Fastening element and decoupling assembly

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a fastening element and a decoupling assembly comprising the fastening element for add-on parts connected to a body structure of a motor vehicle, a method for producing the decoupling assembly and its assembly.

[0002] To reduce the noise generated during operation of an internal combustion engine, it is important that add-on components flanged to the engine block are vibrationally decoupled from the engine block. For this purpose, decoupling elements are used between the screw head of a fastening screw and the component held by the fastening screw. Using a decoupling element, other, particularly smaller, add-on components can also be attached to the vehicle, for example a pump or heat pump of an electric motor or a valve on another vehicle component. This decoupling between the add-on component, for example the valve, and another vehicle component ensures that no disturbing noises are emitted into the interior during operation.

[0003] Installing a conventional decoupling element requires additional production time, as the nut or bolt must first be inserted and then tightened. Furthermore, an additional tool (wrench or torque wrench) is required for the assembly process.

[0004] DE 10 2019 113 663 A1 relates to a spacer for a fastening arrangement for the vibration-damped fastening of a mounting part to a support part. The spacer has a base body with a first flange region and a second flange region opposite it, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the base body, as well as a passage in which a fastener connected or to be connected to the support part can be received at least partially. The base body is designed in at least two parts and has a first body part and at least one further, second body part, wherein the body parts can be detachably connected to one another to form the base body, and wherein, in the connected state of the body parts, a gap region is provided between the first and second flange regions, by which the border of a fastening hole formed in the mounting part can be received at least partially.

[0005] DE 10 2009 017 806 A1 discloses a fastening element for securing a component to a supporting part. The fastening element has an anchoring element that can be secured to the supporting part. Furthermore, a radial compensation element is provided to compensate for a radial offset between the component and the anchoring element. Finally, the fastening element also has a retaining element for holding the component.

[0006] From DE 10 2016 113 797 A1 a fastening unit for the threadless fastening of tissue to bone is known, comprising an anchor element which can be fixed to a bone, a holding element which can be coupled to the anchor element in order to attach a tissue section to the bone, wherein the anchor element and the holding element can be locked together and form a holding area between them in which the tissue section can be received.

[0007] DE 10 2019 111 078 A1 relates to a fastening arrangement with a damping effect, which consists of two identical fastening units, each with a central first through-opening. Each fastening unit comprises a mounting element and a damping element. The mounting element is disc-shaped with a central second through-opening, and an identical locking structure extends from a first side of each mounting element. The damping element is disc-shaped with a central third through-opening and is at least partially arranged in the central second through-opening of the mounting element. Due to this design, the two fastening units can be fastened to one another via the mutually facing first sides with the identical locking structure of the respective mounting elements, with the first component arranged between them.

[0008] DE 10 2005 010 433 A1 relates to a damping mount for the vibration- and noise-isolated mounting of a sheet metal component. The damping mount consists of two bearing parts made of elastomeric material that hold the sheet metal component in the area of ​​a through-hole and through which a fastener passes. The damping mount has two identical bearing parts that have at least one tooth along the circumference in the area between the through-hole and the radial support, and a number of tooth engagement recesses, equal to the number of teeth, arranged on the circumference next to this tooth or these teeth and congruent with the opposite surface of the tooth.

[0009] DE 100 58 520 C1 presents a fastening device for fastening a disc-shaped component in a receiving channel of a receiving component, wherein the fastening device is seated in a bore in the component and in through-holes aligned therewith in the walls of the receiving channel, wherein the diameter of the bore in the disc-shaped component is smaller than that of the through-holes in the receiving component. Two identical clips are provided, which can be inserted into the bores from opposite ends. Each clip has an approximately annular-cylindrical section and a hollow shaft. The annular-cylindrical section seated in a through-hole in a wall has an approximately radial, approximately annular shoulder that bears against the facing side of the disc-shaped component.The shaft has at least two circumferentially spaced legs extending through the bore of the disc-shaped component and the through-hole in the other wall, with the space between adjacent legs accommodating a leg of the other clip. The legs have a radially projecting portion on the outside that can be brought into engagement with the wall of the bore of the disc-shaped component. The legs, which are arranged interlockingly when the clips are inserted into one another, are secured against being pulled apart by cooperating locking means.

[0010] WO 2010 022 841 A1 relates to a fastening arrangement for fastening a component B to a component A with automatic compensation of tolerances in the distance (S) between the component B and the component A, which has the following features: a.) a receiving element and an adjusting element which can be screwed to the receiving element via a first thread pairing of a first thread direction, while b.) a fastening screw can be inserted through an opening in the receiving element and adjusting element, which fastening screw can be screwed into the receiving element via a second thread pairing of a second thread direction opposite to the first and can be connected to the adjusting element by a detachable drag connection in order to rotate the adjusting element when the fastening screw is turned and thus move it into contact with the component B, and c.) Adjustment element consists of a drag element arranged in a rotationally fixed and floating manner within a threaded element, so that any misalignment of the fastening screw can be compensated for when inserting it into the adjustment element.

[0011] From US 2 797 605 A, a two-part fastener made of elastic plastic is known, comprising a pair of identical fasteners, each element comprising a head and a shank, each shank consisting of a plurality of shank sections spaced laterally apart from one another at a sufficient distance to receive the portions of the shank of the other fastener therebetween. Each of the shank sections includes a surface which, with the other shank sections, forms a shank circumference, the shank sections having radial edges arranged at an angle to one another, and each of the radial edges is provided with a plurality of tooth formations near the end of the shank section spaced from the head over a substantial part of the shank length towards the head.Each tooth formation has a surface on the radial edges arranged at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the fastener and facing in a direction away from the head to facilitate insertion of the shank portions of the fastener into engagement with the shank portions of the other fastener.

[0012] Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide a fastening device for a decoupling element and a decoupling assembly for add-on parts connected to a body structure of a motor vehicle, which is easy to manufacture and can be assembled with little expenditure of components and time.

[0013] The object is achieved according to the invention by a component having the features of claim 1, a decoupling assembly having the features of claim 6 and a method having the features of claim 10. Embodiments and developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the description and the illustration.

[0014] The subject matter of the invention is a component which is designed to be joined to a second identical component in order to form a fastening structure for a decoupling element for an add-on part connected to a body structure of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, a body structure of a motor vehicle can be any desired area in the vehicle, for example an engine compartment, a trunk or another area in the vehicle, such as a floor panel area, a roof area, a side panel area, or also a further component, such as a technical recess, for example in the form of an area of ​​the trunk. Depending on the design of the vehicle, a trunk can be arranged in the front or rear area of ​​the vehicle as viewed in the direction of travel.

[0015] The component according to the invention is made of a thermoplastic. The component according to the invention is made of a hard material and provides the strength of the assembly. In one embodiment, the thermoplastic is polyamide (PA), polyamide 6 (PA6), or polyamide 66 (PA66), although glass fiber-reinforced PA, PA6, or PA66 can also be used.

[0016] The component according to the invention comprises a base plate having a central opening. In one embodiment, the base plate is round. In another embodiment, the outer contour of the base plate is a polygon with an even number of corners, for example, four, six, or eight corners.

[0017] In one embodiment, the central opening is a circular opening. In another embodiment, the outer contour of the central opening is polygonal with at least three corners, for example, a triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal opening.

[0018] The base plate has at least two identically shaped cylinder wall segments arranged equidistantly from one another on a circular line coaxial with its center (and thus with the center of the central opening) on ​​its upper side, and recesses arranged between each of the two cylinder wall segments. The length of the circular arc between two cylinder wall segments is at least as long as the length of the upper edge of a cylinder wall segment. In one embodiment, the length of the circular arc between two cylinder wall segments is the same as the length of the upper edge of a cylinder wall segment.

[0019] Each of the cylinder wall segments has a locking lug on its upper edge, which is designed to engage in a corresponding recess in the base plate of a second identical component and to lock the two components together. If the length of the circular arc between two cylinder wall segments and the length of the upper edge of the cylinder wall segments of the component are the same, the gaps between the cylinder wall segments of both components are filled by the cylinder wall segments of the other component, forming a closed hollow cylinder. If the length of the circular arc between two cylinder wall segments is greater than the length of the upper edge of the cylinder wall segments, gaps remain between the cylinder wall segments after joining.

[0020] The cylinder wall segments are identically shaped and arranged equidistant from one another, so that the length of the circular arc between two cylinder wall segments is at least as long as the length of an upper edge of a cylinder wall segment. In one embodiment, the upper edge of the cylinder wall segments has the same length as their lower edge. In other embodiments, the length of the upper edge of the cylinder wall segments is shorter than the length of the lower edge, i.e., the cylinder wall segments taper towards the top.

[0021] In one embodiment, the component according to the invention has two identical and equidistantly arranged cylinder wall segments. In one embodiment, the component is constructed with mirror symmetry, with the plane of symmetry running through the vertical axis (Z-axis) of the component.

[0022] In another embodiment, the component according to the invention has more than two identical and equidistantly arranged cylinder wall segments. In a further embodiment, the component according to the invention has three identical and equidistantly arranged cylinder wall segments. In a further embodiment, the component according to the invention has four identical and equidistantly arranged cylinder wall segments.

[0023] In one embodiment of the component according to the invention, the base plate has centering elements arranged at the edge of the opening between the equidistantly arranged cylinder wall segments.

[0024] The side of each cylinder wall segment facing the central opening carries a spring element. In In one embodiment, the spring elements are arranged above the plane of the opening in the base plate. InIn one embodiment, the spring elements are tongues that extend parallel to the base plate. In In one embodiment, the support structure has at least two equidistantly arranged spring elements. In In a further embodiment, the support structure has more than two spring elements, for example three or four spring elements.

[0025] The spring elements are designed to engage the thread flanks of a threaded bolt or coarse thread bolt when inserted into the central opening of the component. This allows the component to be secured to the bolt, eliminating the need for screwing during assembly of the component or decoupling assembly. The fastening structure is simply placed onto a threaded bolt or coarse thread bolt. The spring elements, which are arranged radially inside the fastening structure, engage the thread flanks.

[0026] In one embodiment, the width of the central opening in the area of ​​the spring elements is at least as large as or greater than the width of the spring elements. This allows for better demolding of the spring elements in the injection mold.

[0027] In one embodiment of the component according to the invention, the underside of the base plate has stiffening ribs.

[0028] The invention also relates to a decoupling assembly comprising two identical components according to the invention and a decoupling element. The decoupling assembly according to the invention comprises two identical components according to the invention and a decoupling element made of an elastomer. The decoupling element is made of a soft, elastic material and provides vibration decoupling of the mounting structure and dampens vibrations and structure-borne noise. InIn one embodiment, the elastomer is an ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), or a crosslinked olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPV).

[0029] In one embodiment, the decoupling element has the shape of a cylinder. In another embodiment, the decoupling element has the shape of a polygonal prism, for example, a prism with a square, hexagonal, or octagonal base. In one embodiment, the decoupling element has a circumferential groove on its outer surface, which is designed to engage the edge of a recess in a holder and fix the decoupling element in the recess.

[0030] The decoupling element has a central cylindrical channel whose diameter corresponds at least to the outer diameter of the hollow cylinder formed by the cylinder wall segments of the fastening structure. This diameter can also be larger. The resulting gap between the outer diameter of the cylinder wall segments and the inner diameter of the decoupling element further promotes decoupling. The length of the central channel corresponds to the height of the cylinder wall segments of the fastening structure, i.e., the length of the hollow cylinder of the fastening structure.

[0031] In the decoupling assembly according to the invention, the decoupling element encloses the hollow cylinder formed from the cylinder wall segments of the fastening structure. The base plates of the components of the fastening structure contact the top and bottom of the decoupling element and fix it in the decoupling assembly.

[0032] The invention also relates to a method for vibration decoupling of an add-on part on a body structure of a motor vehicle. In the method, a decoupling element made of an elastomer and having a central cylindrical channel is introduced into a recess in a holder of the add-on part and fixed there, for example, latched to the edge of the recess. Subsequently, two identical components according to the invention are inserted from opposite sides of the recess in the holder of the add-on part into the central cylindrical channel of the decoupling element and latched together to form a decoupling assembly. The locking lugs of the first component engage in the corresponding recesses of the second component, and the locking lugs of the second component engage in the corresponding recesses of the first component.The decoupling assembly is then placed onto a threaded bolt attached to the body structure of the vehicle. Spring elements of the decoupling assembly engage the bolt's thread flanks and secure the decoupling assembly. According to the invention, the threaded bolt can also be designed as a coarse-threaded bolt.

[0033] The body structure can be any area on the vehicle, for example an engine compartment, a trunk or any other area in the vehicle, such as a floor panel area, a roof area, a side panel area or another component, such as a technical recess, for example in the form of an area of ​​the trunk.

[0034] The attachment to be decoupled and fastened is a component located in the vehicle, for example a valve, an electrically driven water pump, a sensor, a control unit, or a pipe.

[0035] During assembly, the decoupling assembly simply needs to be pushed onto a threaded or coarse-threaded bolt, with the spring-loaded plastic elements inside the decoupling assembly engaging the threaded flanks of the bolt. Anti-twist protection is not necessary, as the decoupling element rests on the holder and develops a frictional moment through surface pressure, preventing the element from coming loose on its own (e.g., due to vibration while driving). For assembly (and before plugging in), the two halves of the decoupling assembly's fastening structure are inserted into one another from one side of the holder in the central cylindrical channel of the decoupling element, with the locking lugs of each half engaging in the recesses on the bottom of the other half.

[0036] Compared to prior art decoupling elements, the decoupling assembly according to the invention eliminates the need for a spacer bushing, a washer, and a nut or screw per decoupling assembly. The assembly of a decoupling assembly is simplified, and the plastic construction results in a low weight. During assembly, screwing on a nut or screw is replaced by simply slipping on the decoupling assembly, which shortens production time. Furthermore, tightening the nut or screw with a torque wrench is no longer necessary. Various small parts and assembly tools can be eliminated during assembly. Further advantages and refinements of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings.

[0037] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0038] The invention is illustrated schematically in the drawings using embodiments and will be further described with reference to the drawings. It shows: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the component according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a view from below of an embodiment of the component according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of two components according to the invention plugged together; Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section of a decoupling assembly comprising two components according to the invention; Figure 5 shows working steps (assembly steps) of the method according to the invention.

[0039] Figure 1shows an embodiment of the component 10 according to the invention. The illustrated component 10 can be plugged together with a second identical component 10. The component 10 consists of a hard thermoplastic, e.g., PA, PA6, PA66, etc., with or without a glass fiber content.

[0040] The component 10 comprises a base plate 12 with a central opening 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the base plate 12 is round, and the central opening 21 is an elongated opening with a circular center. In another embodiment, the outer contour of the base plate 12 is a polygon with an even number of corners, for example, four, six, or eight corners. The central opening 11 can also have a polygonal contour with at least three corners, for example, be triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal.

[0041] On the upper side of the base plate 12, two cylinder wall segments 14 are located on a circular line coaxial with the center of the opening 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening 11 extends from the base of one cylinder wall segment 14 to the base of the other cylinder wall segment 14. The cylinder wall segments 24 are identically shaped and arranged equidistant from one another, so that the length of the circular arc between two cylinder wall segments 14 is equal to the length of an upper edge of a cylinder wall segment 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the length of the upper edge of the cylinder wall segments 14 is shorter than the length of the lower edge, i.e. the cylinder wall segments 14 taper upwards. In other embodiments, the upper edge of the cylinder wall segments 14 has the same length as their lower edge.

[0042] A first recess 15 is located in the base plate 12 between each pair of cylinder wall segments 14; and each of the cylinder wall segments 14 has a locking lug 16 on its upper edge. The locking lug 16 is configured to engage in a corresponding first recess 15 of a second identical component 10 when the latter is placed onto the component 10, and to lock the two components 10 together. The gaps between the cylinder wall segments 14 of both components 10 are filled by the cylinder wall segments 14 of the respective other component 10, forming a closed hollow cylinder.

[0043] On the rear side of each cylinder wall segment 14, there is a second recess 19 in the base plate 12. The recess 19 facilitates the production of the component 10 using the injection molding process by avoiding undercuts, which would require additional slides in the injection mold. However, the component could also be manufactured without the recess 19.

[0044] On the upper side of the base plate 12, on the side of each of the cylinder wall segments 14 facing the opening 11, a spring element 13 is arranged. The spring elements 13 are designed to engage with the thread flanks of the threaded bolt 300 when a threaded bolt 300 is inserted into the opening 11. The illustrated embodiment has two spring elements 13 that are mounted on opposite sides of the opening 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring elements 13 are arranged above the opening 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring elements 13 are designed as tongues that extend parallel to the base plate 12.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, centering elements 17 are arranged on the upper side of the base plate 12 at the edge of the opening 11 between the spring elements 13. These guide a threaded bolt 300, which passes through the central opening 11 of the component 10, and prevent it from becoming jammed.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the component 10 is constructed mirror-symmetrically, with the plane of symmetry running through the vertical axis (Z-axis) of the component 10.

[0047] Figure 2 shows a view from below of an embodiment of the component 10 according to the invention.

[0048] The component 10 comprises a base plate 12 with a central opening 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the base plate 12 is round and the central opening 21 is an elongated opening with a circular central part.

[0049] In the view from below, the spring elements 13 and the locking lugs 16, which are arranged on the cylinder wall segments 14 not visible in this illustration and are located above the plane of the base plate 12, are clearly visible, as are the first recesses 15 and the second recesses 19 in the base plate 12. Stiffening ribs 18, which increase the stiffness of the component 10, are arranged on the underside of the base plate 12.

[0050] Figure 3 shows an assembly consisting of two components 10 according to the invention that are plugged together. The locking lugs 16 of the two components 10 engage in the corresponding first recesses 15 of the other component 10 and lock the two components 10 together. The cylinder wall segments 14 of both components 10 form a closed hollow cylinder.

[0051] Figure 4shows a longitudinal section through a decoupling assembly 100 comprising two assembled components 10 according to the invention and a decoupling element 30. The decoupling element 30 is made of a soft, elastic material, e.g., EPDM, TPE, or TPV. The two components 10, 30 of the decoupling assembly 100 have different functions. The hard component 10 acts as a support structure and provides the strength of the assembly 100; the soft component 30 effects vibration decoupling between a holder 200 and the components 10, thereby dampening vibrations and structure-borne noise. The decoupling element 30 encloses the hollow cylinder formed from the cylinder wall segments 14 of the assembled components 10. If a threaded bolt 300 is inserted into the central opening of the decoupling assembly 100, the centering elements 17 guide it and prevent it from snagging.The spring elements 13 engage in thread flanks of the threaded bolt 300 and thereby fix the decoupling assembly 100 on the threaded bolt 300.

[0052] Figure 5 shows working steps of the method according to the invention for vibration decoupling of a holder 200 connected to a body structure 400 in a motor vehicle.

[0053] The figure above left shows a holder 200 for an attachment part, which has recesses 210. First, two identical decoupling elements 30 are inserted into the recesses.

[0054] The figure at the top right shows how two identical components 10 according to the invention are then inserted from opposite sides through central openings of the decoupling elements 30 and the recesses 210 of the holder 200 and locked together to form decoupling assemblies 100.

[0055] The illustration below right shows the mounting of the holder 200 on a body structure 400 of a motor vehicle. For this purpose, the holder 200 is simply placed onto threaded bolts 300 that are attached to the body structure 400. The spring elements 13 contained in the decoupling assemblies 100 engage the thread flanks of the threaded bolts 300 and thereby fix the holder 200 on the threaded bolts 300, without the need for additional components or further work steps.

[0056] The figure below left shows the result of the assembly process.

[0057] The body structure 400, on which the threaded bolt 300 is mounted, can be part of an engine compartment or a technical compartment of a vehicle, for example. For example, after the mounting of the holder 200, the technical compartment can accommodate a repair tool set using this holder 200. For example, using the components 10 according to the invention in the technical compartment, a valve can be attached to the holder 200, for example, to cool a control unit. List of reference symbols

[0058] 10 Component 11 Opening 12 Base plate 13 Spring element 14 Cylinder wall segment 15 First recess 16 Locking lug 17 Centering element 18 Reinforcing ribs 19 Second recess 30 Decoupling element 100 Decoupling assembly 200 Holder 210 Recess 300 Threaded bolt 400 Body structure

Claims

1. Component (10) made of a thermoplastic, which is configured to be assembled with a second identical component (10) and a decoupling element (30) made of an elastomer to form a decoupling assembly (100) for an add-on part of a motor vehicle connected to a body structure, comprising i) a base plate (12) having a central opening (11), ii) at least two identically shaped cylinder wall segments (14) arranged equidistantly from one another on the upper side of the base plate (12) on a circular line coaxial with the center of the opening (11), each side facing the opening (11) having at least one spring element (13) which is configured to engage in thread flanks of a threaded bolt (300) when the threaded bolt (300) is introduced into the opening (11), wherein the length of the circular arc between two cylinder wall segments (14) is at least as great as the length of an upper edge of a cylinder wall segment (14), characterized in that each of the cylinder wall segments (14) has on its upper edge a detent lug (16) which is configured to engage in a corresponding recess (15) of the second identical component (10) and to lock the two components (10) together, and that the component (10) iii) has recesses (15) arranged between each two cylinder wall segments (14).

2. Component (10) according to claim 1, which has more than two cylinder wall segments (14).

3. Component (10) according to claim 1 or 2, which includes centering elements (17) arranged at the edge of the opening (11) between the equidistantly arranged cylinder wall segments (14).

4. Component (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thermoplastic is a polyamide (PA), polyamide 6 (PA6), or polyamide 66 (PA66), optionally reinforced with glass fibers.

5. Component (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, which is produced by an injection molding method.

6. Decoupling assembly (100) for an add-on part on a body structure (400) of a motor vehicle, which comprises two identical components (10) according to any one of the preceding claims and a decoupling element (30) made of an elastomer.

7. Decoupling assembly (100) according to claim 6, wherein the elastomer is an ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), or a crosslinked olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPV).

8. Decoupling assembly (100) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the decoupling element (30) has a central cylindrical channel.

9. Decoupling assembly (100) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the decoupling element (30) has a circumferential groove on its outside.

10. Method for vibration decoupling of an add-on part on a body structure (400) of a motor vehicle, wherein a decoupling element (30) made of an elastomer and having a central cylindrical channel is introduced into a recess (210) of a holder (200) of the add-on part and fixed there, subsequently two components (10) are plugged from opposite sides of the recess (210) of the holder (210) of the add-on part into the central cylindrical channel of the decoupling element (30) and locked together to form a decoupling assembly (100), and subsequently the decoupling assembly (100) is plugged onto a threaded bolt (300) attached to a body structure (400) of the motor vehicle, whereby spring elements (13) of the decoupling assembly (100) engage in thread flanks of the threaded bolt (300) and fix the decoupling assembly (100), characterized in that two components (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 are locked together.