Fastening ring, component arrangement having fastening ring, and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening ring (10) for a component arrangement (100), comprising: an annular region (30), which is substantially closed in the circumferential direction (U) of the fastening ring (10) and extends within a planar intermediate region (36), the annular region (30) has a planar intermediate region (32, 34) which extends between two planes (32, 34) which are arranged parallel to each other, are tangent to the annular region (30) on mutually opposite annular region flanks (38, 40), and are oriented parallel to an annular region center plane (42) of the annular region (30); and a tool action region (60) connected to the annular region (30), which tool action region has tool action elements (70, 80) protruding from the annular region (30), by means of which tool action elements the annular region (30) can be deformed when a force is applied to the tool action region (60), characterized in that the annular region (30) can be deformed when a force is applied to the annular region (30). At least one tool acting element (70) of the tool acting elements (70, 80) has a tool acting element end (72, 82) facing away from the annular region (30), which end extends at least partially outside the planar intermediate region (36). Further aspects of the invention relate to a component arrangement (100) comprising such a fastening ring (10) and to a motor vehicle (K) comprising a fastening ring (10) and / or a component arrangement (100).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a fastening ring according to the preamble of claim 1. Further aspects of the invention relate to a component arrangement and a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Fastening rings are widely used in the reversibly releasable connection of different components to each other. For example, DE 4446166 C1 discloses a device for fastening an electrical device to a mounting plate provided with a hole. The stop for the nut is formed on the insert housing by a fastening ring which engages in a peripheral fastening groove of the insert housing. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a fastening ring which can be mounted in an improved manner. A further object of the present invention is to provide a component arrangement comprising such a fastening ring and a motor vehicle comprising such a fastening ring.

[0004] This object is achieved by a fastening ring having the features of claim 1, by a component arrangement having the features of claim 8 and by a motor vehicle having the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments of the invention together with expedient developments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0005] A first aspect of the invention relates to a fixing ring for a component arrangement, the fixing ring having:

[0006] an annular region which is largely closed in the circumferential direction of the fastening ring and extends within a planar middle region which extends between two planes arranged parallel to one another and tangential to the annular region on opposite sides of the annular region, the planes being oriented parallel to an annular region center plane of the annular region; and

[0007] A tool engagement region connected to the annular region, the tool engagement region having a tool engagement element protruding from the annular region and by means of which the annular region is deformable, in particular elastically deformable, when a force is applied to the tool engagement region.

[0008] The annular region side surfaces can be spaced apart from one another in the height extension direction of the fastening ring. In general, embodiments relating to one of the tool action elements can also be applied to the other tool action elements of the tool action region.

[0009] The fixing ring can be designed in particular for fixing a first component of the component arrangement to a second component of the component arrangement in a reversibly releasable manner. The expression "mostly closed" is to be understood within the scope of the invention as meaning that the annular region can extend over a circumferential angle of more than 180°, i.e. can be larger than half a ring. The closed ring extends over a circumferential angle of 360°. Preferably, the annular region can extend over a circumferential angle of, for example, between 330° and 358°, so that a gap region between the respective annular region ends can be constructed correspondingly, which gap region can extend over a gap region circumferential angle of 30° to 2°.

[0010] In particular, the first plane in the imaginary, i.e., imagined, plane can be in contact with the annular region upper side (also referred to as the annular region upper side). The second plane in the plane can be in contact with the annular region lower side (also referred to as the annular region lower side). The annular region upper side and the annular region lower side can constitute corresponding annular region sides that are opposite to each other. In addition, the annular region upper side and the annular region lower side can be oriented perpendicularly to the annular region outer surface and / or the annular region inner surface, respectively. The annular region outer surface can also be configured as a hollow cylinder like the annular region inner surface.

[0011] The annular region center plane is to be understood as a particularly imaginary and therefore imaginary center plane of the annular region, which centrally cuts through the annular region and extends perpendicularly to the center axis of the annular region. The annular region can extend around the center axis of the annular region. The center axis can correspond to an axis of symmetry around which a circular line can extend. Along the circular line, the annular region can extend in the circumferential direction of the fixing ring.

[0012] Depending on the outer contour of the annular region, the plane delimiting the plane intermediate region can also be oriented perpendicularly to the annular region outer surface and / or the annular region inner surface. This can be the case when the annular region has, for example, a square cross section or, for example, a rectangular cross section. The annular region outer surface can be configured on the outermost surface of the annular region in the radial extension direction of the fastening ring and the annular region inner surface can be configured as the innermost surface of the annular region in the radial extension direction.

[0013] According to the invention, at least one of the tool action elements has a tool action element end facing away from the annular region, which extends at least partially outside the planar middle region. This is advantageous because the tool action region and the annular region are therefore not aligned with each other in the annular region center plane, thereby effectively avoiding possible collisions of the tool action region with components (components) adjacent to the fixing ring, for example, in the case of limited structural space. The at least one tool action element can, for example, have a curvature, i.e. be configured to be curved.

[0014] The at least one tool action element can extend at least mostly in a radial extension direction of the fixing ring away from the annular region. The expression "at least mostly" is to be understood here as meaning that the main extension direction of the tool action element deviates from the radial extension direction of the fixing ring by at most 20°. The radial extension direction can extend radially outwards from the center axis of the annular region, i.e. away from the center axis.

[0015] Preferably, the tool action element end, also referred to below as element end, can extend not only partially but completely outside the planar center region. This can achieve a particularly advantageous use of the construction space. Thus, the distance of the element end from the plane closest to the element end, measured in the direction of the corresponding plane normal to the center plane of the plane or the annular region, can preferably be at least twice the extension length of the planar center region.

[0016] The present invention is based on the following recognition, that is, the flat fixing ring known from the prior art can only be installed with increased consumption when the space is limited, or even must abandon its use due to space reasons. Instead, the present invention is generally provided as follows, the fixing ring is configured as uneven, in which the end of the at least one tool action element extends at least partially outside the plane middle area. The tool action element can be especially configured as a corresponding tab and extends outwardly and away from the annular area along the radial extension direction of the fixing ring and can be said to protrude from the plane middle area. The tool action element can be used for the elastic expansion of the annular area, in which the corresponding force is applied to the tool action area and thus applied to the tool action element by means of a suitable tool (preferably a fixing ring pliers) and thus elastically widens (expands) the annular area. In the expanded state, the fixing ring can be assembled, for example, put into the groove, and then the application of force is terminated, whereby the annular area can present a stress-free (unexpanded) initial state and, for example, remain in the groove in a form-locking manner. The invention makes it possible for the tool to act on the tool action area outside the planar center area and, even when little space is available, the fastening ring can be mounted while avoiding collisions with adjacent components.

[0017] In an advantageous development of the invention, the at least one tool action element extends in a rod-shaped manner away from the annular region. This is advantageous because the tool action element can be designed to be particularly narrow due to its rod shape and thus also simplifies collision-free guidance of the tool action region when assembling the retaining ring.

[0018] The expression "rod-shaped" should be understood within the scope of the present invention as meaning that the at least one tool action element can essentially have the shape of a rod (the rod having, for example, a round or angular rod cross-section), i.e. can extend over the total length of the tool action element, for example without a cross-sectional change or with only a cross-sectional change of, for example, less than 10%.

[0019] In another advantageous development of the invention, the at least one tool action element has a tool action element surface area facing the annular area, which together with the annular area forms an obtuse angle. This is advantageous because, due to the obtuse angle, the space available diagonally spaced from the annular area can be used in an advantageous manner during assembly of the fastening ring.

[0020] In another advantageous development of the invention, the tool-acting element end of the at least one tool-acting element and the tool-acting element connecting region of the at least one tool-acting element, which connects the tool-acting element end to the annular region, form an intermediate angle with one another that differs from an angle value of 180°. This is advantageous because an angled configuration of the at least one tool-acting element is thereby provided, which enables particularly advantageous use of the available installation space when mounting the fastening ring.

[0021] In another advantageous development of the invention, the tool action element end is oriented at least substantially parallel to the plane. This is advantageous because the tool can thereby be guided to the tool action element end in the same direction as in a conventionally constructed retaining ring, while the advantageous configuration of the tool action area enables particularly advantageous utilization of the existing structural space. The expression "at least substantially parallel" is to be understood within the scope of the invention as meaning that the corresponding plane of the plane and the center plane of the tool action element end form an angle of maximum 10° with one another. Preferably, the center plane and the corresponding plane can form an angle of less than 10° with one another or, in a particularly advantageous configuration, can be oriented exactly parallel to one another.

[0022] In another advantageous development of the invention, the tool action element end and the tool action element connection region together form a stepped shape. This allows a particularly advantageous use of the available installation space, since the step in the component arrangement with the fastening ring can partially surround adjacent components or components, thereby allowing a particularly space-saving arrangement of the fastening ring. In other words, the at least one tool action element can thus be designed in a stepped shape.

[0023] In another advantageous development of the invention, the annular region and the at least one tool action element at least partially have mathematically similar cross sections. As a result, the retaining ring can be manufactured particularly cost-effectively. In other words, the annular region and the at least one tool action element at least partially have corresponding cross sections, which are similar to each other according to the definition of mathematical similarity. The cross section can be in a corresponding section plane through the annular region or through the at least one tool action element, wherein the corresponding section plane extends perpendicularly to the corresponding center line through the annular region or through the at least one tool action element.

[0024] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a component arrangement having a first component, a fixing ring according to the first aspect of the present invention, and a second component connected to the first component by means of the fixing ring. Advantageously, the component arrangement can be constructed to be particularly compact and / or can utilize the existing structural space particularly advantageously.

[0025] A third aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a fastening ring according to the first aspect of the invention and / or a component arrangement according to the second aspect of the invention. In the motor vehicle, even small installation spaces can be effectively utilized by using a fastening ring configured according to the first aspect of the invention or by using a plurality of fastening rings configured according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0026] Preferred embodiments and their advantages stated with respect to one of the aspects apply correspondingly to the respective other aspect of the invention, and vice versa.

[0027] The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description and the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown individually in the figures can be used not only in the respectively stated combination but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0028] Further advantages, features and details of the invention are apparent from the claims, the subsequent description of preferred embodiments and with reference to the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained again with the aid of specific embodiments. For this purpose, in the figure:

[0030] Figure 1 A side view showing a first variation of the retaining ring;

[0031] Figure 2 A perspective view showing a first variation of the retaining ring;

[0032] Figure 3 Another perspective view showing a first variation of the retaining ring;

[0033] Figure 4 A highly abstract illustration of a motor vehicle is shown, which comprises a component arrangement in which only a subregion is shown in a sectional view and which has a first variant of a fastening ring and a plurality of components which are connected to one another by means of the first variant of the fastening ring;

[0034] Figure 5 A perspective view showing a second variation of the retaining ring;

[0035] Figure 6 Another perspective view showing a second variation of the retaining ring; and

[0036] Figure 7 A further highly abstract illustration of a motor vehicle and a component arrangement is shown, in which only the subregion is shown in section and in which a second variant of a fastening ring is provided for connecting the components instead of the first variant. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 Different views each show a first variant of a fastening ring 10 which is mounted on a component arrangement 100. Figure 4 1 and is assigned to a motor vehicle K shown in an abstract manner. The first variant of the component arrangement 100 has a first component 102, which is designed as a ball bearing outer ring of a ball bearing 110 in the present example, and a second component 104, which is designed as a shaft. The fastening ring 10 is used for reversibly releasable fastening of the first component 102 to the second component 104. The fastening ring 10 is in its mounted state. Figure 4 , in which it can be seen that the securing ring 10 can be mounted despite the highly restricted installation space radially above the bearing seat of the ball bearing 110 .

[0038] Figure 5 and Figure 6 Different views of a second variant of the fastening ring 10 are shown in each case. Figure 7 , a second variant of a component arrangement 100 is shown, which is assigned to a motor vehicle K, which is shown in an abstract manner. Apart from the geometrical configuration of the fastening ring 10 , there are currently no differences between the first and the second variant of the component arrangement 100 .

[0039] Unless otherwise stated, the following explanations of the embodiment of the fastening ring 10 apply to both variants.

[0040] If with the help of Figure 1 As can be seen, the fastening ring 10 has an annular region 30 which is largely closed in the circumferential direction U of the fastening ring 10 . Figure 1 Indicated by a curved double arrow.

[0041] The annular region 30 extends within a planar middle region 36, which extends between two imaginary planes 32, 34 arranged parallel to one another and tangential to the annular region 30 on opposite annular region sides 38, 40. The first of the annular region sides 38, 40 is designed in the present case as an annular region upper side, i.e. as an upper side of the annular region 30, while the second of the annular region sides 38, 40 is designed in the present case as an annular region lower side. The first annular region side 38 is located at the center of the fastening ring 10, which extends along the center axis 12 of the annular region 30 and at Figure 1 The second annular region side 40 is spaced apart in the height extension direction H indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 , which also applies to the two planes 32 , 34 . The fixing ring 10 is also spaced apart by Figure 1 The radial extension direction R indicated by the arrow in φ extends from the center axis 12 of the annular region 30 radially outwards, ie away from the center axis 12 .

[0042] The planes 32, 34 are oriented parallel to an annular region center plane 42 of the annular region 30. The annular region center plane 42 extends in the height extension direction H centrally between the planes 32, 34 and centrally through the annular region 30. Figure 3 , for example, in the range of 350° to 355° and ends at the annular region ends opposite each other in the circumferential direction U, namely at the first annular region end 26 and at the second annular region end 28. A gap region 20 (air gap) extends between the two annular region ends 26, 28 in the circumferential direction U, which enables a flexible and therefore elastic deformation of the annular region 30, for example in the form of expansion by means of a tool, during the assembly of the fastening ring 10. The gap region 20 extends over a gap region circumferential angle δ_US in the range of 10° to 5°, for example.

[0043] The fastening ring 10 also has a tool action region 60 connected to the annular region 30, i.e., a region which is designed to allow a tool to act when the fastening ring 10 is assembled. The tool action region 60 has tool action elements protruding from the annular region 30, i.e., a first tool action element 70 and a second tool action element 80, by means of which the annular region 30 can be deformed when a force is applied by means of a tool at the tool action region 60. Unless otherwise indicated, the subsequent embodiments or their configurations relating to the first tool action element 70 also apply to the second tool action element 80. The tool action elements 70, 80 can also be referred to as tabs.

[0044] The first annular region end 26 transitions integrally into a first tool action element 70 protruding substantially in the radial extension direction R from the center axis 12, while the second annular region end 28 transitions integrally into a second tool action element 80 protruding substantially in the radial extension direction R from the center axis 12, as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 As in Figure 5 and Figure 6 As can be seen in .

[0045] The annular region 30 and the tool-acting elements 70 , 80 have mathematically similar cross sections, which can be rectangular or square, for example, as shown by way of example. Figure 5 As can be seen in the figure, the corresponding end faces of the corresponding tool-acting elements 70, 80 are visible in cross section. Due to the rectangular or square configuration of the cross section, the annular region 30 is Figure 2 The outer surface 44 of the annular region and the annular region 30 are also shown in FIG. Figure 2 In the present case, the annular region inner surfaces 46 indicated in FIG. 4 are also oriented perpendicularly to the planes 32 , 34 and to the annular region center plane 42 .

[0046] The tool action elements 70, 80 have respective tool action element ends 72, 82 facing away from the annular region 30 and extending outside the planar center region 36. In other words, both the first tool action element end 72 assigned to the first tool action element 70 and the second tool action element end 82 assigned to the second tool action element 80 extend outside the planar center region 36.

[0047] According to a first variant of the fastening ring 10 , the tool engagement elements 70 , 80 extend in a rod-shaped manner facing away from the annular region 30 .

[0048] The tool action element 70 or 80 has a corresponding Figure 2The tool action element surface area 74 or 84 shown in FIG. 1 and facing the annular area 30, respectively, forms an obtuse angle α with the annular area 30, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown at the tool action element surface area 74 in FIG. The respective tool action element surface area 74 or 84 respectively forms the upper surface of the respective tool action element 70 or 80 in the height extension direction H.

[0049] In contrast to the first variant of the fastening ring 10, the second variant is such that the first tool-acting element end 72 of the first tool-acting element 70 and the first tool-acting element connecting region 76 of the first tool-acting element 70, which connects the first tool-acting element end 72 to the annular region 30, form an intermediate angle β with one another that differs from the angle value of 180°, as can be seen from the overview. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As can be seen. The second tool action element end 82 of the second tool action element 80 and the second tool action element connecting area 86 of the second tool action element 80 connecting the second tool action element end 82 to the annular area 30 also form the intermediate angle β with each other. The corresponding tool action elements 70, 80 according to the second variant have a corresponding stepped shape, while the tool action elements 70, 80 according to the first variant are configured to be stepless. Overall, in this second variant of the fixing ring 10, the tool action element end 72, or 82 and the tool action element connecting area 74 or 84 together constitute a corresponding stepped shape, wherein the tool action element ends 72, 82 according to the second variant are oriented parallel to the planes 32, 34.

[0050] In summary, with the first variant of the fastening ring 10, an angled configuration of the tool action elements 70, 80 relative to the planes 32, 34 or to the annular region center plane 42 is achieved, wherein the tool action elements 70, 80 extend substantially straight, i.e. rod-shaped, in the radial extension direction away from the annular region 30. In this case, the tool action element surface area 74 or 84 respectively forms an obtuse angle α with the annular region 30, as in Figure 1 As can be seen in .

[0051] By contrast, with the second variant of the securing ring 10 , a curved and here stepped configuration is provided and thereby a corresponding axial offset of the respective tool action elements 70 , 80 oriented in the height extension direction H is provided.

[0052] Both variants of the fastening ring 10 allow for advantageous utilization of the available installation space of the component arrangement 100 and thereby allow for improved assembly of the fastening ring 10 . Reference numerals list

[0053] 10Fixed ring

[0054] 12Central Axis

[0055] 20 Clearance Area

[0056] 26 End of the first annular region

[0057] 28 End of the second annular region

[0058] 30 Ring Area

[0059] 32 First plane

[0060] 34 Second Plane

[0061] 36 plane middle area

[0062] 38 side of the first annular area

[0063] 40 Side of the second annular area

[0064] 42 Ring area center plane

[0065] 44 Outer surface of annular area

[0066] 46 Inner surface of the annular area

[0067] 60 tool action area

[0068] 70 First tool action element

[0069] 72 first tool action element end

[0070] 74 first tool action element surface area

[0071] 76 First tool action element connection area

[0072] 80 Second tool action element

[0073] 82 Second tool action element end

[0074] 84 Second tool action element surface area

[0075] 86 Second tool action element connection area

[0076] 100 component layout structure

[0077] 102 First Component

[0078] 104 Second Component

[0079] 110 ball bearings

[0080] KMotor Vehicle

[0081] H height extension direction

[0082] R radial extension direction

[0083] U Circumferential direction

[0084] α Obtuse angle

[0085] β Middle Angle

[0086] δ_U Circumference angle

[0087] δ_US Gap area circular angle

Claims

1. A fixing ring (10) for a component arrangement (100), the fixing ring comprising: - an annular region (30) which is largely closed in the circumferential direction (U) of the fastening ring (10) and extends within a planar middle region (36), which extends between two planes (32, 34) arranged parallel to one another and tangential to the annular region (30) on opposite annular region sides (38, 40), which are oriented parallel to an annular region center plane (42) of the annular region (30); and a tool action region (60) connected to the annular region (30), the tool action region having a tool action element (70, 80) protruding from the annular region (30) and by means of which the annular region (30) can be deformed when a force is applied to the tool action region (60), characterized in that At least one of the tool action elements (70, 80) has a tool action element end (72, 82) facing away from the annular region (30), the tool action element end extending at least partially outside the planar center region (36).

2. The fixing ring (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The at least one tool engagement element (70) extends in a rod-shaped manner facing away from the annular region (30).

3. The fixing ring (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The at least one tool action element (70) has a tool action element surface area (74) facing the annular area (30), the tool action element surface area forming an obtuse angle (α) with the annular area (30).

4. The fixing ring according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The tool action element end (72) of the at least one tool action element (70) and a tool action element connecting region (76) of the at least one tool action element (70) connecting the tool action element end (72) to the annular region (30) form an intermediate angle (β) with one another that differs from an angle value of 180°.

5. The fixing ring (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that The tool acting element end (72) is oriented at least substantially parallel to the planes (32, 34).

6. The fixing ring (10) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that The tool acting element end (72) and the tool acting element connecting region (76) together form a stepped shape.

7. The fixing ring (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The annular region (30) and the at least one tool-acting element (70) have mathematically similar cross-sections at least in regions.

8. A component arrangement (100) comprising a first component (102), a fastening ring (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, and a second component (104) connected to the first component (102) by means of the fastening ring (10). 9 . A motor vehicle (K) comprising a fastening ring ( 10 ) according to claim 1 and / or a component arrangement ( 100 ) according to claim 8 .

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