METHOD FOR TURNTABLY JOINING TWO COMPONENTS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for the rotationally fixed connection of two components, namely a screw and a turning tool, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the component designed as a screw, wherein one of the components has an outer driving profile with external drive surfaces and the other component has an inner driving profile complementary to the outer driving profile with internal drive surfaces, in that the driving profiles of the components are axially plugged together in order to achieve a positive, rotationally fixed connection of the components through the interaction of the driving profiles, wherein the driving profiles each define a profile axis and the profile axis of the component designed as a screw runs coaxially to its longitudinal axis, the drive surfaces of the component with the outer driving profile are inclined with respect to the profile axis of the component and approach the profile axis towards the free end of the component, the drive surfaces of the component with the inner driving profile are inclined with respect to the profile axis of the component and move away from the profile axis towards the free end of the component and the driving profiles are selected to be complementary to one another in such a way that the inclined drive surfaces of the components come into surface contact with one another when the components are axially plugged together, so that the interaction of the driving profiles creates a force-locking connection and / or clamping connection between the components, via which the components are axially connected to one another.

[0002] In addition, the disclosure relates to a component for use in the method according to the invention, in particular in the form of a screw with a shank which defines a longitudinal axis of the screw and has at one free end - the head end - a driving profile with internal or external drive surfaces which defines a profile axis which is coaxial with the longitudinal axis, wherein the drive surfaces of the driving profile are inclined with respect to the profile axis, and wherein the inner drive surfaces of an inner driving profile move away from the profile axis towards the free end of the driving profile and the outer drive surfaces of an outer driving profile approach the profile axis towards the free end of the driving profile.

[0003] Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a component in the form of a turning tool for use in the method according to the invention, which has at one end a driving profile with internal or external drive surfaces, which defines a profile axis, wherein the drive surfaces of the driving profile are inclined with respect to the profile axis, and wherein the outer drive surfaces of an outer driving profile approach the profile axis towards the free end of the driving profile and the inner drive surfaces of an inner driving profile move away from the profile axis towards a receiving opening of the driving profile.

[0004] Finally, the disclosure relates to a kit comprising a screw and a turning tool for use in the method according to the invention.

[0005] Screws and turning tools are known in various designs from the prior art. The screws comprise a screw shaft with an external thread, at the upper end of which a driving profile is provided for coupling to a turning tool, which is usually formed on a screw head. The turning tools are designed, for example, in the form of ring or open-end wrenches or comprise interchangeable bits that are connected to a drive, for example in the form of a handle or a cordless screwdriver, via a bit holder. Alternatively, the bit holder can be connected to a screwdriver handle or an angled handle, to a ratchet, a torque wrench, a cordless screwdriver, or a ratchet screwdriver via an adapter for interchangeable use.

[0006] The screw and turning tool are offered with complementary driving profiles for transmitting torque from the turning tool to the screw. For this purpose, one of the two components has an outer driving profile with external drive surfaces at one of its free ends, and the other component has an inner driving profile with internal drive surfaces at one of its free ends, complementary to the outer driving profile. The driving profiles are designed, for example, in the form of a hexagon socket, an external hexagon, a Torx profile, a Phillips profile, or a slotted profile. After the inner driving profile has been coupled to the outer driving profile, the driving profiles lie against one another with play. This means that the driving profiles can become accidentally detached from one another and it is also not possible to align the driving profiles precisely with one another axially.To simplify handling when screwing in and loosening the screw with the turning tool, turning tools equipped with a magnet or ferromagnetic turning tools that can be magnetized with a magnet are available. However, this involves additional effort. Furthermore, the use of a magnetic turning tool cannot achieve coaxial alignment of the drive profiles. However, such coaxial alignment is necessary for integrating screw connections into automated manufacturing processes.

[0007] To solve this problem, it is known from DE 10 2005 011 734 A1 that the drive surface of a turning tool for screwing in and loosening so-called Torx screws is designed at an acute angle to the profile axis, so that when the driving profiles of the turning tool and the screw are axially connected, a clamping fit is created, thus eliminating the need for additional holding means to screw the screw into a thread. Similarly, WO 2013 / 062895 A1 and US 2010 / 0269644 A1 disclose the design of the drive surfaces of the screw and turning tool at an angle to create a clamping fit between the components.

[0008] A problem that occurs again and again when screwing in and loosening screws is that the drive profiles are damaged, particularly in the area of ​​the edges, if the torque required to screw in / loosen the screw is too high.

[0009] The object of the present invention is therefore to design a method for the rotationally fixed connection of a screw and a turning tool of the type mentioned above in such a way that high force or torque transmission is possible without damaging the drive profiles. Furthermore, a screw and a turning tool, as well as a kit comprising a screw and a turning tool, are to be specified that are suitable for implementing the method.

[0010] The invention is a method according to claim 1. This object is achieved in a method of the type mentioned at the outset in that components are used in which the drive surfaces of the driving profiles in the contact areas in which they come into contact / engagement have a constant inclination with respect to their profile axis, which is the same for all drive surfaces of both components, and in that a component with an outer driving profile is used in which the drive surfaces are all concave or all convex in cross section, ieare curved inwards or outwards and a component is used with an inner driving profile complementary to the outer profile, the drive surfaces of which are curved in a complementary convex / concave manner to the drive surfaces of the outer driving profile, such that in the assembled state the drive surfaces of the two components, viewed in the circumferential direction, come into contact / engagement with one another on both sides of the apex of the concave / convex curvature, and that the driving profiles are designed such that they do not come into contact with one another in the transition areas lying between the drive surfaces.

[0011] The present invention is therefore based on the idea of ​​creating, in addition to a positive and rotationally fixed connection, a non-positive and / or clamping connection between the screw and the turning tool when the two components are put together, via which the components are axially connected and coaxially aligned. As a result, the two components are connected to one another with coaxial alignment of the driving profiles and without play, so that the components can be used in automated processes. In order to achieve the non-positive and / or clamping connection between the two components, the components have corresponding driving profiles with conically inclined engagement surfaces. The inclination of the drive surfaces relative to the profile axis is measured along the apex line of the concave / convex drive surface.The drive profiles are selected to complement each other in such a way that, when the components are mated together in the circumferential direction, the inclined drive surfaces of the components come into contact / engagement with each other on both sides of the apex of the concave / convex curvature, while contact is avoided in the transition areas between the drive surfaces. When the two drive profiles are mated axially, the engagement surfaces are thus precisely aligned, and torque is transmitted exclusively or primarily via the frictional connection between the two components. Damage to edge areas is completely avoided because the drive profiles do not contact each other in the transition areas between the drive surfaces.

[0012] The arrangement is such that contact zones are formed between the corresponding drive surfaces of the two components, which, viewed in the circumferential direction, extend from one side of the apex of the concave / convex curvature across the apex to the opposite side of the apex. In particular, components are used whose drive surfaces are designed to be complementary such that, viewed in the circumferential direction, the drive surfaces of the two components are in planar contact with each other over at least 25%, in particular at least 40%, and preferably at least 60% of their circumferential extent.

[0013] According to the invention, components can be used whose drive surfaces have a parabolic segment-shaped cross-section in the contact area over their length.

[0014] Alternatively, components can be used in which the drive surfaces of the driving profiles have a circular arc segment-shaped cross-section along their length with a radius in the contact area that is constant over the axial length. In this case, the drive surfaces can be manufactured using a cylindrical milling cutter that is positioned relative to the profile axis according to the angle by which the drive surfaces are to be inclined relative to the profile axis. Likewise, components can be used in which the drive surfaces of the driving profiles have a circular arc segment-shaped cross-section, with the radius of the circular arc segment-shaped cross-section changing continuously over the length of the drive surfaces in the contact area. In this case, the driving surfaces can be manufactured using a milling cutter that has a conicity that corresponds to the desired angle of inclination of the drive surfaces.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that components with an outer driving profile and / or with an inner driving profile are used, in which the transition regions lying between the drive surfaces have an opposite curvature to that of the drive surfaces, wherein the curvature of the transition regions of the outer driving profile is smaller than the curvature of the transition regions of the inner driving profile when the drive surfaces of the outer driving profile are concavely curved, so that the apex of the curvature points in the direction of the profile axis, and the curvature of the transition regions of the outer driving profile is smaller than the curvature of the transition regions of the inner driving profile when the drive surfaces of the outer driving profile are convexly curved.In particular, it can be provided that the transition regions of the component with outer driving profile and / or the component with inner driving profile are formed in the shape of a circular arc segment in cross-section, wherein the radii of the transition regions of the outer driving profile are larger than the radii of the transition regions of the inner driving profile when the drive surfaces of the outer driving profile are concavely curved, so that the apex of the curvature points towards the profile axis, and the radii of the transition regions of the outer driving profile are smaller than the radii of the transition regions of the inner driving profile when the drive surfaces of the outer driving profile are convexly curved, and wherein the radii of the transition regions are preferably constant over the length of the drive surfaces.

[0016] In these embodiments, the transition areas and the drive surfaces preferably merge continuously into one another, so that edge formation is avoided.

[0017] Alternatively, it is possible to form the transition areas using flat surfaces.

[0018] The angle of inclination of the drive surfaces to the profile axis is selected depending on the length of the drive surfaces in the profile axis direction. In principle, the greater the extension of the drive surfaces along the respective profile axis, the greater the angle of inclination of the inclined drive surfaces to the profile axis. Preferably, components are used in which components are used in which the drive surfaces of the driving profiles are inclined in the contact area by at least 1°, in particular by at least 2° relative to the profile axis of the respective component, and / or that components are used in which the inclined drive surfaces of the driving profiles are inclined by a maximum of 8°, preferably by a maximum of 5° relative to the respective profile axis, and / or that components are used.

[0019] Preferably, components are used in which the drive surfaces of the driving profiles in the contact area are inclined by at least 1.5°, in particular at least 2° and at most 3.5°, preferably by 3° relative to the profile axis of the respective component.

[0020] According to the invention, components can also be used whose drive profiles, viewed in the circumferential direction, have 3, 4, or 6 adjacent drive surfaces with transition areas in between. Components can be used whose drive profiles have a multi-round cross-section, with particular emphasis on components whose drive profiles have a multi-round cross-section with pointed-arch arms and / or components whose drive profiles have a multi-round cross-section with six arms.

[0021] Components whose drive profiles are designed as Torx profiles with drive surfaces inclined to the respective profile axis can also be used. By using hexalobular Torx profiles such as Torx, Torx-TR, Torx Plus, and Torx Plus Security, high torques can be transferred from the turning tool to the screw without damaging the screw or the turning tool.

[0022] The disclosure also describes a component in the form of a screw of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the drive surfaces of the driving profile each have the same, constant inclination relative to the profile axis over the axial length of a defined contact area with which the driving profile is to be brought into contact / engagement with a driving profile of a turning tool, and wherein the inclined drive surfaces of the driving profile are all concave or all convex in cross section, ie curved inwards or outwards, wherein they are each formed symmetrically to their longitudinal center plane enclosing the profile axis.

[0023] As already explained, the drive surfaces can have a parabolic segment-shaped cross-section or a circular arc segment-shaped cross-section in the contact area, whereby in the case of a circular arc segment-shaped design, the radius in the contact area can be constant or continuously variable over the axial length of the drive surfaces.

[0024] Preferably, the width across flats of the driving profile is 1.6 times the radius of curvature of the drive surfaces ± 20%.

[0025] Furthermore, the disclosure describes a component in the form of a turning tool of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the drive surfaces of the driving profile each have the same constant pitch relative to the profile axis over the axial length of a defined contact area with which the driving profile is to be brought into contact / engagement with a driving profile of a component to be rotated, in particular in the form of a screw, and wherein the inclined drive surfaces of the driving profile are all concave or all convex in cross section, ie curved inwards or outwards, wherein they are each formed symmetrically to their longitudinal center plane area enclosing the profile axis.

[0026] The drive surfaces can have a parabolic segment-shaped cross-section in the contact area. Alternatively, they can also have a circular arc-shaped cross-section with a constant contact area across the axial length of the drive surfaces or with a continuously changing radius in the contact area across the axial length of the drive surfaces.

[0027] In a generally usual manner, the turning tool can be designed in the form of a bit in which an internal driving profile is formed.

[0028] Alternatively, the turning tool can be designed in the form of a ring wrench having a tool shank which has an inner driving profile at at least one axial end which passes through the turning tool transversely to its shank axis.

[0029] With regard to further embodiments and advantages of the screw and the turning tool, in order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above statements in connection with the method according to the invention for the rotationally fixed connection of two components, namely a screw and a turning tool.

[0030] In both the screw and the rotary tool, transition areas are preferably provided between the drive surfaces. These transition areas are flat or have a reverse curvature to that of the drive surfaces. The transition areas can be shaped like a circular arc segment in cross-section, with the radii of the circular arc segment-shaped transition areas preferably being constant over the axial length of the drive surfaces. Advantageously, the transition areas and the drive surfaces merge seamlessly into one another.

[0031] Furthermore, it can be provided that the drive surfaces of the driving profile are inclined by at least 1°, by at least 2° relative to the profile axis in the contact area, and / or that the inclined drive surfaces of the driving profile are inclined by at most 8°, preferably by at most 5° relative to the profile axis, and / or that the drive surfaces are continuously inclined and in particular have a constant gradient. In particular, the inclined drive surfaces of the driving profile can be inclined by at least 1.5°, at most 3.5°, and preferably by 3° relative to the profile axis in the contact area. It is essential that all drive surfaces on the components are identically designed.

[0032] Finally, the object of the present invention is also achieved by a kit which is characterized in that the drive surfaces of the driving profiles of the two components have a constant inclination with respect to their profile axis in the contact areas in which they come into surface contact / engagement when they are axially plugged together, which inclination is the same for all drive surfaces of both components, and the curvature of the drive surfaces of the two components is complementary to one another in such a way that the drive surfaces of the two components come into surface contact / engagement in the circumferential direction on both sides of the apex of the concave / convex curvature of the drive surfaces, and that the driving profiles are designed in such a way that they do not come into contact with one another in the transition areas lying between the drive surfaces when the driving profiles are axially plugged together.

[0033] Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the components with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing shows: Figure 1 a perspective view of a screw with an outer driving profile, Figure 2a top view of the screw head of the screw from Figure 1 , Figure 3 a perspective view of a tool designed as a bit with an internal driving profile, Figure 4the bit from Figure 3 from below, Figure 5perspective view of the screw from the Figures 1 and 2 and the bit according to the Figures 3 to 4 when axially plugging together, Figure 6 in plan view the arrangement of Figure 5 in the collapsed state, Figure 7the bit from Figure 4with marked contact zones, Figure 8 the bit in perspective view with marked contact zones, Figure 9 a schematic front view of a screw with an inner driving profile and a corresponding bit, Figure 10 a perspective view of the screw and the bit from Figure 9 , Figure 11 the process of putting together the screw and the bit from Figure 9 , Figure 12 the screw and the bit in the assembled state, Figure 13 a perspective view of a screw with an inner driving profile and a corresponding bit, Figure 14 a perspective view of a screw and a corresponding bit,

[0034] In the Figures 1 and 2A screw 1 is shown according to a first embodiment not falling within the scope of protection of the claim. The screw 1 comprises a shaft 2, which carries an external thread 3 and defines a longitudinal axis of the screw 1. At the upper end of the shaft 2, a screw head 4 is provided, which has on its outer side an outer driving profile 5 with external drive surfaces 6, which defines a profile axis PA coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the screw 1. Specifically, an M8 screw 1 with a shaft length of 40 mm and a head height of 5.5 mm is shown. As the figures clearly show, the outer driving profile 5 has the basic shape of a regular hexagon in cross-section and in plan view, the side surfaces of which form drive surfaces 6, which are inclined at an angle α = 3° with respect to the profile axis PA and the longitudinal axis of the screw 1, respectively, so that they approach the profile axis PA towards the free end of the screw head 4.In other words, the screw head 4 tapers towards its free end.

[0035] Unlike conventional screws with an external hexagon drive, the drive surfaces 6 of the outer drive profile 5 are not flat, but rather concave in cross-section, i.e., curved inward toward the profile axis PA. Specifically, the concave drive surfaces 6 each have a circular arc segment shape in cross-section, with the radius R1 of the drive surfaces 6 remaining constant over the entire axial length of the screw head 4.

[0036] The drive surfaces 6 are separated from each other in the area of ​​the hexagonal edges by transition areas 7, which are formed in a circular arc with a radius R2 that is constant over the axial length of the screw head 4. The arrangement is such that the drive surfaces 6 and the transition areas merge seamlessly into each other without forming edges.

[0037] In the Figures 3 and 4a turning tool 8 in the form of a bit with an inner driving profile 9 is shown, which is used to actuate the Figures 1 and 2illustrated screw 1. The turning tool 8 has an inner driving profile 9 which is designed to correspond to the screw head of the screw 1 and defines a profile axis PI. Accordingly, the inner driving profile 9 has the basic shape of a hexagon in cross-section, wherein the drive surfaces 10 of the driving profile 9 are concave, i.e. curved in the direction of the profile axis PI, and run at an angle to the profile axis PI. Specifically, the drive surfaces 10, like the drive surfaces 6 of the screw, are inclined at an angle of 3° to the profile axis PI, wherein they approach the profile axis Pi from a receiving or insertion opening of the bit to the end of the inner driving profile 9 located inside the tool 8. In other words, the contour of the inner driving profile 9 tapers inwards.

[0038] Furthermore, the drive surfaces 10 are designed as circular arc segments with a radius R1 that is constant over the axial length of the drive profile 9 and has the same value as the radius of curvature R1 of the drive surfaces 6 of the screw 1. The drive surfaces 10 are separated from one another by transition areas 7a, which are circular arc-shaped and have a radius R3 that remains constant over the entire length of the drive profile 9. The arrangement is such that the transition areas of the screw 1 and the bit 8 do not come into contact with one another. Accordingly, the radius of curvature R3 of the bit 8 is smaller than the radius of curvature R2 of the screw 1.

[0039] The arrangement is such that - as in particular the Figure 7can be seen, in which contact zones K are shown, in which the driving profiles 5, 9 come into contact - a surface contact / engagement takes place exclusively in the area of ​​the drive surfaces 6, 10, but not in the intermediate transition areas 7, 7a, and the contact zones K, viewed in the circumferential direction, each extend on both sides of the apex of the concavely curved drive surfaces 6, 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact zones K, viewed in the circumferential direction, each extend over almost the entire extension length of the drive surfaces 6, 10.In other words, there is an almost full-surface contact between the drive surfaces 6, 10 of the two components 1, 8, so that the two components 1, 8 are aligned exactly coaxially with each other when their two drive profiles 5, 9 are axially plugged together, until a clamping connection is established between the two components 1, 8 due to the conicity of the drive profiles of the drive surfaces 6, 10. Furthermore, the surface contact creates a force-locking connection, via which high torques can be transmitted.

[0040] In this way, the dimensions of the outer driving profile 5 of the screw 1 and the inner driving profile 9 of the tool are selected so that the drive surfaces 6, 10 of the driving profiles 5, 9 almost completely contact each other when the two driving profiles 5, 9 are axially connected. As shown in the Figure 12As shown, the driving profiles 5, 9 only come into contact with one another in the area of ​​their drive surfaces 6, 10, the contact zones K are indicated in the figure, while there is no contact between the transition areas 7 lying between the drive surfaces 6, 10.

[0041] The Figures 9 to 12show a screw 1 and a corresponding turning tool 8. Here, the screw 1 is in the form of a flange head screw with a flange 12, which is arranged on the side of the screw head 4 facing the shaft 2. The constellation of the driving profiles 2, 9 is selected to be the opposite of that of the first embodiment. Specifically, the screw 1 has the inner driving profile 9 with internal drive surfaces 10, while the turning tool 8 has the outer driving profile 5 with the external drive surfaces 6. Otherwise, the driving profiles 5, 9 are clearly designed as in the first embodiment. Shown when the two driving profiles 5, 9 are axially plugged together.In this case, the drive surfaces 6, 10 of the driving profiles 5, 9 come into contact with one another in order, on the one hand, to establish a rotationally fixed connection between the components 1, 8 and, on the other hand, to connect the driving profiles 5, 9 in a force-locking manner so that they are axially aligned with one another and fixed to one another.

[0042] The Figure 13 shows a first component 1, which has an outer drive profile with concave drive surfaces 6 and transition regions 7 located therebetween, and a component 8, which has an inner drive profile 9 with corresponding drive surfaces 10 and transition regions 7a located therebetween. Structurally, the drive profiles 5, 9 are designed in the same way as the drive profiles 5, 9 in the previously described embodiments, with the sole proviso that only three drive surfaces 6, 10 are present instead of a total of six.

[0043] The Figure 14shows a component 1 having an outer drive profile 5, and a component 8 having a corresponding inner drive profile 9. The drive surfaces 6, 10 are designed here as circular arc surfaces inclined at an angle α = 3° relative to the profile axis PI, PA, the radius R1 of which is constant over the entire length of the drive profiles 5, 9. In contrast to the previously described embodiments, however, the drive surfaces 6, 10 are not concave, but convex.

[0044] In the Figure 14It is not apparent that the transition regions 7, 7a between the drive surfaces 6, 10 are rounded in order to create a continuous transition between the drive surfaces 6, 10. The transition regions 7, 7a are designed such that the two components 1, 8 do not come into contact with one another in these transition regions. If the transition regions 7, 7a are designed as circular arc segments, they preferably have a radius that is constant over their entire axial length, wherein the radius for component 8 with the inner driving profile 9 is larger than the radius for the transition regions 7, 7a of component 1 with the outer driving profile 5.

Claims

1. Method for connecting two components, namely a screw (1) and a rotary tool (8), in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to the longitudinal axis of the component designed as a screw (1), wherein one of the components has an outer driving profile (5) with external drive surfaces (6) and the other component has an inner driving profile (9) being complementary to the outer driving profile (5) and having internal drive surfaces (10), by plugging the driving profiles (5, 9) of the components together axially in order to achieve a positive, rotationally fixed connection of the components by the interaction of the driving profiles (5, 9), wherein - the driving profiles (5, 9) each define a profile axis (PA, PI) and the profile axis (PA, PI) of the component designed as a screw (1) extends coaxially to the longitudinal axis thereof, - the drive surfaces (6) of the component with the outer driving profile (5) are inclined relative to the respective profile axis (PA, PI) of the component and approach the respective profile axis (PA, PI) towards the free end of the component, - the drive surfaces (10) of the component with the inner driving profile (9) are inclined relative to the respective profile axis (PA, PI) of the component and become averted from the respective profile axis (PA, PI) towards the free end of the component, and - the driving profiles (5, 9) are designed complementary to one another in such a way, that the inclined drive surfaces (6, 10) of the components (1, 8) come into surface contact with one another, when the components (1, 8) are plugged together axially, so that the interaction of the driving profiles (5, 9) produces a force-fit and / or clamping connection between the components (1, 8), via which the components (1, 8) are axially connected to one another, characterized in that components (1, 8) are used, in which the drive surfaces (6, 10) of the driving profiles (5, 9) have a constant inclination relative to their profile axis (PA, PI) in the contact regions, in which they come into surface contact / engagement, which inclination is the same for all drive surfaces of both components (1, 8), and in that a component with an outer driving profile (5) is used, in which the drive surfaces (6) are all concave or all convex in cross-section, i.e. inwardly or outwardly curved, and a component with an inner driving profile (9) complementary to the outer driving profile (5) is used, the drive surfaces (10) of which inner driving profile (9) are curved in a complementary convex / concave manner with respect to the drive surfaces (6) of the outer driving profile (5) in such a way that, in the plugged state, the drive surfaces (6, 10) of the two components (1, 8), viewed in the circumferential direction, come into surface contact / engagement with one another on both sides of the apex of the concave / convex curvature, and in that the driving profiles (5, 9) are designed in such a way that they do not come into contact with one another in the transition regions lying between the drive surfaces (6, 10).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that components (1, 8) are used, the drive surfaces (6, 10) of which are designed to be complementary to one another in such a way that the drive surfaces (6, 10) of the two components (1, 8) are in surface contact with one another over at least 25%, in particular at least 40% and preferably at least 60% of their extent in the circumferential direction.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that components (1, 8) are used, the drive surfaces (6, 10) of which have a parabolic segment-shaped cross-section in the contact region over their length, or that components (1, 8) are used, in which the drive surfaces (6, 10) of the driving profiles (5, 9) have a circular arc segment-shaped cross-section over their length with a radius (R1) which is constant over the axial length in the contact region, or that components (1, 8) are used, in which the drive surfaces (6, 10) of the driving profiles (5, 9) have a circular arc segment-shaped cross-section, wherein the radius of the circular arc segment-shaped cross-section changes continuously over the length of the drive surfaces (6, 10) in the contact region.

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that components with an outer driving profile (5) and / or with an inner driving profile (9) are used, in which the transition regions lying between the drive surfaces (6, 10) have an opposite curvature to that of the drive surfaces (6, 10), wherein the curvature of the transition regions of the outer driving profile (5) is smaller than the curvature of the transition regions of the inner driving profile (9), when the drive surfaces of the outer driving profile (5) are concavely curved so that the apex of the curvature faces in the direction of the profile axis, and the curvature of the transition regions of the outer driving profile (5) is larger than the curvature of the transition regions of the inner driving profile (9), when the drive surfaces of the outer driving profile are convexly curved, wherein, preferably, the transition regions of the component with the outer driving profile (5) and / or of the component with the inner driving profile (9) are formed in the shape of a segment of a circle arc in cross-section, wherein the radii (R2) of the transition regions of the outer driving profile (5) are larger than the radii (R2) of the transition regions of the inner driving profile (9), when the drive surfaces of the outer driving profile are concavely curved so that the apex of the curvature faces the profile axis (PA), and the radii (R2) of the transition regions of the outer driving profile are smaller than the radii (R2) of the transition regions of the inner driving profile, when the drive surfaces of the outer driving profile are convexly curved, and wherein the radii (R2) of the transition regions are preferably constant over the length of the drive surfaces (6, 10), and / or that the transition regions and the drive surfaces (6, 10) merge continuously into one another.

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that components are used, in which the drive surfaces (6, 10) of the driving profiles (5, 9) are inclined in the contact region by at least 1°, in particular by at least 2°, relative to the profile axis (PA, PI) of the respective component, and / or in that components are used, in which the inclined drive surfaces (6, 10) of the driving profiles (5, 9) are inclined by at most 8°, preferably by at most 5°, relative to the respective profile axis (PA, PI), wherein, in particular, components are used, in which the drive surfaces (6, 10) of the driving profiles (5, 9) are inclined in the contact region by at least 1.5°, in particular at least 2° and at most 3.5°, preferably by 3°, relative to the profile axis (PA, PI) of the respective component.

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that components are used, the driving profiles (5, 9) of which, viewed in the circumferential direction, have 3, 4 or 6 drive surfaces (6, 10) lying next to one another with transition regions lying in between.