Closure element for an opening leading into a bearing opening of a subframe of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Closure element (1) for an opening (15) opening into a bearing opening (16) of an assembly carrier (23) of a motor vehicle, with -a closure section (2) which has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the opening (15) and on its front side an end face (4) adapted in its shape to the cross-sectional shape of the bearing opening (16), characterized in that -a clamping section (3) connected to the closure section (2) is provided, and -the clamping section (3) has at least two clamping jaws (7, 8) each with a clamping surface (17, 18) and a clamping device, wherein -the clamping jaws (7, 8) can be moved from a release position into an extended clamping position and vice versa by actuating the clamping device while increasing the distance between the clamping surfaces (17, 18).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a closure element for an opening leading into a bearing opening of an assembly carrier of a motor vehicle, having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Subframes are load-bearing components in vehicle construction and are used to attach other components, such as wheel suspension, engine, transmission or differential and are also referred to as subframes or chassis subframes.

[0003] For mounting the other components, the subframe features bearing openings in which the components are elastically mounted via subframe mounts. The subframe mounts are designed to allow the components to perform damped vibrations and relative movements, while limiting the possible relative movement of the components to prevent the components mounted on the subframe from striking the vehicle body.

[0004] The assembly mounts themselves have a slightly elastic outer shape, for example by being provided with an elastomer layer on their outside. Furthermore, they are deliberately dimensioned with an excess in relation to the diameter of the bearing opening so that they have to be pressed into the bearing opening during assembly and are then arranged in a press fit in the bearing opening. The assembly mount is therefore compressed in its outer shape to the smaller size of the bearing opening during assembly. Due to this press fit, the assembly mount must be assembled and disassembled using special tools so that the forces required for assembly and disassembly of the assembly mount can be applied and the assembly mount is pressed into or released from the bearing openings in a precise alignment, i.e. it is not tilted and is therefore not damaged.

[0005] It has been found that it can be kinematically advantageous to additionally mount a pendulum or torque support in the area of ​​the aggregate bearing, which is held by a fastening lug in an opening which in turn opens into the bearing opening of the aggregate carrier.

[0006] This results in the problem that this opening must be closed during assembly and disassembly of the aggregate mount, since otherwise the compressed aggregate mount may expand during the assembly or disassembly process when passing through the opening and may collide with an edge of the opening, which in turn may disrupt the assembly and disassembly process or damage the aggregate mount.

[0007] To avoid this problem, the opening of the pendulum support must be closed during the assembly and disassembly process of the aggregate bearing using a closure element to such an extent that the inner wall of the bearing opening in the area of ​​the opening is completed to form a closed surface. The closure element has a closure section which closes the opening and is shaped such that the surface of the closure section is subordinate to the inner bearing surface of the bearing opening, or complements this to form a homogeneous surface without edges and depressions, whereby minor gaps are acceptable. Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape of the closure section of the closure element is adapted to the shape of the opening so that the closure element fills the opening with the closure section as completely as possible.

[0008] One problem is that the closure element must also be attached to the subframe so that it is securely held in the opening during assembly or disassembly and closes it securely even when forces are applied. For this purpose, it is known to connect the closure element to a retaining strut and to provide additional fastening openings on the subframe into which the retaining strut can be fastened with the closure element attached to it and arranged in the opening. The fastening takes place in two steps: first, by inserting the closure element into the opening in a first step, and second, by fastening the retaining strut to the subframe.

[0009] Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide a closure element for an opening leading into a bearing opening of an assembly carrier of a motor vehicle, which closure element should be as easy to install as possible.

[0010] To achieve this objective, a closure element having the features of claim 1 is proposed. Further preferred developments can be found in the dependent claims, the figures, and the associated description.

[0011] According to the basic idea of ​​the invention, it is proposed that a clamping section connected to the closure section is provided on the closure element, and the clamping section has at least two clamping jaws, each with a clamping surface and a clamping device, wherein the clamping jaws can be moved from a release position into an extended clamping position and vice versa by actuating the clamping device while increasing the distance between the clamping surfaces.

[0012] The closure element according to the invention therefore comprises, in addition to the closure section, a clamping section which serves to fasten the closure element in the opening. This allows the closure element itself to be fastened in the opening. Since the fastening is effected via clamping jaws, no further or additional fastening means or fastening projections on the subframe are required. The closure element can be secured in the wall of the opening of the subframe itself by extending the clamping jaws, with the fastening via the clamping jaws occurring solely by the exertion of a clamping force via the clamping surfaces on a corresponding counter surface of the subframe. The closure element can thus be secured in the opening without the fastening having to have a special surface finish.

[0013] It is further proposed that a guide contour be provided on the closure section, along which the clamping jaws are guided. The closure section thus additionally serves, via the guide contour provided thereon, to guide the movement of the clamping jaws in a predetermined extension direction.

[0014] It is further proposed that the clamping surfaces be aligned parallel to each other. Due to the parallel alignment of the clamping surfaces, the clamping forces exerted orthogonally across the clamping surfaces are aligned opposite to each other, so that they provide maximum mutual support in the clamped position.

[0015] It is further proposed that the clamping jaws have a surface with increased surface roughness in the area of ​​the clamping surfaces. The proposed further development provides improved protection against lateral slippage of the clamping jaws during the clamping process, with their clamping surfaces on the opposing mating surfaces.

[0016] It is further proposed that the clamping jaws each have an inclined contact surface on their mutually facing inner sides, and that the clamping device be formed by a clamping wedge with a V-shaped cross-section, which rests against the inclined contact surfaces of the clamping jaws with an inclined side surface each, wherein the clamping wedge is configured to execute an advancing movement in the direction of the closure section. The proposed design of the clamping jaws and the clamping device enables the clamping jaws, i.e. the closure element, to be clamped solely by a simple advancing movement of a single part, namely the clamping wedge, which then translates the advancing movement into a lateral displacement movement of the clamping jaws by contact and sliding on the inclined contact surfaces of the clamping jaws.

[0017] The advancing movement of the clamping wedge can be achieved particularly easily by connecting it to the closure section via a screw connection. The screw connection can be implemented, for example, by a screw that extends through a through-hole in the clamping wedge and is screwed into a threaded hole in the closure section. Alternatively, a protruding threaded pin can be provided on the closure section, onto which the clamping wedge with a through-hole is placed. To generate the advancing movement, a nut would then be provided, which is screwed onto the end of the threaded pin that protrudes through the clamping wedge.

[0018] It is further proposed that the contact surfaces of the clamping wedges and the side surfaces of the clamping wedge each have an identical angle in relation to the direction of the feed movement and that they rest flat against each other. Due to the identical angle and the resulting flat contact of the clamping wedge with its side surfaces against the contact surfaces of the clamping jaws, the force is transmitted from the clamping wedge to the clamping jaws over the largest possible force transmission surface.

[0019] It is further proposed that the contact surfaces of the clamping jaws have an identical angle with respect to the direction of the feed movement. This ensures a symmetrical and, if possible, identical force is exerted from the clamping wedge to the clamping jaws, so that the closure element is secured as centrally as possible with the clamping jaws in the opening and without any radial displacement.

[0020] The invention will be explained below using preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the closure element in two different perspectives; and... Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 the closure element with its individual parts before assembly in two different perspectives; and Fig. 5 the closure element in an opening of a subframe; and Fig. 6 to 9 the closure element in the opening with the clamping section and the clamping jaws in a release position and a clamping position with a screw as a screw connection and a pairing of a threaded pin and a nut as a screw connection.

[0021] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shows a closure element 1 according to the invention with a closure section 2 and a clamping section 3. The closure section 2 is formed by a rigid block which, as shown in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, has a threaded bore 10 and a curved surface 4 on its front side. The closure section 2 and the clamping section 3 form a connection to the closure element 1 in the assembled state, so that the closure element 1, as shown in the Fig. 6, can be inserted with the closure section 2 and the clamping section 3 into an opening 15 of an aggregate carrier 23, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0022] In the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shows the closure element 1 with its individual parts prior to assembly. The clamping section 3 comprises two clamping jaws 7 and 8 and a clamping device in the form of a clamping wedge 6 with a V-shaped cross-section and a through-opening 9. Furthermore, a fastening screw 5 is provided, which, for the assembly of the closure element 1, is pushed through the through-opening 9 of the clamping wedge 6 and screwed into the threaded bore 10 of the closure section 2. The clamping jaws 7 and 8 are pushed laterally in the direction of arrows A and B onto the rear of the closure section 2 and the clamping wedge 6 is inserted centrally in the direction of arrow C.

[0023] The closure section 3 has, on its rear side facing away from the front side, a guide contour 11 in the form of a straight web. The web has a trapezoidal or "dovetail shape" in cross-section, with the web widening outwards in cross-section from the surface of the rear side of the closure section 3 from a narrower edge to a wider edge. The clamping jaws 7 and 8 each have a guide groove 12 and 14 in the surfaces facing the closure section 3, which in cross-section have a negative form of the cross-sectional shape of the guide contour 11, i.e. of the web. The guide grooves 12 and 14 therefore each have a greater width in the groove base than in the groove opening; in other words, the width of the guide grooves 12 and 14 decreases from the groove base to the groove opening.Thus, the clamping jaws 7 and 8 can be pushed onto the rear side of the closure section 3 from the outer sides by engagement of the guide contour 11 in the guide grooves 12 and 14 and are secured against movement in the withdrawal direction orthogonal to the rear side by the described “dovetail shape” of the guide contour 11 and the correspondingly shaped guide grooves 12 and 14.

[0024] The clamping jaws 7 and 8 furthermore each have a clamping surface 17 and 18 on their outer sides, which are aligned on the clamping jaws 7 and 8 such that they are parallel to each other in the mounted position of the clamping jaws 7 and 8. The clamping surfaces 17 and 18 have a very high surface roughness or profiling. Furthermore, the clamping jaws 7 and 8 have inclined contact surfaces 21 and 24 on their mutually facing end faces.

[0025] The clamping wedge 6, which is V-shaped in cross-section, has a continuous recess 13 on its end face facing the closure section 2, the extent of which, perpendicular to the sliding movement of the clamping jaws 7 and 8, is greater than the width of the guide contour 11 perpendicular to the sliding movement. As a result, the clamping wedge 6 can be pushed onto the guide contour 11 with the recess 13 when pushed in the direction of arrow C, i.e. orthogonal to the rear side of the closure section 2. Furthermore, the clamping wedge 6 has, on its outer sides, inclined side surfaces 22 and 25 opposite the contact surfaces 21 and 24 of the clamping jaws 7 and 8.The contact surfaces 21 and 24 of the clamping jaws 7 and 8 as well as the inclined side surfaces 22 and 25 of the clamping wedge 6 have an identical alignment, i.e. an identical angle in relation to the sliding direction of the clamping wedge 6 in the direction of arrow C, so that the clamping wedge 6 comes to rest flatly on the clamping jaws 7 and 8 in pairs during assembly.

[0026] The closure element 1 is inserted into the opening 15 in an assembly carrier 23 to close an opening 15, as shown in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 can be seen. The opening 15 is used to attach a pendulum support or torque support. The opening 15 opens laterally into a bearing opening 16. The bearing opening 16 has an inner wall 19 which is circular in cross-section and extends cylindrically into the assembly carrier 23 and serves to accommodate an elastomeric assembly bearing (not shown). The assembly bearing can be imagined in the illustration. The closure section 3 has, in the area of ​​its end face or surface 4, a cross-sectional geometry which corresponds to the cross-sectional geometry of the inner wall 19 of the bearing opening 16 which is exposed through the opening 15. The closure element 1 thus closes the section of the inner wall 19 exposed by the opening 15 with the closure section 2 as completely as possible, although slight gaps may be present.

[0027] Furthermore, the closure element 1 has a curved surface 4 on the front side of the closure section 2, which has a radius identical to the radius of the inner wall 19, so that the surface 4 is subordinate to the surface of the inner wall 19 of the bearing opening 16 or the surface 4 completes the surface of the inner wall 19 to a homogeneous surface without steps or edges, as in the Fig. 6 can be seen.

[0028] The opening 15 can be divided into a first rear section, which opens into the bearing opening 16 and which, in the inserted position, is closed by the closure section 3. Furthermore, the opening 15 has a second front section, in which the closure element 1 with the clamping section 3 comes to rest in the inserted position. The first section of the opening 15 has a smaller cross-sectional geometry, which corresponds to the cross-sectional geometry of the closure section 2. The front, second section has a larger cross-sectional geometry and is separated from the first section of the opening 15 by a shoulder 27.

[0029] The closure section 2 is extended at its rear side with two laterally projecting flanges 28 to a radially projecting geometry, so that the insertion movement of the closure element 1 into the opening 15 is limited by the flanges 28 abutting against the shoulders 27. The shoulders 27 thereby define a contact position of the closure element 1, in which the latter completely closes the opening 15 in the first section or in the section opening into the bearing opening, and the surface 4 of the end face complements the surface of the inner wall 19 to form the homogeneous, stepless surface with a continuously identical inner radius, as shown in the Fig. 6 can be seen. The opening 15 has a larger cross-sectional geometry in the second front section and forms two counter surfaces 20 and 26 opposite the clamping surfaces 17 and 18 of the clamping jaws 7 and 8.

[0030] The final fastening of the closure element 1 in the Fig. The clamping position shown in Figure 7 is achieved by screwing the fastening screw 5 into the threaded bore 10 of the closure section 2, whereby the clamping wedge 6 is displaced in the direction of arrow C, i.e. in the direction of the closure section 2. As a result of the displacement movement of the clamping wedge, the side surfaces 22 and 25 of the clamping wedge 6 slide along the contact surfaces 21 and 24 of the clamping jaws 7 and 8, thereby pushing them radially outwards in the directions of arrows E and D. As a result, the clamping jaws 7 and 8 are moved with their clamping surfaces 17 and 18 in the direction of the counter surfaces 20 and 26 until they finally come into contact with them under the exertion of a clamping force. The closure element 1 can then be further clamped in the opening 15 by screwing in the fastening screw 5 further and increasing the clamping forces.Due to the contact surfaces 21 and 24 of the clamping jaws 7 and 8, which are aligned at an identical angle, and the side surfaces 22 and 25 of the clamping wedge 6, which lie flat against them, identical clamping forces are exerted via the clamping jaws 7 and 8 onto the counter surfaces 20 and 26 of the unit carrier 23 and the closure element 1 is fixed centrally in the opening 15.

[0031] In the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the closure element 1, in which the screw connection is formed by a pairing of a threaded pin 29 with a nut 30. This results in the advantage of simplified assembly, in that the threaded pin 29 is first screwed into the freely accessible and recognizable threaded bore 10 of the closure section 2 in a simplified screwing process, and only then is the clamping wedge 6 with the through-opening 9 placed onto the already screwed-in and thus fixed threaded pin 29. Subsequently, the nut 30 is screwed onto the free end of the threaded pin 29, which extends out of the through-opening 9 of the clamping wedge 6. In this process, the clamping wedge 6 is moved into the Fig. 9, as already shown in the embodiment of the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 with the fastening screw 5.

[0032] The obvious advantage of the proposed closure element 1 is that it can be secured in the opening 15 by the clamping forces exerted by the clamping section 3 or the clamping jaws 7 and 8. External or additional fastening means or fastening projections on the subframe 23 are therefore not required. This is particularly advantageous when providing corresponding fastening projections on the subframe 23 is difficult to manufacture or only possible at high cost. Rather, the proposed closure element 1 enables the closure of openings 15, which do not need to be specially designed for this purpose, as long as they offer corresponding counter surfaces 20 and 26 for the engagement of the clamping jaws 7 and 8.If openings 15 with different cross-sectional geometries leading into the bearing opening 16 are to be closed, this can be achieved by using correspondingly customized closure sections 2 with a correspondingly customized cross-sectional geometry of the front side, whereby an identical clamping section 3 can be used. This allows a type of "modular system" to be implemented. Of course, this modular system can also be expanded by using clamping jaws 7 and 8 with correspondingly customized clamping surfaces 17 and 18 and dimensions, using the same clamping wedge 6 as the clamping device. 1 locking element 2 closure section 3 clamping section 4 Surface 5 fixing screw 6 clamping wedge 7 clamping jaw 8 clamping jaw 9 Passage opening 10 threaded hole 11 Guide contour 12 guide groove 13 Recess 14 Guide groove 15 Opening 16 Warehouse opening 17 Clamping surface 18 clamping surface 19 Inner wall 20 Counter surface 21 contact surface 22 side surface 23 aggregate carriers 24 contact surface 25 side surface 26 Counter surface 27 paragraph 28 flange 29 Threaded pin 30 mother

Claims

[1] Closure element (1) for an opening (15) leading into a bearing opening (16) of an assembly carrier (23) of a motor vehicle, with -a closure section (2) which has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the opening (15) and on its front side an end face (4) adapted in its shape to the cross-sectional shape of the bearing opening (16), characterized by , that -a clamping section (3) connected to the closure section (2) is provided, and -the clamping section (3) has at least two clamping jaws (7, 8) each with a clamping surface (17, 18) and a clamping device, wherein -the clamping jaws (7, 8) can be moved from a release position into an extended clamping position and vice versa by actuating the clamping device while increasing the distance between the clamping surfaces (17, 18). [2] Closure element (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that -a guide contour (11) is provided on the closure section (3), on which the clamping jaws (7, 8) are guided. [3] Closure element (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by , that -the clamping surfaces (17,18) are aligned parallel to each other. [4] Closure element (1) according to claim 3, characterized by , that -the clamping jaws (7,8) have a surface with increased surface roughness in the area of ​​the clamping surfaces (17,18). [5] Closure element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that -the clamping jaws (7, 8) each have an inclined contact surface (21, 24) on the inner sides facing each other, and -the clamping device is formed by a clamping wedge (6) with a V-shaped cross-section, which rests on the inclined contact surfaces (21, 24) of the clamping jaws (7, 8) with an inclined side surface (22, 25) in each case, wherein -the clamping wedge (6) is designed to carry out a feed movement in the direction of the closure section (3). [6] Closure element (1) according to claim 5, characterized by , that -the clamping wedge (6) is connected to the closure section (3) by a screw connection. [7] Closure element (1) according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized by , that -the contact surfaces (21, 24) of the clamping jaws (7, 8) and the side surfaces (22, 25) of the clamping wedge (6) each have an identical angle in pairs with respect to the direction of the feed movement and lie flat against one another. [8] Closure element (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized by , that -the contact surfaces (21,24) of the clamping jaws (7,8) have an identical angle with respect to the direction of the feed movement.

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