Replaceable parts
The replaceable part with an engagement structure and tool integration addresses accessibility issues in electric vehicles, ensuring secure assembly and disassembly without damaging modules.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- DAIMLER TRUCK AG
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-30
AI Technical Summary
Automobiles, particularly electric vehicles with limited space due to additional parts and wiring, face challenges in accessing replaceable parts such as air dryer cartridges, which can become disengaged during replacement, causing damage to sealing surfaces and threads.
A replaceable part with an engagement structure featuring an undercut and stop surfaces, allowing a tool to engage and move integrally with the part, ensuring secure assembly and disassembly without damaging modules.
The solution prevents the replaceable part from falling off or damaging assembled modules during assembly and disassembly, maintaining the integrity of sealing surfaces and threads.
Smart Images
Figure 2026521380000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a replaceable part described in the preamble of claim 1, and an apparatus comprising such a replaceable part and a tool described in the preamble of claim 7 or 9.
Background Art
[0002] Automobiles often have replaceable parts such as filter cartridges and air dryer cartridges, which may be easily accessible or difficult to access for replacement.
[0003] In many automobiles such as electric vehicles, due to additional parts and their wiring, there is little space available for such replaceable parts. Therefore, access to these parts may be particularly poor in some cases.
[0004] For example, an air dryer cartridge may have a hexagonal socket that engages with a wrench such as a socket wrench for tightening and loosening. When the air dryer cartridge is in a poorly accessible position, the socket wrench disengages from the hexagonal socket, and the air dryer cartridge remains in its installation location.
[0005] Patent Document 1 describes an oil filter device comprising a housing and a housing cover. The housing has a receiving space for a filter element that can be inserted into the housing, and the housing cover closes the receiving space. Therein, the filter element is configured such that unfiltered crude oil can flow radially therethrough, and the lower end surface of its installation position has an outlet for filtered oil. The filter element is sealed with respect to the receiving space and the housing at the lower end surface, and the entire upper end surface of the filter element is sealed with respect to the receiving space by a cover formed separately from the cover on the filter element side.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0006] [Patent Document 1] West German Patent No. 10309442 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]
[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a new replaceable part, and an apparatus comprising such replaceable part and a tool. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] The above problems are solved by an interchangeable part having the features of claim 1, and by an apparatus comprising such an interchangeable part and a tool having the features of claim 7 or 9.
[0009] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
[0010] A replaceable part is proposed, comprising a housing having sides and an end face, the housing configured to be mounted to the module by rotational motion, along with at least a partially open side opposite the end face, and an engagement structure having at least one undercut for shaping a tool is positioned on or near the end face. According to the present invention, the undercut and / or tool is formed such that, after the tool engages with the undercut, it is coupled to the replaceable part and moves integrally in the longitudinal axis direction of the replaceable part.
[0011] At least partially open sides may be provided with threads, for example, to allow interchangeable parts to be screwed into a module with a suitable reverse thread. In other embodiments, locking mechanisms that can generally be connected by rotational motion may be provided, such as bayonet-type locking mechanisms or fan-type locking mechanisms.
[0012] In one embodiment, the engagement structure may further include one, two, or more stop surfaces for shape-engaging a tool, and after engagement with one, two, or more stop surfaces, the tool is connected to a replaceable part and rotates integrally around the longitudinal axis of the replaceable part.
[0013] In one embodiment, the engagement structure has the shape of a bridge with two ends positioned on the end face, with a central portion curved relative to these ends positioned between the ends to form an undercut.
[0014] In this way, the central portion is positioned at a distance from the end face, and an undercut is formed on the side facing the end face.
[0015] The engaging structure can be formed, for example, by welding, riveting, soldering, brazing, bonding, screwing, or integral molding with the end face.
[0016] In one embodiment, the bend is formed by a portion protruding from the end face, which can be configured as a stopping surface for the tool, and the portion protruding from the end face can be shaped convex toward the undercut.
[0017] In one embodiment, an opening is provided in the center to form an undercut, which is configured to be engaged by a tool designed as an expanding tool.
[0018] In one embodiment, tabs may be provided at both ends of the bridge in the opening, and the tabs are bent diagonally toward the longitudinal axis of the replaceable part, away from the end face.
[0019] In this way, the opening and / or tab form an undercut.
[0020] In one embodiment, two opposing side edges in the central portion are bent at a right angle or substantially at a right angle away from the end face, thereby forming a stopping surface for the tool.
[0021] Furthermore, an apparatus is proposed that comprises at least one such replaceable part and such a tool.
[0022] The tool can comprise a shaft, at one end of which an engagement element is arranged, the engagement element having an engagement portion that forms an angle perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the engagement portion being designed as a sheet or other flat element of such a thickness and width that the engagement portion fits into an undercut between a central portion and an end face and the side faces of the engagement portion fit between and engage with stop faces.
[0023] In one embodiment, the engagement element is bent relative to the shaft such that when the engagement portion is fully inserted into the undercut, the longitudinal axis of the shaft at least substantially coincides with the longitudinal axis of the replaceable part.
[0024] In one embodiment, the tool comprises a shaft, at one end of which an engagement element is arranged, the engagement element having two opposing engagement edges for engaging with the edge of the central portion, and the tool having a structure for engaging with an undercut (formed by an opening and / or a tab) between the two engagement edges.
[0025] In one embodiment, the side faces at least partially form at least substantially a cylindrical, prismatic or conical shape.
[0026] ]> In one embodiment, the replaceable part is designed as an air dryer cartridge or a filter part (for example, an oil filter).
[0027] In one embodiment, the replaceable part may be part of a motor vehicle, such as a commercial vehicle, a bus, a passenger car, etc., or may be used within such a motor vehicle.
[0028] Due to the form fit between the replaceable part and the tool, the replaceable part cannot come off the tool, fall off, or damage the assembled modules, especially the sealing surfaces and threads, during assembly and / or disassembly. 》
[0029] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0030] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of replaceable parts (e.g., air dryer cartridge). [Figure 2] Schematic diagram of replaceable parts and tools. [Figure 3] A schematic diagram of replaceable parts and tools with the engaging portion inserted into the undercut. [Figure 4] Schematic diagram of replaceable parts when the tool is engaged with the undercut. [Figure 5] Schematic diagram of replaceable parts when the tool is engaged with the undercut and stop surface. [Figure 6] A schematic diagram of another embodiment of the replaceable part. [Figure 7] Schematic diagram of the replaceable parts shown in Figure 6, with tools available. [Figure 8] Schematic diagram of replaceable parts when the tool is engaged with the undercut. [Figure 9] A schematic diagram of replaceable parts when the tool is engaged with the stopping surface. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0031] In all figures, corresponding parts are given the same reference number.
[0032] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a replaceable part 1 (for example, an air dryer cartridge or filter part (such as an oil filter)).
[0033] The replaceable part 1 may be, for example, part of an automobile such as a commercial vehicle, bus, or passenger car, or may be used inside such an automobile. The automobile may be driven, for example, by an internal combustion engine and / or at least one electric motor.
[0034] The replaceable part 1 comprises, for example, a housing having a side face 2 and an end face 3. The side face 2 can form, for example, at least partially, at least substantially cylindrical, prismatic, or conical shape. On the opposite side of the end face 3, the replaceable part 1 may have at least partially open sides, and the housing is configured such that the at least partially open side opposite the end face 3 is fixed to the module by rotational motion. The at least partially open side may be provided with, for example, threads (not shown) so that the replaceable part 1 can be screwed into a module having a suitable reverse thread (not shown). In other embodiments, a locking mechanism shape that can be connected by rotational motion in general may be provided, such as a bayonet locking mechanism or a fan locking mechanism.
[0035] An engagement structure 4 is mounted on or near the end face 3, and the engagement structure 4 has at least one undercut 5 for shape-engaging a tool, which is shown in detail in Figure 2. After the tool engages with the undercut 5, it connects to the replaceable part 1 and moves integrally in the longitudinal axis A1 direction of the replaceable part 1. The engagement structure 4 may further have one, two or more stop faces 6 for shape-engaging a tool. After the tool engages with one, two or more stop faces 6, it connects to the replaceable part 1 and rotates integrally around the longitudinal axis A1 of the replaceable part 1.
[0036] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the engagement structure 4 has the shape of a bridge with two ends 7 attached to the end face 3 by, for example, welding, riveting, soldering, brazing, bonding, screwing, or integral molding with the end face 3. The bridge further has a central portion 8 positioned between the two ends 7 and curved relative to the ends 7, so that this central portion 8 is positioned at a distance from the end face 3 and forms an undercut 5 on the side facing the end face 3. The offset portion is formed by a portion 9 protruding from the end face 3, and these portions can function as a tool stop surface 6.
[0037] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the replaceable part 1 and the tool 10. The tool 10 comprises, for example, a shaft 11, at which an engaging element 12 is positioned at one end of the shaft 11. The engaging element 12 has an engaging portion 13 that forms a particularly right or substantially right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis A2 of the shaft 11. The engaging portion 13 can be formed, for example, as a sheet having a thickness and width such that the engaging portion 13 fits into an undercut 5 between the central portion 8 and the end face 3, and the side surface 14 of the engaging portion 13 fits between the stop surfaces 6. The engaging element 12 can be bent relative to the shaft 11 such that when the engaging portion 13 is fully inserted into the undercut 5, the longitudinal axis A2 of the shaft 11 coincides at least substantially with the longitudinal axis A1 of the replaceable part 1.
[0038] The portion 9 protruding from the end face 3 can be shaped into a convex form toward the undercut 5 to form a stopping surface 6.
[0039] To engage the tool 10 with the undercut 5, the tool 10 is moved toward the replaceable part 1 with the longitudinal axes A1 and A2 of the replaceable part 1 and the shaft 11 offset radially, and the engaging portion 13 is adjusted to be at the same height as the undercut 5 so that it engages with the undercut 5.
[0040] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the replaceable part 1 and tool 10 when inserting the engaging portion 13 into the undercut 5. From the position shown in Figure 2, the tool 10 is moved radially relative to the replaceable part 1, and the engaging portion 13 is inserted into the undercut 5.
[0041] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the replaceable part 1 with the tool 10 engaged with the undercut 5. In this diagram, the longitudinal axes A1 and A2 of the replaceable part 1 and the shaft 11 are at least substantially coincident with each other. The replaceable part 1 is connected to the tool 10 and moves integrally in the longitudinal axis directions A1 and A2. Therefore, the replaceable part 1 can be lowered to the mounting position, for example, by guiding the shaft 11, especially when access to this mounting position is poor.
[0042] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the replaceable part 1 with the tool 10 engaged with the undercut 5 and the stop surface 6. When the shaft 11 is rotated, the stop surface 6 engages with the side surface 14 of the engaging portion 13, and the replaceable part 1 rotates together with the shaft 11 as the shaft 11 continues to rotate, for example, to screw the replaceable part 1 in or out.
[0043] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of the replaceable part 1. In this embodiment, the engagement structure 4 has the shape of a bridge with two ends 7 attached to the end face 3 by, for example, welding, riveting, soldering, brazing, bonding, screwing, or integral molding with the end face 3. The bridge further has a central portion 8 positioned between the ends 7 and curved relative to the ends 7, so that the central portion 8 is positioned at a distance from the end face 3. The central portion 8 is provided with an opening 15, for example, a rectangular opening, in its center, and the opening 15 can be engaged by an expanding tool. A tab 16 can be provided in the opening 15 toward the end 7 of the bridge, and the tab 16 can be bent diagonally toward away from the end face 3, for example toward the longitudinal axis A1 of the replaceable part 1. In this way, the opening 15 and / or the tab 16 form an undercut 5. Furthermore, the two opposite side edges 17 of the central portion 8 can be bent away from the end face 3, for example, at a right angle or substantially at a right angle, thereby forming the stopping surface 6 of the tool 10.
[0044] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the replaceable part 1 and the tool 10. The tool 10 comprises, for example, a shaft 11, on one end of the shaft 11, an engaging element 12, the engaging element 12 having two opposing engaging edges 18 for engaging with the edge 17 of the central part 8. For example, the engaging element 12 may have a rectangular surface having two engaging edges 18.
[0045] To engage the tool 10 with the undercut 5, with the longitudinal axes A1 and A2 of the replaceable part 1 and the shaft 11 aligned with each other, move the tool 10 toward the replaceable part 1 and insert it into the undercut 5 so that the engaging edge 18 is positioned between the two edges 17.
[0046] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the replaceable part 1 with the tool 10 engaged with the undercut 5.
[0047] Here, the replaceable part 1 is connected to the tool 10 and moves and rotates together in the direction of the longitudinal axes A1 and A2. Therefore, the replaceable part 1 can be lowered to the mounting position, for example, by guiding the shaft 11, especially when access to this mounting position is poor.
[0048] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the replaceable part 1 when the tool 10 is engaged with the stop surface 6. When the shaft 11 is rotated, the stop surface 6 is engaged with the side surface 14 of the engaging portion 13, and the replaceable part 1 rotates together with the shaft 11 as the shaft 11 continues to rotate, for example, to screw the replaceable part 1 in or out. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0049] 1. Replaceable parts 2 Sides 3 End face 4 Engagement structure 5 Undercut 6 Stop surface 7 End 8 Central part 9 parts 10 tools 11 shafts 12 Engaging elements 13 Engaging part 14 Side 15 Aperture 16 tabs 17 En 18 Engagement Edge A1 Long axis A2 Long axis
Claims
1. A replaceable part (1) comprising a housing having a side (2) and an end face (3), wherein the housing is configured such that at least a partially open side facing the end face (3) is attached to the module by rotational movement, An engagement structure (4) having at least one undercut (5) for shaping and engaging a tool (10) is positioned on or near the end face (3). The replaceable part (1) is characterized in that the undercut (5) and / or tool (10) are formed to connect to the replaceable part (1) so that the tool (10) moves integrally in the longitudinal axis (A1) direction of the replaceable part (1) after engagement with the undercut (5).
2. The interchangeable part (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the engaging structure (4) has the shape of a bridge with two ends (7) positioned on the end face (3), and a curved central portion (8) is positioned between the two ends (7) to form the undercut (5).
3. The interchangeable part (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bend is formed by a portion (9) protruding from the end face (3) which is configured as a stopping surface (6) of the tool (10), and the portion (9) protruding from the end face (3) can be formed into a convex shape toward the undercut (5).
4. The replaceable part (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an opening (15) is provided in the central portion (8) to form the undercut (5), and the opening (15) is configured to be engaged by a tool (10) formed as an expanding tool.
5. The replaceable part (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that a tab (16) is provided in the opening (15) toward the end (7) of the bridge, and the tab (16) is bent diagonally toward the longitudinal axis (A1) of the replaceable part (1) toward away from the end face (3).
6. The replaceable part (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the two opposing side edges (17) of the central portion (8) are bent at a right angle or substantially at a right angle away from the end face (3) to form the stop surface (6) of the tool (10).
7. An apparatus comprising at least one replaceable part (1) and a tool (10) as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, The apparatus is characterized in that the tool (10) comprises a shaft (11), an engaging element (12) is disposed at one end of the shaft (11), the engaging element (12) has an engaging portion (13) that forms a right or substantially right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis (A2) of the shaft (11), the engaging portion (13) fits into the undercut (5) between the central portion (8) and the end face (3), and the side surface (14) of the engaging portion (13) is formed as a sheet of thickness and width such that it fits between the stop surfaces (6) and engages with the stop surfaces (6).
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the engaging element (12) is bent relative to the shaft (11) such that when the engaging portion (13) is fully inserted into the undercut (5), the longitudinal axis (A2) of the shaft (11) at least substantially coincides with the longitudinal axis (A1) of the replaceable part (1).
9. An apparatus comprising at least one replaceable part (1) and a tool (10) as described in any one of claims 4 to 6, The apparatus is characterized in that the tool (10) comprises a shaft (11), an engaging element (12) is disposed at one end of the shaft (11), the engaging element (12) has two opposing engaging edges (18) for engaging with the edge (17) of the central portion (8), and the tool (10) has a structure between the two engaging edges (18) for engaging with the undercut (5).