Adjusting screw for connecting two components of a chassis, arrangement with the adjusting screw, vehicle and method for connecting two components of a chassis

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjusting screw (10) for connecting two components (1, 2) of a chassis, in particular a control arm bearing (1) with an axle bearing (2), wherein the adjusting screw (10) is designed to position the two components (1, 2) relative to each other, in particular at a desired distance (A), comprising: a screw head (11), a threaded area (13) and a locking area (12) between the screw head (11) and the threaded area (13), wherein a circumferential groove (N) is formed on the locking area (12) in which a retaining ring (S) is arranged to provide axial locking between the second component (2) and the adjusting screw (10) and to position the first component (1) at a desired distance (A) to the second component (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an adjusting screw for connecting two components of a chassis. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding arrangement with a corresponding adjusting screw, a corresponding vehicle with a corresponding arrangement, and a corresponding method for connecting two components of a chassis using a corresponding adjusting screw.

[0002] Adjusting vehicle axles requires mounting elements that allow for flexible positioning of two components relative to each other. An example of this is an eccentric bolt on a control arm connection. In certain cases, such as excessive loads on the connection, bearings are flanged with a conventional bolted connection. Adjusting or repositioning the bearing in this case is only possible with considerable effort, requiring loosening the bolted connection and, for example, adding shims.

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to at least partially overcome at least one of the disadvantages described above. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved adjusting screw for connecting two components of a chassis, which allows flexible positioning of the components relative to each other, especially at a desired distance. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a corresponding arrangement with a corresponding adjusting screw, a corresponding vehicle with a corresponding arrangement, and a corresponding method for connecting two components of a chassis using a corresponding adjusting screw.

[0004] The aforementioned problem is solved by the claims. Accordingly, the problem is solved by an adjusting screw with the features of independent claim 1, by an arrangement with the features of dependent claim 7, by a vehicle with the features of dependent claim 9, and by a method with the features of dependent claim 10. Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the different embodiments and / or aspects of the invention naturally also apply in connection with the other embodiments and / or aspects, and vice versa, so that the disclosure relating to the individual embodiments and / or aspects always includes, or can include, reciprocal references.

[0005] The present invention provides for an adjusting screw for connecting two components of a chassis, in particular in the form of a control arm bearing and an axle bearing. According to the invention, the adjusting screw is designed to position the two components relative to each other, in particular at a desired distance.

[0006] The adjustment screw has the following areas / sections: - a screw head, - a threaded area and - a locking area between the screw head and the threaded area, wherein a circumferential groove is formed in the locking area, in which a retaining ring is arranged to provide axial locking between the to provide the second component and the adjusting screw, and to position the first component at a desired distance from the second component.

[0007] The idea is to enable an improved connection between two components of a chassis, which facilitates the positioning of the components relative to each other (e.g., positioning or adjusting the control arm bearing in the chassis), preferably at a desired (or selectable) distance.

[0008] A set screw is proposed for connecting two components of a chassis, whereby the set screw allows the two components to be positioned relative to each other. The set screw may have a widening adjacent to the screw head, with a circumferential groove formed on the widening in which a retaining ring is arranged.

[0009] The screwing process can be carried out, for example, as follows: 1. Feeding the adjusting screw to the bearing point, whereby the thread engages and the axial retaining ring is not yet engaged. 2. As the screw is drawn into the bearing thread, it is pulled further and further into the axle carrier until the retaining ring engages in a groove and immediately afterwards the screw head comes to rest against it. 3. Once the retaining ring has engaged, the bearing's position can be changed in both directions by turning the screw. The retaining force of the retaining ring must be greater than the adjustment force of the bearing.

[0010] Furthermore, the locking area may be designed to have a diameter larger than the diameter of the threaded section and / or smaller than the diameter of the screw head. This allows for expansion within the locking area, thereby ensuring a stable hold of the adjusting screw in the second component. It also provides improved axial locking between the second component and the adjusting screw.

[0011] Furthermore, the retaining ring can be made from a wire with a constant cross-section, bent into a ring. This allows for full axial locking.

[0012] Furthermore, the retaining ring can be made of steel, spring steel, a light metal, a plastic, and / or a fiber-reinforced plastic. This allows for the provision of a lightweight, cost-effective, and easy-to-handle element that can be designed with desired elastic properties, preferably with specifically selected, different elastic properties in different directions. To allow the retaining ring to be easily and conveniently expanded and positioned at the locking area in a radial direction, it can exhibit selected radial elasticity. Conversely, to provide reliable axial retention in an axial direction, the retaining ring can exhibit selected axial compressibility. For example, this can be achieved by...The retaining ring shall have a fiber-reinforced plastic with reinforcing fibers arranged in an axial direction.

[0013] Furthermore, the retaining ring may be designed to be elastically deformable and / or compressible in a radial direction, particularly to allow it to expand for attachment to the locking area. This ensures that the retaining ring can be easily and conveniently positioned in the groove on the locking area.

[0014] Furthermore, the retaining ring can be designed to be more elastic and / or compressible in a radial direction than in an axial direction. In this way, the retaining ring can be designed with desired elastic properties, preferably with specifically selected, different elastic properties with respect to different directions (radial vs. axial).

[0015] Furthermore, the retaining ring can be designed with a specific holding force, in particular between 1 and 3 kN, preferably between 1.45 kN and 2.25 kN, preferably 1.85 kN, which is preferably higher than any required adjustment force between the two components. This allows for flexible positioning of the first component relative to the second component while simultaneously ensuring that the axial locking mechanism between the second component and the adjusting screw is not loosened.

[0016] The present invention further provides: an arrangement for a chassis, comprising: - a first component, in particular a control arm bearing, - a second component, in particular an axle bearing and - an adjusting screw, which can be designed as described above, for connecting the first component to the second component, the adjusting screw is designed to position the two components relative to each other, in particular at a desired distance, and wherein the second component has a corresponding locking groove for the retaining ring to provide axial locking between the to provide the second component and the adjustment screw.

[0017] The same advantages described above in connection with the adjusting screw according to the invention can be achieved using this arrangement. These advantages are fully referenced herein.

[0018] Furthermore, it is conceivable that at least one spacer could be provided to allow for easy and convenient adjustment of a defined distance between the two components during positioning. This would enable simple and convenient positioning.

[0019] Furthermore, it is conceivable that a set of spacers could be provided to allow for multiple positioning distances or options between the two components. This would enable the arrangement to be used for different mounting situations and / or tolerance conditions in different vehicles.

[0020] The present invention further provides for a vehicle with an arrangement which can be designed as described above.

[0021] The vehicle offers the same advantages described above in connection with the adjusting screw and / or the arrangement according to the invention. These advantages are fully referenced herein.

[0022] The present invention further provides: a method for connecting two components of a chassis, in particular a control arm bearing with an axle bearing, using an adjusting screw which can be designed as described above, comprising the following actions / process steps: (S1) Passing the adjusting screw through the second component and through the first component until an external thread on the threaded area of ​​the adjusting screw engages with an internal thread in a bearing point (usually a threaded hole) of the first component, but the axial locking between the second component and the adjusting screw is not yet achieved, (S2) Pull the adjusting screw into the bearing point of the first component until the retaining ring engages in the retaining groove on the second component and immediately afterwards the screw head comes to rest against the second component, and (S3) Turning the adjusting screw in both directions of rotation, in particular without releasing the axial locking between the second component and the adjusting screw, in order to position the first component at a desired distance to the second component.

[0023] The same advantages described above in connection with the adjusting screw and / or the arrangement according to the invention can be achieved using this method. These advantages are fully referenced herein.

[0024] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0025] They show schematically: Fig. 1 an exemplary arrangement in a perspective drawing, Fig. 2 an exemplary arrangement in a sectional view along a longitudinal axis of an adjusting screw, Fig. 3 an exemplary perspective view of an adjustment screw, Fig. 4 an exemplary sectional view along a longitudinal axis of an adjusting screw and Fig. 5. An exemplary sequence of a procedure.

[0026] In the different figures, identical parts of the invention are always provided with the same reference numerals, which is why they are usually only described once.

[0027] The Fig. Figures 1-5 serve to explain the invention.

[0028] As it is Fig. As illustrated in Figures 1-5, the invention proposes: an adjusting screw 10 for connecting two components 1, 2 of a chassis, e.g. in the form of a control arm bearing 1 and an axle bearing 2, as is the case with the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Suggest.

[0029] The adjusting screw 10 according to the invention is specifically designed to position the two components 1, 2 relative to each other, in particular at a desired distance A, as required by the Fig. Figures 3-5 illustrate.

[0030] As it is Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the adjusting screw 10 has the following areas / sections: - a screw head 11, - a thread area 13 and - a locking area 12 between the screw head 11 and the threaded area 13.

[0031] As it is Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, a circumferential groove N is formed on the locking area 12, in which a retaining ring S is arranged to provide axial locking between the second component 2 and the adjusting screw 10 and to position the first component 1 at a desired distance A to the second component 2 (see also the Fig. 5).

[0032] The adjusting screw 10 enables an improved connection between two components 1 and 2 of a chassis, allowing for flexible positioning of these components relative to each other, particularly at a desired or selectable distance, and reducing the assembly effort for components 1 and 2 within the chassis. For example, in the case of a control arm bearing 1 and an axle bearing 2, the adjusting screw 10 allows for improved adjustment of the control arm bearing.

[0033] As it is Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the locking area 12 has a diameter d2 that is larger than the diameter d3 of the threaded area 13 and / or smaller than the diameter d1 of the screw head 11. Thus, the locking area 12 forms a widening compared to the threaded area 13. This ensures a stable fit of the adjusting screw 10 in the second component 2. Furthermore, it provides improved axial locking between the second component 2 and the adjusting screw 10.

[0034] The retaining ring S can, for example, be made from a wire with a constant cross-section, which can be bent into a ring. This allows for full axial locking.

[0035] The retaining ring S can be made of, for example, steel, spring steel, a light metal, a plastic, and / or a fiber-reinforced plastic. The fiber-reinforced plastic can, for example, have reinforcing fibers arranged in an axial direction to allow the retaining ring S to be more elastic and / or compressible in a radial direction than in an axial direction.

[0036] The retaining ring S can be designed, viewed in an axial direction, with a specific holding force, in particular between 1 and 3 kN, preferably between 1.45 kN and 2.25 kN, preferably 1.85 kN, which can preferably be higher than a required adjusting force between the two components 1, 2. In this way, flexible positioning of the first component 1 with respect to the second component 2 can be enabled without loosening the axial locking between the second component 2 and the adjusting screw 10.

[0037] As it is Fig. As illustrated in Figure 5, a corresponding arrangement 100 for a chassis also represents an aspect of the invention, comprising: - a first component 1, in particular a control arm bearing 1, - a second component 2, in particular an axle bearing 2 and - an adjusting screw 10, which can be designed as described above, for connecting the first component 1 with the second component 2, wherein the adjusting screw 10 is designed to position the two components 1, 2 relative to each other, in particular at a desired distance A, and wherein the second component 2 has a corresponding locking groove N2 for the retaining ring S to provide axial locking between the to provide the second component 2 and the adjusting screw 10.

[0038] While not shown, it is conceivable that at least one spacer could be provided to allow for easy and convenient adjustment of a defined distance between the two components 1 and 2 during positioning. Furthermore, it is conceivable that a set of spacers could be provided to enable multiple positioning options between the two components 1 and 2.

[0039] A vehicle F with an arrangement 100, which can be configured as described above, also represents an aspect of the invention.

[0040] As it is Fig. Figure 5 illustrates that a method for connecting two components 1, 2 of a chassis, in particular a control arm bearing 1 with an axle bearing 2, using an adjusting screw 10, which can be designed as described above, also represents an aspect of the invention, comprising the following actions / process steps: (S1) Passing the adjusting screw 10 through the second component 2 and through the first component 1 until an external thread on the threaded area 13 of the adjusting screw 10 engages with an internal thread in a bearing point, usually a threaded bore of the first component 1, but the axial locking between the second component 2 and the adjusting screw 10 has not yet been achieved, (S2) Pull the adjusting screw 10 into the bearing point of the first component 1 until the retaining ring S engages in the retaining groove N2 on the second component 2 and immediately afterwards the screw head 11 comes to rest against the second component 2, and (S3) Turning the adjusting screw 10 in both directions of rotation, in particular without releasing the axial locking between the second component 2 and the adjusting screw 10, in order to position the first component 1 at a desired distance A to the second component 2.

[0041] The preceding explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention solely by way of examples. Naturally, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided this is technically feasible, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

[1] Adjusting screw (10) for connecting two components (1, 2) of a chassis, in particular a control arm bearing (1) with an axle bearing (2), wherein the adjusting screw (10) is designed to position the two components (1, 2) relative to each other, in particular at a desired distance (A), comprising: a screw head (11), a threaded area (13) and a locking area (12) between the screw head (11) and the threaded area (13), wherein a circumferential groove (N) is formed on the locking area (12) in which a retaining ring (S) is arranged to provide axial locking between the second component (2) and the adjusting screw (10) and to position the first component (1) at a desired distance (A) to the second component (2). [2] Adjusting screw (10) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the locking area (12) has a diameter (d2) that is larger than the diameter (d3) of the threaded area (13) and / or smaller than the diameter (d1) of the screw head (11). [3] Adjusting screw (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the retaining ring (S) is formed from a wire with a constant cross-section which is bent into a ring, and / or that the retaining ring (S) is made of steel, spring steel, light metal, plastic and / or fiber-reinforced plastic. [4] Adjusting screw (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the retaining ring (S) is designed to be elastically deformable and / or compressible in a radial direction, in particular to be able to widen the retaining ring (S) for attachment to the locking area (12). [5] Adjusting screw (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the retaining ring (S), viewed in a radial direction, is designed to be more elastic and / or compressible than in an axial direction. [6] Adjusting screw (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the retaining ring (S), viewed in an axial direction, is designed with a certain holding force, in particular between 1 and 3 kN, preferably between 1.45 kN and 2.25 kN, preferably 1.85 kN, which is higher than a required adjusting force between the two components (1, 2). [7] Arrangement (100) for a chassis comprising: a first component (1), in particular a control arm bearing (1), a second component (2), in particular an axle bearing (2) and an adjusting screw (10) according to one of the preceding claims for connecting the first component (1) with the second component (2), wherein the adjusting screw (10) is designed to position the two components (1, 2) relative to each other, in particular at a desired distance (A), and wherein the second component (2) has a corresponding locking groove (N2) for the retaining ring (S) to provide axial locking between the second component (2) and the adjusting screw (10). [8] Arrangement (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized by , that at least one spacer is provided to set a defined distance between the two components (1, 2) during positioning, and / or that a set of spacers is provided to allow multiple positioning distances between the two components (1, 2). [9] Vehicle (F) with an arrangement (100) according to the preceding claim. [10] Method for connecting two components (1, 2) of a chassis, in particular a control arm bearing (1) with an axle bearing (2), using an adjusting screw (10) according to one of the preceding claims 1-6, comprising: (S1) Passing the adjusting screw (10) through the second component (2) and through the first component (1) until an external thread (13a) on the threaded area (13) of the adjusting screw (10) engages with an internal thread in a bearing point of the first component (1), but the axial locking between the second component (2) and the adjusting screw (10) has not yet been achieved, (S2) Pull the adjusting screw (10) into the bearing point of the first component (1) until the retaining ring (S) engages in the retaining groove (N2) on the second component (2) and immediately afterwards the screw head (11) comes to rest against the second component (2), and (S3) Turning the adjusting screw (10) in both directions of rotation, in particular without releasing the axial locking between the second component (2) and the adjusting screw (10), in order to position the first component (1) at a desired distance (A) to the second component (2).

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