Metal-Plastic Fastening Assembly for Tolerance Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening assemblies struggle to compensate for manufacturing and mounting tolerances between components, particularly when components other than threaded fastening elements are made of plastic, leading to inefficiencies in securing components with precise alignment.
Innovation Solution
A tolerance compensation fastening assembly featuring a first and second compensation element, both partially made of metal, with movable support portions and a fastener system that includes a bolt and nut, allowing for longitudinal and transverse compensation through a combination of metal and plastic components, along with limiting and retaining mechanisms to secure components despite manufacturing variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If plastic components are used in fastening assemblies, then manufacturing cost and ease of manufacture are improved, but the ability to compensate for manufacturing and mounting tolerances deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support portions are constructed using composite materials, specifically metal (such as aluminum alloy or steel) that provides both structural strength and elastic deformation capability. This composite approach allows the fastening assembly to maintain structural integrity while compensating for manufacturing and mounting tolerances through controlled elastic deformation, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and tolerance compensation capability.
2Manufacturing precision
If metal components are used in fastening assemblies, then the ability to compensate for manufacturing and mounting tolerances is improved, but weight and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The metal support portions are designed with specific local geometric features and cross-sectional configurations that concentrate the tolerance compensation function in critical areas while minimizing overall material usage. The local quality of the metal structure is optimized to provide elastic deformation capability exactly where needed for tolerance compensation, rather than making the entire fastening assembly heavy and complex.
3Strength
If threaded fastening elements are used, then fastening strength is improved, but the complexity of the assembly and sensitivity to misalignment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support portions are designed as dynamic elastic elements that can deform under load to accommodate misalignment between components. This dynamic behavior allows the threaded fastening elements to maintain proper engagement and achieve full fastening strength even when there are manufacturing or mounting tolerances, effectively reducing the sensitivity to misalignment without adding assembly complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a tolerance compensation fastening assembly for fastening a first component to a second component which comprises a first compensation element and a second compensation element. The first compensation element comprises a first support portion which is provided with a first receiving hole that receives a shank of a fastener, and is connectable to the first component and movable relative to the first component in a longitudinal direction. The second compensation element comprises a second support portion which is provided with a second receiving hole that receives the shank of the fastener and is connectable to the first component and movable relative to the first component in at least one transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The first support portion and the second support portion are subjected to an axial fastening force applied by the fastener, and are at least partially made of metal.