Device for compensating tolerances between a first component and a second component
The elastic centering arrangement on a fastening element maintains the device's nominal position with a spring force, addressing assembly challenges in obscured conditions and ensuring effective tolerance compensation.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102019206750
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2019-05-09
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-09
- Estimated Expiration
- 2039-05-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing devices for compensating tolerances between components are hindered by assembly challenges, especially in unfavorable mounting positions where direct visibility is limited, leading to laborious screw element seeking and tool alignment issues.
An elastic centering arrangement, integrated with a fastening element, ensures the device remains in a nominal position through a spring force, facilitating assembly by maintaining equilibrium and preventing interference with tolerance compensation.
The elastic centering arrangement simplifies assembly by ensuring the device is always in the correct position, even in obscured conditions, without impairing tolerance compensation, thus reducing labor and improving installation efficiency.
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Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a device for compensating tolerances between a first component and a second component.
[0002] Such a device is generally known and is used, for example, in vehicle construction, particularly when two components need to be screwed together across a joint gap subject to tolerances. For this purpose, the device is arranged between the components to be joined, and a screw element for screwing the components together, for example a screw or a threaded bolt, is guided through appropriately provided openings in the components and through the device. When the screw element is screwed, the compensating element is rotated relative to the base element by a drive spring arranged between the screw element and the compensating element, and is thereby moved axially from its initial position towards the base element, e.g. moved out of the base element, until it reaches its compensating position, in which the base element and the compensating element each rest against one of the components and thus bridge the joint gap.
[0003] Furthermore, devices intended in particular for mounting a railing on a roof of a vehicle for compensating tolerances in a distance between a roof panel (= first component) of the vehicle and an underlying support structure (= second component) in the direction of a longitudinal center axis are known. For this purpose, the device is clipped into a recess provided in the roof panel by means of a fastening element and the compensating element is rotated out of the base element until it rests downwards on the underlying support structure and clip arms of the fastening element, which engage below the roof panel, rest upwards on the roof panel. The fastening element accommodates the first component between the clip arm and a counter-bearing, which extends radially outwards from the base body and is inclined in the direction of the clip arms.A section of the base element protrudes upwards above the roof panel and forms a contact surface for the railing to be mounted. To ensure that the device can be easily clipped into the recess in the roof skin, the clip arms of the fastening element are designed to be comparatively soft. At the same time, the device must be firmly supported on both components when installed. This is why the compensating element is rotated further out of the base element even when it is already engaged with the support structure, which can result in the clip arms giving way. To prevent this, an anti-spread device is provided, which prevents the clip arm from deflecting from its rest position in a direction away from the base body.
[0004] DE 10 2016 120 650 A1 describes an annular plug-in coupling and a method for establishing a connection between components using the annular plug-in coupling. The annular plug-in coupling, which can be fastened in a component opening of a first component, comprises a cylindrical ring structure with a longitudinal axis and a radial inner and outer side, a fastening structure arranged on the radial outer side of the ring structure with a first and a second undercut acting against each other in the longitudinal direction of the ring structure, of which at least the first undercut is resiliently movable in the radial direction, and a locking structure arranged centrally in the interior of the ring structure, with which a coupling pin of a second component can be detachably connected to the plug-in coupling and which consists of at least three band-like spring arms.whose spring arm width is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the ring structure and is greater than a spring arm thickness, wherein the spring arms extend radially inwardly from the radial inner side of the ring structure and each end in a free fastening end, and wherein the fastening ends have at least one insertion bevel and a clamping area.
[0005] DE 10 2012 221 679 A1 describes a tolerance compensation device. The device for compensating tolerances between components to be screwed together comprises a hollow cylindrical base element defining an axial direction, a hollow cylindrical compensating element threadedly engaged with the base element, and a fastening element rigidly connected to the base element for fastening the device to one of the components or to an intermediate component located between them. A movably mounted angle compensation element is provided, which can be tilted with respect to the axial direction.
[0006] US 2020 / 0208661 A1 describes a tolerance compensation fastening device for fastening a first vehicle component to a second vehicle component by means of a screw. The fastening device is configured to compensate for a tolerance within a tolerance compensation range.
[0007] EP 1 741 938 A1 describes a cage assembly for a cage nut. The cage assembly comprises a fixing cage designed to enclose a nut and hold said nut on one of two opposite sides of a wall in front of an opening formed in said wall and allowing access to the nut from the other side of the wall. To this end, the fixing cage includes fixing means designed to grip the peripheral edge of the opening on the two opposite sides of the wall. An adjustment cage is arranged within the fixing cage. The adjustment cage has elastic means designed to hold the unloaded nut in a centered position in front of the opening in the wall and to allow adjustment movement transverse to the nut's axis of rotation when the nut is loaded by engagement of a screw.
[0008] US 8 992 150 B2 describes a device for connecting two components, a holding means for such a device, and a component. The holding means serves to hold a bolt-like fastening means, with which the two components can be connected to one another, in a respective mounting opening on the side of a first of the two components. The holding means has a receiving section with a receiving opening for the fastening means and two bendable holding arms which extend radially outward from the receiving section to a longitudinal axis of the receiving opening and with which the holding means can be held in the mounting opening. The two holding arms each have a wave-like or zigzag shape when viewed radially to the longitudinal axis of the receiving opening.
[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a device for compensating tolerances between a first component and a second component which is improved compared to the prior art.
[0010] The object is achieved according to the invention by a device for compensating tolerances between a first component and a second component having the features of claim 1.
[0011] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.
[0012] A device according to the invention for compensating tolerances between a first component and a second component comprises an elastic centering arrangement, which is provided, in particular designed, for centering the device in a predetermined nominal position on the first component. The elastic centering arrangement is designed, in particular, as an elastic contour and / or an elastic body.
[0013] The solution according to the invention ensures that the device is always in the nominal position during assembly, especially in every possible installation position of the device, since it is held in the nominal position by the elastic centering arrangement, in particular by a spring force of the elastic centering arrangement. This significantly simplifies assembly.Particularly in unfavorable assembly positions in which no direct view of the device and / or the first component and / or a screw element of the device is possible, whereby, for example, the screw element must be inserted into the device without direct visibility and / or a tool must be guided to the screw element, in particular to a screw head of the screw element, without direct visibility, assembly is made considerably easier by the solution according to the invention, since this ensures that the device and thus also the screw element are always in the same position. For example, this avoids the time-consuming search for the screw element, in particular the screw head, for example by manually feeling for it, and the correspondingly time-consuming positioning of the tool on the screw element.
[0014] The elastic centering arrangement is in particular designed such that the actual function of the device, i.e. the compensation of tolerances between the first component and the second component, is not impaired by the elastic centering arrangement. In particular, the elastic centering arrangement is designed such that lateral forces do not negatively influence the tolerance compensation, in particular the function of the device, in particular the unscrewing of a compensating element. Therefore, according to the invention, an elasticity of the elastic centering arrangement is predetermined such that a force which is required for the elastic deformation of the elastic centering arrangement or of a region of the elastic centering arrangement which counteracts a weight force of the device, is just large enough to hold the device in the nominal position against its weight force.The elastic centering arrangement is thus advantageously designed such that the spring forces of the elastic centering arrangement resulting from the elasticity only compensate for the weight of the device and thus keep the device in equilibrium in the nominal position, in particular on the first component.
[0015] According to the invention, the elastic centering arrangement is arranged or formed on a fastening element, in particular for fastening the device to the first component. The fastening element is already a component of the device; it serves, in particular, to arrange and hold the device on the first component. However, the device is not firmly fixed to the first component, at least not in all directions. By arranging or forming the elastic centering arrangement on this fastening element, an additional component is avoided, thereby reducing the assembly effort for the device. In addition, the fastening element with the elastic centering arrangement now further fulfills the task of centering the device in the nominal position, i.e.The device is simultaneously held on the first component by means of the fastening element and centered in the nominal position, so that the subsequent further assembly, as already described above, is considerably facilitated.
[0016] According to the invention, the elastic centering arrangement comprises a plurality of elastic centering elements. This enables, for example, support of the device by means of the elastic centering arrangement in multiple directions, ensuring centering in the nominal position, for example, regardless of the respective installation position of the device. The device is thus advantageously centered in the nominal position in every possible installation position of the device. Furthermore, this eliminates the need for precise alignment of the elastic centering arrangement and / or the device, for example, to ensure that the weight of the device is always supported by the elastic centering arrangement.For this purpose, in particular, the spring force of at least one downwardly oriented elastic centering element is required, whereby this spring force caused by the elasticity of this centering element then acts upwards and thus counteracts the weight of the device. By providing a plurality of such elastic centering elements, it is ensured that at least one of these elastic centering elements is always oriented downwards, or this is at least facilitated. Therefore, the invention also provides for the elastic centering elements to be arranged or formed distributed over a circumference, in particular the outer circumference, of the fastening element, in particular an annular and / or hollow-cylindrical base body of the fastening element.
[0017] The elastic centering elements are advantageously arranged and configured in such a way, in particular in such a number and / or distribution, in particular over the circumference, in particular the outer circumference, of the fastening element, that when the device is arranged on the first component, a force polygon of forces acting on the first component through the centering elements always remains closed and / or the centering forces of the elastic centering elements always balance each other out. This reliably centers the device in its nominal position. Furthermore, negative influences on the function of the device, i.e., on the implementation of tolerance compensation, are avoided.
[0018] According to the invention, the elastic centering elements are each designed as a tongue, wherein a respective tongue root is arranged on the outer circumference of the fastening element, the respective tongue extends, at least substantially, in a circumferential direction of the fastening element, in particular of the base body, the respective tongue is thus curved in this circumferential direction, and a tongue tip has a greatest radial distance from the outer circumference of the fastening element, in particular of the base body. The elastic centering elements are thus each arranged spirally or in the shape of spiral sections on the fastening element, in particular on the base body. They are thus each designed, in particular, as a spiral spring, in particular as a spiral spring curved in the bending direction and thus in the spring tensioning direction.As a result, a particularly good elasticity and thus spring force of the elastic centering elements and a particularly good centering effect in the nominal position are achieved in a particularly simple manner, wherein advantageously an arrangement of the device in this nominal position, in particular on the first component, is not hindered by the elastic centering elements.
[0019] In one possible embodiment, the fastening element comprises at least one retaining structure, in particular a mounting clip and / or a locking element, for arranging the device on the first component, in particular by clipping and / or locking it onto the first component. This allows the device to be arranged on the first component and held thereon.
[0020] In one possible embodiment, the device comprises a hollow cylindrical base element which defines a longitudinal central axis, and a hollow cylindrical compensating element which is threadably engaged with the base element. This advantageously enables tolerance compensation between the first component and the second component. For this purpose, the compensating element is advantageously screwed out of the base element until the compensating element rests against one of the components, in particular the second component, and the base element and / or the fastening element connected to it rests against the other component, in particular the first component. The fastening element can, for example, be firmly connected to the base element or formed integrally with it. Alternatively, it can be provided, for example, that the fastening element is movably connected to the base element, in particular movable parallel to the longitudinal central axis.In a further embodiment, it can be provided, for example, that the fastening element is connected to the base element via a connecting element, for example, fixedly connected or movably connected to the base element, in particular movable parallel to the longitudinal center axis. The movable connection of the fastening element to the base element can be realized, for example, by a movable connection of the fastening element to the connecting element and / or by a movable connection of the connecting element to the base element. The respective connection of the fastening element and the base element depends, for example, on the respective design and / or mode of operation of the device.
[0021] Advantageously, particularly in order to be able to compensate for tolerances, the compensating element can be moved from an initial position into a compensating position by rotation relative to the base element. A screw element extending through an inner cavity of the base element and an inner cavity of the compensating element is advantageously provided for screwing to the first component. A driving element is advantageously arranged in the inner cavity of the compensating element, which is in frictional engagement with the screw element guided through the cavities in such a way that a torque exerted by the screw element can be transmitted to the compensating element.This makes it possible to compensate for tolerances in the installation space between the first component and the second component in a simple and reliable manner, because the screw element engages with the driving element, so that when the screw element is turned to screw the components together, for example clockwise, a torque is transmitted to the compensating element by the driving element, which causes the compensating element to rotate relative to the base element, whereby the compensating element moves out of the base element along the longitudinal center axis. As soon as the compensating element is screwed far enough out of the base element that a contact section thereof rests against the second component, a frictional torque between the second component and the contact section exceeds the torque that can be transmitted by the driving element, and the compensating element is no longer screwed out of the base element.The compensating element has thus assumed a position known as the compensating position. For example, the components can now be secured together by further screwing the screw element into the first component, or a third component can be secured to the first component and / or second component.
[0022] To form the elastic centering arrangement, in particular the elastic centering elements, and advantageously also the fastening element, a material is used which, at least in a molten state, exhibits good flow properties. In particular, a suitable plastic is used for this purpose. The elastic centering arrangement is advantageously produced together with the fastening element, in particular using an injection molding process, in particular a plastic injection molding process. For this purpose, good flow properties of the material used, in particular the plastic used, are particularly advantageous in order to ensure good flow of the material into an injection mold, in particular filling all of the provided cavities of the injection mold, and thus a good result of the injection molding process.
[0023] The elastic centering arrangement is designed in particular in such a way that neither mounting of the device, ie assembly of the device, nor mounting of the device on the first component, for example on a bearing bracket of a vehicle, is impaired by the elastic centering arrangement.
[0024] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 schematically shows in plan view a device arranged on a first component for compensating tolerances between the first component and a second component, Fig. 2 schematically shows a perspective view of the device arranged on the first component, Fig. 3 schematically shows a perspective view of a fastening element, Fig. 4 schematically shows a further perspective view of the fastening element, Fig. 5 schematically shows a side view of the fastening element, Fig. 6 schematically shows the fastening element in plan view, Fig. 7 schematically shows another side view of the fastening element, Fig. 8 schematically shows a perspective view of the device, Fig. 9 schematically shows a further perspective view of the device, and Fig. 10 schematically shows a perspective longitudinal section of the device.
[0025] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.
[0026] The Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show schematic representations of a device 1 arranged on a first component B for compensating tolerances between the first component B and a second component (not shown), wherein Fig. 1 shows this in a plan view and Fig. 2 shows this in a perspective view. The device 1 is arranged here in a receiving recess A in the first component B.
[0027] The device 1 comprises an elastic centering arrangement 2, which is provided for centering the device 1 in a predetermined nominal position on the first component B, in particular is designed for this purpose. By means of this elastic centering arrangement 2, the device 1 in the example shown is supported on an inner wall of the receiving recess A in the first component B and is thereby centered in this receiving recess A and thus held in this predetermined nominal position by means of the elastic centering arrangement 2. For this purpose, in particular, a diameter of the elastic centering arrangement 2 in an untensioned state, iein a state of the elastic centering arrangement 2 which is not tensioned contrary to the elasticity of the elastic centering arrangement 2, at least as large as an inner diameter of the receiving recess A or larger, in particular slightly larger, than this inner diameter of the receiving recess A, so that the elastic centering arrangement 2 is slightly elastically deformed and thus slightly tensioned by the arrangement of the device 1 in the exception recess A in order to hold the device 1 centered in the nominal position in the receiving recess A.
[0028] In addition, an upper edge of the elastic centering arrangement 2 rests against an opening-side receiving undercut H of the receiving recess A, so that tilting of the device 1 is also prevented and the device 1 is also held centered in the nominal position.
[0029] The elastic centering arrangement 2 is particularly designed as an elastic contour and / or an elastic body. In the example shown here, this elastic centering arrangement 2 is a component of a fastening element 3, which is provided in particular for fastening the device 1 to the first component B. This means that in the example shown here, the elastic centering arrangement 2 is formed on this fastening element 3, in particular formed together with it, for example, in an injection molding process, so that the fastening element 3 also comprises the elastic centering arrangement 2.
[0030] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. For reasons of clarity, only the fastening element 3 with the elastic centering arrangement 2 is shown in solid lines in Fig. 2, while the first component B and the other components of the device 1 are shown in dashed lines.
[0031] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the fastening element 3 with the elastic centering arrangement 2. Fig. 4 shows a further perspective view of the fastening element 3 with the elastic centering arrangement 2. Fig. 5 shows a side view of the fastening element 3 with the elastic centering arrangement 2 and Fig. 6 shows the fastening element 3 with the elastic centering arrangement 2 in plan view. Fig. 7 shows a further side view of the fastening element 3 with the elastic centering arrangement 2.
[0032] The device 1 is again in the Fig. 8 to 10, here for reasons of clarity without the first component B. The Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 the device 1 in two different perspective views and Fig. 10 shows a perspective longitudinal section of the device 1. In the Fig. 8 to 10 also show a compensating element 4 of the device 1, which for reasons of clarity is shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is not shown.
[0033] In the example shown, the elastic centering arrangement 2 comprises a plurality of elastic centering elements 5. In the embodiment shown here, these are four elastic centering elements 5. These elastic centering elements 5 are advantageously distributed, in particular evenly distributed, arranged or formed over a circumference, in particular the outer circumference, of the fastening element 3. This means that in the example shown, the fastening element 3 comprises a base body 6, in particular annular and / or hollow-cylindrical, on whose outer circumference the elastic centering elements 5 are arranged or formed, advantageously distributed, in particular evenly distributed, over the outer circumference.
[0034] In the example shown, the elastic centering elements 5 are each designed as a tongue, wherein a respective tongue root 5.1 is arranged on the outer circumference of the fastening element 3, in particular of the base body 6, and the respective tongue extends, at least substantially, in a circumferential direction of the fastening element 3, in particular of the base body 6. The respective tongue is thus curved in this circumferential direction. The tongue moves increasingly away from the fastening element 3, in particular from the base body 6, so that a tongue tip 5.2 of the respective elastic centering element 5 has a greatest radial distance of the respective elastic centering element 5 from the outer circumference of the fastening element 3, in particular of the base body 6.
[0035] The elastic centering elements 5 are thus each arranged in a spiral shape or in the shape of spiral segments on the fastening element 3, in particular on its base body 6. They are thus each designed, in particular, as a spiral spring, in particular as a spiral spring curved in the bending direction and thus in the spring tension direction. In the example shown, all elastic centering elements 5 are aligned in the same circumferential direction. In other examples, an opposite alignment of the elastic centering elements 5 can also be provided.
[0036] In the example shown, the elastic centering elements 5 each rest against the inner wall of the receiving recess A and thus support the device 1 against this inner wall, whereby the device 1 is held centered in the nominal position in this receiving recess A. For this purpose, the diameter of the elastic centering arrangement 2 formed by the elastic centering elements 5 in the untensioned state of the elastic centering elements 5, ieif the elastic centering elements 5 are not elastically bent, in particular are not bent towards the base body 6, at least as large as the inner diameter of the receiving recess A or larger, in particular slightly larger, than this inner diameter of the receiving recess A, so that the elastic centering elements 5 are slightly elastically deformed by the arrangement of the device 1 in the exception recess A, in particular are slightly bent in the direction of the base body 6, and are thus slightly tensioned in order to hold the device 1 centered in the nominal position in the receiving recess A.
[0037] In addition, the centering elements 5 each rest with an upper edge on the opening-side receiving undercut H of the receiving recess A, so that, as already described above, the tilting of the device 1 is also prevented and the device 1 is also held centered in the nominal position.
[0038] The fastening element 3 further comprises two holding structures 7 for arranging the device 1 on the first component B. These holding structures 7 are designed in the example shown as locking elements, in particular locking lugs, which are arranged or formed on the outer circumference of the fastening element 3, in particular of the base body 6, and in the example shown protrude in the opposite direction. The first component B has in this example, as shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, corresponding locking openings R for locking the fastening element 3 and thus the device 1, which are formed in particular in a wall of the receiving recess A.
[0039] For this purpose, in the example shown, the locking openings R have a funnel-shaped insertion area, and the holding structures 7 on the fastening element 3, designed as locking elements, each have two lateral elastic wings 8, which are pressed together upon insertion into the respective funnel-shaped insertion area and expand again after passing through a funnel bottom opening of this funnel-shaped insertion area, whereby the respective holding structure 7 designed as a locking element rests against a locking undercut RH of the respective locking opening R, which is formed by a surrounding area of the funnel bottom opening. The fastening element 3, and thus also the device 1, is thus locked to the first component B.
[0040] As also from the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, an outer diameter of the base body 6 of the fastening element 3 is considerably smaller than the inner diameter of the receiving recess A formed in the first component B for the device 1, so that the device 1 is held on the first component B by the locking counter to the locking direction in which the described locking took place, but without the elastic centering arrangement 2 it would not be firmly fixed in the radial direction and thus displaceable in particular radially in the direction of the locking openings R. This is prevented by the elastic centering arrangement 2. The device 1 is thus held in the predetermined nominal position by the elastic centering arrangement 2.
[0041] In the example shown, the fastening element 3 also has connecting formations 9 for connecting the fastening element 3 to a base element 10 of the device 1. These connecting formations 9 are arranged in the interior of the base body 6 of the fastening element 3 in the example shown and are formed in one piece therewith, in particular by injection molding. Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 these connection formations 9 are not shown for reasons of clarity.
[0042] The Fig. 8 to 10 show the entire device 1. The device 1 comprises the fastening element 3 with the elastic centering arrangement 2 and the hollow cylindrical base element 10, which is arranged in the fastening element 3 and connected to the fastening element 3 by means of the connecting formations 9, in particular fastened thereto, which defines a longitudinal central axis L and has an internal thread (not shown) on its inner side, i.e., on a lateral surface of its inner cavity. The internal thread has an orientation opposite to that of an external thread of a screw element, for example, a left-hand thread in the present exemplary embodiment.
[0043] The device 1 further comprises the hollow cylindrical compensating element 4, which is threadably engaged with the base element 10 and extends into the cavity of the base element 10 and has an external thread (not shown) on its outer side. This external thread engages with the internal thread of the base element 10. By rotation, the compensating element 4 can be moved along the longitudinal central axis L relative to the base element 10, i.e., can be screwed out of or into the cavity of the base element 10.
[0044] To carry out the tolerance compensation, the compensating element 4 is thus turned out of the base element 10 until the compensating element 4 rests on the second component and the base element 10 and / or the fastening element 3 connected to it rests on the first component B. For this purpose, the fastening element 3, if the locking openings R are designed to be correspondingly large, as in particular in Fig.2, can be moved even further in the locking direction, so that it then rests with a contact area 11 on the first component B.
[0045] The unscrewing of the compensating element 4 is made possible by a driving element 12 designed as a driving spring, which is arranged in an inner cavity of the compensating element 4 and is supported on a lateral surface of the cavity of the compensating element 4. The driving element 12 is in frictional engagement with the screw element guided through the device 1, i.e., through the cavities of the base element 10 and the driving element 12, in order to transmit a torque exerted by the screw element to the compensating element 4.
[0046] Assembly by means of the device 1 takes place in particular in such a way that the device 1 is arranged on the first component B in the manner described above, ie by inserting it into the receiving recess A and latching the holding structures 7 designed as latching elements into the latching openings R. Subsequently, for example, the second component can be fastened to the first component B by means of the screw element and / or for example a third component can be fastened to the first component B and / or the second component, wherein the tolerance compensation between the first component B and the second component is carried out at the same time by means of the device 1.
[0047] For this purpose, the screw element is inserted into the device 1 and guided through it. In doing so, the screw element engages with the driving element 12 and a threaded element formed or arranged on the first component B. If the screw element is turned, for example clockwise, a torque is transmitted to the compensating element 4 by the driving element 12, which causes the compensating element 4 to rotate relative to the base element 10, whereby the compensating element 4 moves out of the base element 10 along the longitudinal central axis L. As soon as the compensating element 4 has been screwed out of the base element 10 far enough that a contact section 13 thereof rests against the second component, a frictional torque between the second component and the contact section 13 exceeds the torque that can be transmitted by the driving element 12 and the compensating element 4 is no longer screwed out of the base element 10.The compensating element 4 has thus assumed a position referred to as the compensating position.
[0048] By further screwing the screw element into the first component B, in particular into the threaded element formed in the first component B or arranged thereon, the second component can now, for example, be fastened to the first component B or a third component can be fastened to the first component B and / or to the second component without deforming the first component B and the second component, since these are supported against each other by the device 1.
[0049] Holding the device 1 in the nominal position by means of the elastic centering arrangement 2 facilitates in particular the arrangement of the screw element and the arrangement of a tool on the screw element when the device 1 is arranged in an unfavorable assembly position in which no direct view of the device 1 and / or the first component B and / or the screw element is possible, whereby, for example, the screw element must be inserted into the device 1 without direct vision and the tool must be guided to the screw element, in particular to a screw head of the screw element, without direct vision.
[0050] The elastic centering arrangement 2 is particularly designed such that the actual function of the device 1, i.e., the compensation of tolerances between the first component B and the second component, is not impaired by the elastic centering arrangement 2. In particular, the elastic centering arrangement 2 is designed such that lateral forces caused by the elastic centering arrangement 2, in the example shown by the elastic centering elements 5, do not negatively influence the tolerance compensation, in particular the function of the device 1, in particular the unscrewing of the compensating element 4.Therefore, the elasticity of the elastic centering arrangement 2, in the example shown the elasticity of the elastic centering elements 5, is advantageously predetermined such that a force required to elastically deform the elastic centering arrangement 2, in particular of a region of the elastic centering arrangement 2 that counteracts a weight force of the device 1, is just sufficiently large to hold the device 1 in the nominal position against its weight force. In the example shown, this particularly applies to the respective elastic centering element 5. The elastic centering arrangement 2 is thus advantageously designed such that the spring forces of the elastic centering arrangement 2 resulting from the elasticity only compensate for the weight of the device 1 and thus keep the device 1 in equilibrium in the nominal position, in particular on the first component B.
[0051] The elastic centering elements 5 are arranged and designed in such a way, in particular in such a number and distribution over the circumference, in particular the outer circumference, of the base body 6 of the fastening element 3, that when the device 1 is arranged on the first component B, a force polygon of forces acting on the first component B through the centering elements 5 always remains closed and / or the centering forces of the elastic centering elements 5 always balance each other out. As a result, the device 1 is securely centered in the nominal position. In addition, negative influences on the function of the device 1, i.e., on the implementation of tolerance compensation, are avoided. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 device 2 Centering arrangement 3 Fastening element 4 Compensating element 5 Centering element 5.1 Root of the tongue 5.2 Tip of the tongue 6 basic bodies 7 Support structure 8 wings 9 Connection formation 10 Basic element 11 Investment area 12 Driving element 13 Plant section A Recess B component H Mounting undercut L Longitudinal center axis R locking opening RH locking undercut
Claims
[1] A device (1) for compensating tolerances between a first component (B) and a second component, comprising an elastic centering arrangement (2) which is provided for centering the device (1) in a nominal position on the first component (B) and is designed to do so, wherein an elasticity of the elastic centering arrangement (2) is predetermined such that a force required for elastically deforming the elastic centering arrangement (2) or a region of the elastic centering arrangement (2) which counteracts a weight force of the device (1) is just sufficiently large to hold the device (1) in the nominal position against its weight force, wherein the elastic centering arrangement (2) is arranged or designed on a fastening element (3) provided for fastening the device (1) to the first component (B), wherein the elastic centering arrangement (2) comprises a plurality of elastic centering elements (5),wherein the elastic centering elements (5) are distributed over an outer circumference of the fastening element (3), and wherein the elastic centering elements (5) are each designed as a tongue, wherein a respective tongue root (5.1) is arranged on the outer circumference of the fastening element (3), the respective tongue extends in a circumferential direction of the fastening element (3), and the tongue tip (5.2) has the greatest radial distance from the outer circumference of the fastening element (3). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the elastic centering elements (5) are arranged and designed such that, in the state of the device (1) arranged on the first component (B), centering forces of the elastic centering elements (5) always balance each other out. [3] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening element (3) comprises at least one holding structure (7) for arranging the device (1) on the first component (B). [4] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a hollow cylindrical base element (10) which defines a longitudinal central axis (L), and a hollow cylindrical compensating element (4) which is in threaded engagement with the base element (10). [5] Device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the fastening element (3) is firmly connected to the base element (10) or is formed in one piece therewith. [6] Device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein - the compensating element (4) can be moved from an initial position into a compensating position by rotating relative to the base element (10), - a screw element extending through an inner cavity of the base element (10) and an inner cavity of the compensating element (4) is provided for screwing to the first component (B), - a driving element (12) is arranged in the inner cavity of the compensating element (4), which driving element is in frictional engagement with the screw element guided through the cavities in such a way that a torque exerted by the screw element can be transmitted to the compensating element (4).
Citation Information
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