Threaded Tolerance Compensator With Metal Spacer for Preload Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tolerance compensation devices in vehicle construction face challenges in maintaining preload force due to material creep or relaxation, especially when made of plastics, leading to loss of effectiveness over time and requiring frequent adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a hollow cylindrical base member, a compensating member in thread engagement, and a spacer member made of metal, which automatically locks the base member in position to prevent preload loss, allowing for automatic tolerance compensation without adjustment and preventing undesired rotation or loosening, thereby enhancing the device's reusability and assembly simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a tolerance compensation device made of plastics material is used, then ease of manufacture and assembly are improved, but preload force is lost over time due to material creep or relaxation
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines plastics material base member with a metal spacer member, creating a composite structure that leverages the manufacturing ease and corrosion resistance of plastics while incorporating the high strength and creep resistance of metal to maintain preload force over time
Solution Approach 2:
The metal spacer member acts as an intermediary element between the plastics base member and the component, preventing direct stress concentration on the plastics material and thereby reducing creep and relaxation effects
2Manufacturing precision
If adjustment mechanisms are added to compensate for tolerance, then precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device achieves automatic tolerance compensation through the elastic deformation of the base member and the positioning action of the spacer member, eliminating the need for manual adjustment mechanisms while maintaining precision
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer member is pre-positioned on the base member during manufacturing, establishing the correct geometric relationship and tolerance compensation capability before installation, eliminating the need for field adjustment
3Productivity
If the device is designed for reuse, then productivity is improved, but reliability decreases due to preload force loss
Solution Approach 1:
The metal spacer member provides durable, creep-resistant support that maintains preload force across multiple installation and removal cycles, enabling reliable reuse of the device
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer member is designed to accommodate and compensate for stress relaxation and creep that occur during reuse, maintaining adequate preload force throughout the device's service life
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 spacer member effectively limits preload loss, allowing the device to maintain its effectiveness over multiple uses by automatically clamping the base member in position, reducing stress relaxation and creep, and simplifying assembly processes.
Implementation Method 1
loss of preload force, which occurs in a tolerance compensation device made at least partially of plastics material or an assembly interface made of plastics material due to material creep or relaxation
Implementation Method 2
loss of preload force, which occurs in a tolerance compensation device made at least partially of plastics material or an assembly interface made of plastics material due to material creep or relaxation
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 tolerance compensation device. When screwing the screw member, the compensating member is rotated relative to the base member
Implementation Method 4
the compensating member is rotated relative to the base member by means of a driving spring connected between the screw member and the compensating member and is thus moved from its starting position axially to the base member
Data Source
AI summary
A device for compensating for tolerances between two components to be connected to one another is provided. The device may have at least one base member, a compensating member which is in thread engagement with the base member. The compensating member can be moved from a starting position into a compensating position by rotating relative to the base member. The device may also have a spacer member that may be arranged on the base member.