Tolerance Compensation Assembly With Integrated Torque Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compensating devices for tolerances between components require separate spring elements for axial unscrewing, which complicates the design and increases the number of components, making them costly and less accurate.
Innovation Solution
A device with a hollow cylindrical base element and compensating element in thread engagement, featuring a radial overhang or integrated driver through concentric bulges in the inner and outer contours, allowing for a force fit without a spring element, reducing the number of components and simplifying the design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring element is used to create frictional connection and enable axial unscrewing of the compensating element, then the compensating device can compensate for axial tolerances, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing costs increase due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the driver function and the compensating element into a single integrated component. The connecting element itself serves as the driver through its interaction with the non-circular inner contour of the compensating element, eliminating the need for a separate spring element or driver component. This merging reduces the number of parts while maintaining the torque transmission capability needed for tolerance compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the spring element from the compensating device. By using the connecting element's outer contour interacting with the compensating element's non-circular inner contour, the function previously performed by the spring element (creating frictional connection and enabling unscrewing) is achieved without this component, thereby simplifying the device structure.
2Ease of operation
If a separate spring element and driver are used in the compensating device, then the compensating element can be unscrewed axially, but the manufacturing cost and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the driver functionality into the connecting element itself. The non-circular inner contour of the compensating element interacts directly with the outer contour of the connecting element, allowing the connecting element to serve as both the fastening component and the driver, eliminating the need for separate driver components and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element serves its own purpose as a driver through its geometric interaction with the compensating element. The form-fit connection between the non-circular inner contour and the outer contour enables the connecting element to automatically transmit torque and drive the axial unscrewing motion without requiring additional driven components.
3Strength
If the inner contour and outer contour are designed with radial overhang and form-fit contact, then a force fit is achieved between connecting element and compensating element, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric (non-circular) inner and outer contours with radial overhangs that create form-fit contact. This asymmetric geometry enables the connecting element and compensating element to self-align during assembly, as the radial overhangs naturally guide the components into their correct relative positions, thereby reducing the actual manufacturing precision requirements despite the complex geometry.
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 accurate tolerance compensation with a spring-free design, reducing manufacturing costs and effort while maintaining a secure force fit between components, allowing for precise adjustment and self-locking without additional drivers.
Implementation Method 1
The interaction of the inner contour and the outer contour by means of the bulge results in at least a force fit directly between the connecting element and the compensating element, as a result of which the torque of the connecting element is transmitted to and exerted on the compensating element.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for compensating for tolerances between two components to be connected to one another may have a hollow cylindrical base element. The base may also have a hollow cylindrical compensating element which is in thread engagement with the base element and which can be moved out of an initial position into a compensating position by rotation relative to the base element. The device may also have a connecting element extending at least through a first cavity of the device for connecting the two components. The first cavity may have an inner contour in cross section and the connecting element may have an outer contour in cross section. The inner contour may differ from the outer contour in such a way that when the inner contour and the outer contour are oriented concentrically at least one radial overhang is present.