Vibration-damping decoupler and method for mounting a component on a holder with the aid of a decoupler

Abstract

The invention relates to a vibration-damping decoupler for securing a first component to a second component, wherein the decoupler has a one-piece elastic body with a through opening defining an axial direction, wherein the decoupler has a push-in region for securing to the first component or to the second component by way of pushing in the decoupler in a radial direction substantially or completely perpendicular to the axial direction, wherein a first sleeve is inserted into the elastic body from a first side, and a second sleeve is inserted into the through opening from a second side which is opposite the first side.

Description

[0001] Vibration-damping decoupling and method for mounting a component on a support using a decoupling

[0002] The invention relates to a vibration-damping decoupling device and a method for mounting a component on a holder using such a decoupling device.

[0003] Vibration-damping decoupling devices and methods for mounting a component to a mount using a corresponding decoupling device of the type mentioned above are generally known. Such decoupling devices and methods are used, among other things, in motor vehicles and during their assembly, maintenance, and repair.

[0004] In motor vehicles, housings, for example housings of units, must be able to be mounted vibration-free, which is why vibration-damped decouplings are often used, for example those in which the corresponding housing is fixed to one or more fastening areas using an insulating layer of rubber or an elastomer.

[0005] A known embodiment is a decoupling element as shown in Fig. 6, which consists of two rubber-coated components mounted on a connection point formed as a bore. One of the components is positioned on one side of the bore, the other is inserted through the other side. The decoupling element forms a through-hole to which a housing can be attached. One problem is the low overlap between the decoupling element and the connection point, which can cause vibrations due to the so-called "stick-slip" effect.

[0006] A further problem is the difficulty of assembling the devices known from the prior art, as at least three parts must be positioned by the installer: the two components of the decoupling element and the housing. Furthermore, the two components of the decoupling element are complex and therefore expensive to manufacture.

[0007] The task therefore arises of further developing vibration-damping decoupling devices and methods for mounting a component on a bracket using a corresponding decoupling device in such a way that the disadvantages of the prior art can be overcome and thus a cheaper, easier to mount and better noise-damping decoupling device as well as a better mounting method can be provided.

[0008] The object is achieved by a vibration-damping decoupling device according to claim 1 and a method for mounting a component on a holder using a decoupling device according to the independent claim 14. Further embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0009] A vibration-damping decoupling device for securing a first component to a second component is described, wherein the decoupling device has a one-piece elastic body with a through-opening defining an axial direction, wherein the decoupling device has an insertion region for securing it to the first component or to the second component by inserting the decoupling device in a radial direction that is substantially or completely perpendicular to the axial direction, wherein a first sleeve is inserted into the elastic body from a first side and a second sleeve is inserted into the through-opening from a second side opposite the first side.

[0010] Such decoupling can be used, for example, in motor vehicles to secure two components to each other, for example, a housing to another housing or a housing to a body component, a bracket, or the like. The housing can be an assembly housing.

[0011] To secure such a component, more than one fastening area is usually provided, whereby the decoupling element can be used at several or all of these fastening areas. The one decoupling element or several decoupling elements can be used on one of the two components or distributed across both components, for example, pre-assembled. In the latter case, the definition of the first component and the second component is relative to the respective assembly situation and not specific to the components to be secured to one another.

[0012] The decoupling is intended for radial mounting on a fastening area, for example a bracket, a housing or a body component, and can be used and mounted on keyhole receptacles or outwardly open slots or mounting slots, among other things.

[0013] The single-piece design of the elastic body allows the decoupling device to be designed to be self-retaining. The decoupling device can thus be pre-assembled, meaning an installer only needs to handle two components: the decoupling device and the component to be secured to it. By providing the insertion area, it is even possible in many applications to pre-assemble the decoupling device in such a way that it holds itself, allowing the installer to pick up and install the corresponding component with both hands. This reduces the labor and required assembly time, and reduces the error rate.

[0014] The elastic body can be made of rubber or another elastomer. Using an elastomer prevents rattling and dampens vibrations, so the NVH performance of an object mounted with appropriate decoupling is generally better than that without.

[0015] For example, the two sleeves can be made of a material that is stronger than the material of the elastic body in order to enable a firm mounting of the component.

[0016] The sleeves can be inserted or fixed in the elastic body.

[0017] The sleeves have a through-opening which, depending on the design, can be substantially smooth, structured to increase friction or provided with a fixing structure such as a thread or a bayonet or the like.

[0018] The provision of two sleeves, which are inserted into the through-hole of the elastic body, provides a stable mounting option for the component. The sleeves form a through-hole that can be used, for example, to accommodate a pin or bolt. A first, further refinement provides that the first sleeve and second sleeve butt against each other when the components are mounted on the holder.

[0019] In particular, according to a further embodiment, the two sleeves may not be fixed to each other, but may only be positioned in the elastic body.

[0020] This increases the stability of the decoupling and thus the assembly of the component, since the two sleeves cannot be further compressed axially.

[0021] A further refinement provides that the insertion region has a groove that at least partially or completely surrounds the elastic body in the radial direction.

[0022] Depending on the specific design, a partially or completely circumferential groove enables the decoupling to be inserted in different orientations, whereby, depending on the design, the decoupling can be designed to be self-positioning or independent of orientation.

[0023] A further refinement provides that the insertion area has a smaller clear width than a material thickness of the first component or the second component in the intended fastening area.

[0024] This means that the insertion area at the decoupling element is smaller than the thickness of the fastening area. This allows the decoupling element to be pre-tensioned and secured to the component, ensuring self-supporting support. The groove can be undersized by a few tenths of a millimeter compared to the material thickness in the fastening area.

[0025] A further refinement provides that the insertion area has axially aligned contact surfaces for contact with one of the components.

[0026] Such contact surfaces have surface normals pointing in or against the axial direction. These axially aligned contact surfaces significantly improve NVH behavior.

[0027] A further refinement provides that the elastic body is stretchable in the axial direction for assembly, whereby the first sleeve and second sleeve do not abut each other during assembly.

[0028] This allows for easier installation while ensuring a secure fit of the decoupling element and good vibration damping properties. The elastic body is stretched during installation, for example, when pushed onto the bracket or with the help of a suitable assembly aid. The elastic body can be designed to be sufficiently stretchable by hand without the use of tools.

[0029] Particularly in combination with butt-jointed sleeves, it is possible to axially stretch the elastic body to fit it onto the corresponding mounting bracket. After assembly, the elastic body relaxes again, and the sleeves can fit tightly against each other immediately or at the latest after the component is assembled, defining an axially stable through-hole.

[0030] A further refinement provides that the first sleeve and second sleeve are identical in construction.

[0031] This increases the proportion of identical parts and thus reduces manufacturing and storage complexity. Corresponding decoupling is therefore more cost-effective.

[0032] Furthermore, with a simultaneous corresponding symmetrical design of the elastic body, it is possible to design the decoupling in mirror symmetry so that it can be mounted in more than one orientation.

[0033] A further refinement provides that the first sleeve and / or second sleeve are made of metal.

[0034] Metal is particularly robust, insensitive to temperature in normal temperature ranges and allows high assembly forces.

[0035] A further refinement provides that the first sleeve and / or second sleeve have a through-opening coaxial with the through-opening of the elastic body.

[0036] This allows the passage of a bolt, screw, pin or the like and its fixation at the back, for example using a nut.

[0037] A further refinement provides that the first sleeve and / or second sleeve have a radially projecting circumferential flange.

[0038] Such a flange can serve as a support surface for the component, a nut, a counterflange, or the like, thus achieving better load distribution on the elastic body. The flange can be rounded, particularly with a continuous cross-section, and transition into a through-opening area, which, on the one hand, provides an insertion bevel and prevents load peaks at bends.

[0039] A further refinement provides that the elastic body consists exclusively of an elastomer.

[0040] The elastomer may contain various additives to adjust the material properties of the elastomer, e.g. hardness, temperature resistance, abrasion resistance, surface roughness and the like.

[0041] A further refinement provides that the first sleeve and the second sleeve are fixed to the elastic body in a form-fitting and / or material-fitting manner.

[0042] One way to secure the sleeves to the elastic body is a positive connection, achieved using a combination of projections and undercuts or grooves provided on the sleeves and elastic body. Another option is a material connection, for example, by gluing the sleeves or by vulcanizing them into the elastic body. For this purpose, the sleeves can be positioned in a vulcanizing mold and then vulcanized with the material of the elastic body.

[0043] A further refinement provides that the elastic body is ring-shaped or cuboid-shaped in cross section.

[0044] Such geometries can be easily produced in primary forming processes and used in more than one position.

[0045] A first independent aspect relates to a method for mounting a first component on a second component using a vibration-damping decoupling device of the type described above, wherein the second component has a keyhole receptacle or fork receptacle for the decoupling, wherein

[0046] (i) the decoupling is pre-assembled on the first component and is inserted radially into the keyhole or fork receptacle and then fixed, or

[0047] (ii) the decoupling is inserted radially into the keyhole receptacle or fork receptacle, the first component is positioned on the decoupling and then fixed, whereby the first sleeve and second sleeve lie butt against each other in the fixed state.

[0048] In the first variant, the vibration-damping decoupling is first fixed to the component and then fixed together with the component to the corresponding bracket.

[0049] In the second variant, the vibration-damping decoupling is mounted on the holder, for example on a mounting plate or a mounting surface, then the component to be fixed to it is positioned and the component is then fixed.

[0050] A first further embodiment provides that the fixing of the first component is carried out by a threaded bolt and / or a nut.

[0051] Further features, details, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show:

[0052] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vibration-damping decoupling device;

[0053] Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the decoupling from Fig. 1;

[0054] Fig. 3 is a perspective sectional view through the decoupling from Fig. 1 during assembly;

[0055] Fig. 4 is a plan view of a component to be assembled;

[0056] Fig. 5 a side view of a decoupling, as well as

[0057] Fig. 6 is a sectional view through a vibration-damping decoupling device from the prior art.

[0058] Fig. 1 shows a decoupling 2 in a perspective view.

[0059] The decoupling element 2 is essentially annular and is essentially rotationally symmetrical relative to an axial direction X and mirror-symmetrical to a center plane M, which extends in a radial direction R perpendicular to the axial direction X. The decoupling element has an elastic body 4. The elastic body 4 is made of rubber and is thus longitudinally and transversely elastic. The elastic body 4 is manufactured by vulcanizing rubber.

[0060] Sleeves 6, 8 are vulcanized into the elastic body 4. The sleeves 6, 8 each have flanges 10 and cylindrical inner surfaces 12, which, due to the perspective in Fig. 1, are only visible on sleeve 6. The sleeves 6, 8 are made of metal and are produced, for example, by forming. The flanges 10 are rounded and seamlessly merge into the inner surfaces 12, creating an expanded insertion area that facilitates the insertion of fasteners such as bolts or screws.

[0061] The sleeves 6, 8 are identically constructed and dimensioned in the present embodiment, but may differ in other embodiments. For example, it is conceivable that one of the sleeves 6, 8 has an internal thread, while the other does not.

[0062] Furthermore, a circumferential groove 14 is formed in the elastic body 4, which defines an insertion area. The groove 14 is essentially oriented in the radial direction R and has contact surfaces 16 whose surface normals N point in the axial direction X. The groove 14 has a cylindrical groove base 18, which transitions into the contact surfaces 16 in a rounded manner to prevent stress peaks in this area.

[0063] Fig. 2 shows a sectional view through the decoupling 2.

[0064] The decoupling device 2 is arranged in a keyhole recess 20 of a housing 22 of a motor vehicle (not shown). The keyhole recess 20 has a step 24 whose thickness or material thickness in the axial direction X approximately corresponds to the width of the groove 14. A step is not necessary in all embodiments and applications, but may be useful in other embodiments depending on the dimensions and material thicknesses in order to be able to dimension the decoupling device 2 compactly.

[0065] The contact surface 16 and another contact surface 26 of the groove 14 rest flatly on both sides of the step 24. The large overlap of the contact surfaces 16, 26 and the step 24 ensures good adhesion of the decoupling element 2 to the housing 22, which is enhanced by the generally well-adhering surface properties of elastomers. This prevents noise generation.

[0066] The two sleeves 6, 8 are arranged in recesses 28, 30 and can thus be inserted largely flush, which reduces the risk of damage to the decoupling 2 due to complete or partial shearing of the sleeves 6, 8 from the elastic body 4 due to lateral forces.

[0067] The sleeves 6, 8 further have through-holes 32, 34 that are coaxially aligned, thus creating a common, continuous through-hole 36. This through-hole 36 can serve to accommodate a bolt, screw, or the like. Radially aligned flanges 10, 42, which can serve as contact surfaces for nuts or the like, are adjacent to the through-holes 32, 34.

[0068] When assembled, the component to be mounted is fixed relative to the sleeves 6, 8 and decoupled from its support, i.e., another component, by the elastic body 4. The elastic body 4 dampens vibrations originating from the component or its support and prevents or significantly reduces the transmission of vibrations from one component to another.

[0069] The sleeves 6, 8 each have end-face abutment surfaces 38, 40, which, as shown in Fig. 2, butt against each other. This allows a rigid coupling of the component to be secured, here the housing 22, to be achieved.

[0070] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the decoupling 2 during assembly on the housing 22.

[0071] For assembly, the elastic body 4 must be stretched in the axial direction X in order to be pushed into its intended location in an insertion direction E. In this case, the abutment surfaces 38, 40 of the two sleeves 6, 8 no longer touch each other; instead, a slot 42 forms between the sleeves 6, 8. Only after the axial screwing of the decoupling device 2 has been completed does the elastic body 4 compress again, and the two sleeves 6, 8 come into contact with the abutment surfaces 38, 40.

[0072] Fig. 4 shows a plan view of a housing 22 which is part of an aggregate, for example a converter.

[0073] The housing 22 has a keyhole recess 20, a lateral mounting slot 46 and a mounting point 48.

[0074] As can be seen in the side view of the housing 22 in Fig. 5, decoupling elements 2 are provided in the keyhole recess 20 and the mounting slot 46, through which threaded bolts 50 are inserted, which can then be secured to a bracket. The threaded bolts 50 with the decoupling elements 2 are pre-assembled on the housing 22 and are pre-fixed using nuts (not shown). The nuts are then removed to assemble the housing 22.

[0075] Fig. 6 shows a decoupling 102 from the prior art.

[0076] The decoupling device comprises a disk 106 and a sleeve 108, with the disk 106 being partially inserted over the sleeve 108 for assembly. The sleeve 108 forms a through-hole 136 for receiving a bolt, screw, or the like. The disk 106 and the sleeve 108 have rubber coatings 109, 111, which, in the case of the sleeve 108, are also vulcanized onto a core 115 and, in the case of the disk 106, onto a disk 113.

[0077] By plugging together the disc 106 and the sleeve 108 from both sides of a hole 120 of a component 122, the decoupling 102 is fixed to the component 122.

[0078] The invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in many ways.

[0079] All features and advantages arising from the claims, the description and the drawings, including design details, spatial arrangements and method steps, can be essential to the invention both individually and in a wide variety of combinations.

[0080] Reference symbol list

[0081] 2 Decoupling

[0082] 4 elastic body

[0083] 6, 8 sleeve

[0084] 10 Flange

[0085] 12 inner surface

[0086] 14 grooves

[0087] 16 contact surface

[0088] 18 Groove bottom

[0089] 20 keyhole recess

[0090] 22 housings

[0091] 24 level

[0092] 26 contact surface

[0093] 28 Deepening

[0094] 30 Deepening

[0095] 32, 34, 36 passage opening

[0096] 38, 40 impact surface

[0097] 42 slot

[0098] 46 mounting slot

[0099] 48 Mounting point

[0100] 50 threaded bolts

[0101] 102 Decoupling

[0102] 106 disc

[0103] 108 sleeve

[0104] 109, 111 Rubber coating

[0105] 113 disc

[0106] 115 core

[0107] 120 holes

[0108] 122 component

[0109] 136 passage opening

[0110] X axial direction

[0111] E Insertion direction

[0112] M center plane

[0113] N surface normal

[0114] R radial direction

Claims

Patent claims 1. Vibration-damping decoupling device (2) for securing a first component (22) to a second component, the decoupling device (2) comprising a one-piece elastic body (4) with a through-opening (36) defining an axial direction (X), the decoupling device (2) comprising an insertion region (14) for securing it to the first component (22) or to the second component by inserting the decoupling device (2) in a radial direction (R) substantially or completely perpendicular to the axial direction (X), a first sleeve (6) being inserted into the elastic body (4) from a first side and a second sleeve (8) being inserted into the through-opening (36) from a second side opposite the first side.

2. Decoupling according to claim 1, wherein the first sleeve (6) and second sleeve (8) butt against one another in an assembled state of the components (22) on the holder.

3. Decoupling according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insertion region has a groove (14) which at least partially or completely surrounds the elastic body (4) in the radial direction (R).

4. Decoupling according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insertion region (14) has a smaller clear width than a material thickness of the first component (22) or the second component in the intended fastening region (20, 46).

5. Decoupling according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insertion region (36) has axially aligned contact surfaces (16, 26) for contact with one of the components (22).

6. Decoupling according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic body (4) is stretchable in the axial direction (X) for assembly, wherein the first sleeve (6) and second sleeve (8) do not abut one another during assembly.

7. Decoupling according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first sleeve (6) and second sleeve (8) are identical in construction.

8. Decoupling according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first sleeve (6) and / or second sleeve (8) are made of metal.

9. Decoupling according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first sleeve (6) and / or second sleeve (6) have a through-opening (32, 34) coaxial with the through-opening (36) of the elastic body (4).

10. Decoupling according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first sleeve (6) and / or second sleeve (8) have a radially projecting circumferential flange (10).

11. Decoupling according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic body (4) consists exclusively of an elastomer.

12. Decoupling according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first sleeve (6) and the second sleeve (8) are fixed to the elastic body (4) in a form-fitting and / or material-fitting manner.

13. Decoupling according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic body (4) is annular or cuboid in cross section.

14. A method for mounting a first component (22) on a second component using a vibration-damping decoupling device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second component (22) has a keyhole receptacle (20) and / or fork receptacle (46) for the decoupling device (2), wherein (i) the decoupling (2) is pre-assembled on the first component (22) and is radially inserted into the keyhole receptacle (20) or fork receptacle (46) and then fixed, or (ii) the decoupling (2) is inserted radially into the keyhole receptacle (20) or fork receptacle (46), the first component (22) is positioned on the decoupling (2) and then fixed, wherein the first sleeve (6) and second sleeve (8) lie butt against one another in the fixed state.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the fixing of the first component (22) is carried out by a threaded bolt (50) and / or a nut.

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