Box Profile Nut Positioning With Removable Carrier Strip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing installation systems for box profiles in the automotive sector face challenges in precisely positioning nut elements and adding weight or weakening the structure due to the need for additional components or openings.
Innovation Solution
An installation system with a releasable nut element on a carrier strip and a positioning strip that allows for precise orientation and latching of nut elements within the box profile, enabling easy removal of the strips after screw-connection without additional openings, using a combination of metal and plastic components for weight reduction and enhanced tolerance compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a metal or plastic carrier strip with prepositioned nut elements is screwed onto the box profile, then the nut elements can be positioned and screw-connected, but additional weight is involved and tolerance problems result from the prepositioning on the strip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the carrier strip from the final installed state. The carrier strip is only present during installation to enable precise positioning of nut elements, then it is removed after the nut elements are screw-connected to the box profile. This eliminates the ongoing weight penalty while preserving the positioning precision benefit during the critical installation phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier strip performs the preliminary action of precisely positioning the nut elements relative to the box profile bores before the actual screw-connection takes place. By pre-positioning the nut elements on the carrier strip with high precision, the system ensures accurate alignment, then the carrier strip is discarded after serving its positioning purpose.
2Weight of moving object
If a clip-type nut is clipped laterally into the box profile, then less weight is involved, but additional lateral openings are necessary which weaken the structure of the box profile
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier strip acts as an intermediary tool that enables the installation of nut elements through existing longitudinal openings without requiring additional lateral openings. The carrier strip is inserted through the longitudinal opening, positions the nut element against the inner wall, and allows screw-connection from the outside, thus avoiding any lateral openings that would compromise structural strength.
3Ease of manufacture
If nut elements are prepositioned on a carrier strip, then positioning is simplified, but tolerance problems result from the prepositioning process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical prepositioning system (where nut elements are permanently fixed to the carrier strip) with a temporary retention mechanism. The nut elements are held on the carrier strip by a retention element that allows for adjustment and precise alignment during installation, then is released to allow the nut elements to be securely fastened to the box profile, thereby achieving both ease of positioning and high precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Installation system for a box profile (100) for a motor vehicle, wherein the installation system (1) has: —at least one carrier strip (10), which can be pushed into the box profile (100), —at least one nut element (20) for prepositioning on the carrier strip (10), wherein the nut element (20) is designed to be prepositioned in a releasable manner on the carrier strip (10), and the installation system (1) has a positioning strip (30), which can be displaced relative to the carrier strip (10) and is designed to arrange the at least one nut element (20), in the state in which the latter has been prepositioned on the carrier strip (10), on an opening (102) of the box profile (100). Installation method. Nut element.