TOLERANCE COMPENSATION DEVICE WITH COUPLING MEANS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for compensating tolerances between two components to be connected by means of a connecting screw, comprising a base element and a compensating element that can be moved out of the base element, wherein the base element and the compensating element form a passage for the connecting screw that defines an axial direction.

[0002] Such a device, which is also called a tolerance compensation device, is known for example from EP 0 886 071 A1 and is used, for example, in automobile construction to compensate for tolerances in the distance between a first component, e.g. a support structure, body or the like, and a second component to be mounted thereon, e.g. roof rails, instrument panel, door, hood, seat, trunk lid or the like, in the axial direction. Depending on the assembly specifications, the device can be pre-assembled either on the first component or on the second component. For this purpose, the device is fastened to the first component, for example, via the base element. The compensation element is then moved upwards out of the base element in the direction of the second component until the end face of the compensation element comes into contact with the second component.The components can now be clamped together using the connecting screw that extends through the components and the device.

[0003] The compensating element can be moved out of the base element, for example, by unscrewing the compensating element from the base element. For this purpose, the base element and the compensating element can be threadedly engaged, preferably with a left-hand thread, so that the compensating element is automatically unscrewed from the base element when the connecting screw is screwed into an associated nut element. To transmit torque from the connecting screw to the compensating element, a torque transmission means, for example in the form of a spring element, is typically provided in the passage of the compensating element.

[0004] Before their intended use, the fixtures are stored in a storage container, where they are usually arranged in any orientation. To assemble a fixture as desired, it must be correctly aligned with the first component. This has traditionally been achieved through a manual installation process, in which a fixture is removed from the storage container and then manually attached to the first component. This procedure is therefore time-consuming and ultimately costly.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of creating a device for compensating tolerances which is suitable for an automated setting process.

[0006] To achieve this object, a device for compensating tolerances is provided with the features of claim 1. The tolerance compensation device according to the invention is characterized by a coupling means which is designed to couple the device to a support element and to guide the device along the support element.

[0007] The invention is based on the general idea of ​​providing a tolerance compensation device with a coupling means that enables the tolerance compensation device to be coupled to a carrier element, through which the tolerance compensation device can be fed in a correctly aligned manner to a setting robot, so that the robot attaches the tolerance compensation device in the desired manner to a first of the components to be connected. This allows the setting process to be automated, making it simpler, more precise, more reproducible, and ultimately more cost-effective than a manual setting process.

[0008] A further advantage of the invention is that the devices can be stored and guided in a magazine in an orderly manner, i.e., with a defined alignment, using the coupling means. Such storage can be advantageous even during a manual insertion process, since the devices can be removed from the magazine in a correctly aligned manner.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the drawing.

[0010] According to a particularly simple embodiment of the device, the coupling means is formed on the base element. The base element can have at least one fastening means for attaching the device to the first component, which can be designed, for example, in the form of a retaining clip, locking section, clamping means, or the like.

[0011] Alternatively, the coupling means can also be formed on a holding element for holding the base element. Like the base element, the holding element can also have at least one fastening means of the type described above.

[0012] Furthermore, it is also conceivable to provide the coupling means not on the base element or holding element, but on the compensating element.

[0013] It is understood that the base element or the holding element can also be fastened to the first component in a materially bonded manner in addition to or as an alternative to a force-fitting and / or form-fitting fastening, e.g. by being welded or glued to the first component.

[0014] The device coupled to the support element is particularly advantageously aligned for a subsequent setting process if the coupling means has a longitudinal extension that is aligned at least approximately parallel to the axial direction. Depending on the application, the longitudinal extension of the coupling means can also be aligned transversely, in particular at right angles, to the axial direction.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the coupling means comprises a groove defining at least one undercut. This allows the coupling means to engage behind a complementarily shaped rib of the support element, allowing the device to be guided in any spatial direction without the device becoming accidentally detached from the support element. The rib of the support element can be engaged particularly well if the groove is a T-slot, an L-slot, a round groove, a dovetail groove, or the like.

[0016] To ensure that the device can be easily engaged with the support element, the groove advantageously has a widened section at at least one of its longitudinal ends. The widened longitudinal end of the groove facilitates threading the device onto the support element. The longitudinal end of the groove is located at a longitudinal end of the coupling means that delimits the coupling means in the direction of its longitudinal extension.

[0017] Instead of a groove, the coupling means can also comprise an arm defining at least one undercut, which extends radially or tangentially from an outer wall of the base element or an outer wall of the holding element. It is understood that in this case, the support element has a complementary groove that engages behind the undercut of the arm for coupling the device to the support element.

[0018] To ensure that the device can be easily engaged with the support element, i.e., easily threaded onto the support element, the coupling means preferably has a tapered section at at least one of its longitudinal ends. The longitudinal end delimits the coupling means in the direction of its longitudinal extension.

[0019] A particularly good engagement between the device and the support element can be achieved in that the arm, at its free end facing away from the outer wall of the base element or the outer wall of the holding element, merges into at least one angled hook section, so that the coupling means as a whole has, for example, a T-shaped or L-shaped cross-section. Instead of a hook section, the arm can also have a differently designed undercut end section at its free end facing away from the outer wall of the base element or the outer wall of the holding element, for example such that the coupling means has a round, in particular mushroom-shaped, a dovetail-shaped, or similarly designed cross-section.

[0020] If the coupling means has an arm with a hook portion or an otherwise undercut end portion, the coupling means forms, in a certain respect, a sliding block which can be guided in a groove of the carrier element when the device is in the coupled state.

[0021] To enable a placement robot to grip the device more effectively, but also for precise positioning and alignment of the device by means of the placement robot, a guide element is provided on the coupling means according to the invention. For the same purpose, a magnetizable, in particular ferromagnetic, element can additionally or alternatively be provided on the coupling means, in particular embedded therein.

[0022] Preferably, at least two guide elements are provided on opposite longitudinal sides of the coupling means to facilitate correct alignment of the device in the setting robot.

[0023] Furthermore, the guide element formed on the coupling means can also serve to align and / or guide the device on a support element.

[0024] The guide element can, for example, be designed in the form of a prism-like or hipped-roof-like projection on the coupling means. However, it is also conceivable for the guide element to be a notch on the coupling means.

[0025] The invention also relates to a system comprising at least one device of the type described above and a support element for receiving and guiding the at least one device. Preferably, the device is movably guided relative to the support element by the coupling means, allowing the device to be easily fed to a placement robot.

[0026] A particularly high degree of design freedom is achieved when the support element is designed to be flexible, at least in sections. For certain applications, the support element can alternatively or additionally be designed to be rigid, at least in sections. Furthermore, it is conceivable for the support element to be tubular, so that the support element surrounds the coupled device in the radial direction.

[0027] The invention is described below purely by way of example using possible embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a tolerance compensation device according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the tolerance compensation device of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3A a perspective view of the tolerance compensation device of Fig. 1in a partially pre-assembled state on a component; Fig. 3B a plan view from below of the tolerance compensation device of Fig. 1 in a partially pre-assembled state on a component; Fig. 4 a plan view from below of the tolerance compensation device of Fig. 1 in a fully pre-assembled state on a component; Fig. 5A and 5Bperspective views of several tolerance compensation devices of Fig. 1 , which are threaded onto a T-shaped support element; Fig. 6A to 6D different views of several tolerance compensation devices of Fig. 1 , which are threaded onto a flexible carrier element; Fig. 7 a tolerance compensation device according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8 a magazine for receiving tolerance compensation devices according to Fig. 1 or 7; Fig. 9 is an exploded view of a tolerance compensation device according to a third embodiment; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the tolerance compensation device of Fig. 9 with a first embodiment variant of a coupling means; Fig. 11 a perspective view of the tolerance compensation device of Fig. 9 with a second embodiment variant of the coupling means not according to the invention; Fig. 12 a plan view of a tolerance compensation device coupled to a carrier element according to Fig. 10 or 11 ; Fig. 13 a perspective view of the tolerance compensation device of Fig. 9 with a third embodiment variant of the coupling means; Fig. 14 a perspective view of the tolerance compensation device of Fig. 9 with a fourth embodiment variant of the coupling means not according to the invention; Fig. 15 a plan view of a tolerance compensation device coupled to a carrier element according to Fig. 13 or 14; Fig. 16 a perspective view of a tolerance compensation device according to a fourth embodiment not according to the invention; Fig. 17 a plan view of a tolerance compensation device coupled to a carrier element according to Fig. 16 ; and Fig. 18 a perspective view of a system comprising several tolerance compensation devices of Fig. 1 and two support elements.

[0028] In Fig. 1 to 4 A tolerance compensation device 14 according to a first embodiment is shown. The tolerance compensation device 14 comprises a base element 16 and a compensation element 18 engaged with the base element. For this purpose, the base element 16 forms a left-hand internal thread 16a, while the compensation element 18 has a correspondingly designed external thread 18a. The thread axes of the internal thread 16a and the external thread 18a define an axial direction.

[0029] The base element 16 and the compensating element 18 form a passage 20 extending in the axial direction for a connecting screw (not shown). A spring element 22 is inserted into the part of the passage 20 defined by the compensating element 18. This spring element 22 is provided to create a frictional connection between the connecting screw extending through the passage 20 and the compensating element 18. The spring element 22 transmits a torque from the connecting screw to the compensating element and is therefore also referred to as a torque transmission means.

[0030] The connecting screw is used to screw together two components arranged at a distance from each other, of which Fig. 2 a first component 24 is shown. A nut element 26 for the connecting screw is non-rotatably attached to the first component 24.

[0031] In the present embodiment, the nut element 26 is a press-in nut, which is pressed into a correspondingly provided receiving bore 28 of the first component 24. In this context, the term "press-in nut" also includes set nuts, rivet nuts, flare nuts, impact nuts, etc. Furthermore, it is conceivable to attach the nut element 26 to the first component 24 in other ways, for example, by gluing or welding.

[0032] The tolerance compensation device 14 further comprises a holding element 30 made of a plastic material, in which the base element 16 is held in a rotationally fixed manner. In the present exemplary embodiment, the base element 16 is pressed into the holding element 30. However, it is equally conceivable to glue the base element 16 into the holding element 30 or to shrink or mold the holding element 30 onto the base element 16. Specifically, the base element 16 sits in a holding section 32 of the holding element 30, which extends substantially perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0033] Furthermore, the holding element 30 forms a locking portion 34, which also extends substantially perpendicular to the axial direction. The locking portion 34 has an axial spacing from the holding portion 32 that is adapted to the thickness of the first component 24.

[0034] The locking section 34 comprises two locking arms 36 which are spaced apart from one another and slightly curved towards one another and which define a receptacle for the nut element 26 between them. The locking arms 36 have a certain elasticity such that they can be spread apart against a restoring force when pushed onto the nut element 26 in the radial direction and spring back into their rest position as soon as the nut element 26 is received in the receptacle ( Fig. 4 ). To prevent unintentional detachment of the locking portion 34 from the received nut element 26, the locking arms 36 have mutually facing locking projections 38 in the region of their free ends. To stiffen the locking arms 36, they are connected in the region of their base by a stiffening element 40, which partially projects beyond the nut element 26 received in the receptacle.

[0035] For the pre-assembly of the tolerance compensation device 14 on the first component 24, the tolerance compensation device 14 is pushed laterally, i.e. in the radial direction, onto the first component 24 in such a way that the first component is received between the holding section 32 and the locking section 34 and the locking section 34 locks with the nut element 26, as shown in Fig. 3 and 4 is shown. In order to facilitate the sliding of the tolerance compensation device 14 onto the first component 24, insertion bevels 41 are formed both in the region of the free ends of the locking arms 36 and in the corresponding region of the holding section 32.

[0036] In the preassembled state, the tolerance compensation device 14 does not necessarily need to be seated on the component 24 without play. Rather, a certain amount of play of the tolerance compensation device 14 locked onto the nut element 26 is desirable, at least in the radial direction, but possibly also in the axial direction, since this facilitates the subsequent screwing of the components, in particular the alignment of the tolerance compensation device 14 with the connecting screw.

[0037] To screw the components together, the connecting screw is inserted through a corresponding hole in the component (not shown) and (in Fig. 1from above) through the passage 20 of the tolerance compensation device 14 and screwed into the nut element 26. Due to the opposing threads of the connecting screw and the tolerance compensation device 14, the compensation element 18 is unscrewed from the base element 16 by the frictional engagement created by the spring element 22 while the connecting screw is screwed into the nut element 26, until it abuts the second component (not shown). From this point on, the distance between the components is bridged by the extended tolerance compensation device 14, and the components can be clamped together by tightening the connecting screw.

[0038] The holding section 32 and the locking section 34 are connected to one another by a connecting section 42 extending in the axial direction, which essentially forms the backbone of the holding element 30. The connecting section 42 has a cuboidal basic shape and forms a T-slot 44 on its rear side facing away from the locking arms 36. The connecting section 42 forms a coupling means 43, the functioning of which will be discussed in more detail below.

[0039] By means of the T-slot 44, the tolerance compensation device 14 can be pushed onto a correspondingly designed T-shaped support element 46 for transport and / or storage purposes, as shown in Fig. 5 is illustrated by three tolerance compensation devices 14.

[0040] Alternatively, the T-slot 44 allows the tolerance compensation device 14 to be threaded onto a flexible carrier element in the form of a carrier strip 48. Fig. 6shows such a carrier tape 48 with a plurality of tolerance compensation devices 14 threaded thereon. Such a configuration is suitable, for example, for feeding the tolerance compensation devices 14 to a setting robot for automated pre-assembly of the tolerance compensation devices 14 on one or more components 24.

[0041] In principle, such a positioning robot can be a gripper robot. Alternatively or additionally, the positioning robot can also have a magnet for holding the tolerance compensation devices 14. For interaction with the robot's magnet, an insert 50 made of a magnetizable, in particular ferromagnetic, material, for example a steel sheet, is embedded in the holding element 30, in the present embodiment in the area between the T-slot 44 and the stiffening element 40. Furthermore, a magnetizable, in particular ferromagnetic, element can be provided on the coupling means 43 and preferably embedded in the coupling means 43 (not shown in the figures).

[0042] On opposite outer sides of the connecting section 42, two axially spaced prism-like or hipped roof-like guide elements 52 are also provided, which serve for the additional guidance of the tolerance compensation device 14 in a carrier element in the form of a magazine 54 ( Fig. 8 ).

[0043] Fig. 7 shows a tolerance compensation device 14 according to a second embodiment, which ultimately differs from the first embodiment described above only in that the holding element 30 does not have a T-slot 44, but instead the insert 50 made of ferromagnetic material is embedded in the rear side of the connecting section 42 facing away from the locking arms 36. As before, the guide elements 52 serve to guide the tolerance compensation device 14 in the magazine 54.

[0044] Fig. 9 to 15show a tolerance compensation device 14 according to a third embodiment, which differs from the tolerance compensation device 14 according to the first embodiment in the design of the holding element 30 and the coupling means 43. The holding element 30 according to the tolerance compensation device 14 according to the third embodiment is essentially ring-shaped and has two clip arms 56 protruding from the holding element 30 in the axial direction. The clip arms 56 serve to fasten the tolerance compensation device 14 to a correspondingly designed first component.

[0045] Figs. 16 and 17show a tolerance compensation device 14 according to a fourth embodiment, which differs from the tolerance compensation device 14 according to the third embodiment only in the design of the holding element 30 and the coupling means 43. In the tolerance compensation device 14 according to the fourth embodiment, a holding clamp 57 is attached to the holding element 30. A nut element (not visible in the figures) for the connecting screw is mounted in the holding clamp 57. The holding clamp 57 also serves to clamp the tolerance compensation device 14 to a first component.

[0046] The design of the respective coupling means 43 of the tolerance compensation devices 14 according to the third and fourth embodiments is explained in more detail below with reference to the respective figures.

[0047] The coupling means 43 is designed to couple the tolerance compensation device 14 to a carrier element 46, 48, 54 in such a way that the tolerance compensation device 14 can be moved along the carrier element 46, 48, 54. The carrier element can be a rigid carrier element 46 ( Fig. 5A and 5B ) or a flexible support element 48 ( Fig. 6A to 6D ). Furthermore, a combination of rigid and flexible support elements 46, 48 is also conceivable, as is the case, for example, in Fig. 18 Furthermore, a tubular support element 54 is also conceivable, which radially surrounds the coupled tolerance compensation devices 14 ( Fig. 8 ). Such a tubular support element 54 can serve in particular as a storage magazine for several tolerance compensation devices 14.

[0048] In all these cases, the carrier element 46, 48, 54 and at least one tolerance compensation device 14 coupled thereto form a system 58 in which the carrier element 46, 48, 54 serves to receive and guide at least one tolerance compensation device 14.

[0049] If the system 58 comprises several different carrier elements 46, 48, the individual carrier elements 46, 48 can merge into one another for a continuous guidance of the tolerance compensation devices 14, as can be seen from Fig. 18 can be seen. Both the coupling means 43 and the hipped roof-like guide elements 52 formed on the coupling means 43 contribute to the guidance of the individual tolerance compensation devices 14. In the Fig. 18In the exemplary embodiment shown, the coupling means 43 serve to guide the respective tolerance compensation device 14 on the flexibly designed carrier element 48, while the guide elements 52 serve to guide the tolerance compensation device 14 on the rigidly designed carrier element 46.

[0050] The various coupling means 43 will now be explained in more detail. In the drawings, the coupling means 43 is formed on the holding element 30. However, it is also conceivable to provide the coupling means 43 on the base element 16 or even on the compensating element 18.

[0051] As can be seen from the drawings, the coupling means 43 each has a longitudinal extension that is aligned at least approximately parallel to the passage 20 defining the axial direction. In principle, however, the longitudinal extension of a coupling means 43 can also be aligned transversely, in particular at right angles, to the axial direction.

[0052] The Fig. 1 to 6D and 18 The tolerance compensation devices 14 shown each have a coupling means 43 which comprises a groove 44 defining at least one undercut 60. In the Fig. 1 to 6D and 18 In the illustrated embodiments, the groove 44 has two undercuts 60 and is thus designed as a T-slot. However, the groove 44 could also be designed as an L-slot, round groove, dovetail groove, or the like.

[0053] In order to make it easier to thread the tolerance compensation device 14 onto a carrier element 46, 48, 54, the groove 44 has a widening section 64 at each of the opposite longitudinal ends 62.

[0054] According to an alternative embodiment, the coupling means 43 can also be designed in the form of an arm 66 defining at least one undercut 60. The arm 66 can extend radially outward from an outer wall 68 of the holding element 30 ( Fig. 9 to 15 ). According to a Figs. 16 and 17 In the variant shown, the arm 66 can also extend tangentially away from the outer wall 68 of the holding element 30.

[0055] If the coupling means 43 is provided on the base element 16 or compensating element 18, the arm 66 can extend tangentially or radially away from the respective outer wall of the base element 16 or compensating element 18.

[0056] As shown by Fig. 9 to 11and especially based on the cross-sectional view in Fig. 12 As can be seen, the arm 66 defining the undercut 60 can have a round or mushroom-shaped cross-section. Alternatively, the arm 66 can also merge into at least one angled hook section 70 at its free end facing away from the outer wall 68, so that the coupling means 43 has an overall T-shaped cross-section ( Fig. 15 ) or an L-shaped cross-section ( Fig. 17 ). However, other cross-sectional shapes of the coupling means 43 are also conceivable, such as a dovetail-like cross-section. It is understood that the coupling means 43, when the tolerance compensation device 14 is coupled, is guided in a complementarily shaped groove 71 of the support element 46, 48, 54.

[0057] To facilitate threading of the tolerance compensation device 14, the Fig. 9 to 17The tolerance compensation devices 14 shown each have a tapered section 72 at their longitudinal ends 62.

[0058] To enable a setting robot (not shown in the figures) to better grip and align the tolerance compensation device 14, guide elements 52 are provided on the coupling means 43. The guide elements 52 can protrude from the coupling means 43 in the manner of a hipped roof, as can be seen, for example, from Fig. 1A and 1B can be clearly seen. However, it is also possible that the guide elements 52 on the coupling means 43 are formed in the form of notches ( Fig. 9 , 10 and 13 ). List of reference symbols

[0059] 14Tolerance compensation device 16Base element 18Compensation element 16aInternal thread 18aExternal thread 20Through 22Spring element 24First component 26Nut element 28Location bore 30Retaining element 32Retaining section 34Locking section 36Locking arm 38Locking projection 40Stiffening element 41Insertion bevel 42Connecting section 43Coupling means 44T-slot 46T-carrier 48Carrier band 50Insert 52Guide element 54Magazine 56Clip arms 57Retaining clip 58System 60Undercut 62Longitudinal end 64Flared section 66Arm 68Outer wall 70Hook section 71Groove 72Tapered section

Claims

1. A device (14) for compensating for tolerances between two components which are to be connected by a connecting screw, comprising a base element (16), a compensating element (18) which can be moved out of the base element (16), wherein the base element (16) and the compensating element (18) form a passage (20) for the connecting screw that defines an axial direction, and a coupling means (43) which is designed to couple the device (14) to a carrier element (46, 48, 54) and to guide the device (14) along the carrier element (46, 48, 54), characterized in that a guide element (52) is provided on the coupling means (43) so that a setting robot can better grip the device (14).

2. A device (14) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling means (43) is formed on the base element (16).

3. A device (14) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling means (43) is formed on a retaining element (30) for retaining the base element (16).

4. A device (14) according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the coupling means (43) has a longitudinal extension which is oriented at least approximately parallel to the axial direction.

5. A device (14) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling means (43) comprises a slot (44) which defines at least one undercut (60).

6. A device (14) according to claim 5, characterized in that the slot (44) is a T-slot, an L-slot, a round slot, a dovetail slot or similar.

7. A device (14) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the slot (44) has a widening portion (64) on at least one of the longitudinal ends (62) thereof.

8. A device (14) according to at least one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the coupling means (43) comprises an arm (66) which defines at least one undercut (60) and which extends radially or tangentially away from an outer wall (68) of the base element (16).

9. A device (14) according to claim 3, characterized in that the coupling means (43) comprises an arm (66) which defines at least one undercut (60) and which extends radially or tangentially away from an outer wall (68) of the retaining element (30).

10. A device (14) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the coupling means (43) has a tapering portion (72) on at least one of the longitudinal ends thereof.

11. A device (14) according to at least one of the claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the arm (66) transitions into at least one angled hook portion (70) at the free end thereof which faces away from the outer wall (68).

12. A device (14) according to at least one of the claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the coupling means (43) has a cross section which is T-shaped, L-shaped, round, in particular in the shape of a mushroom or dovetail.

13. A device (14) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a magnetizable, in particular ferromagnetic, element is provided on the coupling means (43), in particular is recessed in the coupling means (43).

14. A system (58) comprising at least one device (14) according to at least one of claims 1 to 13 and a carrier element (46, 48, 54) for receiving and guiding the at least one device (14), in particular wherein the device (14) is movably guided relative to the carrier element (46, 48, 54) by the coupling means (43), and / or the carrier element (46, 48, 54) is flexible at least in portions and / or is rigid at least in portions.