Metal-Reinforced Tolerance Compensation Assembly for Misalignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tolerance compensation arrangements require high precision due to non-floating towing sections, leading to misalignment issues, and when made of plastic, they fail to handle higher strength connections as the plastic deforms under increased force, losing preload force.
Innovation Solution
A tolerance compensation arrangement featuring a base element with metal components, including a first and second metal element with internal threads, a metal threaded sleeve with an external thread, and a drag unit, allowing for automatic compensation of misalignment and increased strength through metal-metal connections while maintaining cost-effectiveness with a plastic base unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a plastic base element is used in tolerance compensation arrangements, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but strength and ability to maintain preload force under increased load deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines plastic and metal materials in a composite structure where the plastic base element provides cost-effectiveness and the embedded metal elements (first and second metal elements) provide high strength. This composite approach allows the tolerance compensation arrangement to be both economical and capable of maintaining preload force under increased load, resolving the contradiction between cost-effectiveness and strength.
2Device complexity
If a non-floating drag section is used, then structural simplicity is improved, but misalignment compensation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the static, fixed drag section into a dynamic, floating drag section that can adapt its position. The first metal element is arranged floatingly in the base element, allowing the drag section to self-adjust and compensate for misalignments between components. This dynamic capability enables automatic compensation of manufacturing tolerances and misalignments while maintaining relative structural simplicity.
3Strength
If metal elements are embedded in plastic base element, then strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates the first and second metal elements into the plastic base element during the molding process itself, rather than as a separate assembly step. This preliminary integration allows the metal elements to be embedded directly into the plastic matrix during manufacturing, maintaining ease of production while achieving the strength benefits of metal-reinforced structures.
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 solution enables higher strength connections and a wider range of applications by compensating for misalignment and maintaining preload force, outperforming purely plastic arrangements in strength and precision.
Implementation Method 1
a detachable drag connection with the drag unit so that when the fastening screw is turned, the adjustment unit rotates along with it
Implementation Method 2
the first metal element is arranged floating in the base element so that any misalignment of the fastening screw can be compensated for when inserted into the adjustment unit
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a tolerance compensation assembly for fastening a first component to a second component with automatic compensation of tolerances in the distance between the first component and the second component. The tolerance compensation assembly comprises: a base element, which has a first metal element having a first internal screw thread and a second metal element having a second internal screw thread, which are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal axis of the base element; and an adjustment unit, which comprises a threaded sleeve made of metal and having an external screw thread and comprises a drag-along unit arranged at least partly in the threaded sleeve, the external screw thread and the first internal screw thread of the first metal element of the base element forming a first screw thread pairing of a first direction of thread. A fastening screw can be inserted through an opening in the base unit and in the adjustment unit and can be screwed into the second internal screw thread of the second metal element of the base element by means of a second screw thread pairing of a second direction of thread opposite the first direction of thread. Furthermore, the fastening screw can be connected to the adjustment unit via the drag-along unit by means of a releasable drag-along connection in order to also rotate the adjustment unit as the fastening screw is screwed in and thereby to move the adjustment unit into contact with the first component.