area is set back compared to the adjacent surface areas on both sides. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0052] Figure 1 according to Figure 2 The section line II shows in longitudinal section a preferred embodiment of the connecting unit according to the present invention in a preferred design of the spiral unit, wherein the connecting unit is manufactured by means of the method according to the present invention; Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 The connection unit 1 is as per Figure 1 The cross section of the cutting line II-II in FIG.

[0053] Figure 3 The disk body is shown in a state where it has been fitted onto the connector rod but has not yet been plastically deformed. Figure 1 and 2 The connection unit is Figure 1 The cross section of the cutting line II-II;

[0054] Figure 4 In press Figure 5 Another embodiment of the connecting unit according to the present invention is shown in a longitudinal section along the cutting line IV-IV;

[0055] Figure 5 Shows Figure 4 The connection unit is Figure 4 A cross section of the section line VV in FIG.

[0056] Figure 6 The disk body is shown in a state where it has been fitted onto the connector rod but has not yet been plastically deformed. Figure 4 and 5 The connection unit is Figure 4 The cross section of the cutting line VV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] The connecting unit, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 1 and is shown in the figures in different embodiments, comprises a connector 2 and a circular disk 3 which is designed in an annular manner and is combined with the connector 2 to form a unit that can be handled in a unified manner.

[0058] Due to the special shaping caused by the previous plastic material deformation measures, the disk 3 is captively engaged with the connector 2 when forming the connecting unit 1. The connector 2 has a longitudinal extension with a longitudinal axis 4. The disk 3 has a longitudinal axis 5 and is appropriately placed at least substantially coaxially on the connector 2. The disk 3 has a center 25 on the longitudinal axis 5.

[0059] The connector 2, which is preferably made of metal, has a connector rod 6 extending coaxially to the longitudinal axis 4, with a free front end region 7 and a rear end region 8. A connector head 12 of the connector 2 is coaxially connected to the rear end region 8. The connector 2 can also be made of non-metallic material.

[0060] In the illustrated embodiment, the connector head 12 closes the connector 2 on the rear side. However, a configuration in which the connector 2 has two connector rods 6 and the connector head 12 is arranged axially between the two connector rods 6 is also possible.

[0061] The connector head 12 is preferably fixedly and in particular integrally mounted on the connector rod 6. However, a design is also possible in which parts are separate from one another.

[0062] The connector rod 6 is provided with a connecting structure 15 in the area of ​​its outer circumference, by which the connector 2 can be connected to a counterpiece (not shown), in particular in the case of a form-fit connection. For example, the connecting unit 1 can be used in this way to fix two arbitrary components or parts to each other.

[0063] The outer diameter of the connector head 12 is greater than the outer diameter of the connector rod 6 at least in the rear end region 8 of the connector rod. The connector rod 6 therefore protrudes radially all around beyond the connector head 12. The connector rod 6 preferably has a smaller outer diameter than the connector head 12 over its entire length. However, the connector head 12 can also be arranged or configured asymmetrically on the connector rod 6 so that the same connector head protrudes radially not all around but only partially, that is to say only at one or more locations, for example in the manner of a hook.

[0064] The connector 2 is preferably configured as a screw 2a, so that the connection unit 1 is a screw unit 1a. This applies to the illustrated embodiment. The connector head 12 is formed by a screw head 12a integrally connected to the connector rod 6, and the connector rod 6 is a screw rod 6a, which has an external thread 15a as a connection structure 15a.

[0065] In an embodiment not shown, the connector 2 is a bayonet connector with a connection structure 15 arranged on the connector rod 6, which is designed as a bayonet connection and is composed of one or more radial projections, for example. In an embodiment not shown, the connector 2 is a plug connector with a radially spring-elastic connection structure 15. Also not shown is a possible design of the connector 2 as a screw connector, in which the connector rod 6 is a screw and the connector head 12 is at least one nut screwed onto the screw.

[0066] Preferred measures according to the invention are explained below using a connecting unit 1 which is designed as a screw unit 1 a , wherein the following explanations hereof apply correspondingly to other embodiments of the connecting unit 1 .

[0067] The connector head 12 of the connector 2 configured as a screw head 12a has a round and particularly circular outer contour radially outwardly, for example. The connector head is cylindrical in design. The connector head 12 optionally has a tool action section 13 on its back side axially facing away from the connector rod 6 configured as a screw rod 6a, which is formed by an axial recess of the connector head 12 that is non-circular and particularly polygonally outlined. A screw tool can be mounted on this tool action section 13 so that the connector 2 is rotated about its longitudinal axis 4 when it is used to be screwed into a complementary internal thread as required.

[0068] In an embodiment not shown, the tool engagement section 13 is located on the outer surface of the screw head 12a. The same tool engagement section is then preferably contoured polygonally and in particular quadrangularly or hexagonally on its radial outer circumference.

[0069] The connector head 12 does not necessarily have a tool engagement section 13. Whether a tool engagement section 13 is present and, if applicable, how such a tool engagement section 13 is designed depends on the application.

[0070] The connector head 12 can also be spherical, for example.

[0071] On the end side facing the connector shaft 6 , the connector head 12 has a front end face 14 which extends in particular in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 4 and is expediently annular in design so that it surrounds the connector shaft 6 to a certain extent.

[0072] As mentioned above, the connector rod 6 protruding radially from the connector head 12 and configured as a screw rod 6a has an external thread 15a as a connection structure 15. The thread type is arbitrary. For example, it is a metric thread. The longitudinal section of the connector rod 6 with the external thread 15a is called the external thread section 16.

[0073] In the illustrated embodiment, the connector shaft 6 has a non-threaded shaft section 17 extending axially between the external thread section 16 and the connector head 12. This non-threaded shaft section 17 is arranged according to Figure 1 Can be shorter, but according to Figure 4 It can also have a greater axial length. The unthreaded shaft section 17 can be provided, for example, according to Figure 1 The embodiment of has a smaller outer diameter than the external thread section 16. This results in an annular groove-like recess 18 coaxial to the longitudinal axis 4, which is delimited axially on the back by the front end face 14 of the connector head 12 and axially opposite by an annular front recess side 22 which, by way of example, closes the external thread section 16 on the back.

[0074] The annular groove-like recess 18 can be machined, for example, by chip removal as a puncture hole into the connector rod 6. However, it can also be rolled, for example, or formed directly during the casting of the connector 2. The annular groove-like recess 18 can in principle be configured in any arbitrary axial position and in any arbitrary axial length in the connector rod 6.

[0075] The connector rod 6 can also be, for example, Figure 4 The shape can be seen in the figure, wherein the outer diameter of the unthreaded shank section 17 corresponds to the outer diameter of the external threaded section 16. There is no further annular surface with Figure 1 The front recess side surface 22 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is similarly opposite to the front end surface 14 of the connector head 12 .

[0076] exist Figure 4 In the screw 2 of FIG. 1 , the external thread 15 is appropriately chipped into the screw shank 6. In contrast, the external thread 15 is Figure 1 In the embodiment of the present invention, a rolled thread or a pressed thread produced by material deformation is preferred. In principle, the manufacturing method of the external thread 15 can be selected arbitrarily.

[0077] The disk 3 which is placed on the connector shaft 6 is located appropriately for both exemplary embodiments on the unthreaded shaft section 17 .

[0078] The disk 3 is expediently placed directly on the external thread 15 when the external thread 15 extends directly to the connector head 12 and no unthreaded shank section is present between the external thread 15 and the connector head 12 .

[0079] The disk 3 functions in particular as a gasket and / or sealing disk. When fixing measures are taken with the aid of the connector 2, for example, in order to screw two components or parts together or to connect them together in another way, the disk functions, for example, as a gasket. In the case where the screw 2a is used as a closing screw, for example, as an oil drain screw in a machine tool or a vehicle, the disk 3 functions, for example, as a sealing disk.

[0080] The disk 3 has an annular disk body 23 which encloses an axially continuous through-hole 24 of the disk 3. The disk body 23 is made of a material having ductile properties, so that it can be permanently plastically deformed when a deforming force is applied, and is preferably made of metal, but it can also be made of plastic, for example. The disk body 23 can easily be a multi-component body.

[0081] The disk body 23 is made of steel or copper, for example, depending on the intended use of the disk 3. The disk body 23 of the disk 3 can be combined with at least one other material, in particular plastic and here in particular elastomeric material, in particular in conjunction with a sealing function.

[0082] The annular disk body 23, which is also referred to as the disk body 23 for simplicity below, has an inner circumferential surface 26 which faces the center 25 of the disk 3 and is closed in an annular manner. The inner circumferential surface 26 forms a radially peripheral boundary of the through-opening 24. The disk body 23 also has an outer circumferential surface 27 which is closed in an annular manner and points radially away from the center 25. The inner circumferential surface 26 defines an inner contour 33 of the disk body 23. The outer circumferential surface 27 defines an outer contour 34 of the disk body 23.

[0083] The disc body 23 also has two annular end faces 29, 30 axially opposite to each other. The rear end face 29 of these end faces 29, 30 faces the connector head 12. Each end face 29, 30 extends between the inner circumferential surface 26 and the outer circumferential surface 27. The two end faces 29, 30 extend in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis 5. However, they can also be conically inclined.

[0084] The through-opening 24 has a circumferential direction 28 , which is indicated by a double arrow. The circumferential direction extends around the center 25 or around the longitudinal axis 5 . The plate 23 has a circumferential direction 32 , which also extends around the center 25 or around the longitudinal axis 5 .

[0085] Due to the inner contour 33 of the disc 23, which deviates from a circle and is described in more detail below, the disc 3 placed on the connector rod 6 is held captive on the connector rod 6 in the axial direction by the cooperation of the disc 23 and the connector rod 6. Therefore, regardless of any movement or vibration of the screw 2, the disc 3 cannot fall off the connector rod 6. This results in a screw unit 1 that can only be operated uniformly.

[0086] The annular disk 23 is a deformed part and its inner contour 33 and outer contour 34 are obtained as the final contours in that the disk 23 has undergone a targeted plastic deformation. Figure 3 and 6 The disk body 23 is shown before plastic deformation, wherein the disk body 23 in this undeformed shape can also be referred to as a disk body blank.

[0087] In the spiral unit 1 manufactured according to the invention, the inner contour 33 represents the final inner contour 33 and the outer contour 34 represents the final outer contour 34 of the plate body 23. Before the plastic deformation, the plate body 23 or the plate body blank has only a temporary inner contour 33a and only a temporary outer contour 34a. The shape change of the plate body 23 caused in a targeted manner during the deformation causes the temporary inner contour 33a to be deformed into a final inner contour 33 different from this shape and the temporary outer contour 34a to be deformed into a final outer contour 34 different from this shape.

[0088] Before plastic deformation, the disk body 23 is provided in a perforated shape with a temporary inner contour 33a and a temporary outer contour 34a. The disk body 23 that has not yet been deformed is appropriately manufactured as a stamped part. The disk body 23 alternatively can also be manufactured, for example, by casting or injection molding or by chip machining, for example by milling.

[0089] The deformation process takes place in the state in which the disk 3 or the disk body 23 is placed on the connector rod 6. The disk body 23 is positioned here in particular on the connector rod 6, where it should also be after the deformation process.

[0090] The temporary inner contour 33 a is designed in such a way that the through-opening 24 has a sufficiently large cross-sectional area to enable unimpeded insertion of the connector shaft 6 .

[0091] As a result, the plate 23 is plastically deformed, ie, a deformation force 37 directed radially with respect to the center 25 toward the outer circumferential surface 27 having the temporary outer contour 34a is introduced into the plate 23. Figure 3 and 6 The deformation force 37 is preferably generated by a machine.

[0092] The temporary outer contour 34a is different from a circle. The undeformed outer circumferential surface 27 therefore has a non-circular contour in other words. When the disk body 23 is plastically deformed, both the annular contour of the outer circumferential surface 27 and the annular contour of the inner circumferential surface 26 are changed permanently at the same time.

[0093] All the illustrated embodiments have in common that the plastic deformation of the disk 23 is designed in such a way that the resulting outer contour 34 is at least substantially and appropriately exactly circular. This results in an optimal symmetry with respect to the connector head 12 and, correspondingly, an identical introduction of axial contact pressure when the screw 2 is fastened during intended use of the connecting unit 1.

[0094] The final outer contour can basically also have any other final outer contour 34 which deviates from the provisional outer contour 34 a.

[0095] The plastically deformed disk body 23 preferably has a final inner contour 33 such that the inner circumferential surface 26 has surface sections which alternately follow one another in the circumferential direction 28 of the through-opening 24 and have different radial distances from the disk center 25. This also applies to the two illustrated exemplary embodiments.

[0096] The disk body 23 can be divided into a plurality of annular segments 35 which are arranged in a continuous manner in the circumferential direction 32 and directly merge into one another in a uniform material manner. There is no physical separation between these annular segments 35. However, there are preferably two annular segments 35 which are contoured differently from one another, which are referred to as main annular segments 38 and transitional annular segments 39 for better distinction. The inner circumferential surface 26 consists of a surface segment formed at the main annular segment 38 and a surface segment formed at the transitional annular segment 39, which are referred to as main inner surface segments 38a and transitional inner surface segments 39a for better distinction. In the circumferential direction 32, there is an alternating continuous succession of main inner surface segments 38a and transitional inner surface segments 39a, which merge into one another directly and preferably steplessly.

[0097] exist Figure 1 and 2 In the embodiment of the present invention, the disc body 23 has three main annular segments 38 and three transition annular segments 39. Figure 4 and 5 In the embodiment of the embodiment of the present invention, there are only two main ring segments 38 and transition ring segments 39. When the latter are arranged in pairs in diametrically opposite directions, Figure 1 and 2 In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5 , an angular offset of the main annular segment 38 and the transitional annular segment 39 of approximately 120° occurs.

[0098] The main inner surface section 38 a has a smaller distance from the center 25 than the transitional inner surface section 39 a .

[0099] according to Figure 1 and 2 In the embodiment of the present invention, the deformed disk body 23 has a final inner contour 33 configured in such a way that concavely curved and convexly curved arc-shaped surface sections of the inner circumferential surface alternate in the circumferential direction 32. In the preferred embodiment shown, the main inner surface section 38a bulges convexly toward the center 25, while the transition inner surface section 39a has a convex arc shape.

[0100] In contrast thereto, the final inner contour 33 is also shaped in particular such that it is curved completely concavely in the circumferential direction 32, but with surface sections of different curvatures alternating. Figure 4 and 5 In the embodiment of the present invention, it is realized in such a way that the final inner contour 33 is designed in an olive or elliptical shape. The two transition inner surface sections 39a have, for example, a greater curvature than the main inner surface section 38a.

[0101] The common point of the illustrated embodiments is that the final outer contour 34 and the final inner contour 33 of the annular disk 23 are formed in such a way that annular segments 35 are produced which have different radial thicknesses and which alternately follow one another in the circumferential direction 28, 32. The radial thickness is measured in a direction radial to the longitudinal axis 5. The maximum radial thickness in the main annular segment 38 is greater than in the transition annular segment 39, for example. Preferably, a smooth transition is produced in the circumferential direction 32 between the annular segments 35, 38, 39 having different maximum radial thicknesses.

[0102] The two illustrated exemplary embodiments of the production method have in common that the plate 23 has a temporary circular inner contour 33a before its plastic deformation, wherein according to Figure 3 and 6 This is preferably an at least substantially and in particular exactly circular temporary inner contour 33 a .

[0103] This round and preferably circular temporary inner contour 33a is expediently combined with a temporary outer contour 34a which is convexly curved all around in the circumferential direction 32 of the disk 23 , wherein surface sections of the outer circumferential surface 27 with different curvatures alternate in the circumferential directions 28 , 32 .

[0104] exist Figures 1 to 3 In the embodiment of the invention, the temporary outer contour is designed as a polygon, but is still convexly rounded on all sides. For example, a triangular basic shape of the temporary outer contour 34a is provided. A so-called three-leaf contour is particularly advantageous here, which is Figure 3 Shown in.

[0105] exist Figures 4 to 6 In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 , the disk 23 is provided with a temporary olive-shaped or oval outer contour 34 a for carrying out the deformation process.

[0106] In both exemplary embodiments, the respectively described temporary outer contour 34a is preferably combined with a circular temporary inner contour 33a.

[0107] The disk body 23 preferably already has the division into main annular segments 38 and transition annular segments 39 which are arranged successively and integrated into one another as described above with the aid of the deformed disk body 23 before plastic deformation, that is, even as a disk body blank. However, the contours of such main annular segments 38 and transition annular segments 39 differ from the contours of the plastically deformed disk body 23 in terms of contour outline.

[0108] exist Figure 3In the embodiment of the present invention, the corner regions of the polygonal temporary outer contour 34a are formed by surface sections of the outer circumferential surface 27 which are formed at the main annular segments 38 and which are referred to as main outer surface sections 38b for better distinction. Surface sections of the outer circumferential surface 27 referred to as transition outer surface sections 39b are located at transition annular segments 39 which connect the main annular segments 38 to one another in pairs.

[0109] exist Figures 4 to 6 In the exemplary embodiment, the outer circumferential surface 27 is also divided into a main outer surface section 38 b formed at the main annular segment 38 and a transition outer surface section 39 b formed at the transition annular segment 39 .

[0110] As in the deformed disk body 23 , in the still undeformed disk body 23 the main annular segment 38 also expediently has a greater maximum radial thickness than the transitional annular segment 39 .

[0111] The deformation force 37 is introduced into the main outer surface section 38b formed in the main annular segment 38 in a direction toward the center 25 at all main annular segments 38 at the same time, which is Figure 3 and 6 This has the effect that, after deformation, an alternating continuous succession of main annular segments 38 and transition annular segments 39 is still obtained, but wherein the main inner surface segment 38a and the main outer surface segment 38b now have a smaller distance to the center 25 of the disk 3 than before the plastic deformation.

[0112] During deformation, the main annular segment 38 is pressed radially inwards. The transition annular segment 39 then maintains its radial relative position to the connector rod 6 or is at least slightly deformed radially outwards according to arrow 40. After deformation, the radial spacing between the transition inner surface section 39a and the outer circumferential surface 21 of the connector rod 6 can be constant or larger than the spacing before deformation.

[0113] Suitable deformation tools are used for the plastic deformation. Suitable are, for example, hydraulically or mechanically actuated clamps or a deformable tubular body having a conically narrowing tubular passage through which the connector 2 and the disk 3 placed thereon are pressed axially.

[0114] As already mentioned, the plastic material forming of the disk body 23 takes place in the state in which it is pushed onto the connector rod 6 .

[0115] To make the Figures 1 to 3 The spiral unit 1 forms a disk body 23 of the disk body blank, which is placed at the axial height of the annular groove-shaped recess 18 of the connector rod 6 before its radial deformation, so that the radial deformation causes the disk body 23 to be radially pressed into the annular groove-shaped recess 18 with the main annular segment 38.

[0116] The ductile material of the disk body 23 can be deformed until the main inner surface section 38a, under prestressing, abuts against the radial outer circumferential surface 21 of the connector rod 6 below the annular groove-shaped recess 18 and the disk body 23 is thus held in a force-fitting, ie, non-positively, captive manner. However, even with slightly smaller deformations that result in the main annular segment 38 being inserted into the annular groove-shaped recess 18 but still do not result in a force-fitting, the disk body 23 is still protected against loss, since the latter cannot overcome the front recess side 22. The disk 3 is then placed loosely but still captively on the connector rod 6.

[0117] To make the Figures 4 to 6 In the connecting unit 1, the disc 23 present as a disc blank is deformed radially so strongly by the radial deformation force 37 that the disc and the main annular segment 38 are fastened to the connector rod 6 in a press fit. No additional axial form-fit fastening is required here.

[0118] exist Figure 2 and 5 In the figure, gaps 36 can be seen, which are present in the region of the disk 3 between the radial outer circumferential surface 21 of the connector rod 6 and the inner circumferential surface 26 of the disk body 23. In particular, they are located radially between the transition annular segment 38 and the connector rod 6. It can be clearly seen that the maximum width of these gaps 36 measured radially with respect to the longitudinal axis 4 of the screw 2 is significantly smaller than the correspondingly measured radial width of the annular front end surface 14 of the connector head 12. This ensures that the connector head 12 rests on the disk body 23 with its front end surface 14 on all sides when the screw unit 1 is used as intended, thus ensuring complete support combined with a reliable sealing effect.

Claims

1. A method for producing a connection unit (1), wherein: The connection unit (1) comprises a connector (2), the connector having a connector rod (6) having a connection structure (15) and a connector head (12) arranged on the connector rod (6) and radially protruding from the connector rod (6), and wherein the connection unit (1) further comprises an annular disk (3), wherein the disk has an annular disk body (23) capable of plastic deformation and a through hole (24) surrounded by the annular disk body (23) and penetrated by the connector rod (6), wherein the annular disk body (23) has an outer circumferential surface (27) defining an outer contour (34) of the disk body (23) and an edge (35) defining the through hole (24) on the periphery. The inner circumferential surface (26) of the disk body (23) is defined by a boundary, and defines an inner contour (33) of the disk body (23), wherein, in order to securely fix the disk (3) placed on the connector rod (6) in a loss-proof manner, the inner contour (33) of the disk body (23) is deformed from a temporary inner contour (33a) that enables the disk (3) to be pre-fitted onto the connector rod (6) through plastic deformation of the disk body (23) to a final inner contour (33) that is different from the temporary inner contour (33a) and facilitates the disk (3) to be fixedly held on the connector rod (6) in a loss-proof manner, characterized in that: the annular disk (23) is provided with a temporary outer contour (34a) deviating from a circular shape before its plastic deformation and is placed onto the connector rod (6), - and plastic deformation of the annular disk (23) leading to a final inner contour (33) of the annular disk (23) is performed in such a way that radial deformation forces (37) are introduced into the outer circumferential surface (27) of the disk (23) which is placed on the connector rod (6) and has a temporary outer contour (34a), - wherein the plastic deformation of the annular disk (23) is designed in such a way that the final inner contour (33) of the annular disk (23) deviates from a circle and simultaneously forms a final outer contour (34) of the disk (23) that deviates from a temporary outer contour (34a) and is at least substantially circular.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The plastic deformation of the annular disk body (23) is designed in such a way that the inner circumferential surface (26) defining the final inner contour (33) has surface sections (38a, 39a) which are arranged successively and alternately in the circumferential direction (28) of the through hole (24) and have radial distances of different sizes from the center (25) of the disk (3).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The plastic deformation of the annular disk (23) is designed in such a way that the inner circumferential surface (26) defining the final inner contour (33) has concavely curved and convexly curved surface sections (38a, 39a) that alternately follow one another in a circumferential direction (28) of the through hole (24).

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The plastic deformation of the annular disk (23) is designed in such a way that the final inner contour (33) is completely concavely curved, wherein surface sections (38a, 39a) of the inner circumferential surface (26) with different curvatures alternate in the circumferential direction (28) of the through-hole (24).

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The annular disk (23) is provided with a temporary circular inner contour (33a) before its plastic deformation and is placed onto the connector rod (6), wherein the temporary inner contour (33a) is expediently at least substantially circular in design.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The annular disk (23) has a temporary outer contour (34a) that is convexly curved on all sides before its plastic deformation, wherein surface sections (38b, 39b) of the outer circumferential surface (27) with different curvatures alternate in the circumferential direction (28) of the through-hole (24).

7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The annular disk (23) has, before its plastic deformation, a temporary polygonal outer contour (34a) which is expediently convexly rounded on all sides.

8. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The annular disk (23) provides a temporary outer contour (34a) with three lobes before its plastic deformation and is placed onto the connector rod (6).

9. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The annular disk (23) has a temporary olive-shaped or oval outer contour (34a) before its plastic deformation and is placed onto the connector rod (6).

10. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The annular disk (23) is provided with a temporary outer contour (34a) and a temporary inner contour (33a) before its plastic deformation, so that the annular disk has annular segments (35, 38, 39) with different radial thicknesses, which are alternately connected in a circumferential direction (28) of the through hole (24), so that the annular segments (35, 39) with the smallest radial thickness and the annular segments (35, 38) with the largest radial thickness alternate in a circumferential direction (28) of the through hole (24), wherein the annular disk (23) is designed in such a way that The disk body (23) is subjected to plastic deformation so that after the plastic deformation, the disk body (23) still has annular segments (35, 39) with the smallest radial thickness and annular segments (35, 38) with the largest radial thickness alternately connected in a circumferential direction (28) of the through hole (24), wherein the surface segments (38a, 39a) of the inner circumferential surface (26) and the outer circumferential surface (27) at the annular segments (35, 38) with the largest radial thickness have a smaller distance from the center (25) of the disk (3) after the plastic deformation than before the plastic deformation.

11. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The annular disk (23) is pressed radially onto the connector rod (6) during its plastic deformation such that the annular disk is fastened to the connector rod (6) at its inner circumference (26) by a radial press fit.

12. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that Before the disk (3) to be secured in a manner not to be lost is inserted, the connector rod (6) provides a recess (18) having an annular groove, which is delimited by a recess side (22) facing the front of the connector head (12), wherein the disk (3) is inserted onto the connector rod (6) before the disk body (23) is plastically deformed in such a way that the disk is axially at the height of the annular groove-shaped recess (18), wherein the subsequent plastic deformation of the disk body (23) is carried out in such a way that the inner circumference (26) of the disk body (23) is at least partially inserted into the annular groove-shaped recess (18).

13. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The disk body (23) of the disk (3) with its temporary inner contour (33a) and its temporary outer contour (34a) is produced as a stamped part.

14. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The connecting unit (1) is manufactured as a screw unit (1a), wherein the connector (2) is configured as a screw (2a) and the connector rod (6) is provided with a connecting structure (15) configured as an external thread (15a).

15. A connection unit comprising: a connector (2) having a connector rod (6) provided with a connection structure (15) and a connector head (12) arranged on the connector rod (6), wherein: A connector head (12) protrudes radially from a connector rod (6); and an annular disk (3), the annular disk having an annular disk body (23) made of a plastically deformable material, the disk body surrounding a through hole (24) penetrated by the connector rod (6), the through hole being delimited on the periphery by an inner circumferential surface (26) of the disk body (23), the inner circumferential surface defining an inner contour (33) of the disk body (23) produced by plastic material deformation of the disk body (23), wherein the inner contour (33) is formed in such a way that the disk (3) is retained on the connector rod (6) in a manner that it cannot be lost by cooperating with the connector rod (6), and wherein the annular disk body (23) has an outer circumferential surface (27) defining an outer contour (34) of the disk body (23), characterized in that the annular disk (23) is designed as a deformation part, wherein the inner contour (33) is based on a radial plastic deformation of the disk (23) provided in the shape of a perforation, the plastic deformation being caused by introducing radial deformation forces (37) into the outer circumferential surface (27) of the disk (23), the outer contour (34) of the annular disk (23) is at least substantially circular in design, - The inner contour (33) of the annular disk (23) is of non-circular design.

16. The connecting unit according to claim 15, characterized in that The inner circumferential surface (26) of the annular disk body (23) defining the inner contour (33) has surface sections (38a, 39a) which are arranged at different radial distances from the center (25) of the disk and which alternately follow one another in the circumferential direction (28) of the through hole (24).

17. The connecting unit according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that The inner contour (33) of the annular disk (23) is completely concavely curved in the circumferential direction (28) of the through hole (24), wherein surface sections (38a, 39a) of the inner circumferential surface (26) with different curvatures alternate in the circumferential direction (28) of the through hole (24).

18. The connecting unit according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that The inner contour (33) of the annular disk body (23) is designed to be olive-shaped or elliptical.

19. The connecting unit according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that The inner circumferential surface (26) of the annular disk (23) defining the inner contour (33) has concavely curved and convexly curved surface sections (38a, 39a) that alternately follow one another in a circumferential direction (28) of the through-hole (24).

20. The connection unit according to any one of claims 15 or 16, characterized in that: The outer contour (43) and the inner contour (33) of the annular disk body (23) are formed in such a way that the annular disk body (23) has annular segments (35, 38, 39) of different radial thicknesses which are alternatingly successive in the circumferential direction (28) of the through hole (24), so that annular segments (35, 39) with the smallest radial thickness alternate with annular segments (35, 38) with the largest radial thickness in the circumferential direction (28) of the through hole (24), wherein the surface sections (38a, 39a) of the inner circumferential surface (26) at the annular segments (35, 38) with the largest radial thickness have a smaller radial distance from the center (25) of the disk (3) than the annular segments (35, 39) with the smallest radial thickness.

21. The connecting unit according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that The connection unit (1) is a screw unit (1a), and its connector (2) is a screw (2a), wherein the connector rod (6) is a screw rod (6a) having an external thread (15a) as a connection structure (15).

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