U.S. patent application number 10/463508 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-20 for screwed connection and connecting means for it and method of producing them.
Invention is credited to Bauer, Roland.
Application Number | 20030215306 10/463508 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7907023 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030215306 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bauer, Roland |
November 20, 2003 |
Screwed connection and connecting means for it and method of
producing them
Abstract
A screwed connection has a first connecting means with an
external thread and a second connecting means with an internal
thread. In order to avoid self-slackening of the screwed
connection, the external thread has a denticulation (14-16) which
interacts with a mating denticulation of the internal thread.
Inventors: |
Bauer, Roland; (Neuenstein,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC
Suite 300 West
1300 I Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
7907023 |
Appl. No.: |
10/463508 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10463508 |
Jun 18, 2003 |
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09959705 |
Nov 5, 2001 |
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09959705 |
Nov 5, 2001 |
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PCT/DE00/01398 |
May 4, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
411/433 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 37/12 20130101;
F16B 39/30 20130101; B21K 1/56 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
411/433 |
International
Class: |
F16B 037/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 5, 1999 |
DE |
199 20 616.3 |
Claims
1. A screwed connection with an internal thread, having at most one
thread turn, characterized in that the connecting means (131) is
part of a sheet-like material (132), the sheet-like material having
material reinforcement (142) in the region of the internal thread
(138), in which material reinforcement (142) the thread turn is
embossed.
2. The connecting means as claimed in claim 18, characterized in
that the material reinforcement (142) consists of displaced
material of the sheet-like material.
3. The connecting means (31) as claimed in claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that the internal thread (32) has a denticulation
(14-16).
4. The connecting means as claimed in claim 3, characterized in
that the denticulation (14-16; 44-46) is designed as a locking
denticulation favoring one direction of rotation, in particular
that direction of rotation for the screwing-in.
5. The connecting means as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized
in that the denticulation (15; 45) is arranged on a flank (11; 41)
of the internal thread (2; 32).
6. The connecting means as claimed in one of claims 3 to 5,
characterized in that the denticulation (14, 16; 44, 46) is
arranged either in a groove root (9) of the thread (2; 32) or on a
crest (13) of the thread (2; 32).
7. The connecting means as claimed in one of claims 3 to 6,
characterized in that the thread is a metric thread.
8. The connecting means as claimed in one of claims 3 to 7,
characterized in that the thread is an Acme thread.
9. The connecting means with an internal thread as claimed in one
or more of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that only part of the
internal thread (32), which part is accessible from the top side or
bottom side, is provided with the denticulation.
10. The connecting means with an internal thread as claimed in one
of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sheet-like material
(132) is a metal sheet.
11. A connecting means with an internal thread having a plurality
of thread turns, characterized in that a plurality of connecting
means (71) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10 having at most one
thread turn are connected to form a stack.
12. The connecting means with an internal thread as claimed in
claim 11, characterized in that a compensating disk (74) with or
without a thread turn is provided at least on one side of the
stack.
13. The connecting means with an internal thread as claimed in
claim 12, characterized in that the individual connecting means
(71.1 to 71.3; 111, 112) of the stack and the compensating disk
(74; 116, 117) has surface sections (113, 114) which are
perpendicular to the connecting axis (104).
14. The connecting means with an internal thread as claimed in one
of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the connecting means
(71.1 to 71.3, 74; 111, 112, 116, 117) of the stack are connected
to one another, in particular by welding, adhesive bonding or by
clinching or by TOX joining.
15. The connecting means with an internal thread as claimed in one
of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that at least two connecting
means (151.1-151.5) of the stack are connected to one another in an
integral manner and are arranged so as to lie one on top of the
other by bending them over.
16. A method of incorporating an internal thread in a sheet-like
material (132), characterized in that, in a first step, the
sheet-like material (132) is pierced, the material displaced by the
piercing being arranged laterally in the form of a turned-out
portion (141), in that, in a second step, the turned-out portion
(141) is made more uniform to form a collar (142), and in that, in
a third step, a thread turn (133) is embossed with the collar (142)
being deformed.
17. The method as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that, in a
fourth step, a denticulation (137) is stamped in the thread turn
(133).
18. A method of producing a connecting means having a plurality of
thread turns, characterized in that, as claimed in the steps of
claim 16 or 17, in a further step, the sheet-like material (150) is
bent over in such a way that at least two openings (152) at least
partly overlap, and in that, in a further step, the folded
sheet-like material (150) is deformed in such a way that the thread
turns (153) are arranged to form an internal thread.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the
sheet-like material (150) has supporting collars (156, 157) at its
ends, these supporting collars (156, 157) having been produced by
bending over the sheet-metal strip, the connecting means (151.1)
which is adjacent to the connecting means carrying the supporting
collars (156) being supported on the supporting collar (156).
20. The method as claimed in claim 18 or 19, characterized in that
the folded sheet-like material (150), before being compressed, has
an axis which passes through the openings and is at an angle a to
the subsequent center axis of the compressed sheet-like material
(150).
21. The method as claimed in one of claims 18 to 20, characterized
in that the sheet-like material (150) is compressed only to such an
extent that there is a distance between the end-side connecting
means (151.1 or 151.5) and the adjacent connecting means (151.2 and
151.4 resp.).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a screwed connection, having a
first connecting means with an external thread, which can generally
also be designated as screw, and a second connecting means with an
internal thread, in general usage also designated as nut. The
individual parts of the screwed connection, namely the connecting
means with external thread and the connecting means with internal
thread, and a method of producing them are also the subject matter
of the invention.
PRIOR ART
[0002] In conventional standard screws and standard nuts, the
problem of locking the screwed connection to prevent unintentional
slackening occurs. One possibility is to select the tightening
moment to be so high that a friction grip between the external
thread of the screw and the internal thread of the nut is effected.
In particular with unsteady loads with high force alternations, as
occur, for example, in motor vehicles on account of vibrations,
this leads to a situation in which the forces which have to be
absorbed by the screwed connection in order to ensure the friction
grip are markedly higher than would be required by the actual
retaining task.
[0003] Furthermore, in order to prevent turning of the screw in the
nut, it is known to use "locking means" which, for example in the
case of screw enamel, provide for adhesive bonding of the screw to
the nut. A disadvantage here is that the locking means having an
adhesive-bonding effect is destroyed after being slackened just
once, since the adhesive connection has been broken. There is also
the "clamping coating" according to DIN 267 Part 28. Here, there is
the disadvantage that considerable effort is required during the
fitting, and that, for example in the case of a galvanized surface,
a chromated coating is damaged.
[0004] Finally, it is known to increase the friction by using
profiled washers which have sharp edges, which, when the screwed
connection is being tightened, at least partly dig into the screw
material or into the material of the nut and the component arranged
in between and thus produce a certain form grip in addition to the
friction grip. Furthermore, it is known to provide screw heads or
nuts with a corresponding profiled surface which interacts directly
with the surface of the fastened component.
[0005] The subject matter of the present invention is a screwed
connection which in the case of a screw is locked against
slackening from the nut, the disadvantages described above being
avoided.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to the invention, the object is achieved by a
screwed connection which has a first connecting means with an
external thread and a second connecting means with an internal
thread, the external thread having a denticulation which interacts
with an internal denticulation of the internal thread.
[0007] On account of the denticulation arranged in the region of
the thread, additional washers may be dispensed with and damage to
the surface of the component to be connected is avoided. On account
of the form grip produced by the denticulation inside the thread,
that tightening moment of the screwed connection which has been
required hitherto for producing an adequate friction grip can be
markedly reduced, as a result of which the risk of the screwed
connection fracturing is reduced and the overrating measured at the
load is avoided. Furthermore, coatings or lubricants which have
even penetrated into the thread can no longer lead to a substantial
impairment in the functioning of the locking arrangement, since,
instead of a friction grip, a form grip independent of friction is
present.
[0008] Advantageous refinements of the screwed connection are
described in the subclaims. In this case, it is advantageous if the
denticulation is designed as a locking denticulation favoring one
direction of rotation. The denticulation may be arranged on a tooth
crest and/or in the groove root of the thread or on a tooth flank.
For example, if the thread is not designed as a metric thread but
as an Acme thread, for example in order to transmit movements over
a large distance, this has the advantage that, in the case of large
pitches, securing of the position by the thread itself is
nonetheless possible. External locking devices may therefore be
dispensed with. On account of the fine graduation of the
denticulation in the thread, a virtually stepless adjustment is
possible.
[0009] A further subject matter of the invention is a connecting
means with an external thread, the external thread having a
denticulation. This connecting means, for example as a screw, can
interact with a conventional nut made of a softer, i.e. more
elastic, material than that of the screw by the denticulation being
impressed into the material of the soft nut. However, especially in
this case, higher tightening moments are achieved than with mutual
denticulation.
[0010] Furthermore, a connecting means with an internal thread is
claimed, the internal thread likewise having a denticulation. In
this case, too, when a soft screw is used, as in container
construction for example, a denticulation in the nut may be
sufficient in order to increase the security against unintentional
slackening.
[0011] The connecting means described above are suitable for use in
the abovementioned screwed connection. Further advantageous
developments of the connecting means are described in the
subclaims.
[0012] Finally, a plurality of connecting means having at most one
thread turn are connected to form a stack, as a result of which, on
the one hand, higher forces can be transmitted via the thread and,
on the other hand, the locking function is improved.
[0013] A further subject matter of the invention is a connecting
means with an internal thread which has at most one thread turn and
which is part of a sheet-like material, the sheet-like material
having material reinforcement in the region of the internal thread.
In this way, it is possible to provide a larger part up to a
complete thread turn in the sheet-like materials, the thickness of
which is less than a complete pitch. Additional washers are then no
longer necessary.
[0014] The subject matter of the invention is also a method of
incorporating an internal thread in a sheet-like material. In this
case, in a first step, the sheet-like material is pierced, the
material displaced by the piercing being arranged laterally in the
form of a turned-out portion. In a second step, the turned-out
portion is made more uniform to form a collar, and, in a third
step, a thread turn is embossed with the collar being deformed.
[0015] It is especially advantageous, in a fourth step, to stamp a
denticulation in the thread turn. As a result, additional locking
elements such as washers or adhesive bonding are superfluous.
[0016] Finally, a method of producing a connecting means with an
internal thread is the subject matter of the invention, in which
method, in a first step, openings are punched out of a sheet-like
material, that, in a second step, the openings are provided with an
internal thread, that, in a third step, the sheet-like material is
bent over in such a way that at least two openings at least partly
overlap, and that, in a fourth step, the folded sheet-like material
is deformed in such a way the thread turns are arranged to form an
internal thread, a denticulation being embossed in the internal
thread before the third step.
[0017] Thanks to this method, it is possible, in a cost-effective
manner, to produce a nut with an internal thread having a
denticulation.
[0018] The sheet-like material advantageously has supporting
collars at its ends, these supporting collars having been produced
by bending over the sheet-metal strip, the connecting means which
is adjacent to the connecting means carrying the supporting collars
being supported on the supporting collar.
[0019] In order to facilitate the pressing operation, it is
advantageous if the folded sheet-like material, before being
compressed, has an axis which passes through the openings and is at
an angle .alpha. to the subsequent center axis of the compressed
sheet-like material.
[0020] In order to effect self-restraint of a screw in the
connecting means, it may be of advantage if the sheet-like material
is compressed only to such an extent that there is a distance
between the end-side connecting means and the adjacent connecting
means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0021] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the
drawing, in which:
[0022] FIG. 1a shows a connecting means with an external thread
like a metric screw,
[0023] FIG. 1b shows a connecting means with an external thread
designed as a sheet-metal screw,
[0024] FIG. 2a shows a detail view from FIG. 1a in the region A of
the external thread,
[0025] FIG. 2b shows a detail view of the region A from FIG. 1b in
the region of the external thread,
[0026] FIG. 3a shows an enlargement along section line A-A in the
groove root of the external thread from FIGS. 2a, 2b,
[0027] FIG. 3b shows a section along section line B-B in the region
of the tooth flank of the external thread from FIGS. 2a, 2b,
[0028] FIG. 3c shows a section along section line C-C in the region
of the tooth crest of the external thread from FIGS. 2a, 2b,
[0029] FIG. 4a shows a connecting means with internal threads like
a nut in side view,
[0030] FIG. 4b shows the nut from 4a in plan view in a design as a
hexagon nut with indicated internal thread,
[0031] FIG. 4c shows various outer contours of a connecting means
with an internal thread, the first thread turn being provided with
a denticulation on both sides,
[0032] FIG. 5 shows a section through a connecting means with an
internal thread,
[0033] FIG. 6a shows an enlargement along section line A-A in the
groove root of the internal thread from FIG. 5,
[0034] FIG. 6b shows a section along section line B-B in the region
of the tooth flank of the internal thread from FIG. 5,
[0035] FIG. 6c shows a section along section line C-C in the region
of the tooth crest of the internal thread from FIG. 5,
[0036] FIG. 7a shows a connecting means in disk form with one
thread turn and a flat bearing surface,
[0037] FIG. 7b shows a connecting means in disk form with a single
thread turn and projections on both sides,
[0038] FIG. 7c shows a stack of connecting means according to 7a,
7b,
[0039] FIG. 8a shows a connecting means according to 7a, 7b in plan
view,
[0040] FIG. 8b shows a partial view in the region of the internal
thread from FIG. 8a,
[0041] FIG. 8c shows a detail view in the region of the bearing,
surface of the connecting means (detail Y),
[0042] FIG. 9a shows a cross section along section line A-A in the
region of the internal thread according to FIG. 8b,
[0043] FIG. 9b shows a sectional representation along section line
B-B from FIG. 8b,
[0044] FIG. 10a shows a connecting means with an external thread in
a design as a sheet-metal screw, in which case
[0045] FIG. 10b shows the denticulation with respect to the
screw-in direction,
[0046] FIG. 11a shows a stack of connecting means with a thread
turn and with compensating disks with or without a thread turn,
[0047] FIG. 11b shows an exploded view of the stack from FIG. 11a
with adjusting means arranged at an angle to the connecting
axis,
[0048] FIG. 11c shows a plan view of a stack from FIG. 11a, a
denticulation of the internal thread being provided and various
contours being shown,
[0049] FIG. 12a shows a stack of a plurality of connecting means,
the connecting means being pressed at an angle,
[0050] FIG. 12b shows the stack according to 12a in an exploded
view,
[0051] FIG. 13a shows a screwed connection, the connecting means
with an internal thread being formed by a sheet-like material in
the form of a metal sheet,
[0052] FIG. 13b shows the thread design of the external thread
according to FIG. 13a,
[0053] FIG. 13c shows the design of the internal thread of the
sheet from FIG. 13a,
[0054] FIGS. 14a to 14c show the production of a connecting means
with an internal thread from a sheet-like material with a build-up
of material being formed in the region of the screwed
connection,
[0055] FIG. 15a shows a stack consisting of a plurality of
connecting means connected to one another in an integral manner,
this stack being produced from a sheet-metal strip by bending it
over,
[0056] FIG. 15b shows the stack compressed to form a nut, and
[0057] FIG. 15c shows a denticulation of the internal thread of a
sheet-like material according to FIG. 15a.
EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0058] A connecting means 1 with an external thread 2 is shown in
FIG. 1a. The connecting means 1 can be screwed into a nut (not
shown) in the arrow direction. The thread has a metric pitch. A
connecting means 3 with an external thread 4 is shown in FIG. 1b,
the external thread 4 being designed for a sheet-metal screwed
connection and having a markedly wider groove root 5 than is the
case in metric threads.
[0059] A partial view of the external thread of the metric screw
shown in FIG. 1a is shown in FIG. 2a. In the sectional
representation, the external thread has a succession of teeth 6, 7,
8, the teeth 6, 7, 8 in each case having a groove root 9, 10 and
tooth flanks 11, 12. The teeth themselves each have a tooth crest
13.
[0060] FIG. 2b likewise reflects these facts, the section lines
A-A, B-B, C-C, which in each case lead through locking projections
14, 15, 16, being depicted here.
[0061] The sections along section lines A-A, B-B, C-C are shown
enlarged in FIGS. 3a to 3b. The locking projections 14, 15, 16 can
be seen, which project beyond the radius indicated by a dotted
line. There are locking projections 14 in the groove root 9, 10 in
both FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, although in FIG. 2a the locking
projection fills the entire groove width, so that a straight
section is shown in the sectional representation.
[0062] The projections 14, 15, 16 are designed in such a way that
they favor one direction of rotation. This is achieved by there
being a gently increasing flank in the direction of rotation, this
flank being followed by a step formed by an abrupt reduction in
diameter.
[0063] A connecting means with an internal thread 31 like a hexagon
nut is shown in FIG. 4a. A plan view is shown in FIG. 4b, an
internal thread 32 being indicated. Various outer contours of the
connecting means 31 are shown in FIG. 4c, namely as a square,
cylinder or hexagon. It can also be seen that the visible, topmost
thread turn of the internal thread 32 has a denticulation 33. This
denticulation is embossed in the thread flank.
[0064] The denticulation of the internal thread is shown in cross
section in FIG. 5. Here, a succession of teeth 36, 37, 38 can again
be seen, which in each case again have a groove root 39, 40 and
tooth flanks 41, 42. Recesses 44, 45, 46 can be provided both in
the groove root 39, 40 and in the tooth flanks 41, 42 and also on
the tooth crest 43, these recesses 44, 45, 46 interacting with
corresponding projections of the connecting means having an
external thread. In nuts which originate from conventional nuts,
there is a denticulation only on the respectively outer tooth of
the sectional representation, since it is not readily possible to
provide the denticulation on the inner thread turns.
[0065] The recesses are shown in detail in FIGS. 6a to c, the
recesses 44, 45, 46 corresponding in their shape to the locking
projections shown in FIGS. 3a to c. This means that, as viewed at
the front in the direction of rotation, they have in turn a gently
falling flank having a widening diameter, this flank coming to an
end at a shoulder 50, 51, 52, an abrupt reduction in the diameter
taking place at the location of the shoulder 50, 51, 52. The arrows
indicate the direction of rotation of the connecting means having
an external thread, not the direction of rotation of the connecting
means shown having an internal thread.
[0066] Shown in FIG. 7a is a connecting means which has at most one
complete thread turn of an internal thread. The connecting means 71
is designed as a disk, part of the internal thread 72 projecting
beyond one side of the disk body. The other side, which faces the
surface to be connected, has projections 73, which are explained
later as detail feature Y.
[0067] A connecting means with at most one complete thread turn is
shown in FIG. 7b, the connecting means 74 again being designed as a
disk and having projections 73. The internal thread 75 partly
projects on both sides of the disk with the thread sections 75a,
75b, so that no smooth bearing surface is achieved.
[0068] A stack of connecting means according to FIG. 7a and FIG. 7b
is shown in FIG. 7c, connecting means 74.1 to 74.3 being put onto a
connecting means 71 having a flat bearing side in such a way the
thread sections are in each case joined together. The exploded
drawing shown in FIG. 7c illustrates the construction of a nut
formed by being compressed and having a plurality of thread turns.
So that the nut can be used on both sides, a further connecting
means 71 may be provided on the opposite side.
[0069] The special advantage with a nut obtained in such a way
consists in the fact that each individual thread turn can be
provided with a denticulation, which is described below. A plan
view of the connecting means 71 is shown in FIG. 8a, where the
projections 73, which are arranged so as to be distributed over the
periphery, can be seen. Arranged in the central region of the
connecting means is a thread turn 72, which is interrupted at a
point 76 in order to permit the step in the thread pitch.
[0070] The detail Z from FIG. 8a is shown in FIG. 8b. This involves
a cross section through the embossed thread turn 73, which is
formed by a single tooth 77. This tooth has a flank 78 and a crest
79. Recesses 80, 81, which consist of a gentle flank and a stop,
are arranged in the flank 78 and the crest 79, respectively. In
this way, one direction of rotation is favored. The projection 73
from FIG. 8a is shown as detail Y in FIG. 8c, and FIGS. 9a and 9b
show the denticulation 81 on the tooth crest and the denticulation
82 on the tooth flank, respectively.
[0071] The nut stack shown in FIG. 7c, which is composed of the
individual, disk-shaped connecting means, has the advantage that
the thread turns situated in the interior can also be provided with
a denticulation, which in conventional nuts could only be effected
in an extremely complicated manner. By means of the assembled nut
stack, therefore, the retaining forces against unintentional
slackening can be increased, additional thread turns permitting
greater absorption of force of the screwed connection overall. It
is essential in the case of the connecting means that in each case
both tooth flanks are provided with recesses in order thus to be
able to use them independently of position.
[0072] A connecting means 90 with an external thread 91 is shown in
FIG. 10a, the external thread 91 being shown as detail A in FIG.
10b. In this case, projections 93 are provided on the tooth flanks
92 and are in each case arranged on the tooth flank turned rearward
toward the screw-in direction. Projections which interact with
corresponding recesses in the tooth root of the nut may likewise be
arranged on the tooth crest 94.
[0073] The screw-in operation occurs in such a way that gently
rising flanks of the connecting means with an external thread are
directed past the shoulders of the connecting means with an
internal thread, and, after the stop on the external thread has
been directed past the shoulder of the internal thread, the
projection of the external thread plunges into the recess of the
internal thread. Elastic deformations constantly occur in the
process; even slight plastic deformations are harmless.
[0074] The expenditure of force or the torque required for
overcoming the interlocking lies below the hitherto used tightening
moments, since the thread no longer needs to be held by friction
grip. As a result, the screw may be dimensioned for the actual load
case and does not have to absorb additional forces required for
self-locking.
[0075] Shown in FIG. 11a is a nut stack having a plurality of
connecting means, which are shown in more detail in FIG. 11b. Shown
in the center are two connecting means 101, 102 with in each case
an internal thread turn, the center axis 103 of which lies at an
angle to the center axis 104 of the nut stack 100. In order to
nonetheless obtain a bearing surface perpendicular to the center
axis 104, a compensating piece 105 which faces the surface to be
fastened is provided. The compensating piece 105 may likewise be
provided with an internal thread, but this is not absolutely
necessary. So that the nut can be used on both sides, a further
compensating piece 106 which is attached to that side of the
connecting elements 101, 102 opposite the compensating piece 105
may be provided. As shown in FIG. 11c, the outer contour of the nut
stack 100 may be designed as a square, hexagon or cylinder. The
denticulation 107 on the internal thread 108 can again be seen.
[0076] The nut stack shown in FIGS. 12a, 12b differs from the nut
stack shown in FIG. 11a owing to the fact that the connecting means
111, 112 have surface sections 113, 114 which are at least partly
perpendicular to the connecting axis, and these surface sections
113, 114 are arranged parallel to a perpendicular 115 to the
connecting axis 104 and are likewise perpendicular to the
connecting axis 104. The thread turns themselves are arranged in
accordance with the pitch along an axis 103 at an angle to the
connecting axis 104. In order to provide a flat bearing surface,
compensating pieces 116, 117 are again provided, which in turn may
be provided with an internal thread. In this case, the
denticulation may be present solely on the inner connecting means
111, 112, but may also be present on the top sides of the thread
turns, accessible from outside, on the compensating disks 116,
117.
[0077] Shown in FIG. 13a is a screwed connection in which a
connecting means 130 having an external thread 131 can be screwed
into a sheet-like material 132. The sheet-like material 132 is
provided with an internal thread 133 which has been produced by
embossing the metal sheet. A detail of the external thread 131 is
shown in FIG. 13b. A tooth 134 can be seen, on one tooth flank 135
of which a denticulation 136 is arranged. This denticulation is
located on the tooth flank opposed to the screw-in direction. A
recess 137, shown in FIG. 13c, on the internal thread 138 of the
metal sheet 132 corresponds with this denticulation 136, so that
interlocking of the projection 136 in the recess 137 is effected
when the connecting means 130 (FIG. 13a) is screwed in. In this
case, use may be made of the interlocking mechanisms mentioned
above.
[0078] The preparation of a sheet-like material 132 up to the
formation of the internal thread 133 is shown in FIGS. 14a to 14c.
Starting from the production of an aperture 140 by spreading the
sheet-like material from one side to the other with a turned-out
portion 141 being formed, a build-up of material is produced, which
is made more uniform in a second step to form a collar 142. Then,
in an embossing operation, a thread turn with or without
denticulation is embossed in the region of the collar 142. This
makes it possible to provide thread turns with a pitch greater than
the thickness of the metal sheet, as a result of which the
introduction of force into the metal sheet is improved, and a
friction grip via the thread or when a denticulation is provided
also encourages a form grip.
[0079] A nut which has been produced by folding a sheet-metal strip
is shown in FIGS. 15a to 15c. Shown in FIG. 15a is a sheet-metal
strip 150 which is folded in a zigzag shape and whose individual
folds are designed as connecting means 151.1 to 151.5. To this end,
the connecting means 151.1 to 151.5 have apertures 152, on the
peripheral margin of which an internal thread 153 is formed. The
internal thread 153 may be provided with a denticulation 154, shown
in FIG. 15c.
[0080] The individual connecting means 151.1 to 151.5 are connected
to one another in an integral manner via bends 155, a bend being
arranged in each case between two adjacent connecting means. This
bend is produced by bending over a sheet-metal strip, which was
flat beforehand and in which openings 152 were punched out and in
which a thread 153 was stamped. The flat sheet-metal strip was then
folded in such a way that the outer sections 151.1 and 151.5 are
parallel to one another and lie perpendicularly to the deformation
of axis. As can be seen in FIG. 15a, this zigzag-shaped structure
is not rotationally symmetrical, but has an angular offset. This
angular offset by the angle .alpha. is less than 30.degree.,
advantageously less than 15.degree., and must be brought to
0.degree. during the subsequent pressing operation.
[0081] Such a compressed stack 160 is shown in FIG. 15b. In the
stack 160 shown, the inner connecting means 151.2 to 151.4 lie one
on top of the other and are supported relative to the outer
connecting means 151.1 and 151.5, respectively, via a supporting
collar 156, 157. The supporting collar was shaped on the bent
sheet-metal strip shown in FIG. 15a by bending up the ends of the
sheet-metal strip. In this case, the height is dimensioned in such
a way that the thread pitch described above is achieved overall,
the pitch essentially corresponding to the thickness of the
sheet-metal strip 150.
[0082] The stack shown in FIG. 15b consisting of a plurality of
connecting means connected to one another in an integral manner has
the advantage that each individual thread turn can be provided with
a denticulation, the individual connecting means nonetheless being
held together. An additional connection between the individual
connecting means may therefore be dispensed with, but may
nonetheless also be carried out for safety reasons.
[0083] In order to improve the connection between the individual
connecting means, the first or last connecting means 151.1 or 151.5
may be arranged at a slight distance from the inner connecting
means 151.2 or 151.4, respectively, although it has to be ensured
that the screw to be inserted grips the internal thread. This may
be done, for example, by a slight deformation being effected during
the screwing-in, as a result of which the stack, as an entity, is
put under prestress. With regard to the denticulation, all the
configurations described above are possible. The special advantage
over conventional nuts consists in the fact that the complicated
machining of the internal thread in conventional nuts is replaced
by simpler production techniques.
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