Self-tapping screw fastening jig and fastening method using the same

Abstract

A self-tapping screw fastening jig has a guide member and a positioning member. The guide member has a first base member provided with a guide hole portion through which a self-tapping screw can be inserted, at positions corresponding to the bottom holes respectively in a use state in which the self-tapping screw fastening jig is used. The positioning member has a second base member and at least two positioning pins provided to the second base member at positions corresponding to at least two of the bottom holes respectively. The at least two positioning pins each have a first outer diameter portion that can be inserted into the bottom hole, and a second outer diameter portion that is connected to the first outer diameter portion on the proximal end side of the first outer diameter portion and can be inserted through the guide hole portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to self-tapping screw fastening fixtures and fastening methods using self-tapping screw fastening fixtures. Background Technology

[0002] Self-tapping screws are known as fasteners used to fasten fasteners into bottom holes that have not been internally threaded. When using self-tapping screws for fastening, a guide clamp disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-38828 is used as a guide component to prevent the self-tapping screw from being inserted at an angle. Summary of the Invention

[0003] However, the alignment of the guide component with the bottom hole disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-38828 is difficult, which may lead to uneven tightening due to operator error. Furthermore, when tightening relative to multiple bottom holes, alignment of the guide component is required for each hole, potentially increasing the operation time. Therefore, there is a need for a self-tapping screw fastening fixture that allows for easy alignment of the guide component.

[0004] This disclosure may be implemented in the following ways.

[0005] The first aspect of this disclosure relates to a self-tapping screw fastening clamp for fastening a fastener relative to a mating part having at least three unthreaded bottom holes by means of a self-tapping screw. The self-tapping screw fastening clamp includes a guiding member and a positioning member. The guiding member has a first base member having guide holes at positions corresponding to the bottom holes, respectively, in the usage state of the self-tapping screw fastening clamp, through which the self-tapping screw can be inserted. The positioning member has a second base member and at least two positioning pins disposed on the second base member, the at least two positioning pins being disposed at positions corresponding to at least two of the bottom holes in the usage state. Each of the at least two positioning pins has a first outer diameter portion that can be inserted into the bottom hole in the usage state, and a second outer diameter portion connected to the first outer diameter portion at its base end and capable of being inserted into the guide hole in the usage state.

[0006] According to the above configuration, the guide member has a first base member with a guide hole portion provided at a position corresponding to the bottom hole in the use state, through which a self-tapping screw can be inserted. Therefore, by inserting the self-tapping screw through the guide hole portion and tightening it, the situation where the self-tapping screw is tightened at an angle can be prevented. In addition, the positioning member has at least two positioning pins, each of which has a first outer diameter portion that can be inserted into the bottom hole in the use state and a second outer diameter portion that can be inserted through the guide hole portion. Therefore, by inserting the positioning pins into the guide hole portion and the bottom hole, the positioning of the guide member relative to the mating part and the fastened part can be easily performed.

[0007] In the first embodiment described above, the second base member may also have a floating mechanism corresponding to the other positioning pin (i.e., the second reference pin) besides one of the at least two positioning pins (i.e., the first reference pin). The floating mechanism supports the second reference pin so that it can swing radially relative to the second base member.

[0008] According to the above configuration, a floating mechanism corresponding to the second reference pin is provided. The floating mechanism supports the second reference pin so that it can swing radially. Therefore, compared with the configuration without a floating mechanism, the second reference pin can be easily inserted into the guide hole, and the positioning of the guide component can be easily performed.

[0009] The second aspect of this disclosure relates to a fastening method using a self-tapping screw fastening clamp, comprising: a preparation step, preparing a self-tapping screw fastening clamp, the mating member, the fastened part, and the self-tapping screw as described in any of the above aspects; a configuration step, configuring the mating member, the fastened part, and the guide member in such a manner that the positions of the bottom hole of the mating member, the insertion hole of the fastened part, and the guide hole of the guide member correspond to their respective positions; a positioning step, inserting at least two locating pins of the positioning member into the corresponding guide holes and bottom holes to position the guide member; a first fastening step, inserting the self-tapping screw into the guide holes and bottom holes where the at least two locating pins are not inserted, to fasten the fastened part relative to the mating member; a first removal step, removing the guide member; a second fastening step, inserting the self-tapping screw into the guide holes and bottom holes where the at least two locating pins were inserted in the positioning step, to fasten the fastened part relative to the mating member; and a second removal step, removing the positioning member.

[0010] Based on the above configuration, the positioning component is positioned using a positioning component in the positioning process. Therefore, compared with a configuration that does not use a positioning component and positions the guiding component by visual inspection, the positioning of the guiding component can be performed more easily. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same elements. Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing a guide component as one embodiment. Figure 2 This is a perspective view showing a positioning component as one embodiment. Figure 3 This is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the self-tapping screw is inserted into the guide component. Figure 4 This is an explanatory diagram of the first reference pin in its usage state. Figure 5 This is an explanatory diagram of the second reference pin in its usage state. Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the sequence of the fastening method using the self-tapping screw fastening clamp in the first embodiment. Figure 7 It is a perspective view showing the mating parts and the fastened parts before they are fastened by self-tapping screws. Figure 8 It is a three-dimensional diagram used to illustrate the configuration process. Figure 9 It is a three-dimensional diagram used to illustrate the positioning process. Figure 10 This is a three-dimensional diagram used to illustrate the second fastening process. Figure 11 This is a perspective view showing the mating parts of the fastener. Detailed Implementation A. Implementation method: A1. Composition of self-tapping screw fastening clamp:

[0012] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the guide member 100 as one embodiment. Figure 2 This is a perspective view showing the positioning member 200 as one embodiment. The self-tapping screw fastening fixture of this embodiment is a fixture for fastening a fastener while machining the internal threads of the bottom holes of a mating part having at least three un-threaded bottom holes. The self-tapping screw fastening fixture consists of... Figure 1 The guide component 100 shown and Figure 2 The positioning component 200 shown is configured as follows. Furthermore... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis shown correspond to the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis in other figures, respectively. A2. Composition of the guide component 100:

[0013] like Figure 1As shown, the guide member 100 includes a first base member 110 and four buffer members 120. The guide member 100 is a component used to prevent self-tapping screws from being inserted at an angle relative to the pilot hole. The first base member 110 has a rectangular frame-like appearance when viewed from above. The first base member 110 is manufactured, for example, by machining a resin material or a metal such as iron. A guide hole portion H1 is provided in the first base member 110. The guide hole portion H1 is a through hole along the thickness direction (Z-axis direction) through which a self-tapping screw can be inserted. The guide hole portion H1 is provided at a position corresponding to the pilot hole of the mating member in the usage state when the self-tapping screw fastening clamp is used. Details regarding the usage state will be described later.

[0014] The buffer member 120 is a cuboid component, for example, made of resin material. The buffer member 120 is disposed on one side (the side in the -Z direction) of the first base member 110 at a position corresponding to the guide hole H1. The buffer member 120 prevents damage to the first base member 110 and the fastener due to direct contact. The buffer member 120 has a through hole communicating with the guide hole H1. The diameter of the guide hole H1 is approximately equal to the diameter of the through hole, and the centers of the guide hole H1 and the through hole are approximately aligned. Furthermore, the diameters of the guide hole H1 and the through hole are set such that the angle of the inserted self-tapping screw TS is within 9 degrees. The reason for this will be explained later.

[0015] Figure 3 This is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the self-tapping screw TS is inserted into the guide member 100. Figure 3 Show Figure 1 The cross-section of the guide member 100 at section line III-III. Additionally, in Figure 3 In, it is shown that in Figure 1 The mating part M, the fastener F, and the self-tapping screw TS are not shown in the diagram. Figure 3 As shown, after the mating part M, the fastened part F, and the guide part 100 are overlapped in this order, the self-tapping screw TS is inserted into the guide part 100. When the fastened part F is fastened relative to the mating part M which has a bottom hole PH that has not been internally threaded, if the self-tapping screw TS is fastened in an obliquely inserted state, it may not be possible to properly fasten the fastened part F and the mating part M. More specifically, because the self-tapping screw TS is fastened in an obliquely inserted state, the fastened part F and the mating part M cannot be tightly fitted, and it may not be possible to fix the fastened part F and the mating part M together. In addition, it is difficult to remove the internal thread from the mating part M which has been internally threaded at an oblique angle to recreate the bottom hole PH, so the mating part M which is fastened at an oblique angle may be disposed of as a defective product. Here, by means of... Figure 3The guide member 100 shown can prevent the self-tapping screw TS from being inserted at an angle relative to the bottom hole PH, and can properly fasten the fastener F and the mating part M. In addition, it can reduce the number of defective products that have been machined with internal threads at an angle.

[0016] Furthermore, the inventors discovered that if the angle between the axis of the self-tapping screw TS and the axis of the bottom hole PH is within 9 degrees, the mating part M and the fastened part F can be properly fastened. Therefore, in this embodiment, the diameters of the guide hole H1 and the through hole H2 are set such that... Figure 3 As shown, when the self-tapping screw TS is inserted into the guide hole H1 and the through hole H2, and before the self-tapping screw TS is tightened, the angle of the axis of the self-tapping screw TS relative to the axis of the bottom hole PH is within 9 degrees. In order to achieve such an angle between the axis of the self-tapping screw TS and the axis of the bottom hole PH, the diameter of the guide hole H1 and the diameter of the through hole H2 are set taking into account the length and maximum diameter of the self-tapping screw TS. A3. Composition of positioning component 200:

[0017] like Figure 2 As shown, the positioning component 200 includes a second base member 210, a first reference pin P10, and a second reference pin P20. The positioning component 200 is used to align the positions of the guide hole H1 and the through hole H2 in the guide component 100 with the position of the bottom hole PH of the mating component M.

[0018] The second base member 210 has an elongated rectangular plate shape and is manufactured by machining metal such as iron. The second base member 210 is provided with a handle 230 and multiple weight-reducing parts 220. The handle 230 is positioned near the center of the length of one side (the side in the +Z direction) of the second base member 210, allowing for easy handling of the positioning component 200 by a worker gripping the handle 230. The multiple weight-reducing parts 220 are through holes provided along the thickness direction (Z-axis direction) of the second base member 210, achieving weight reduction of the positioning component 200. A first reference pin P10 is provided at the first end of the second base member 210 as a positioning pin. A second reference pin P20 is provided at the second end of the second base member 210 as a positioning pin. The first reference pin P10 and the second reference pin P20 are positioned corresponding to the bottom hole PH of the mating part M when the self-tapping screw fastening clamp is in use. The first reference pin P10 and the second reference pin P20 are configured to protrude from the surface of the second base member 210 opposite to the surface where the handle 230 is located (the surface in the -Z direction). Furthermore, the second base member 210 has a floating mechanism FM corresponding to the second reference pin P20. Details regarding the floating mechanism FM will be described later.

[0019] Figure 4This is an explanatory diagram of the first reference pin P10 in its operational state. Figure 4 In, it is shown Figure 2 The cross-section of the positioning component 200 at the IV-IV section line. Additionally, in Figure 4 In, it is shown that in Figure 2 The mating part M, the fastener F, and the guide part 100 are not shown in the diagram. Figure 4 As shown, a first reference pin P10 is inserted into the guide hole H1, the through hole H2, and the bottom hole PH to align the guide component 100. The first reference pin P10 includes a first outer diameter portion P11, a second outer diameter portion P12, and a base P13. The first outer diameter portion P11 is located at the foremost end of the first reference pin P10 and can be inserted into the bottom hole PH. The diameter of the first outer diameter portion P11 is smaller than the diameter of the bottom hole PH. For example, the diameter of the first outer diameter portion P11 is 0.5 mm to 1 mm smaller than the diameter of the bottom hole PH. The second outer diameter portion P12 is connected to the first outer diameter portion P11 at the base end side (+Z direction side) and can be inserted into the guide hole H1 and the through hole H2. The diameter of the second outer diameter portion P12 is smaller than the diameter of the guide hole H1 and the through hole H2. For example, the diameter of the second outer diameter portion P12 is 0.5 mm to 1 mm smaller than the diameter of the guide hole H1 and the through hole H2. The base P13 is connected to the base end side (+Z direction side) of the second outer diameter portion P12, and is located at the base end side of the first reference pin P10. The base P13 is embedded in the second base member 210 and is held therein.

[0020] Figure 5 This is an explanatory diagram of the second reference pin P20 in its operational state. Figure 5 In, it is shown Figure 2 The cross-section of the positioning component 200 at the V-V section line. Additionally, in Figure 5 In, it is shown that in Figure 2 The mating part M, the fastener F, and the guide part 100 are not shown in the diagram. Figure 5 As shown, the second reference pin P20 and Figure 4 Similarly, the first reference pin P10 shown is inserted into the guide hole H1, the through hole H2, and the bottom hole PH to align the guide component 100. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the second reference pin P20 includes a first outer diameter portion P21, a second outer diameter portion P22, and a base portion P23. The second reference pin P20 differs from the first reference pin P10 in that it is supported on the second base member 210 via the floating mechanism FM. The first outer diameter portion P21, the second outer diameter portion P22, and the base portion P23 of the second reference pin P20 are identical to the first outer diameter portion P11, the second outer diameter portion P12, and the base portion P13 of the first reference pin P10, respectively; therefore, detailed descriptions of them are omitted.

[0021] The floating mechanism FM supports the second reference pin P20 so that it can swing radially. The floating mechanism FM is a cylindrical component arranged to cover the base P23. The floating mechanism FM has multiple springs AB. The multiple springs AB are respectively arranged around the base P23, applying force to the base P23 towards its center. With this configuration, the second reference pin P20 can swing radially relative to the second base member 210. Furthermore, in... Figure 5 In the diagram, the cross-sections of each spring AB are schematically represented by ellipses. The swing distance of the second reference pin P20 based on the floating mechanism FM is, for example, 1 mm in the radial direction of the second reference pin P20. Without the floating mechanism FM, there is almost no leeway (gap) in space when inserting the second reference pin P20 into the guide hole H1, so sometimes it becomes difficult to insert the second reference pin P20 due to manufacturing errors (tolerances). By having a floating mechanism FM, like the positioning member 200 of this embodiment, the second reference pin P20 swings in the radial direction, thereby making it easier to insert the second reference pin P20 into the guide hole H1, the through hole H2, and the bottom hole PH compared to the configuration without the floating mechanism FM, and making it easier to align the guide member 100. A4. Fastening method using self-tapping screw fasteners:

[0022] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the sequence of the fastening method using the self-tapping screw fastening clamp in the first embodiment. Figure 7 This is a perspective view showing the mating part M and the fastened part F before being fastened by the self-tapping screw TS. This fastening method, for example, is relative to... Figure 7 The mating part M, as shown, has a bottom hole PH that has not been internally threaded. The self-tapping screw TS is inserted into the insertion hole H3 and the bottom hole PH, and the fastener F is fastened while the bottom hole PH is internally threaded.

[0023] like Figure 6 As shown, as a preparation step (step P105), prepare as follows: Figure 1 The guide component 100 shown is as follows: Figure 2 Positioning component 200 as shown, such as Figure 7 The mating parts M, fastener F, and self-tapping screw TS are shown as shown.

[0024] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional diagram used to illustrate the configuration process. For example... Figure 6 As shown, in the configuration step (step P110), the mating part M, the fastener F, and the guide part 100 prepared in the preparation step (step P105) are configured. More specifically, as Figure 8As shown, the mating part M, the fastener F, and the guide part 100 are arranged in an overlapping manner, with the positions of the bottom hole PH of the mating part M, the insertion hole H3 of the fastener F, and the guide hole H1 of the guide part 100 roughly corresponding. Furthermore, the guide part 100 is arranged such that the buffer member 120 contacts the fastener F. Since the positioning of the guide part 100 is performed in the positioning process (process P115) described later, strict positioning of the guide part is not required in this process.

[0025] Figure 9 This is a three-dimensional diagram used to illustrate the positioning process. For example... Figure 6 As shown, the guide component 100, which was configured in the configuration step (step P110), is positioned as a positioning step (step P115). More specifically, as... Figure 9 As shown, the operator U presses the positioning component 200 in the direction of the arrow, inserting the first reference pin P10 and the second reference pin P20 into the corresponding guide hole H1, through hole H2, and bottom hole PH. In this embodiment, the first reference pin P10 and the second reference pin P20 are configured to correspond to two diagonally opposite guide hole portions H1 among the plurality of guide hole portions H1. The first reference pin P10 and the second reference pin P20 can also be configured to correspond to adjacent guide hole portions H1. The guide component 100 is positioned by inserting the first reference pin P10 and the second reference pin P20 in this manner. Furthermore, as shown... Figure 9 The state in which the first reference pin P10 and the second reference pin P20 of the positioning component 200 are inserted into the corresponding guide hole H1 of the guide component 100 is referred to as the "use state" of the self-tapping screw fastening fixture in this disclosure.

[0026] like Figure 6 As shown, as the first fastening step (step P120), the guide member 100, which was positioned in the positioning step (step P115), is used to fasten the mating part M and the fastened part F. More specifically, as... Figure 9 As shown, the self-tapping screw TS is inserted into the guide hole H1 where the first reference pin P10 and the second reference pin P20 are not inserted, thus fastening the fastener F relative to the mating part M. Tightening can be performed using any tool such as an electric screwdriver.

[0027] like Figure 6 As shown, the positioning component 200 is removed after the first fastening process (process P120) as the first removal process (process P125). At this time, it is preferable to remove the positioning component 200 in a manner that minimizes the displacement of the guide component 100.

[0028] Figure 10 This is a perspective view used to illustrate the second fastening process. For example... Figure 6As shown, as a second fastening step (step P130), the guide member 100, which was removed in the first removal step (step P125) after the positioning member 200 was removed, is used to fasten the mating member M to the fastener F. More specifically, as Figure 10 As shown, the self-tapping screw TS is inserted into the guide hole H1 and the bottom hole PH, where the locating pins (first reference pin P10 and second reference pin P20) were inserted in the locating process (process P115), and then tightened. Alternatively, it can be described as inserting the self-tapping screw TS into the guide hole H1, where it was not inserted and tightened in the first tightening process (process P120), and then tightening it.

[0029] Figure 11 This is a perspective view showing the mating part M of the fastener F. (See diagram below.) Figure 6 As shown, the guide component 100 is removed as the second removal step (step P135) after the second fastening step (step P130). Figure 11 As shown, the fastening method was completed by removing the guide component 100 and using a self-tapping screw fastening clamp.

[0030] According to the self-tapping screw fastening fixture of the embodiment described above, the guide member 100 has a first base member 110 having a guide hole portion H1 provided at a position corresponding to the bottom hole PH in the use state, through which a self-tapping screw TS can be inserted. Therefore, by inserting the self-tapping screw TS into the guide hole portion H1 and fastening it, the situation where the self-tapping screw TS is fastened at an angle can be prevented. In addition, the positioning member 200 has at least two positioning pins. The at least two positioning pins have: (i) a positioning pin P10 having a first outer diameter portion P11 that can be inserted into the bottom hole PH in the use state and a second outer diameter portion P12 that can be inserted into the guide hole portion H1, and (ii) a positioning pin P20 having a first outer diameter portion P21 that can be inserted into the bottom hole PH in the use state and a second outer diameter portion P22 that can be inserted into the guide hole portion H1. Therefore, by inserting the positioning pins into the guide hole portion H1 and the bottom hole PH, the positioning of the guide member 100 relative to the mating member M and the fastened member F can be easily performed.

[0031] In addition, the second base member 210 has a floating mechanism FM corresponding to the second reference pin P20. The floating mechanism FM supports the second reference pin P20 so that it can swing in the radial direction. Therefore, compared with the configuration without the floating mechanism FM, the second reference pin P20 can be easily inserted into the guide hole H1, and the positioning of the guide member 100 can be easily performed.

[0032] In addition, the guide member 100 has a buffer member 120, so compared with the configuration without the buffer member 120, it can suppress the situation where the guide member 100 and the fastener F are damaged by mutual friction. B. Other implementation methods: B1

[0033] In the above embodiments, the number of bottom holes PH, guide holes H1, and through holes H2 can be any number of three or more. B2

[0034] In the above embodiment, the positioning member 200 has two positioning pins: a first reference pin P10 and a second reference pin P20. However, this disclosure is not limited to this. The positioning member 200 may also have any number of positioning pins, two or more, corresponding to the bottom hole PH of the mating member M in the use state. Furthermore, the total number of positioning pins is two or more but less than one fewer than the total number of bottom holes PH of the mating member M to be fastened. This is so that in the first fastening process (process P120) described above, self-tapping screws TS are inserted and fastened to the guide hole portion H1 and bottom hole PH where no positioning pins are inserted. In addition, when the positioning member 200 has any number of positioning pins, three or more positioning pins, one positioning pin corresponds to the first reference pin P10. That is, one positioning pin is a positioning pin not supported by the floating mechanism FM. Apart from this one positioning pin, the other positioning pins correspond to the second reference pin P20. That is, the other positioning pins, except for one positioning pin, are positioning pins supported by the floating mechanism FM. B3

[0035] In the above embodiments, the guide member 100 has a rectangular frame shape when viewed from above, but this disclosure is not limited to this. The guide member 100 can also have any shape when viewed from above, such as a circle, an ellipse, or a polygon. Similarly, in the above embodiments, the positioning member 200 has an elongated rectangular plate shape, but this disclosure is not limited to this. The positioning member 200 can also have any shape, such as a circle, an ellipse, or a polygon. B4

[0036] In the above embodiment, the guide member 100 includes a buffer member 120, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. The guide member 100 may also be configured without the buffer member 120. B5

[0037] In the above embodiments, the guide member 100 has a floating mechanism FM, but this disclosure is not limited to this. The guide member 100 may also be configured without the floating mechanism FM, that is, configured with the positioning pin being only the first reference pin.

[0038] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various configurations without departing from its spirit. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features described in the "Summary of the Invention" section can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve some or all of the above-described problems, or to achieve some or all of the above-described effects. In addition, any technical feature that is not described as an essential technical feature in this specification can be appropriately deleted.

Claims

1. A self-tapping screw fastening clamp for fastening a fastener relative to a mating part having at least three unthreaded bottom holes by means of a self-tapping screw, characterized in that, It has a guiding component and a positioning component, wherein: The guiding component has a first base member, which has guide holes at positions corresponding to the bottom holes in the usage state of the self-tapping screw fastening clamp, allowing the self-tapping screw to be inserted. The positioning component has: Second base component; and At least two locating pins are disposed on the second base member, and the at least two locating pins are positioned at positions corresponding to at least two of the bottom holes in the usage state. The at least two locating pins each have a first outer diameter portion that can be inserted into the bottom hole in the use state, and a second outer diameter portion that is connected to the first outer diameter portion at the base end side of the first outer diameter portion and can be inserted into the guide hole in the use state.

2. The self-tapping screw fastening clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second base component also has a floating mechanism corresponding to a second reference pin, which is one of the at least two locating pins other than the first reference pin, which serves as a locating pin. The floating mechanism supports the second reference pin so that it can swing radially relative to the second base member.

3. A fastening method using a self-tapping screw fastening clamp, characterized in that, include: The preparation process includes preparing the self-tapping screw fastening clamp, the mating part, the fastened part, and the self-tapping screw as described in any one of claims 1 or 2. The configuration process involves arranging the mating member, the fastener, and the guide member in such a manner that the positions of the bottom hole of the mating member, the insertion hole of the fastener, and the guide hole of the guide member correspond to their respective positions. In the positioning process, at least two positioning pins of the positioning component are inserted into the corresponding guide hole and the bottom hole to position the guide component. In the first fastening step, the self-tapping screw is inserted into the guide hole and the bottom hole where the at least two locating pins are not inserted, thereby fastening the fastened part relative to the mating part. The first dismantling step involves removing the guide component; In the second fastening step, the self-tapping screw is inserted into the guide hole and the bottom hole where at least two positioning pins were inserted in the positioning step, thereby fastening the fastened part relative to the mating part. as well as The second dismantling step involves removing the positioning component.

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