SEMI-SCREWED FITTING AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A SEMI-SCREWED FITTING

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a half-screw connection for mounting on an opening of a wall element according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for mounting a half-screw connection.

[0002] EP 2 225 811 B1 discloses a connection fitting for attaching hoses or cables to a wall opening. A clamping element with abutment tabs is inserted into the opening. This clamping element has an external thread that connects to the internal thread of a screw sleeve. A sleeve-shaped lock is inserted into the clamping element to prevent movement of the abutment tabs. A union nut is fixed to the screw sleeve. The construction of this connection fitting requires a large number of individual parts, making it complex to manufacture and assemble. Furthermore, the prefabricated components are difficult to adapt to different wall thicknesses. Another cable entry system is disclosed in EP 1 710 886.

[0003] The subsequently published DE 10 2021 106 864 discloses a half-screw connection that can be attached to a wall opening from one side and has a plug-in part with locking hooks that can be supported by a locking element. A union nut is attached to an external thread of the plug-in part, allowing the half-screw connection to be fixed to the housing wall with just a few components. Adaptation to different wall thicknesses is also not provided here.

[0004] GB 1 269 499 discloses a pipe connection in which an annular section with two flexible arms with outwardly projecting flange sections can be pushed through an opening in a wall. A pipe section with an external thread can be screwed into the annular section.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a half-screw connection and a method for assembling a half-screw connection which ensure effective assembly and enable adaptation to different wall thicknesses.

[0006] This object is achieved with a half screw connection having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 12.

[0007] The half-screw connection according to the invention can be mounted on an opening in a wall element, for example a housing or a cabinet, in particular for the passage of hoses, pipes or cables. The half-screw connection comprises a sleeve-shaped clamping element with at least one spring bar with at least one radially outwardly projecting projection for engaging behind the wall element, and an intermediate piece with a first thread and a second thread, wherein a union nut is screwed onto the first thread. An internal thread is screwed onto the clamping element on the second thread of the intermediate piece, which is designed as an external thread, and the at least one spring bar can be supported by an end section of the intermediate piece on a radially inner side.This allows the insertion depth of the intermediate socket into the clamping element to be flexibly adjusted, depending on how far the internal thread of the intermediate socket is screwed into the clamping element. This allows for easy adaptation to different wall thicknesses of the wall element and also ensures simple installation of the half-screw connection, as the intermediate socket is screwed into the clamping element on one side and serves to secure the union nut on the opposite side. A half-screw connection is a cable entry or cable gland in which the screw connection is secured on only one side of a wall element, usually on the outer side or half of the wall element.

[0008] The clamping element preferably has an internal thread on a sleeve-shaped section. The clamping element can be slotted in the axial direction to allow mounting on an elongated object. The internal thread can be formed by individual segments, projections, or a complete thread turn. The type of internal thread can be adapted to the respective load case.

[0009] Preferably, several spring bars extend axially along the sleeve-shaped section, which engage behind the wall element in the assembled position. The spring bars can be spaced apart from one another via slots or openings. For effective centering, three spring bars can be provided distributed around the circumference.

[0010] To fix the half-screw connection to the wall element, according to the invention a nut is screwed onto the second thread of the intermediate socket, which can be clamped in the axial direction with the clamping element. After securing the at least one spring bar against radially inward deflection, the nut can be screwed onto the second thread of the intermediate socket until the nut rests directly or indirectly on the wall element and thus pulls the intermediate socket and the clamping element out of the opening in the wall element in the axial direction until the at least one projection on the spring bar rests on the wall element and is clamped. This ensures stable fixation of the half-screw connection. Optionally, an elastic seal can be provided between the nut and the wall element to create a seal.The nut can be designed with a polygonal shape on the outer circumference or as a knurled nut with serrations or teeth on the outer circumference. Such serrations or teeth can also be driven by a tool to ensure effective assembly of the half-screw connection.

[0011] In a further embodiment, a polygon for a tool, such as a hexagon or a square, is integrally formed on the intermediate connector. This allows the intermediate connector to be rotated or fixed during assembly with a first tool, and the nut to be rotated or fixed with a second tool. The polygon can be formed between the first thread and the second thread, which can optionally have different diameters to prevent incorrect assembly. Alternatively, the two threads can also have the same outer diameter.

[0012] To achieve improved sealing with fewer components, a cage can be formed at the end of the second thread of the intermediate connector by several axially protruding webs. An annular sealing element made of an elastic material is preferably held on the webs of the cage, which is pressed against an elongated object, such as a hose or cable, when the union nut is screwed on, creating a seal.

[0013] The sealing of the half screw connection can be further improved if a seal is also provided between the polygon and the nut, so that after mounting the nut, the polygon is screwed onto the nut with a seal in between.

[0014] For effective assembly, the nut and / or the clamping element can have a segmented thread on an inner side. The thread can optionally be designed so that axial displacement is possible when a predetermined force is exceeded in the axial direction, and only fine adjustment is performed by turning the threads. The patterns, the clamping element, and / or the intermediate connector can be manufactured as injection-molded plastic parts, or alternatively, entirely or partially from metal.

[0015] In a method according to the invention for mounting a half-screw connection on an opening in a wall element, a sleeve-shaped clamping element with at least one spring bar with a radially outwardly projecting projection is first inserted through an opening in a wall element such that the at least one projection engages behind the wall element. Subsequently, an external thread of an intermediate socket is screwed into an internal thread of the clamping element until the at least one spring bar is at least partially supported on an inner side against radially inward movement. As a result, the screw-in depth of the intermediate socket can be easily adjusted via the threaded connection, which simplifies installation and enables adaptation to different wall thicknesses.

[0016] According to the invention, a nut is also screwed onto the outer thread of the intermediate socket until the nut bears directly or indirectly against a wall element and prestresses the at least one projection on the at least one spring bar in the axial direction towards the wall element.

[0017] The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the following drawings. They show: Figure 1 shows a view of a half-screw connection according to the invention in an assembled position; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the half-screw connection of the Figure 1 ; Figure 3 a perspective view of the half screw connection of the Figure 2 ; Figure 4 a sectional view of the half screw connection of the Figure 3; Figures 5A and 5B two views of the intermediate piece of the half-screw connection; Figures 6A and 6B two views of the clamping element of the half-screw connection; Figures 7A and 7B two views of the nut of the half-screw connection; Figure 8 a view of a half-screw connection according to a modified embodiment, and Figure 9 a perspective view of the nut of the half-screw connection of the Figure 8 .

[0018] A half screw connection 1 is used to fix an elongated object 9, such as a cable, a pipe or a line for passage through an opening of a wall element 10, for example a control cabinet or another component.

[0019] The half-screw connection 1 comprises a clamping element 2, which is inserted through the opening in the wall element 10 with a plurality of spring bars 20 distributed around the circumference. The bendable spring bars 20 each have a protruding projection 21 on the radially outer side, which, in the assembled position, comes into contact with one side of the wall element 10. Furthermore, the spring bars 20 are provided with a bevel 22 in the region of the projection 21, which ensures that the spring bars 20 can be bent radially inward when inserted through the opening, so that they can then lock behind the opening.

[0020] The clamping element 2 is fixed to an intermediate connector 3, onto which a union nut 4 is screwed at a first thread 31. The elongated object 9 is passed through the union nut 4 and the intermediate connector 3 and fixed.

[0021] As in Figure 2As shown, the tensioning element 2 has a sleeve-shaped portion, which does not have to be completely annular and can, for example, include a slot or a recess. An internal thread 24 is formed on the sleeve-shaped portion, which is formed by segmented sections or by one or more turns. The spring bars 20 extend from the sleeve-shaped portion in the axial direction, with openings or recesses 23 being provided between the spring bars 20, so that the spring bars 20 can be pivoted independently of one another.

[0022] The intermediate socket 3 comprises, on the side facing away from the clamping element 2, the first thread 31 for fixing the union nut 4 and, on the opposite side, a sleeve-shaped section with a second thread 32, which is designed as an external thread. Between the first thread 31 and the second thread 32, a polygon 30, in particular a hexagon, is integrally formed in order to rotate the intermediate socket 3 relative to the union nut 4 or another nut 5. A cage consisting of several webs 33, into which an annular sealing element 8 is inserted, is formed on the first thread 31 in the axial direction. By screwing on the union nut 4, the sealing element 8 can be pressed against the elongated object 9 for sealing.

[0023] The half-screw connection 1 further comprises a nut 5, which can be screwed onto the second thread 32 of the intermediate connector 3. A seal 7, which is designed, for example, as an O-ring, is provided between the nut 5 and the polygon 30.

[0024] In the Figures 3 and 4 The half-screw connection 1 is shown assembled, and it can be seen that the internal thread 24 of the clamping element 2 is screwed onto the second thread 32 of the intermediate piece. The thread 32 of the intermediate piece is screwed so far into the clamping element 2 that the spring bars 20 are supported on an inner side and thus can no longer bend inward in the assembled position in order to fix the half-screw connection 1 to the wall element 10. The second thread 32 is preferably screwed in over at least 50% of the length of the spring bars 20, for example between 60 and 90% of the length.

[0025] Furthermore, the nut 5 is screwed onto the second thread 32 and, in the mounted position, ensures that the clamping element 2 is clamped. For this purpose, the nut 5 is screwed in the direction of the wall element 10 until it rests against the wall element 10, either directly or via the interposition of a seal 6, in particular an O-ring. The clamping element 2 is then pulled out of the opening in the wall element 10 by screwing the nut 5 until the projections 21 come into contact with the wall element 10. By turning the nut 5, adaptation to different wall thicknesses of the wall element 10 can be carried out. For example, the half-screw connection can be fixed to wall elements 10 with a thickness between 1 mm and 10 mm, in particular 2 mm to 5 mm.

[0026] Formed in the intermediate connector 3 is a passage 34 for the elongated object 9, which passage is formed by the sealing element 8 in the region of the union nut 4. In addition to the internal thread 40, the union nut 4 has an obliquely inwardly directed clamping section 41, so that when the union nut 4 is screwed on, the webs 33 with the sealing element 8 are pressed inward against the elongated object 9.

[0027] In the Figures 5A and 5B The intermediate connector 3 is shown, in which the polygon 30 is arranged between the first thread 31 and the second thread 32. The first thread 31 has a larger diameter than the second thread 32, with the cross-sectional contour of the passage 34 remaining constant.

[0028] In the Figures 6A and 6B the clamping element 2 is shown, which has the internal thread 24 on a sleeve-shaped section and comprises three spring bars 20, between which recesses 23 are formed.

[0029] In the Figures 7A and 7B The nut 5 is shown, which has a polygon 51 on its outer circumference, which surrounds an internal thread 50, which can optionally be formed as a segmented thread. Furthermore, the nut 5 has three projections 52 that can be inserted into the recesses 23 on the clamping element 2 in order to arrange the clamping element 2 in a rotationally fixed manner when the intermediate piece 3 is screwed into the clamping element 2 with the second thread 32.

[0030] For assembly, the clamping element 2 is first inserted into the opening in the wall element 10 until the projections 21 are arranged on a rear side of the wall element 10. The spring bars 20 are then secured against inward bending by screwing the intermediate piece 3 with the second thread 32 into the clamping element 2. In the next step, the nut 5 is screwed onto the thread 32 until the clamping element is clamped in the direction of the wall element 10 via the projections 21 and the nut 5 rests directly or indirectly, for example via seals 6, on the wall element 10. In this way, the half-screw connection 1 is fixed to the wall element 10 by clamping, whereby the thickness of the wall element 10 can be varied because the nut 5 is axially adjustable via the threaded connection. Assembly can optionally be carried out with pre-assembled cables, although this can also be subsequently inserted into the half-screw connection 1.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, the nut 5 is formed separately from the clamping element 2 in order to fix the half-screw connection 1 to the wall element 10. It is also possible to form the nut 5 integrally with the clamping element 2.

[0032] In Figure 8 A modified embodiment is shown in which a modified nut 5' is screwed onto the second thread 32 of the intermediate connector 3. Otherwise, the embodiment corresponds to the first embodiment with the clamping element 2, which is pushed through an opening in the wall element 10 and in which the spring bars 20 are supported on the inside by the second thread 32. The nut 5' does not have a polygon on its outer circumference, but is designed as a knurled nut with teeth or knurling arranged on the circumference.

[0033] In Figure 9The nut 5' is shown in detail. On an inner circumference, a thread 50 is provided, which is formed from a plurality of inwardly projecting projections 52 that can be screwed onto the second thread 32. On the outer circumference, the nut 5' has a toothing 53 or serration that can be brought into engagement with a rotatable drive tool, which is advantageous for automated or semi-automated assembly. List of reference symbols

[0034] 1 Half screw connection 2 Clamping element 3 Intermediate piece 4 Union nut 5, 5` Nut 6 Seal 7 Seal 8 Sealing element 9 Long object 10 Wall element 20 Spring bar 21 Projection 22 Chamfer 23 Recess 24 Internal thread 30 Polygon 31 Thread 32 Thread 33 Web 34 Feedthrough 40 Internal thread 41 Clamping section 50 Internal thread 51 Polygon 52 Projection 53 Toothing

Claims

1. Half-screw connection (1) for mounting on an opening of a wall element (10), having a sleeve-shaped clamping element (2), on which at least one spring web (20) with at least one outwardly protruding projection (21) is provided for engaging behind the wall element (10), and an intermediate connection piece (3) having a first thread (31) and a second thread (32), wherein the second thread (32) of the intermediate connection piece (3) is designed as an external thread and is screwed onto an internal thread (24) on the clamping element (2) and the at least one spring web (20) can be supported by an end section of the intermediate connection piece (3) on a radially inner side, characterized in that a union nut (4) is screwed onto the first thread (31) and a nut (5, 5') is screwed onto the second thread (32) of the intermediate connection piece (3), which nut can be braced in the axial direction with the clamping element (2).

2. Half-screw connection according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping element (2) has the internal thread (24) on a sleeve-shaped section.

3. Half-screw connection according to claim 2, characterized in that a plurality of spring webs (20) on the clamping element (2) extend from the sleeve-shaped section substantially in the axial direction.

4. Half-screw connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a seal (6) is provided between the nut (5, 5') and the wall element (10).

5. Half-screw connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nut (5') is designed as a knurled nut with a corrugation or toothing on the outer circumference.

6. Half-screw connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a polygon (30) for a tool is integrally formed on the intermediate connection piece (3).

7. Half-screw connection according to claim 6, characterized in that the polygon (30) is formed between the first thread (31) and the second thread (32).

8. Half-screw connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that axially protruding webs (33) are integrally formed at the end of the second thread (32) of the intermediate connection piece (3) to form a cage.

9. Half-screw connection according to claim 8, characterized in that an annular sealing element (8) is held on the webs (33) of the cage.

10. Half-screw connection according to one of the claims, characterized in that a seal (7) is provided between the polygon (30) and the nut (5, 5').

11. Half-screw connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nut (5, 5') and / or the clamping element (2) have a segmented thread on an inner side.

12. Method for mounting a half-screw connection (1), according to one of the preceding claims, on an opening of a wall element (10), comprising the following steps: - inserting a sleeve-shaped clamping element (2) having at least one spring web (20) with at least one outwardly protruding projection (21) through an opening of a wall element (10), so that the at least one projection (21) engages behind the wall element (10), and - screwing an external thread (32) of an intermediate connection piece (3) into an internal thread (24) of the clamping element (2), until the at least one spring web (20) is at least partially supported on an inner side against a radially inwardly directed movement, characterized in that a nut (5, 5') is rotated on an outer thread (32) relative to the intermediate connection piece (3) until the nut (5, 5') pretensions the at least one projection (21) on the spring web (20) in the axial direction towards the wall element (10).