Elastic Centering Device for Tolerance Compensation in Vehicle Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for compensating tolerances between components in vehicle construction, such as between a roof plate and a support structure, face challenges in maintaining precise alignment and secure mounting, especially in unfavorable positions where direct visibility is limited, leading to complex screw member insertion and positioning.
Innovation Solution
A device equipped with an elastic centering arrangement, formed as an elastic contour or body, provides spring force to maintain the device in a nominal position, ensuring easy mounting and alignment without affecting tolerance compensation, using a fastening member with distributed elastic centering members that counteract weight forces and support the device radially.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the device is mounted in unfavorable positions without direct visibility, then the mounting complexity increases and positioning becomes difficult, but adding complex positioning mechanisms increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic centering arrangement automatically centers the device on the first component through elastic restoring forces without requiring manual intervention or complex positioning mechanisms. The device self-corrects its position by utilizing the elastic deformation and recovery of the centering arrangement, making the mounting process simpler even in unfavorable positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic centering arrangement creates a stable equilibrium position where the elastic forces balance the gravitational and mounting forces. By designing the elastic centering arrangement with appropriate stiffness and geometry, the device achieves a stable centered position regardless of mounting orientation, effectively creating an equipotential state for positioning.
2Measurement precision
If the elastic centering arrangement provides strong spring force to maintain nominal position, then centering precision improves, but the force required for tolerance compensation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic centering arrangement provides localized elastic support at specific points (centering members) rather than uniform support across the entire device. This allows the centering function to be performed with minimal elastic force while maintaining precision, as the centering members only need to provide enough force to maintain radial positioning, not to support the entire device weight or compensate for all tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering function is segmented into multiple discrete centering members distributed around the device periphery. Each centering member handles a portion of the centering task, allowing the system to achieve precise centering through distributed small forces rather than a single large force, thereby reducing the total force requirement for tolerance compensation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The elastic centering arrangement simplifies the mounting process by maintaining the device in a consistent position, facilitating screw member insertion and tolerance compensation, while ensuring the device remains securely aligned and functional, even in unfavorable installation positions.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic centering arrangement is in particular formed as an elastic contour and/or an elastic body
Implementation Method 2
the elastic centering arrangement provides spring force to maintain the device in a nominal position
Implementation Method 3
a screw member for screwing the components, for example a screw or threaded bolt, is passed through correspondingly provided openings in the components and through the device. When screwing the screw member, the compensating member is twisted relative to the base member by means of a driving spring connected between the screw member and the compensating member
Data Source
AI summary
A device for compensating of tolerances between a first component and a second component is described. The device may have an elastic centering arrangement which is provided for centering the device in a nominal position on the first component, which may be formed for this purpose.