Adjustable Closure Assembly for Clearance-Free Vibration Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure devices for connecting assemblies, such as those on vehicles, often fail to provide a reliable, loadable, and clearance-free hold, especially in the presence of mechanical manufacturing tolerances and vibrations.
Innovation Solution
The closure device incorporates an adjusting element on the first closure part that can be adjusted between two positions. In the first position, the closure parts can be attached, and upon transitioning to the second position, a pretensioning force is applied along the closing direction, ensuring a firm, clearance-free connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical engagement of closure parts is used to connect assemblies, then a firm hold is achieved, but manufacturing tolerances cause clearances and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The closure device employs an adjusting element that can be positioned in different adjustment positions to change the geometric parameters of the connection. By adjusting the position of the adjusting element, the connection geometry is adapted to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, achieving a clearance-free connection between closure parts despite variations in manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure device incorporates an adjusting element that can be dynamically repositioned between a first adjustment position for attachment and a second adjustment position for pretensioning. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to transition from a simple attachment state to a pretensioned state, eliminating clearances and enhancing connection stability to overcome manufacturing tolerance issues.
2Ease of operation
If closure parts are simply attached to each other, then ease of operation is improved, but vibration and rattling occur due to clearances
Solution Approach 1:
The closure device employs an adjusting element that can be adjusted to a second adjustment position to apply a pretensioning force along the closing direction before the closure parts are subjected to operational loads. This preliminary pretensioning action eliminates clearances and prevents vibration and rattling during operation, while the adjusting element remains accessible for manual adjustment without complicating the closing operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A closure device for connecting two assemblies to each other includes a first closure part associated to a first one of the assemblies, which includes a housing part, at least one first engaging protrusion and an adjusting element adjustably arranged on the housing part. The closure device also comprises a second closure part associated to a second one of the assemblies, which includes an engaging element with at least one second engaging protrusion. The adjusting element is arranged on the housing part of the first closure part so as to be adjusted between a first position and a second position, wherein the adjusting element in the first position is configured to provide for an attachment of the first closure part and the second closure part to each other along the closing direction for closing the closure device.