Fastening device

Abstract

In view of the fact that the operator cannot engage the tool with the bolt or nut if the mounting angle of the tool is different from the specific angle, an example of a fastening device is disclosed.SOLUTION: The fastening device includes a drive part engaged with the head of the bolt B to rotate the head, a regulation part 3 engaged with the nut N to regulate the rotation of the nut N, and a rotation guide part 4 for rotating the nut N to guide the nut N to the regulation part 3. Thus, in the fastening device, the nut N can be reliably engaged with the restriction portion 3. Therefore, the operator can reliably fasten the bolt B and the nut N by rotating the drive part 2 in a state where the nut N is prevented from rotating.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fastening device that fastens a bolt and a nut by rotating the bolt relative to the nut. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, the fastening device described in Patent Document 1 rotates the head of the bolt using the drive unit while the nut is prevented from rotating by a rotation prevention part attached integrally to the drive unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-57629 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The head of a bolt and nut have an interlocking shape, such as a hexagon or star shape, so the tool that turns the bolt or nut has a shape that is congruent with the shape or has two parallel faces.

[0005] Specifically, for example, a wrench, which is a tool for turning a hexagonal bolt or a hexagonal nut, has two parallel surfaces. A socket, which is a tool for turning a hexagonal bolt or a hexagonal nut, has a hexagonal hole or a dodecagonal hole formed by combining two hexagonal holes.

[0006] Therefore, a person who performs the work of tightening a bolt or nut (hereinafter referred to as a worker) must attach a tool to the bolt or nut at a specific, predetermined angle relative to the head of the bolt or nut.

[0007] In other words, if the attachment angle of the tool is different from the specific angle, the worker cannot engage the tool with the bolt or nut. The present disclosure discloses an example of a fastening device that takes this into consideration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A fastening device that fastens a bolt (B) and a nut (N) by rotating the bolt (B) relative to the nut (N) desirably has at least one of the following constituent features:

[0009] That is, the constituent elements are a drive unit (2) that engages with the first engagement unit (BH) and rotates the first engagement unit (BH), a regulating unit (3) that engages with the second engagement unit (N) and regulates the rotation of the second engagement unit (N), and a rotation guide unit (4) that rotates the second engagement unit (N) and guides the second engagement unit (N) to the regulating unit (3).

[0010] The first engagement part (BH) refers to either the head (BH) of the bolt (B) or the nut (N). The second engagement part (N) refers to either the head (BH) of the bolt (B) or the nut (N) which is different from the one mentioned above.

[0011] This allows the second engagement portion (N) of the fastening device to reliably engage with the restricting portion (3). Therefore, the worker can reliably fasten the bolt (B) and the nut (N) by rotating the drive portion (2) while preventing the second engagement portion (N) from rotating.

[0012] Incidentally, the symbols in each of the parentheses above are examples showing the correspondence with the specific configurations, etc. described in the embodiments described below, and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations, etc. shown by the symbols in the parentheses above. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is an external view of a fastening device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2]1 is an external view of a main part of a fastening device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1A is a front view of a restricting portion and a rotation guide portion according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a side view of the restricting portion and the rotation guide portion according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are explanatory views of the operation of the rotation guide portion. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are explanatory views of the operation of the rotation guide portion. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are explanatory views of the operation of the rotation guide portion. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are explanatory views of the operation of the rotation guide portion. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a front view of a restricting portion and a rotation guide portion according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The following "embodiments of the invention" are examples of embodiments that fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. In other words, the invention-specific matters described in the claims are not limited to the specific configurations and structures shown in the following embodiments.

[0015] Note that arrows and diagonal lines indicating directions in each drawing are provided to facilitate understanding of the relationship between the drawings and the shapes of each component or part. Therefore, the invention disclosed in this disclosure is not limited to the directions indicated in each drawing. Diagonal lines do not always indicate cross-sectional views.

[0016] At least one of a component or part that is described with a reference numeral is provided unless otherwise specified, such as "one." In other words, unless otherwise specified, two or more components may be provided. The fastening device shown in the present disclosure includes at least one of the components, such as the component or part, that are described with a reference numeral and the structural parts shown in the drawings.

[0017] (First embodiment) <1. Overview of the fastening device> In this embodiment, an example of a fastening device 1 (see FIG. 1) according to the present disclosure is applied to fastening a bolt B and a nut N for connecting a harness H such as an electric wire to a fixed terminal FT shown in FIG. 8.

[0018] The fastening device 1 is a device that fastens a bolt B and a nut N by rotating the bolt B relative to the nut N. Specifically, the fastening device 1 fastens the bolt B and the nut N by rotating the bolt B in a state in which the nut N is prevented from rotating.

[0019] In this embodiment, the bolt B is a hexagonal bolt and the nut N is a hexagonal nut. Therefore, the head BH of the bolt B and the nut N are hexagonal. Hereinafter, the head BH of the bolt B will also be referred to as the first engagement portion BH. The nut N will also be referred to as the second engagement portion N.

[0020] 1, the fastening device 1 includes at least a drive unit 2, a restriction unit 3, and a rotation guide unit 4. The drive unit 2 engages with the first engagement portion BH, i.e., the head BH of the bolt B, to rotate the first engagement portion BH.

[0021] The drive unit 2 according to this embodiment is configured as a socket having a hexagonal hole that can engage with the hexagonal head BH. The drive unit 2 is driven to rotate by an electric motor (not shown) built into the device main body 5.

[0022] The restricting portion 3 engages with the second engaging portion N, i.e., the nut N, to restrict rotation of the second engaging portion N. The rotation guide portion 4 rotates the second engaging portion N, i.e., the nut N, to guide the second engaging portion N to the restricting portion 3.

[0023] In this embodiment, the restricting portion 3 and the rotation guide portion 4 are provided on a movable plate 6. The movable plate 6 is a member displaceably connected to the device main body portion 5. The movable plate 6 can be displaced in a direction in which the restricting portion 3 approaches or moves away from the drive portion 2.

[0024] 2, the movable plate 6 is swingably connected to the device main body 5 via a hinge 6A. A spring 7 is provided on the movable plate 6. The spring 7 applies an elastic force to the movable plate 6 that presses the restriction unit 3 toward the drive unit 2.

[0025] 2. Details of the Restriction Portion and the Rotation Guide Portion (See FIGS. 3A and 3B) 2.1 Configuration of the restriction unit and rotation guide unit 3A and 3B, the rotation guide portion 4 is provided at the tip (the right end in FIG. 3A) of the restriction portion 3. As shown in FIG. 3A, the restriction portion 3 is configured to have a first wall portion 31, a second wall portion 32, etc.

[0026] The first wall portion 31 has a wall surface extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational center axis Lo (see FIG. 2) of the drive portion 2. The second wall portion 32 has a wall surface extending parallel to the first wall portion 31 at a position spaced apart from the first wall portion 31 by the width W of the nut N.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 3B, the first wall portion 31 and the second wall portion 32 are block-shaped portions fixed to the driving unit 2 side of the movable plate 6. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3A, the first wall portion 31 and the second wall portion 32 are configured from a single tuning-fork-shaped member.

[0028] The rotation guide portion 4 is provided at the leading end (the right end in FIG. 3A) of the first wall portion 31 and the second wall portion 32 in the extending direction. The movable plate 6 according to this embodiment extends further from the rotation guide portion 4 to form a fork-shaped (bifurcated) guide portion 6B.

[0029] The rotation guide portion 4 is configured to have a first guide wall 41 and a second guide wall 42. The first guide wall 41 is a wall portion that smoothly continues to the wall surface of the first wall portion 31 and is inclined with respect to the center line L1 so that the closer it is to the first wall portion 31, the closer it is to the center line L1.

[0030] The second guide wall 42 is a wall portion that smoothly connects to the wall surface of the second wall portion 32 and is inclined with respect to the center line L1 so that the closer it is to the second wall portion 32, the closer it is to the center line L1. The center line L1 is an imaginary line that passes through the center between the first wall portion 31 and the second wall portion 32 and is parallel to the extension direction of the first wall portion 31.

[0031] That is, the first guide wall 41 and the second guide wall 42 are configured so that the distance between them becomes smaller as they approach the restricting portion 3. In other words, the first guide wall 41 and the second guide wall 42 are configured so that the distance between them becomes larger as they move away from the restricting portion 3.

[0032] The maximum dimension H1 from the center line L1 to the first guide wall 41 is larger than the maximum dimension H2 from the center line L1 to the second guide wall 42. The maximum dimension H1 is larger than half the maximum outer dimension of the nut N, and the maximum dimension H2 is smaller than the maximum dimension H1.

[0033] The first guide wall 41 is a curved wall portion that is curved so as to be convex toward the second guide wall 42. The second guide wall 42 is a curved wall portion that is curved so as to be convex toward the first guide wall 41.

[0034] The average radius of curvature R1 of the first guide wall 41 is larger than the average radius of curvature R2 of the second guide wall 42. That is, the first guide wall 41 is curved such that the closer it is to the first wall portion 31, the larger the radius of curvature R1 becomes.

[0035] The second guide wall 42 is curved such that the radius of curvature R2 increases as it approaches the second wall portion 32. However, since the average radius of curvature R1 is greater than the average radius of curvature R2, the first guide wall 41 becomes a surface parallel to the center line L1 at a position closer to the restriction portion 3 than the second guide wall 42.

[0036] The movable plate 6 is provided with an elongated hole 6C. The elongated hole 6C is a substantially U-shaped elongated hole that opens toward the guide portion 6B. The elongated hole 6C functions as a bolt guide portion. That is, the minor axis dimension h of the elongated hole 6C is substantially equal to the diameter dimension of the bolt B.

[0037] The long diameter axis of the elongated hole 6C overlaps with the center line Lo, and this long diameter axis, i.e., the center line L1, intersects with the rotation center axis Lo. As a result, the bolt B and the nut N move along the center line L1 within the rotation guide part 4 and the restriction part 3 so that the center axis of the bolt B moves on the center line L1.

[0038] Therefore, the long hole 6C functions as a bolt guide portion that guides the movement of the bolt B so that when the nut N fitted to the bolt B moves in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the first wall portion 31, the bolt B moves along the center line L1.

[0039] <2.2 Rotation of the nut by the rotation guide> When the nut N is temporarily fastened to the bolt B and the under-neck portion of the bolt B is inserted into the guide portion 6B side of the elongated hole 6C, and the bolt B and the nut N move from the guide portion 6B side to the regulating portion 3 side relative to the movable plate 6 (from the right side to the left side in Figure 3A), the nut N rotates as shown in the order of Figure 4 → Figure 5 → Figure 6 → Figure 7.

[0040] Incidentally, in this embodiment, when the bolt B and the nut N move from the right side to the left side in Fig. 3A, this is when the movable plate 6 moves from the left side to the right side in Fig. 3A. However, in the following explanation, it is simply stated that "the nut N moves to the left side of the paper."

[0041] That is, since the maximum dimension H2 from the center line L1 to the second guide wall 42 is smaller than the maximum dimension H1 from the center line L1 to the first guide wall 41, when the nut N in the guide portion 6B moves to the left side of the paper, the nut N comes into contact with the second guide wall 42 (see Figure 4).

[0042] In this state (see FIG. 4), the nut N is free to move toward the first guide wall 41, but is hindered from moving toward the second guide wall 42. As a result, the nut N moves leftward while rotating leftward on the paper (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0043] When the nut N moves further to the left, the nut N rotates further, and the two opposing flat surfaces of the nut N become parallel to the first wall portion 31 and the second wall portion 32, respectively, and the rotation of the nut N is restricted (see FIG. 7). Therefore, thereafter, the nut N moves parallel to the left in the drawing without rotating.

[0044] In this embodiment, the rotation direction of the nut N (rotation to the left on the page) is the direction in which the nut N approaches the head BH of the bolt B, that is, the direction in which the nut N is tightened onto the bolt B.

[0045] 3. Usage and Features of the Fastening Device According to the Present Embodiment <3.1 How to use the fastening device> While holding the device main body 5 with, for example, the right hand, the worker inserts the guide portion 6B of the movable plate 6 into the bolt B so that the bolt B fits into the elongated hole 6C as shown in FIG.

[0046] Thereafter, the worker moves the device main body 5 further toward the back of the page, and moves the nut N and the bolt B relative to the movable plate 6 (see FIGS. 10 and 11). At this time, the nut N rotates as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, and then moves along the center line L1.

[0047] Then, when the central axes of the nut N and bolt B coincide with the central axis Lo of the driver 2, the worker engages the driver 2 with the head BH of the bolt B and rotates the driver 2 (see FIG. 12). This completes the fastening of the bolt B and the nut N.

[0048] When the nut N is tightened onto the bolt B, the nut N is displaced so as to approach the head BH of the bolt B. At this time, the spring 7 applies an elastic force to the movable plate 6 that presses the restricting part 3 toward the driving part 2, thereby preventing the nut N from coming off the restricting part 3.

[0049] 3.2 Characteristics of fastening devices In the fastening device 1 according to this embodiment, the rotation guide part 4 rotates the nut N to a position where it engages with the restricting part 3, so the nut N can reliably engage with the restricting part 3. Therefore, the worker can reliably fasten the bolt B and the nut N by rotating the drive part 2 while preventing the nut N from rotating.

[0050] Furthermore, the spring 7 applies an elastic force to the movable plate 6 that presses the restricting part 3 toward the driving part 2, so that even when the nut N is being tightened, the restricting part 3 follows the moving nut N. Therefore, the nut N is prevented from coming off the restricting part 3 during tightening.

[0051] The rotation guide unit 4 according to this embodiment rotates the nut N in a direction in which the nut N is fastened to the bolt B. Therefore, when an operator attaches the restricting unit 3 to the nut N, it is possible to reliably prevent the nut N from coming off the bolt B.

[0052] Furthermore, since the rotation guide part 4 rotates in the direction in which the nut N is tightened, this coincides with the direction of the elastic force that the spring 7 exerts on the movable plate 6, and therefore the operation of the rotation guide part 4 can be prevented from interfering with the operation of the spring 7.

[0053] (Second embodiment) The rotation guide unit 4 according to the above-described embodiment is configured to rotate the nut N in a direction in which the nut N is tightened onto the bolt B. In contrast, the rotation guide unit 4 according to the present embodiment is configured to rotate the nut N in a direction in which the nut N is loosened relative to the bolt B.

[0054] Specifically, as shown in Figure 13, the arrangement relationship between the first wall portion 31 and the first guide wall 41 and the second wall portion 32 and the second guide wall 42 is opposite to that of the first embodiment (see Figure 3A) with respect to the center line L1.

[0055] As a result, for example, when the under-head dimension of the bolt B is small, the rotation guide portion 4 prevents the nut N from rotating excessively in the tightening direction. Note that the same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the above-described embodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment, duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0056] (Other embodiments) In the above-described embodiment, the head BH of the bolt B is the first engagement portion, and the nut N is the second engagement portion. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, in the present disclosure, for example, the head BH of the bolt B may be the second engagement portion, and the nut N may be the first engagement portion.

[0057] In the above-described embodiment, the spring 7 is provided to apply an elastic force to the movable plate 6, pressing the restricting portion 3 toward the driving portion 2. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured, for example, such that the spring 7 is eliminated. In this configuration, it is desirable that the thickness dimension of the block material that constitutes the first wall portion 31 and the second wall portion 32 is equal to or greater than the tightening length of the nut N.

[0058] In the above-described embodiment, the head BH of the bolt B and the nut N are hexagonal. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be, for example, a star-shaped or rectangular head or nut. Furthermore, the bolt B may be a hexagonal socket bolt or the like having a hole-shaped engaging portion in the head.

[0059] Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments as long as it conforms to the spirit of the disclosure described in the above-described embodiments. Therefore, the present disclosure may be a configuration in which at least two of the above-described embodiments are combined, or a configuration in which any of the components illustrated or described with reference numerals in the above-described embodiments is eliminated. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1… Fastening device 2... Drive unit 3. Regulatory Department 4... Rotation guide section 5... Device main body 6... Movable plate 7... Spring 31… 1st wall part 32…Second wall part 41... First guide wall 42... 2nd guide wall H... Harness FT... Fixed terminal B... Bolt N... Nut BH…Head

Claims

1. A fastening device that fastens a bolt and a nut by rotating the bolt relative to the nut, When either the head of the bolt or the nut is the first engagement portion and the other is the second engagement portion, a drive unit that engages with the first engagement unit to rotate the first engagement unit; a restricting portion that engages with the second engaging portion to restrict rotation of the second engaging portion; a rotation guide portion that rotates the second engagement portion and guides the second engagement portion to the restriction portion; A fastening device comprising:

2. a first wall portion provided in the restricting portion, the first wall portion extending in a direction perpendicular to a rotational center axis of the driving portion; a second wall portion provided in the restricting portion, the second wall portion extending parallel to the first wall portion at a position spaced apart from the first wall portion by a width across two faces of the second engaging portion, The fastening device according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation guide portion is provided at a tip end of the first wall portion and the second wall portion in an extension direction.

3. the rotation guide portion has a first guide wall and a second guide wall, When a virtual line passing through the center of the first wall portion and the second wall portion and parallel to the extension direction of the first wall portion is defined as a center line, the first guide wall is a wall portion that is continuous with a wall surface of the first wall portion and is inclined with respect to the center line so as to approach the center line as it approaches the first wall portion, the second guide wall is a wall portion that is continuous with a wall surface of the second wall portion and is inclined with respect to the center line so as to approach the center line as it approaches the second wall portion, The fastening device of claim 2 , further comprising: a maximum dimension from the center line to the first guide wall that is greater than a maximum dimension from the center line to the second guide wall.

4. the first guide wall is curved so as to be convex toward the second guide wall side, and the second guide wall is curved so as to be convex toward the first guide wall side, The fastening device according to claim 3 , further comprising a mean radius of curvature of the first guide wall greater than a mean radius of curvature of the second guide wall.

5. The fastening device according to claim 4 , wherein the second engaging portion includes a bolt guide portion that guides movement of the bolt so that the bolt moves along the center line when the second engaging portion moves in the extension direction.

6. The fastening device according to claim 5 , further comprising a spring that exerts an elastic force to press the restricting portion toward the driving portion.

7. The fastening device according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation guide portion rotates the second engaging portion in a direction in which the second engaging portion approaches the first engaging portion.

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