Connecting device for the holding connection of two components to each other

Abstract

Connecting device (1) for the holding arrangement of a first component (10) relative to a second component (11), characterized in that the connecting device (1) has a connecting body (12) on which the first component (10) can be received at a first receiving section (13) and on which the second component (11) can be received at a second receiving section (14) spaced therefrom, wherein deformation sections (15) are formed between the two receiving sections (13, 14), via which deformation sections the two receiving sections (13, 14) are held relative to one another and which can be deformed by means of a pressure body (16), so that the distance (A, B) between the receiving sections (13, 14) can be changed by means of the deformation of the deformation sections (15).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting device for the holding arrangement of a first component relative to a second component. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] DE 10 2012 107 435 A1 discloses a connecting arrangement for securing a first component relative to a second component. The first component forms a receiving body for receiving a headlight, with the second component forming the headlight or a housing of the headlight. Headlights must be adjusted relative to a receiving body in a known manner, with such adjustment tasks also having to be performed, for example, between a heat sink and a light module. The known solution comprises several components with a screw shaft and a threaded section. The screw shaft is firmly screwed to the receiving body with a fastening screw. The threaded section can be screwed onto the screw shaft to different extents, driven by a worm gear.The threaded section has an internal thread for screwing onto the screw shaft, and the threaded section has a receiving thread with which the screw shaft is screwed into a threaded receptacle on the headlight. When the worm gear is activated and the threaded section rotates around a central axis, the different threads of the threaded section relative to the headlight housing and the screw shaft create an adjustment of the headlight housing relative to the receiving body.

[0003] The disadvantage of the known design is specifically developed for the application shown and is very complex for alternative applications. In particular, the connecting device comprises several components that must be assembled to one another. Furthermore, a very fine adjustment of the position of the headlight relative to the mounting body is not easily possible. A further disadvantage is that the threads of the threaded section to the screw shaft and the headlight housing must engage under preload, as this is the only way to avoid play of the headlight relative to the mounting body. However, backlash of the worm shaft relative to the worm gear must be expected, which further complicates the adjustment of the position of the headlight relative to the mounting body. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The object of the invention is to simplify a connecting device which is designed with the minimum possible number of components and which enables a very precise adjustment of the first component relative to the second component.

[0005] This object is achieved by a connecting device according to the preamble of claim 1 with the characterizing features. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The invention includes the technical teaching that the connecting device has a connecting body on which the first component is received at a first receiving section and on which the second component is received at a spaced-apart second receiving section, wherein deformation sections are formed between the two receiving sections, via which deformation sections the receiving sections are held to one another and which are deformable by means of a pressure body, so that the distance between the receiving sections can be changed by means of the deformation of the deformation sections.

[0007] The core idea of the invention is a change in the distance between the two receiving sections and thus between the two components by generating a deformation in deformation sections that the connecting body has. By using a pressure body, the pressure on the deformation sections can be adjusted so that the deformation sections perform a precisely adjustable deformation. At least one deformation section, but preferably two, more preferably three and particularly preferably four deformation sections can be formed between the two receiving sections. By pressing the pressure body on the deformation sections, a toggle lever effect can be exploited. A small elastic deformation of the deformation sections generates an even smaller axial displacement of the two receiving sections relative to one another.The result is a micro-adjustment of the two components to each other, which are preferably accommodated in the receiving sections of the connecting body without any play.

[0008] Specifically, the receiving sections can be provided in the opposite end regions of the connecting body.

[0009] The connecting body is, for example, made of a single piece of plastic, in particular POM. The pressure body is advantageously made of a plastic, in particular PBT GF 30.

[0010] According to an advantageous development of the connecting device, the deformation sections have a curvature, wherein the curvature is greater in a non-compression-loaded state than in a pressure-loaded state by means of the pressure body. The connecting body has a central axis, wherein the deformation sections are deflected with the curvature toward the central axis. The deformation sections are designed, for example, as rods or bars, and the deformation sections merge integrally into the first receiving section and the second receiving section. For example, four deformation sections can be formed at equal distances from one another around the central axis and connect the two receiving ends to one another.If the pressure body is inserted into the area within the deformation sections, it can push the deformation sections outward, reducing the curvature and consequently increasing the distance between the two receiving sections. If the pressure body is removed from the inner area of the deformation sections, the curvature increases again and the distance between the two receiving sections decreases again.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment of the connecting device, the second receiving section has a through-hole, e.g., a bore, with an internal thread, wherein the pressure body has an external thread that can be screwed into the internal thread concentrically to the central axis. Thus, if the pressure body is screwed deeper into the internal thread in the second receiving section, the deformation sections are pushed radially outward, and the reduction in curvature increases the distance between the two receiving sections of the connecting body. If the pressure body is unscrewed from the internal thread, the curvature increases again due to the inherent elasticity of the deformation sections, and the distance between the two receiving sections is reduced again.

[0012] The connecting body with the receiving sections and the deformation sections particularly advantageously forms a one-piece plastic body, which is manufactured in particular using a plastic injection molding process. The deformation sections are designed in such a way that deformation can be generated elastically in the deformation sections.

[0013] A further advantage is achieved if the receiving sections have clip-on features with which the receiving sections can be clipped into openings provided in the components. A further advantage is achieved if the connection between the components and the receiving sections has at least one anti-rotation device, so that when the pressure body is screwed into the internal thread of the second receiving section, co-rotation of the connecting body is prevented.

[0014] According to an advantageous development of the connecting device, the pressure body forms a grub screw, wherein the grub screw has a pressure tip on the front side of the external thread, which can be pressed against the deformation sections from the direction of the central axis when the grub screw is screwed into the internal thread in the second receiving section. The pressure tip is designed, for example, with a contour that is adapted to a maximum or average curvature of the deformation sections, so that the pressure tip can slide along the deformation sections in an improved manner. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Further measures improving the invention are described in more detail below, together with the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the figures. It shows: Fig. 1 a cross-sectional view through a connecting device with the features of the present invention and Fig. 2 a view of the connecting device according to Fig. 1, wherein a pressure body is screwed deeper into the connecting body of the connecting device.

[0016] The Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show a connecting device 1 for the holding arrangement of a first component 10 relative to a second component 11. For example, the first component 10 forms a heat sink and the second component 11 forms part of the light module in a headlight. The connecting device 1 has a first setting in Fig. 1, so that the distance between the two components 10 and 11 is marked with A. In Fig. 2, the connecting device 1 is shown with a second setting in which the distance between the first component 10 and the second component 11 is indicated by B, the second distance B being greater than the first distance A.

[0017] The connecting device 1 has a connecting body 12 as an essential component, and as a further component the connecting device 1 comprises a pressure body 16. The connecting device 1 thus forms a two-part structure.

[0018] The first component 10 is received in a first receiving section 13 of the connecting body 12, wherein clip formations 20 serve for the reception, which enable a play-free reception of the first component 10 in the first receiving section 13. In the same way, the second component 11 is received in the second receiving section 14 of the connecting body 12, so that clip formations 20 formed on the second receiving section 14 also ensure a play-free reception of the second component 11. The receiving sections 13, 14 are located in the Fig. 1 in opposite end regions of the connecting body 12.

[0019] Between the two receiving sections 13 and 14, the connecting body 12 has deformation sections 15. The deformation sections 15 are curved such that they are deflected toward a central axis 17. A total of four deformation sections 15 are located between the receiving sections 13 and 14, which are designed in the shape of rods or bars. The deformation sections 15 are elastically deformable such that the curvature can be pushed radially outward from the central axis 17 and thus reduced.

[0020] The pressure body 16, which is designed in the form of a grub screw, serves to induce deformation in the deformation sections 15. The pressure body 16 has an external thread 19 that can be screwed into an internal thread 18 in the second receiving section 14. Adjoining the external thread 19 at the front is a pressure tip 21, whose contour is adapted to the curved deformation sections 15.

[0021] Fig. Figure 1 shows the connecting device 1 with a pressure body 16 that is only slightly screwed into the internal thread 18 in the second receiving section 14. The deformation sections 15 have a large curvature and are essentially not subjected to pressure. Thus, the deformation sections 15 are in a substantially stress-free state. In this state, a distance A is created between the first component 10 and the second component 11.

[0022] Fig.2 shows the connecting device 1 in a second state, in which the pressure body 16 is screwed deeper into the internal thread 18 in the second receiving section 14. Due to the shape of the pressure tip 21 with an increasing diameter, the deformation sections 15 are pressed radially outward as the pressure body 16 is screwed in further, thus moving away from the central axis. This reduces the curvature in the deformation sections 15, so that ultimately, with a substantially constant length of the deformation sections 15, the receiving sections 13 and 14 of the connecting body 12 are moved apart. Consequently, the components 10 and 11 are also moved away from each other. The result is an increase in the distance between the two components 10 and 11, which is marked with B.

[0023] By finely adjusting the screw-in depth of the pressure body 16, an even finer adjustment of the distance A, B between components 10 and 11 can be achieved. For example, the connecting device 1 can be configured so that the pressure body 16 is accessible with a tool. For this purpose, a hexagon socket can be incorporated into the pressure body 16 in a manner not shown in detail, into which an associated tool can be inserted to rotate the pressure body 16 about the central axis 17.

[0024] The invention is not limited in its implementation to the preferred embodiment described above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable, which utilize the presented solution even in fundamentally different embodiments. All features and / or advantages apparent from the claims, the description, or the drawings, including structural details or spatial arrangements, may be essential to the invention both individually and in a wide variety of combinations. List of reference symbols 1 connecting device 10 first component 11 second component 12 connecting bodies 13 first recording section 14 second recording section 15 Deformation section 16 pressure hulls 17 Central axis 18 internal threads 19 external threads 20 clip forming 21 pressure peak A distance B Distance

Claims

[1] Connecting device (1) for the holding arrangement of a first component (10) relative to a second component (11), characterized by in that the connecting device (1) has a connecting body (12) on which the first component (10) can be received at a first receiving section (13) and on which the second component (11) can be received at a second receiving section (14) spaced therefrom, wherein deformation sections (15) are formed between the two receiving sections (13, 14), via which deformation sections the two receiving sections (13, 14) are held relative to one another and which can be deformed by means of a pressure body (16), so that the distance (A, B) between the receiving sections (13, 14) can be changed by means of the deformation of the deformation sections (15). [2] Connecting device (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the deformation sections (15) have a curvature, wherein the curvature is greater in a non-pressure-loaded state than in a pressure-loaded state by means of the pressure body (16). [3] Connecting device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the connecting body (12) has a central axis (17), wherein the deformation sections (15) are deflected with the curvature towards the central axis (17). [4] Connecting device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the deformation sections (15) are rod-like or bar-like and merge integrally into the first receiving section (13) and the second receiving section (14). [5] Connecting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the second receiving section (14) has a through-hole with an internal thread (18), and wherein the pressure body (16) has an external thread (19) which can be screwed into the internal thread (18) concentrically to the central axis (17). [6] Connecting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the connecting body (12) forms a one-piece plastic body with the receiving sections (13, 14) and the deformation sections (15), wherein the deformation of the deformation sections (15) can be generated elastically. [7] Connecting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the receiving sections (13, 14) have clip formations (20) with which the receiving sections (13, 14) can be clipped into openings which are made in the components (10, 11). [8] Connecting device (1) according to claim 5, characterized bythat the pressure body (16) forms a grub screw, wherein the grub screw has a pressure tip (21) on the front side of the external thread (19), which can be pressed against the deformation sections (15) from the direction of the central axis (17) when the grub screw is screwed into the internal thread (18) in the second receiving section (14).

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