U.S. patent application number 09/741885 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-28 for thread-insert arrangement.
This patent application is currently assigned to Schwarz-Verbindungs-Systeme GmbH. Invention is credited to Schwarz, Helmut.
Application Number | 20010005472 09/741885 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26062939 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010005472 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schwarz, Helmut |
June 28, 2001 |
Thread-insert arrangement
Abstract
A thread-insert device is provided including a hollow-cylinder
shaped sleeve part having an upper and lower sleeve edge and at
least one supporting recess located on said upper sleeve edge; and
a hollow-cylinder shaped thread insert, having two ends, a central
axis, internal threads, and at least one supporting edge part
projecting outwardly at one end of the thread-insert substantially
perpendicularly to the central axis. The at least one supporting
edge part is structured to be received by the at least one
supporting recess, wherein the at least one supporting edge part is
movable within the at least one supporting recess, and wherein the
thread insert is movable within the sleeve part.
Inventors: |
Schwarz, Helmut; (Weil der
Stadt, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN
1941 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
|
Assignee: |
Schwarz-Verbindungs-Systeme
GmbH
|
Family ID: |
26062939 |
Appl. No.: |
09/741885 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
411/172 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 13/0206 20130101;
F16B 37/00 20130101; F16B 5/0621 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
411/172 |
International
Class: |
F16B 037/02; F16B
037/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 24, 1999 |
DE |
299 22 799.5 |
Dec 24, 1999 |
DE |
299 22 800.2 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A thread-insert device, comprising: a hollow-cylinder shaped
sleeve part having an upper and lower sleeve edge and at least one
supporting recess located on said tipper sleeve edge; and a
hollow-cylinder shaped thread insert, having two ends, a central
axis, internal threads, and at least one supporting edge part
projecting outwardly at one end of said thread insert substantially
perpendicularly to the central axis; wherein said at least one
supporting edge part is structured to be received by said at least
one supporting recess, wherein said at least one supporting edge
part is movable within said at least one supporting recess, and
wherein said thread insert is movable within said sleeve part.
2. The thread-insert device according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one supporting edge part comprises three supporting edge
parts.
3. The thread-insert device according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one supporting edge part comprises four supporting edge
parts.
4. The thread-insert device according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one supporting edge part is formed as one of a finger,
projection, tab, and arm.
5. The thread-insert device according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one supporting edge part comprises a plurality of supporting
edge parts arranged symmetrically to the central axis.
6. The thread-insert device according to claim 1, wherein each said
at least one supporting recess is assigned to a respective one of
said at least one supporting edge parts, respectively.
7. The thread-insert device according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one supporting edge part comprises an even number of
symmetrically arranged edge parts, said at least one supporting
recess comprises a same even number of supporting recesses arranged
diametrically opposite each other, and wherein said supporting
recesses have supporting surfaces and side walls aligned with each
other.
8. The thread-insert device according to claim 1, said sleeve part
comprising an outer wall with at least one recess for a
non-twisting connection with a component.
9. The thread-insert device according to claim 1, further including
a cap adapted to cover said at least one supporting recess by being
attached to said upper sleeve edge.
10. The thread-insert device according to claim 9, wherein said cap
has an interior edge bead which fits over an outer sleeve shoulder
of said upper sleeve edge.
11. The thread-insert device according to claim 1, wherein said
sleeve is made of plastic.
12. A thread-insert device, comprising: a hollow-cylinder shaped
sleeve part having an upper and lower sleeve edge and one
supporting recess located on said upper sleeve edge; and a
hollow-cylinder shaped thread insert, having two ends, a central
axis, internal threads, and one supporting edge part projecting
outwardly at one end of said thread insert substantially
perpendicularly to the central axis; wherein said supporting edge
part is structured to be received by said supporting recess,
wherein said supporting edge part is movable within said supporting
recess, and wherein said thread insert is movable within said
sleeve part.
13. The thread-insert device according to claim 12, wherein said
supporting edge part and said supporting recess is in the form of a
ring segment.
14. A threaded coupling device, comprising: a tubular body having
internal threads and an end connected to a supporting element
having at least one supporting edge part which projects beyond an
outer surface of said tubular body and substantially
perpendicularly to a tube axis; and a sleeve part having an axial
bore with a center axis arranged to receive said tubular body,
which extends from a recessed side to a bottom side, wherein said
recessed side has at least one supporting recess arranged to
receive said at least one supporting edge part.
15. The threaded coupling device according to claim 14, wherein
said at least one supporting edge comprises an edge part.
16. The threaded coupling device according to claim 14, wherein
said at least one supporting edge comprises a plurality of edge
parts.
17. The threaded coupling device according to claim 16, wherein
said plurality of edge parts is oriented in a radially outward and
symmetric arrangement.
18. The threaded coupling device according to claim 17, wherein
said supporting element and said plurality of edge parts are
integrally formed in a sprocket shape.
19. The threaded coupling device according to claim 14, wherein
said at least one supporting recess comprises one recess.
20. The threaded coupling device according to claim 14, wherein
said at least one supporting recess comprises a plurality of
recesses.
21. The threaded coupling device according to claim 20, wherein
said plurality of edge parts extend are oriented in a radially
outward and symmetric arrangement.
22. The threaded coupling device according to claim 14, wherein
said recessed side and said bottom side are connected by a
plurality of radially spaced braces.
23. The thread coupling device according to claim 14, further
comprising a cap adapted to cover said recess side of said sleeve
part.
24. The thread coupling device according to claim 14, wherein said
at least one edge part is rotatably movable within said at least
one supporting recess.
25. The thread coupling device according to claim 14, wherein said
tubular body is transversely movable with respect to the central
axis of said sleeve part.
26. The thread coupling device according to claim 14, wherein,
while said at least one supporting recess supports said at least
one edge part, said tubular body is movable within said sleeve
part.
27. The thread coupling device according to claim 14, wherein,
while said at least one supporting recess supports said at least
one edge part, said at least one edge part is movable within said
at least one supporting recess.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119 of German Patent Application No. 299 22 799.5, filed on
Dec. 24, 1999, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention concerns a thread-insert arrangement fastening
arrangement which permits ease of installation by including
tolerance compensation and/or centering upon making the bolt
connection.
[0004] 2. Discussion of Background Information
[0005] Thread-insert arrangements are used in components to permit
joining by means of bolts. The actual thread insert, a part similar
to a hollow cylinder with interior thread, is inserted into the
hole of a component plate. The thread insert can be bonded, calked,
screwed or cast into place in the component.
[0006] For fastening interior paneling in aircraft and vehicles,
thread-insert arrangements are used which permit tolerance
compensation and/or centering when making the bolt connection.
[0007] Thread-insert arrangements of this kind always comprise two
parts: a sleeve part which is attached permanently to the
component, and the actual thread insert, which is located loosely
in the sleeve part and can be moved or turned to a limited extent
within the sleeve part.
[0008] For centering purposes, the thread insert has a slant which
guides to the interior thread. A thread-insert arrangement of this
kind known to prior art (manufacturer: Shur-Lok Corporation, USA,
order no. SL6065 series) is shown in FIG. 3. Sleeve part 5 and
thread insert 6 are made of metal. The sleeve part is bonded or
cast onto the component which is generally of plastic. It has
ribbing 5-1 on the exterior which prevents it from turning in its
seat. The upper open sleeve edge has a milled recess 5-2 between
two wall parts 5-3 and 5-4 positioned opposite one another.
[0009] The actual thread insert 6 has a bar with two supporting
edge parts 6-1 and 6-2 which point outwards. The bar of the thread
insert is located in the milled slot 5-2. Here, it lies against the
sleeve edge and can be shifted and turned within the slot. In order
to limit movement, the interior sleeve wall functions as a stop for
the outer wall of the interior thread part 6. In order to limit
turning, the wall parts 5-3 and 5-4 act as a stop for the bar.
[0010] Thread inserts of this type have the following
disadvantages: high weight (especially undesirable in aircraft
manufacture) due to the sleeve part made of metal, high
manufacturing costs for the sleeve part made of metal, only two
support points for the support bar on the sleeve wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] An aspect of the invention is to provide a thread-insert
arrangement which allows a more even distribution of the contact
surfaces on the sleeve wall. In another version of the invention,
an aspect is to provide a thread-insert arrangement which is
lighter in weight or a thread-insert arrangement with low
manufacturing costs.
[0012] According to an aspect of the invention, a thread-insert
arrangement is provided, with a hollow-cylinder shaped sleeve part
and a hollow-cylinder shaped thread insert with internal thread
arranged therein. At least three outward-pointing supporting edge
parts are arranged on one opening of the thread insert and
supporting recesses to receive the supporting edge parts are
provided on an opening of the sleeve part. The thread insert with
its supporting edge parts can rotate in the area of the supporting
recesses and the thread insert can be moved to the side within the
sleeve part.
[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, four
supporting edge parts are provided. In another aspect of the
present invention, the four supporting edge parts are designed like
fingers. According to a further aspect of the present invention,
the supporting edge parts are arranged symmetrically. In another
aspect of the invention, a supporting recess is assigned to each of
the supporting edge parts. In another aspect of the present
invention, an even number of radially symmetrically arranged edge
parts, where supporting recesses located diametrically opposite
have base surfaces and sides aligned with one another.
[0014] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a
thread-insert arrangement, with a hollow-cylinder shaped sleeve
part and a hollow-cylinder shaped thread insert with internal
thread arranged therein, is provided. An outward-pointing
supporting edge part is arranged on one opening of the thread
insert and a supporting recess to receive the supporting edge part
is provided on an opening of the sleeve part. The thread insert
with its supporting edge part can rotate in the area of the
supporting recess and the thread insert can be moved to the side
within the sleeve part.
[0015] According to still a further aspect of the present
invention, the supporting edge part and the supporting recess is in
the form of a ring segment. In another aspect of the present
invention, the outer wall of the sleeve part has recesses for a
non-twisting connection with a component. In another aspect of the
present invention, a cap covering the sleeve opening with the
supporting recesses is provided. According to a further aspect of
the invention, the cap has an interior edge bead which fits over an
outer sleeve shoulder. In another aspect of the invention, the
sleeve is made of plastic.
[0016] According to an aspect of the present invention, a
thread-insert device, is provided including a hollow-cylinder
shaped sleeve part having an upper and lower sleeve edge and at
least one supporting recess located on said upper sleeve edge; and
a hollow-cylinder shaped thread insert, having two ends, a central
axis, internal threads, and at least one supporting edge part
projecting outwardly at one end of said thread insert substantially
perpendicularly to the central axis. The at least one supporting
edge part is structured to be received by the at least one
supporting recess, wherein the at least one supporting edge part is
movable within the at least one supporting recess, and wherein the
thread insert is movable within said sleeve part.
[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, the at
least one supporting edge part includes three supporting edge
parts. In another aspect of the present invention, the at least one
supporting edge part includes four supporting edge parts. According
to a further aspect of the present invention, the at least one
supporting edge part is formed as one of a finger, projection, tab,
and arm.
[0018] According to still a further aspect of the present
invention, the at least one supporting edge part includes a
plurality of supporting edge parts arranged symmetrically to the
central axis. In another aspect of the present invention, each the
at least one supporting recess is assigned to a respective one of
the at least one supporting edge parts, respectively.
[0019] According to a still further aspect of the present
invention, the at least one supporting edge part includes an even
number of symmetrically arranged edge parts, wherein the at least
one supporting recess comprises a same even number of supporting
recesses arranged diametrically opposite each other, and wherein
the supporting recesses have supporting surfaces and side walls
aligned with each other.
[0020] Further aspects of the invention include the sleeve part
including an outer wall with at least one recess for a non-twisting
connection with a component. According to other aspects of the
invention, a cap adapted to cover the at least one supporting
recess by being attached to the upper sleeve edge is provided.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the cap has
an interior edge bead which fits over an outer sleeve shoulder of
the upper sleeve edge. According to a still further aspect of the
invention, the sleeve is made of plastic.
[0021] According to an aspect of the present invention, a
thread-insert device is provided, including a hollow-cylinder
shaped sleeve part having an upper and lower sleeve edge and one
supporting recess located on said upper sleeve edge; and a
hollow-cylinder shaped thread insert, having two ends, a central
axis, internal threads, and one supporting edge part projecting
outwardly at one end of said thread insert substantially
perpendicularly to the central axis. The supporting edge part is
structured to be received by the supporting recess, wherein the
supporting edge part is movable within the supporting recess, and
wherein the thread insert is movable within the sleeve part.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the supporting
edge part and the supporting recess is in the form of a ring
segment.
[0022] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
threaded coupling device is provided, including a tubular body
having internal threads and an end connected to a supporting
element having at least one supporting edge part which projects
beyond an outer surface of the tubular body and substantially
perpendicularly to a tube axis; and a sleeve part having an axial
bore with a center axis arranged to receive the tubular body, which
extends from a recessed side to a bottom side, wherein the recessed
side has at least one supporting recess arranged to receive the at
least one supporting edge part.
[0023] In another aspect of the present invention, the at least one
supporting edge comprises an edge part. According to a further
aspect of the present invention, the at least one supporting edge
comprises a plurality of edge parts. According to a still further
aspect of the present invention, the plurality of edge parts is
oriented in a radially outward and symmetric arrangement. According
to a still further aspect of the present invention, the supporting
element and the plurality of edge parts are integrally formed in a
sprocket shape.
[0024] According to a still further aspect of the present
invention, the at least one supporting recess comprises one recess.
In another aspect of the present invention, the at least one
supporting recess comprises a plurality of recesses. According to
an aspect of the present invention, the plurality of edge parts
extend are oriented in a radially outward and symmetric
arrangement.
[0025] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the
recessed side and said bottom side are connected by a plurality of
radially spaced braces. In another aspect of the present invention,
a cap is adapted to cover the recess side of said sleeve part.
Further aspects of the invention include at least one edge part is
rotatably movable within the at least one supporting recess.
According to other aspects of the present invention, the tubular
body is transversely movable with respect to the central axis of
the sleeve part.
[0026] According to another aspect of the present invention, while
the at least one supporting recess supports the at least one edge
part, the tubular body is movable within the sleeve part. According
to a still further aspect of the invention, while at least one
supporting recess supports the at least one edge part, the at least
one edge part is movable within the at least one supporting
recess.
[0027] Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present
invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure
and the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The present invention is further described in the detailed
description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of
drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments
of the present invention, in which like reference numerals
represent similar parts throughout the several views of the
drawings, and wherein:
[0029] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the thread insert in
accordance with the invention, with four ray-like supporting edge
parts pointing outwards;
[0030] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a sleeve part in accordance
with the invention for receiving the thread insert as shown in FIG.
1A;
[0031] FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a cap for the sleeve part
for covering the thread insert with the supporting edge parts;
[0032] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a thread insert in
accordance with the invention with only one support edge part
pointing outwards;
[0033] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a sleeve part in accordance
with the invention for receiving the thread insert as shown in FIG.
2A; and
[0034] FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective view of a thread insert
arrangement as known to prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0035] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for
purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the
present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing
what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood
description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present
invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural
details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary
for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the
description taken with the drawings making apparent to those
skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention
may be embodied in practice.
[0036] FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a thread insert in
accordance with the invention, with four ray-like
outwardly-pointing supporting edge parts 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4. The
thread-insert arrangement comprises principally a sleeve part 2 in
the shape of a hollow cylinder (FIG. 1B) and a thread insert 1 in
the shape of a hollow cylinder (FIG. 1A) with interior thread I
located inside it.
[0037] The thread insert 1 (FIG. 1A) has four supporting edge parts
1-1, 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4 which point outwards and which are arranged
radially symmetrically. A thread insert of this kind is easily
manufactured, e.g. by stamping and deep drawing from sheet
material, and then forming the thread by a non-cutting operation.
The supporting edge parts 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4 are arranged to lie
in the recesses 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 on the sleeve wall (FIG.
1B).
[0038] FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of a sleeve part 2 in
accordance with the invention for receiving the thread insert as
shown in FIG. 1A. On an opening of the sleeve part 2, there are
recesses 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 to receive the supporting edge parts
edge parts 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 and 1- 4 of the thread insert 1. The
recess width B of each supporting recess is slightly greater than
the width b of a supporting edge part, so that this can be turned
to a limited extent in the area of the supporting recess.
[0039] The thread insert 1 has an outer diameter d, which is
slightly smaller than the interior diameter D of the sleeve 2. This
allows a limited sideways movement of the thread insert within the
sleeve part 2, in the plane on which the supporting surfaces of the
sleeve for the supporting edge parts lie.
[0040] FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of a cap 3 for the sleeve
part 2 for covering the thread insert 1 with the supporting edge
parts. After introducing the thread insert 1 into the sleeve part
2, this cap is located above the sleeve opening.
[0041] The cap 3 ensures that the thread insert 1 cannot drop out
of the sleeve 2 and also covers the area of the supporting recesses
2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4. In this way, this area is protected when the
thread-insert arrangement is bonded or cast onto a component.
[0042] Cap 3 has an interior bead edge 3-1 which fits over a
shoulder 2-9 when the cap is placed on the sleeve opening. The
sleeve exterior has recesses 25, 2-6 and braces 2-8 between the
upper edge (or recess side) and lower outwardly-pointing sleeve
edge (bottom side). This design allows the thread-insert
arrangement to be cast into a component without twisting. The use
of plastic or synthetic adhesives is recommended for the casting
process.
[0043] The thread connection is made at the opening of the sleeve
part which is facing away from the cap. The plastic
injection-molding process is recommended for the sleeve part 2.
This process is simpler and more economical than using metallic
sleeves. Plastic material is also lower in weight.
[0044] With the thread-insert arrangement in accordance with the
invention, the number of supporting edge parts of the thread insert
may also be 1 or more (e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5 etc.). An axial symmetric
arrangement is preferable for several supporting edge parts. A
thread-insert arrangement with four supporting edge parts has
proved to be particularly effective.
[0045] FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of a thread insert 4 in
accordance with the invention with only one support edge part 4-1
pointing outwards, while FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the
appropriate sleeve part 4' in accordance with the invention for
receiving the thread insert in accordance with FIG. 2A. With a
design of this type, there is an especially large supporting
surface 4-1' for the supporting edge part 4-1 of the thread
insert.
[0046] It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided
merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be
construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present
invention has been described with reference to an exemplary
embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used
herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words
of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the
appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without
departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its
aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein
with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the
present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars
disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all
functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *