Mounting unit and corresponding sensor unit

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mounting unit (10) comprising a plastic flange (12) connected to a part (3) to be mounted and having a through opening (14), and a mounting screw (19) having a threaded shank (19.1) passing through the through opening (14) of the plastic flange (12) and screwed into a threaded hole (7.1) provided in a mounting point (7), the through opening (14) being formed with an elastic narrowing (16) in the area facing the threaded hole (7.1), the inner spacing (A) of the narrowing (16) being determined by the thread of the mounting screw (19). The present invention relates to a mounting unit (10) having an outer diameter (Da) smaller than the outer diameter (Da) of the threaded shank (19.1), which during the screwing operation plastically and elastically deforms the elastic material of the narrowed portion (16), so that when the mounting screw (19) is screwed in, a force coupling (KS) is formed between the threads of the threaded shank (19.1) and the remaining elastic material of the narrowed portion (16), which force coupling (KS) acts against loosening of the mounting screw (19).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting unit and a corresponding sensor unit equipped with such a mounting unit.

[0002] Wheel speed sensors and many other vehicle components are very often screwed onto the vehicle. Typically, in the case of components with plastic flanges, a metal bushing is injection molded or integrated. The purpose is to provide a completely metallic pretensioned screw fastener that prevents the screw fastener from loosening when external forces are applied to the vehicle.

[0003] Furthermore, locking nuts are known from the prior art that have a plastic ring (usually polyamide) with an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the corresponding thread Da, which plastic ring is plastically deformed and elastically deformed when the screw is screwed in. This results in a force or frictional connection that locks the screw fastener against loosening.

[0004] German Patent DE 2638937 A1 discloses a fastening element, in particular a screw or nut fastening element, which comprises a metal locking ring with ribs extending substantially in the radial direction and a spring element arranged between the locking ring and the fastening element, the volume of the spring element being smaller than the volume of the receiving chamber formed between the fastening element and the inner wall of the locking ring, the spring element being arranged in such a way that no axial forces, in particular pretension forces, are transmitted. In this case, the fastening element, in particular the screw or nut itself, also has corresponding projections extending in the radial direction and arranged on the outside of the spanner surface. The spring element is made of an elastic plastic and fills the receiving chamber formed between the ribs and the projections only partially in the radial direction, although the plastic can penetrate both into the hollow spaces between the ribs and into the hollow spaces between the projections.

[0005] From German Utility Model DE 86 09 005 C2 a unit for fixing screws is known, which comprises a fixing element for non-circular, in particular hexagonal, screw heads, which are recessed in a recess whose wall extends at a distance from the head. The fixing element is made of a viscoelastic plastic and is configured as an annular body which surrounds the head and is pressed into the space between the head and the wall.

[0006] Disclosure of the Invention A mounting unit with the features of independent claim 1 has the advantage that the additional metal bushings mentioned at the beginning can be dispensed with and, nevertheless, the mounting screws of the mounting unit are not at risk of spontaneous loosening under the conditions of use in the vehicle and the residual pretension of the screw fastening means remains intact. Furthermore, no special mounting screws are required for the embodiments of the mounting unit according to the invention, which may lead to a higher probability of customer acceptance.

[0007] An embodiment of the invention provides a mounting unit comprising a plastic flange connected to a part to be mounted and having a through opening, and a mounting screw with a threaded shank passing through the through opening of the plastic flange and screwed into a threaded hole at the mounting point, wherein an elastic narrowing is formed in the through opening, the inner spacing of which is smaller than the outer diameter of the threaded shank of the mounting screw, the threaded shank plastically and elastically deforming the elastic material of the narrowing during the screwing-in operation, so that in the screwed-in state of the mounting screw, a force or frictional connection is formed between the threads of the threaded shank and the remaining elastic material of the narrowing, which force or frictional connection acts against loosening of the mounting screw.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention proposes a sensor unit having a sensor attached to a mounting location via such a mounting unit.

[0009] The part to be attached may for example mean a vehicle component, such as a sensor, etc. The attachment point may for example mean a holder, a body part, etc.

[0010] Advantageous developments of the mounting unit according to independent claim 1 and the sensor unit according to independent claim 9 are possible by the measures and improvements claimed in the dependent claims.

[0011] Particularly preferably, the elastic narrowing can be formed in the end region of the through-opening facing the threaded hole. Due to the suitable position of the narrowing in the lower region of the through-opening, the mounting screw can be advantageously pre-centered already during mounting.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment of the mounting unit, the through-opening can be formed as an elongated hole in the plastic flange. This allows, for example, manufacturing tolerances in the distance between the receiving opening and the threaded hole to be better compensated for when mounting a sensor that is inserted into the receiving opening and screwed into the threaded hole via a mounting screw. At the same time, the sensor can have an improved guide against rotation in the mounting hole. To prevent the mounting screw from loosening, the narrowed portion can have, for example, at least two narrow webs, which can be formed on opposite long sides of the elongated hole. Alternatively, the through-opening can be formed as a rotationally symmetrical opening in the plastic flange.

[0013] In another advantageous configuration of the mounting unit, the narrowing can have a number of narrowing segments which are formed around the inner circumference of the through-opening, preferably distributed at uniform intervals from one another. Alternatively, the narrowing can have a narrowing lip which can be formed annularly around the inner circumference of the through-opening. Of course, further geometrical embodiments of the narrowing can also be envisaged.

[0014] In another advantageous configuration of the mounting unit, the plastic flange with the through opening and the narrowing can be formed as a plastic injection-molded part, so that the geometry of the narrowing can be produced cost-effectively without additional parts, directly in the injection mold during the production of the mounting flange or the part to be mounted.

[0015] In an advantageous configuration of the sensor unit, the sensor may comprise a housing with a first housing part and a second housing part, the second housing part being inserted into a receiving opening at the mounting location. In this case, a plastic flange may be connected to the housing between the first housing part and the second housing part and screwed into a threaded hole at the mounting location via a mounting screw. Advantageously, the plastic flange with the narrowing can be produced cost-effectively in an injection mold directly during the production of the housing of the sensor.

[0016] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated and explained in more detail in the following description, in which components or elements performing the same or similar functions are provided with the same reference numbers. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a sensor unit according to the invention, with an embodiment of a mounting unit according to the invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective cross-sectional view of the mounting unit according to the present invention shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a plastic flange of the mounting unit according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of the plastic flange shown in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a portion of a second embodiment of the plastic flange shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a portion of a third embodiment of the plastic flange shown in FIG. 3.

[0018] EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENTINVENTION As can be seen from Figures 1 to 3, the illustrated embodiment of a mounting unit 10 according to the invention comprises a plastic flange 12, which is connected to the part 3 to be mounted and has a through opening 14, and a mounting screw 19, the threaded shank 19.1 of which passes through the through opening 14 of the plastic flange 12 and is screwed into a threaded hole 7.1 provided in the mounting point 7. In this case, an elastic narrowing 16 is formed in the through opening 14, the inner spacing A of which is smaller than the outer diameter Da of the threaded shank 19.1 of the mounting screw 19. During the screwing-in operation, the threaded shank 19.1 plastically and elastically deforms the elastic material of the narrowed section 16, so that when the mounting screw 19 is screwed in, a force coupling KS or friction coupling is formed between the threads of the threaded shank 19.1 and the remaining elastic material of the narrowed section 16, which acts against loosening of the mounting screw 19.

[0019] As can be seen further from FIGS. 1 to 6, the component 3 to be mounted is a sensor 3A in the illustrated embodiment, which is here configured as a rotational speed sensor. In the illustrated embodiment of the corresponding sensor unit 1, the sensor 3A is mounted at the mounting point 7 via a mounting unit 10 according to the invention. As can be seen further from FIGS. 1 to 6, the sensor 3A comprises a housing 5 with a first housing part 5.1, which is here configured as a connector receptacle, and a second housing part 5.2, which is introduced into a receiving opening 7.2 provided at the mounting point 7. A plastic flange 12 is connected to the housing 5 in the illustrated embodiment between the first housing part 5.1 and the second housing part 5.2 and is screwed via a mounting screw 19 into a threaded hole 7.1 provided at the mounting point 7. In this case, the housing 5 of the sensor 3A and the plastic flange 12 with the through opening 14 and the narrowing 16 are manufactured in one common plastic injection molding process. The attachment point 7 corresponds in the illustrated embodiment to a holding part 7A, in which a threaded hole 7.1 and a receiving hole 7.2 are formed at a certain distance AB from each other.

[0020] As can be seen further from FIGS. 1 to 3, the elastic narrowing 16 is formed in the end region of the through opening 14 facing the threaded hole 7.1. As a result, when the mounting screw 19 is inserted into the through opening 14, it is pre-centered before reaching the narrowing. As can be seen further from FIGS. 1 and 2, the mounting screw 19 has, in addition to the threaded shank 19.1, a screw head 19.2 with a mounting plate 19.3. During mounting, the threaded shank is screwed through the narrowing 16 into the threaded hole 7.1. As a result, the threaded shank 19.1 plastically and elastically deforms the elastic material of the narrowing 16, so that in the screwed-in state of the mounting screw 19 shown, with the mounting plate 19.3 of the screw head 19.2 resting on the plastic flange 12, an interference 18 is created between the thread of the threaded shank 19.1 and the remaining elastic material of the narrowing 16. The resulting force connection KS or friction connection secures the mounting screw 19 in place against loosening.

[0021] Various embodiments 12, 12A, 12B, 12C of the plastic flanges will now be described with reference to FIGS.

[0022] As can be further seen from Fig. 4, the through opening 14 is formed in the plastic flange 12A as an elongated hole 14A in the first embodiment of the illustrated plastic flange 12A, where the narrow portion 16 comprises two narrow webs 16A formed on opposing long sides of the elongated hole 14A.

[0023] As can be further seen from Figures 5 and 6, the through opening 14 is formed in the plastic flanges 12B, 12C as a rotationally symmetric opening 14B in the illustrated embodiment of the plastic flanges 12B, 12C.

[0024] As can be further seen from FIG. 5, the narrow portion 16 in the illustrated second embodiment 12B of the plastic flange comprises a plurality of narrow segments 16B which are uniformly distributed and spaced apart from one another around the inner circumference of the through opening 14 which is formed as a rotationally symmetrical opening 14B.

[0025] In one embodiment (not shown) of the plastic flange 12, these narrow segments 16B are uniformly distributed and spaced apart from one another around the inner circumference of the through opening 14, which is formed as a slot 14A.

[0026] As can be further seen from FIG. 6, the narrow portion 16 includes a narrow lip 16C in the illustrated third embodiment 12C of the plastic flange, which is formed annularly on the inner circumference of the through opening 14, which is formed as a rotationally symmetric opening 14B.

[0027] In one embodiment (not shown) of the plastic flange 12, the narrow lip 16C is formed annularly around the inner periphery of the through opening 14 which is formed as a slot 14A.

Claims

1. A mounting unit (10) comprising a plastic flange (12) connected to a part (3) to be mounted and having a through opening (14), and a mounting screw (19) having a threaded shank (19.1) passing through the through opening (14) of the plastic flange (12) and screwed into a threaded hole (7.1) provided in a mounting point (7), in which an elastic narrow portion (16) is formed, the inner spacing (A) of the narrow portion (16) being equal to or larger than the inner spacing (A) of the mounting screw (19). ) which is smaller than the outside diameter (Da) of the threaded shank (19.1) of the narrowed portion (16) during the screwing action, the threaded shank (19.1) plastically and elastically deforms the elastic material of the narrowed portion (16), so that, in the screwed-in state of the mounting screw (19), a force coupling (KS) is formed between the thread of the threaded shank (19.1) and the remaining elastic material of the narrowed portion (16), which force coupling (KS) acts against loosening of the mounting screw (19).

2. 2. The mounting unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the elastic narrowing (16) is formed in an end region of the through opening (14) facing the threaded hole (7.1).

3. 3. The mounting unit (10) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the through opening (14) is formed in the plastic flange (12) as a slot (14A).

4. The mounting unit (10) of claim 3, wherein said narrow portion (16) includes at least two narrow webs (16A) formed on opposing long sides of said slot (14A).

5. 3. The mounting unit (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the through opening (14) is formed in the plastic flange (12) as a rotationally symmetric opening (14B).

6. The mounting unit (10) according to claim 2 or 5, wherein the narrow portion (16) has a plurality of narrow segments (16B), the narrow segments (16B) being formed around the inner circumference of the through opening (14) and distributed at intervals from one another.

7. 6. The mounting unit (10) according to claim 2 or 5, wherein the narrowed portion (16) has a narrowed lip (16C) formed annularly on the inner circumference of the through opening (14).

8. 8. The mounting unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic flange (12) with the through opening (14) and the narrow portion (16) is formed as a plastic injection molded part.

9. A sensor unit (1) comprising a sensor (3A) attached to a mounting point (7) via a mounting unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. 10. The sensor unit (1) according to claim 9, wherein the sensor (3A) comprises a housing (5) having a first housing part (5.1) and a second housing part (5.2) inserted into a receiving opening (7.2) provided in the mounting point (7), and a plastic flange (12) is connected to the housing (5) between the first housing part (5.1) and the second housing part (5.2) and is screwed to a threaded hole (7.1) provided in the mounting point (7) via a mounting screw (19).

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