Angular-Compensating Fastening Assembly for Roof Rail Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening arrangements struggle to effectively compensate for both tolerance and angle discrepancies between components, particularly when connecting thin-walled components like a roof skin to a body structure, leading to difficulties in securing roof rails without deforming the thin-walled component.
Innovation Solution
A fastening arrangement with a base element and an adjustment unit that allows for automatic compensation of tolerances and angles by using a detachable drag connection and a holding structure that can be pivoted or angled relative to the longitudinal axis, ensuring the fastening screw can be aligned perpendicular to the second component, even if the first and second components are not parallel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spherical washer is used for angle compensation, then the fastening arrangement can adapt to contact surfaces, but the spherical washer must absorb fastening forces and requires larger dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening arrangement is divided into separate functional elements: the holding structure handles angle compensation through pivoting, while the adjustment unit handles tolerance compensation through axial movement. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized for its specific function without requiring the spherical washer to bear full fastening forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding structure acts as an intermediary element between the first and second components, providing angle compensation through its pivoting capability. This mediator absorbs the angular misalignment, allowing the adjustment unit to focus on tolerance compensation and the fastening screw to provide secure clamping without requiring oversized spherical washers.
2Ease of manufacture
If the holding structure is fixed perpendicular to the base element, then manufacturing is simpler, but angle discrepancies between components cannot be compensated
Solution Approach 1:
The holding structure is designed with pivoting capability, transforming it from a static fixed element to a dynamic adjustable element. This allows the holding structure to adapt its orientation to compensate for angle discrepancies between components while maintaining a simple perpendicular configuration during manufacturing and assembly.
3Device complexity
If tolerance compensation is implemented through axial movement only, then the structure remains simple, but angle mismatches between components cannot be resolved
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening arrangement merges two compensation mechanisms into a single integrated system: the holding structure provides angle compensation through pivoting, while the adjustment unit provides tolerance compensation through axial movement. This combination allows the system to handle both angular and dimensional discrepancies without significantly increasing overall complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A fastening arrangement for fastening a first component to a second component with automatic compensation of tolerances in the spacing between the first component and the second component has a base element with a first and a second axial end and with a holding structure on a radially outer side for the purposes of holding the base element in an opening of the first component. Furthermore, the fastening arrangement comprises an adjusting unit which can be screwed into the base element and which has a driver unit inserted therein, whereas a fastening screw is connectable to the adjusting unit via the driver unit by means of a releasable driving connection, such that, when the fastening screw is rotated, the adjusting unit can be rotated conjointly and moved into contact with the second component. The holding structure of the base element has a holding segment which is arranged at an angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base element, or which is pivotable about an axis of the plane, such that, by means of the holding segment, an angle between the first and the second component can be compensated such that, when the adjusting unit makes contact with the second component, a longitudinal axis of the fastening arrangement runs perpendicular to a plane of the second component.