Plastic Carrier Distance Device for Roof Rack Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distance devices for securing roof luggage racks on vehicles are complex and difficult to fit, requiring elaborate adjustments to ensure a secure connection without deforming the vehicle roof, due to variable manufacturing tolerances and the need for precise bridging of the free space between the roof body and the carrier part.
Innovation Solution
A simple distance device using a plastic carrier with a rotationally engaging connection, featuring an undersized internal thread or screw channel for the threaded screw, which provides frictional resistance and allows easy assembly and secure fastening of the roof luggage rack, while preventing damage to the thread during installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spring element with leaf spring sections is used to enable axial movement and rotational engagement, then the threaded screw can be pushed in and rotated to set the bridging length, but the design becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the spring element from the distance device, removing the complex axial movement mechanism. The threaded screw is designed to be inserted without axial movement requirements, simplifying the overall design while maintaining the rotational engagement function through the plastic carrier's frictional resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simple plastic carrier that provides frictional resistance for rotational engagement, replacing the complex reusable spring element. The plastic carrier is a simple, inexpensive component that achieves the same functional result without the complexity of mechanical spring sections
2Reliability
If the threaded screw is screwed into an undersized internal thread, then frictional resistance is provided for rotational engagement, but the thread may be damaged due to milling action
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of the internal thread from undersized to correctly sized, matching the threaded screw's external thread dimensions. This eliminates the milling action that damages threads while maintaining adequate frictional resistance for rotational engagement through the plastic carrier material
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite approach combining the plastic carrier material with a correctly sized internal thread. The plastic material provides the necessary frictional resistance for rotational engagement, while the correctly sized metal thread prevents damage, creating a synergistic connection that achieves both reliability and strength
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 a straightforward and secure fastening of roof luggage racks by utilizing a plastic carrier that provides frictional resistance, allowing for easy assembly and secure attachment without deforming the vehicle roof, while preventing thread damage during installation.
Implementation Method 1
the rotationally engaging connection has a plastic carrier into which the thread of the threaded screw is/has been screwed for carrying along with frictional resistance
Data Source
AI summary
A distance device bridges a free space between a carrier part and a roof body for fastening a roof luggage rack, such as a roof rail, a roof strip or the like, on a vehicle roof by a threaded screw, with a support part and a counter support part. The support part and counter support part are held together by a threaded connection and can be adjusted relative to each other in order to set a bridging length. The support part or counter support part is carried along by a rotationally engaging connection with the threaded screw when it is screwed into a counter thread of the roof luggage rack or carrier part as far as a contact position with the carrier part or the roof body. The rotationally engaging connection has a plastic carrier into which the thread of the threaded screw is/has been screwed for carrying along with frictional resistance.