U.S. patent application number 14/325225 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-30 for connecting means and method of producing a connection between a first component and a second component.
The applicant listed for this patent is Franz Baur, Franz Haser, Lamello AG. Invention is credited to Franz Baur, Franz Haser, Patrick Jeker, Wilfried Schneider.
Application Number | 20140321934 14/325225 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38349551 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140321934 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baur; Franz ; et
al. |
October 30, 2014 |
CONNECTING MEANS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING A CONNECTION BETWEEN A
FIRST COMPONENT AND A SECOND COMPONENT
Abstract
In order to produce a connecting means for connecting a first
component and a second component and especially for connecting
furniture parts or machine parts which will enable two components
consisting of a multiplicity of materials to be securely connected
to one another without giving rise to the danger of damaging the
two components during the assembly process, wherein the device
comprises a first connecting element that it arranged on the first
component in the connected state of the components and a second
connecting element that is arranged on the second component in the
connected state of the components, it is proposed that at least one
of the connecting elements should comprise a non self-cutting
holding projection which has a curved support surface that is in
the form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section, wherein the
holding projection can be inserted into a groove which is provided
in one of the components and has a curved undercut surface that is
in the form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section.
Inventors: |
Baur; Franz; (Oberstaufen,
DE) ; Haser; Franz; (Oberstaufen, DE) ;
Schneider; Wilfried; (Bubendorf, CH) ; Jeker;
Patrick; (Brislach, CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Haser; Franz
Baur; Franz
Lamello AG |
Oberstaufen
Oberstaufen
Bubendorf |
|
DE
DE
CH |
|
|
Family ID: |
38349551 |
Appl. No.: |
14/325225 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13544769 |
Jul 9, 2012 |
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14325225 |
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12611748 |
Nov 3, 2009 |
8240942 |
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13544769 |
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PCT/EP2008/003575 |
May 3, 2008 |
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12611748 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
409/131 ;
407/30 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 12/2036 20130101;
B23C 2270/18 20130101; A47B 87/002 20130101; A47B 2230/0062
20130101; Y10T 407/19 20150115; A47B 2230/0059 20130101; Y10T
409/303752 20150115; B23C 2220/36 20130101; B27F 5/023 20130101;
Y10T 403/55 20150115; F16B 2200/30 20180801; Y10T 403/59 20150115;
B23C 3/30 20130101; Y10T 409/3084 20150115; Y10T 409/30644
20150115; B23C 5/08 20130101; Y10T 409/307056 20150115; B23C 5/1054
20130101; B23C 3/34 20130101; Y10T 409/306216 20150115; Y10T
29/49826 20150115; Y10T 409/304424 20150115; Y10T 409/306552
20150115; B23C 2220/40 20130101; B23C 5/14 20130101; Y10T 403/553
20150115; Y10T 403/61 20150115; Y10T 403/7009 20150115; Y10T
409/308008 20150115; Y10T 409/30784 20150115; A47B 2230/0077
20130101; Y10T 409/30672 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
409/131 ;
407/30 |
International
Class: |
B23C 3/34 20060101
B23C003/34; B23C 5/14 20060101 B23C005/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 8, 2007 |
EP |
07 009 267.1 |
Claims
1-75. (canceled)
76. A groove milling device for milling a groove in a component,
comprising a T-groove cutter which is rotatable about a radial
direction of the groove, wherein the groove milling device
comprises a guidance device for guiding the groove milling device
in such a way that the T-groove cutter enters into a component and
mills a base section of a groove having an arched groove base
surface and two undercut sections of the groove extending away from
the base section in a thickness direction thereof, said undercut
sections each having a curved undercut surface which is in the form
of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section.
77. The groove milling device in accordance with claim 76, wherein
the T-groove cutter comprises a shank part having a diameter which
corresponds to the width of the base section of the groove.
78. The groove milling device in accordance with claim 76, wherein
the T-groove cutter comprises a head part the diameter of which
corresponds to the sum of the widths of the base section and the
undercut sections of the groove.
79. A method of producing a groove in a component, comprising:
guiding a T-groove cutter in such a way that the T-groove cutter
enters into the component and mills a base section of the groove
having an arched groove base surface and two undercut sections of
the groove extending away from the base section in a thickness
direction thereof, said undercut sections each having a curved
undercut surface which is in the form of an arc of a circle in
longitudinal section.
80. The method in accordance with claim 79, wherein the T-groove
cutter is pivoted during the milling of the base section and the
undercut sections of the groove.
81. The method in accordance with claim 79, wherein the T-groove
cutter is rotated about a radial direction of the groove during the
milling of the base section and the undercut sections of the
groove.
82. The method in accordance with claim 79, wherein the T-groove
cutter comprises a shank part having a diameter which corresponds
to the width of the base section of the groove.
83. The method in accordance with claim 79, wherein the T-groove
cutter comprises a head part the diameter of which corresponds to
the sum of the widths of the base section and the undercut sections
of the groove.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This patent is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 13/544,769 filed Jul. 9, 2012, which is a divisional of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/611,748 filed Nov. 3, 2009, which is
a continuation of PCT/EP2008/003575 filed May 3, 2008, which claims
priority to European Patent Application No. 07 009 267.1, filed on
May 8, 2007, each of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present invention relates to a connecting means for
connecting a first component and a second component, and in
particular, for connecting furniture parts or machine parts,
comprising
a first connecting element arranged on the first component in the
connected state of the components and a second connecting element
arranged on the second component in the connected state of the
components.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Such a connecting means is known from DE 196 04 243 C2 for
example.
[0004] DE 196 04 243 C2 discloses a fitting for connecting
components, said fitting consisting of two half-fittings which are
each fixed to a respective one of the components that are to be
connected and comprise elements that are adapted to be brought into
engagement with one another for establishing the connection between
the components, wherein each of the half-fittings comprises a
section in the form of a segment of a circle having self-cutting
protruding edges so that each half-fitting is adapted to anchor
itself in the relevant component by virtue of being driven into its
respectively associated component along the self-cutting edges. In
the case of hard materials such as a hardwood or metallic materials
for example, the process of driving the half-fittings into the
components along the self-cutting edges is extremely difficult or
even completely impossible. In addition, there is a danger with the
fitting in accordance with DE 196 04 243 C2 that the lateral walls
of the respective component could break away when driving-in the
half-fittings as a result of the forces arising due to the
protruding self-cutting edges.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a
connecting means of the type mentioned hereinabove which will
enable two components consisting of a plurality of materials to be
securely connected to one another without giving rise to the danger
of damaging the two components during the assembly process.
[0006] In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved in
the case of a connecting means comprising the features indicated in
the first part of Claim 1 in that at least one of the connecting
elements comprises at least one non self-cutting holding projection
which comprises a curved supporting surface that is in the form of
an arc of a circle in longitudinal section, wherein the holding
projection can be inserted into a groove which is provided in one
of the components and has a curved undercut surface that is in the
form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section.
[0007] The concept underlying the solution in accordance with the
invention is that the connecting element having the at least one
holding projection is to be pushed into a groove which had already
been produced in the component prior to the insertion of the
connecting element and which has an undercut section in the
relevant component in the longitudinal direction of the groove.
Hereby, the holding projection can be pushed into the undercut
section of the groove in the tangential direction using just a
small amount of force so that the connecting element still has a
certain degree of freedom of movement in this direction and thus
corrections with respect to their mutual positioning are still
possible when connecting the components.
[0008] Furthermore, with the aid of a curved supporting surface
thereon, the holding projection can be supported on the likewise
curved undercut surface of the undercut section of the groove in
the associated component, whereby this undercut surface is likewise
in the form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section and has
the same radius of curvature as the curved supporting surface of
the holding projection. A positive connection between the component
and the connecting element is produced as a result of the
engagement between the holding projection and the undercut section
of the groove.
[0009] Hereby, particularly effective anchoring of at least one of
the connecting elements in the associated component is obtained
without having to use a large amount of force when inserting the
connecting element into the associated component which could lead
to the component being damaged.
[0010] In contrast thereto, holding grooves for the half-fittings
must first be reamed out by means of the self-cutting protruding
edges by forcing the half-fittings into the components when
inserting the half-fittings of the fitting known from DE 196 04 243
C2 into the components. For this purpose, it is necessary to exert
quite a substantial amount of force. Furthermore, the self-cutting
protruding edges must be geometrically optimised for the
self-cutting action, and in particular, they need to be
sufficiently thin in order to make it possible to force out the
reamed-out material. Furthermore, when driving the half-fittings
into the components, material can easily be chipped off the outer
edges of the component, especially when the half-fittings are being
driven-in at the edge of the component. In the case of solid
materials such as a hardwood for example, the process of driving-in
the half-fittings is extremely difficult; in the case of other
materials such as plexiglass for example or in the case of metallic
materials, the self-cutting process for driving-in the
half-fittings fails completely. Furthermore, after being driven
into the respective component, the half-fittings are stuck
immovably therein and can no longer be shifted along the holding
groove in order to enable corrections in the positioning thereof to
be made and thus compensation for tolerances to be effected.
[0011] By contrast, the connecting means in accordance with the
invention can be used for connecting components of any type of
material such as especially hardwood, plexiglass or metallic
materials and, due to the fact that at least one of the connecting
elements is adapted to be displaced in the longitudinal direction
of the groove in which the connecting element is accommodated, it
is possible to make positional corrections and thus compensate for
the positional tolerances of the grooves in the components and/or
compensate for manufacturing tolerances of the connecting
elements.
[0012] Furthermore, at least one of the connecting elements
preferably comprises a curved bearing surface which is in the form
of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section so that this bearing
surface can slide on a groove base surface that is likewise in the
form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section of a groove that
is provided in one of the components, whereby the alignment of the
connecting element concerned relative to the other respective
connecting element can be changed within certain limits in the
course of connecting the connecting elements in order to compensate
for the positional tolerances of the grooves in which the
connecting elements are arranged, and/or manufacturing tolerances
of the connecting elements.
[0013] Due to this additional degree of freedom of movement,
further corrections with respect to their mutual positioning are
possible when assembling the two components, this thereby
significantly reducing the need for precision with regard to the
location of the grooves in the components and thus leads to it
being considerably easier for the user to use.
[0014] In particular, the holding projection may comprise stub-like
ends and/or have rounded-off, bevelled edges at its end
regions.
[0015] The cross-sectional area of a non self-cutting holding
projection may be of any desired size in order to increase the
mechanical stability of the holding projection.
[0016] In particular, the cross-sectional area of the holding
projection can amount to at least 1 mm.sup.2.
[0017] The holding projection may have a substantially rectangular
or a substantially trapezoidal cross section.
[0018] As an alternative or in addition thereto, provision may be
made for at least one holding projection to taper with increasing
spacing from a base body of the respective connecting element.
[0019] On the other hand, provision may be made for at least one
holding projection to taper with decreasing spacing from a base
body of the respective connecting element.
[0020] As an alternative or in addition thereto, it is also
conceivable for the cross section of at least one holding
projection to have an outer contour which is curved at least in
sections thereof.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is
made for the surface of at least one holding projection to be
substantially flush with a curved bearing surface of a base body of
the respective connecting element. Thus, in this case, the holding
projection is arranged on the outermost edge of the associated
connecting element facing the groove base.
[0022] As an alternative or in addition thereto, provision may also
be made for at least one holding projection to be arranged such
that it is offset with respect to the curved bearing surface of a
base body of the respective connecting element. Thus, in
particular, the holding projection may have a smaller radius of
curvature than the curved bearing surface of the respective
connecting element.
[0023] Furthermore, provision may be made for several holding
projections having differing radii of curvature to be arranged on
the same connecting element.
[0024] In particular, a plurality of holding projections having
differing radii of curvature can be arranged on the same side of
the respective connecting element.
[0025] In particular, the curved bearing surface of the base body
of the respective connecting element may be in the form of an arc
of a circle in longitudinal section.
[0026] In particular, the curved bearing surface of at least one
connecting element can be substantially in the form of a section of
the surface of a regular cylinder.
[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is
made for the first connecting element and the second connecting
element to be connected to one another in releasable manner in the
connected state of the components and for at least the first
connecting element to comprise at least one holding element which
is moveable relative to a housing of the first connecting element
and which, in a holding position, cooperates with the second
connecting element in such a way that a relative movement of the
first connecting element and the second connecting element along
the direction of connection is prevented, and which, in a release
position, permits a relative movement of the first connecting
element and the second connecting element along the direction of
connection, whereby at least one holding element is movable from
the holding position into the release position and/or from the
release position into the holding position by means of an action
occurring outside the connecting means.
[0028] In this embodiment, the connection of the two connecting
elements is not established by a relative displacement of the two
connecting elements as a whole but rather, by means of a relative
movement of the holding element relative to a housing of the first
connecting element from the release position into the holding
position. As an alternative or in addition thereto, the connection
between the connecting elements can be released by a movement of
the holding element relative to the housing of the first connecting
element from the holding position into the release position.
[0029] When the connecting elements are locked together by the
movement of the holding element into the holding position, then,
due to the tensile forces which are act on the connecting elements
in a direction of connection that is oriented transversely and
preferably perpendicularly to the bearing surfaces of the
connecting elements, so much friction will be activated that the
ability to displace the holding projection within the undercut
section of the groove is annulled and an extremely firm connection
between the components that are to be connected is established.
[0030] The connecting elements of the connecting means in
accordance with the invention are placed into pre-existing grooves
in the components so that a large amount of force is not necessary
to insert the connecting elements into the components and
consequently there is no danger of damage to these components.
[0031] When the holding element of the connecting means in
accordance with the invention has been moved from the holding
position into the release position, the connecting elements can be
moved away from each other in a direction of connection that is
oriented perpendicularly to the bearing surfaces of the connecting
elements with which the connecting elements abut one another in the
connected state of the components, without the connecting elements
having to be previously moved relative to each other in a direction
parallel to the bearing surfaces.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is
made for the housing of the first connecting element to have a
curved bearing surface that is in the form of an arc of a circle in
longitudinal section, and a substantially flat bearing surface
which is located opposite the aforesaid bearing surface and is
adapted to be placed on the second connecting element.
[0033] In particular, provision may be made for the substantially
flat bearing surface of the first connecting element to be able to
abut a likewise substantially flat bearing surface of the second
connecting element.
[0034] The substantially flat bearing surface of the first
connecting element and/or the second connecting element is
preferably oriented substantially parallel to contact areas of the
components with which the components abut one another in the
connected state of the components.
[0035] Furthermore, the curved bearing surface and the
substantially flat bearing surface of the first connecting element
and/or the second connecting element are oriented substantially
perpendicularly to the direction of the connection in the connected
state of the components.
[0036] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is
made for at least one holding element to be held such as to be
pivotal on the first connecting element.
[0037] In order to effect the connection of the two connecting
elements in the holding position of the holding element, provision
may be made for at least one holding element to have a first
holding contour which engages behind a second holding contour
provided on the second connecting element in the holding
position.
[0038] The first holding contour and/or the second holding contour
can be formed such as to be arc-shaped.
[0039] In particular, provision may be made for the first holding
contour and the second holding contour to be formed such that they
are not mutually concentric so that the two connecting elements are
pulled against each other when moving the holding element from the
release position into the holding position.
[0040] Until now, no detailed indications have been given as to the
manner in which the holding element is movable from the holding
position into the release position or in the reverse direction by
means of an action occurring outside the connecting means.
[0041] For example, provision may be made for at least one holding
element to be movable from the holding position into the release
position and/or from the release position into the holding position
by means of a mechanical actuating means that can be moved into
engagement with the holding element from outside the connecting
element.
[0042] For this purpose, it is expedient if at least one holding
element comprises a seating for an actuating section of a
mechanical actuating means.
[0043] In particular, provision may be made for at least one
holding element to comprise a seating for a polygonal key, an Allen
key and/or a screwdriver.
[0044] In order to enable the mechanical actuating means to act on
the holding element, provision may be made for the first connecting
element to comprise a housing having a passage opening for the
passage of a mechanical actuating means to a holding element.
[0045] In particular, provision may be made for the housing to
comprise a side wall which extends transversely to the curved
bearing surface of the first connecting element and for the passage
opening to be arranged in the side wall.
[0046] As an alternative thereto, provision may also be made for
the passage opening to be arranged in the curved bearing surface of
the first connecting element.
[0047] In a special embodiment of the invention, provision may be
made for at least the first connecting element to comprise at least
two holding elements which are held such as to be pivotal on the
first connecting element.
[0048] In order to ensure the connection of the two connecting
elements in the holding position of the holding elements, provision
may be made for at least two holding elements to each engage behind
a respective restraining element which is arranged on the second
connecting element in the holding position.
[0049] In order to enable the holding elements to be pivoted from
the release position into the holding position, provision may be
made, in particular, for a support region of a first holding
element and a support region of a second holding element to be
movable relative to each other by means of a spreading
mechanism.
[0050] Such a spreading mechanism could comprise a magnet element
which is adapted to be driven such that it moves within the
connecting means by means of a time varying magnetic drive field
which acts on the magnet element from outside the connecting
means.
[0051] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is
made for the spreading mechanism to comprise at least two spreading
elements which are in engagement with one another.
[0052] In particular, the spreading elements may be held in
engagement with one another by means of two mutually complementary
threads.
[0053] It is particularly expedient, if at least one of the
spreading elements is adapted to be driven into rotational movement
relative to the other spreading element by means of the magnet
element.
[0054] In particular, the magnet element may comprise a driver
element which acts on a driven element on one of the spreading
elements.
[0055] Furthermore, provision may be made in a special embodiment
of the invention for at least one holding element to have a
thread.
[0056] Provision may be made for at least one holding element to be
in engagement with a restraining element in the holding position,
wherein said restraining element is arranged on the second
connecting element and the restraining element has a thread that is
complementary to the thread of the holding element.
[0057] In order to facilitate the process of bringing the holding
element into engagement with the restraining element, provision may
be made for the connecting means to comprises at least one
resilient element, and in particular a spring, by means of which
the holding element and the restraining element are biased against
each other.
[0058] Furthermore, a thread axis of the holding element can be
oriented substantially parallel to the direction of the connection
in the connected state of the components.
[0059] In a special embodiment of the invention, provision may be
made for the connecting means to comprise a magnet element which
can be driven into a rotational movement within the connecting
means by means of a time varying magnetic drive field that acts on
the magnet element from outside the connecting means.
[0060] In particular, by means of such a magnet element, at least
one holding element can be adapted to be driven into a rotational
movement relative to the housing of the first connecting
element.
[0061] Hereby, the magnet element may comprise a driver element
which acts on a driven element on the holding element.
[0062] In order to enable shearing stresses to be removed as well
by means of the connection between the connecting elements, it is
of advantage if at least one of the connecting elements comprises
at least one insertible projection and if the other respective
connecting element comprises at least one seating pocket for
accommodating the insertible projection in the connected state of
the components. Thereby, additional dowel pins such as are
necessary with most other connecting means can be dispensed
with.
[0063] If at least one seating pocket extends to a greater extent
in the longitudinal direction of the connecting means than the
insertible projection accommodated therein, then this offers the
advantage that the first connecting element and the second
connecting element are mutually displaceable in the longitudinal
direction in order to enable tolerances in the connection between
the components to be compensated for in this manner.
[0064] As an alternative to a connection between the two connecting
elements by means of a moveable holding element, provision may also
be made for the first connecting element and the second connecting
element to be connected to one another in the connected state of
the components by an integral bond.
[0065] In particular, provision may be made for the first
connecting element and the second connecting element to be glued to
one another in the connected state of the components.
[0066] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of
producing a connection between a first component and a second
component, in particular, a connection between furniture parts or
machine parts.
[0067] The object of the present invention is to provide a method
which is such as to enable two components consisting of a
multiplicity of materials to be securely connected together without
giving rise to the danger of damage to one of the components.
[0068] This object is achieved by a method which comprises the
following method steps: [0069] producing a respective groove in a
contact area of the first component and in a contact area of the
second component, wherein at least one of the grooves comprises at
least one undercut section having a curved undercut surface which
is in the form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section;
[0070] inserting a first connecting element into the groove in the
first component and a second connecting element into the groove in
the second component, wherein at least one of the connecting
elements comprises at least one holding projection which has a
curved supporting surface that is in the form of an arc of a circle
in longitudinal section; [0071] connecting the first connecting
element and the second connecting element.
[0072] Special embodiments of the method in accordance with the
invention form the subject matter of Claims 41 to 60, the
advantages thereof having already been explained hereinabove in
connection with the special embodiments of the connecting means in
accordance with the invention.
[0073] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a groove
milling device for milling a groove in a component, wherein said
device comprises a milling disk which is rotatable about a
rotational axis and is used, in particular, for carrying out the
method in accordance with any of the Claims 40 to 60.
[0074] The object of the present invention is to provide such a
groove milling device with the aid of which a groove can be
produced in a simple and precise manner and wherein said groove
comprises at least one undercut section having a curved undercut
surface.
[0075] In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved in
the case of a groove milling device incorporating the features of
the first part of Claim 61 in that the groove milling device
comprises a displacement device for moving the milling disk along
the rotational axle during the milling process.
[0076] By means of such a groove milling device, a base section of
the groove can first be milled and then, when the base section has
reached a given depth, the milling disk can be moved along the axis
of rotation in order to mill at least one undercut section.
[0077] In particular, the groove milling device in accordance with
the invention may comprise a stop means for limiting the depth of
the milled groove.
[0078] Furthermore, the groove milling device may comprise a switch
for actuating the displacement device by an operator during the
milling process in order to enable the movement of the milling disk
along the axis of rotation to be initiated manually.
[0079] As an alternative or in addition thereto, provision may also
be made for the groove milling device to comprise a control device
which automatically actuates the displacement device when the
milled groove has reached a given depth during the milling process.
In this way, the effect is achieved that the milling disk can be
immediately moved along the axis of rotation for producing the
undercut section as soon as the given groove depth has been
reached; this can shorten the time needed for the entire milling
process by a considerable amount.
[0080] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is
made for the milling disk to be caused to move along the rotational
axis by means of the displacement device from a basic position into
a first undercut position and afterwards, in the opposite
direction, into a second undercut position beyond the basic
position. In this way, a groove can be produced with two undercut
sections which project from a base section of the groove in
mutually opposite directions.
[0081] Preferably, the length of path over which the milling disk
is movable along the rotational axis by means of the displacement
device is adjustable to various values.
[0082] The energy required for the actuation of the displacement
device can be generated by means of a generator which is coupled to
a main drive spindle of the groove milling device for example.
[0083] In particular hereby, the generator can be in the form of an
eddy-current coupling.
[0084] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a groove
milling device for milling a groove in a component which comprises
a T-groove cutter that is rotatable about a radial direction of the
groove, and in particular, a device for carrying out the method in
accordance with any of the Claims 40 to 60.
[0085] The object of the present invention is to provide such a
groove milling device with the aid of which a groove having at
least one undercut section having a curved undercut surface which
is in the form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section can be
produced in a simple and precise manner.
[0086] In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved in
the case of a groove milling device incorporating the features
indicated in the first part of Claim 69 in that the groove milling
device comprises a guidance device for guiding the groove milling
device in a pre-milled guide groove having a curved groove base
surface which is in the form of an arc of a circle in a
longitudinal section.
[0087] A pre-milled guide groove without undercut sections can be
widened into the desired groove with undercut sections with the aid
of this groove milling device in accordance with the invention.
[0088] Hereby, the guide groove can be pre-milled using a
conventional groove milling device.
[0089] In a preferred embodiment of the groove milling device in
accordance with the invention, provision is made for the guidance
device to comprise a front guide element which is in the form of a
section of a substantially circular disk and is arranged in front
of the T-groove cutter in the direction of movement of the groove
milling device during the milling process.
[0090] In order to obtain stable guidance of the groove milling
device in the pre-milled guide groove by means of the front guide
element, it is expedient if the thickness of the front guide
element is of substantially the same size as the width of the
pre-milled guide groove.
[0091] Furthermore, it is expedient if the guidance device
comprises a rear guide element which is in the form of a section of
a substantially circular disk and is arranged behind the T-groove
cutter in the direction of movement of the groove milling device
during the milling process. In this way, it is possible to obtain
additional guidance for the groove milling device in the groove
produced by means of the T-groove cutter.
[0092] In order to enable particularly stable guidance on the base
section of the groove milled by the T-groove cutter to be obtained,
it is expedient if the thickness of the rear guide element is of
substantially equal to the width of a base section of the groove
milled by the T-groove cutter.
[0093] Furthermore, the rear guide element can be provided with at
least one guide tooth which engages in an undercut section of the
groove milled by the T-groove cutter during the milling process and
thus guides the groove milling device. This thereby provides
particularly stable guidance for the groove milling device on the
undercut section milled by the T-groove cutter.
[0094] Further features and advantages of the invention form the
subject matter of the following description and the graphical
illustration of exemplary embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0095] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective illustration of two
components that are to be connected whilst they are in the
unconnected state, wherein each component comprises a respective
groove having a central base section and two arc-shaped undercut
sections protruding from the base section;
[0096] FIG. 2 a schematic perspective illustration corresponding to
FIG. 1 in which the non visible edges are additionally drawn-in in
broken lines;
[0097] FIG. 3 a schematic cross section through the first component
depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the vicinity of an access boring;
[0098] FIG. 4 a schematic side view of the first component depicted
in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0099] FIG. 5 a schematic perspective illustration of a connecting
means for connecting the two components depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4,
which comprises a first connecting element having a holding element
and a second connecting element having a seating for the holding
element;
[0100] FIG. 6 a schematic perspective illustration corresponding to
FIG. 5 in which the non visible edges are additionally drawn-in in
broken lines;
[0101] FIG. 7 a schematic perspective side view of the components
connected by the connecting means depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6;
[0102] FIG. 8 a schematic perspective illustration of the two
components that are to be connected together whilst they are in the
unconnected state wherein a respective one of the connecting
elements is inserted into the groove in each component;
[0103] FIG. 9 a schematic perspective illustration corresponding to
FIG. 8 in which the non visible edges are additionally drawn-in in
broken lines;
[0104] FIG. 10 a schematic perspective illustration of a groove
cutting device including a displacement device, wherein a rotatable
milling disk of the groove cutting device is withdrawn into a
housing of the groove cutting device;
[0105] FIG. 11 a schematic perspective illustration of the groove
cutting device corresponding to FIG. 10 wherein the rotatable
milling disk has been partly extended from the housing of the
groove cutting device;
[0106] FIGS. 12 to 15 a sequence of schematic cross sections
through a component in which a groove incorporating a base section
and two undercut sections protruding from the base section is being
milled by means of the groove cutting device depicted in FIGS. 10
and 11;
[0107] FIG. 16 a schematic perspective illustration of a groove
cutting device incorporating a T-groove cutter and a guidance
device for guiding the groove cutting device in a pre-milled guide
groove;
[0108] FIGS. 17, 19 and 21 schematic side views of a component in
which a groove having a base section and two arc-shaped undercut
sections protruding from the base section is milled by means of the
groove cutting device depicted in FIG. 16;
[0109] FIGS. 18, 20 and 22 schematic cross sections corresponding
to FIGS. 17, 19 and 21 through the groove formed in the
component;
[0110] FIG. 23 a schematic side view of the first component into
the groove of which the first connecting element is inserted;
[0111] FIG. 24 a schematic side view of both components with
inserted connecting elements which are to be moved towards one
another;
[0112] FIG. 25 a schematic side view of the components with the
contact areas thereof lying close together and a polygonal key
which is in engagement with the holding element of the first
connecting element through an access boring;
[0113] FIG. 26 a schematic side view of the two components and the
polygonal key by means of which the holding element is moved from a
release position into a holding position;
[0114] FIG. 27 a schematic side view of a housing of the first
connecting element;
[0115] FIG. 28 a schematic section through the housing of the
connecting element depicted in FIG. 27, along the line 28-28 in
FIG. 27;
[0116] FIGS. 29 to 31 schematic cross sections corresponding to
FIG. 28 through the housing of the connecting element depicted in
FIG. 27, wherein holding projections of the housing each have
different profiles;
[0117] FIG. 32 a schematic perspective illustration of a second
embodiment of the connecting means in which the holding part of the
first connecting element is in the form of a threaded element which
can engage in a restraining element provided on the second
connecting element;
[0118] FIG. 33 a schematic perspective illustration corresponding
to FIG. 32 in which the non visible edges are additionally drawn-in
in broken lines;
[0119] FIG. 34 a schematic side view of the two components which
are connected together by means of the second embodiment of the
connecting means;
[0120] FIG. 35 a schematic perspective illustration of a third
embodiment of the connecting means in which a magnet element is
provided in the first connecting element for causing a holding
element to execute a rotational movement;
[0121] FIG. 36 a schematic perspective illustration corresponding
to FIG. 35 in which the non visible edges are additionally drawn-in
in broken lines;
[0122] FIG. 37 a schematic side view of the two components which
are connected together by means of the third embodiment of the
connecting means;
[0123] FIG. 38 a schematic side view of a magnet element and a
holding element of the third embodiment of the connecting means
depicted in FIGS. 35 to 37 and a drive unit for producing a
rotational movement of the magnet element;
[0124] FIG. 39 a schematic plan view from below of the magnet
element and the drive unit depicted in FIG. 38 along the line of
sight indicated by the direction of the arrow 39 in FIG. 38;
[0125] FIG. 40 a schematic perspective illustration of a fourth
embodiment of the connecting means in which two pivotal holding
elements and a spreading mechanism for separating apart the end
regions of the holding elements are provided in the first
connecting element;
[0126] FIG. 41 a schematic side view of the fourth embodiment of
the connecting means in the unconnected state of the
components;
[0127] FIG. 42 a schematic side view corresponding to FIG. 41
wherein the components that are to be connected together are
located against one another and the holding elements are in their
release position;
[0128] FIG. 43 a schematic side view of the fourth embodiment of
the connecting means corresponding to FIG. 42 wherein the holding
elements are in the holding position;
[0129] FIG. 44 a schematic side view of the fourth embodiment of
the connecting means, of a magnet element of the spreading
mechanism and of a drive unit for causing rotation of the magnet
element;
[0130] FIG. 45 a schematic plan view of the magnet element and the
drive unit depicted in FIG. 44 along the line of sight indicated by
the direction of the arrow 45 in FIG. 44;
[0131] FIG. 46 a schematic perspective illustration of a fifth
embodiment of the connecting means in which the first connecting
element and the second connecting element are glued to one
another;
[0132] FIG. 47 a schematic perspective illustration corresponding
to FIG. 46 in which the non visible edges are additionally drawn-in
in broken lines; and
[0133] FIG. 48 a schematic side view of the connecting means
depicted in FIGS. 46 and 47 in the connected state of the
components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0134] Similar or functionally equivalent elements are designated
by the same reference symbols in each of the Figures.
[0135] A first embodiment of a connecting means which is
illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 and bears the general reference 100 is
explained in the following using the example of the connection of a
first substantially plate-like component 102 to a second likewise
substantially plate-like component 104 (see FIGS. 1 to 4).
[0136] The two components 102 and 104 consist for example of wood
or plywood, but could consist of any other type of material, for
example, of a metallic material or a synthetic material (for
example plexiglass). Furthermore, provision may be made for the
first component 102 and the second component 104 to consist of
materials differing from each other.
[0137] In the connected state of the two components 102 and 104
which is illustrated in FIG. 7, a contact area 106 forming a narrow
side of the first component 102 abuts a contact area 108 of the
second component 104 which forms a major face of the plate-like
second component 104.
[0138] A respective groove 110, which is formed in the relevant
component 102 and 104 and comprises a base section 112 in the form
of a segment of a regular cylinder or a section of a regular
cylinder and two undercut sections 114 extending away from the base
section 112 in the thickness direction 116, opens out into each of
the contact areas 106, 108.
[0139] The radius of curvature of the base section 112 is larger
than the groove depth T (see FIG. 4), so that the arched groove
base surface 118 intersects the respective contact area 106, 108 at
an acute angle.
[0140] The base section 112 of the groove 110 has a width B in the
thickness direction 116 of approximately 8 mm for example.
[0141] Each of the undercut sections 114 of the groove 110 is
bounded on the side thereof remote from the respective contact area
106 and 108 by a base surface 120 which is flush with the groove
base surface 118 and is in the form of a section of the surface of
a regular cylinder and has the same radius of curvature as the
groove base surface 118 of the base section 112.
[0142] In the direction toward the contact area 106 or 108, each
undercut section 114 is bounded by an undercut surface 122 which is
likewise in the form of a section of the surface of a regular
cylinder and is formed such as to be concentric with the base
surface 120 and has a smaller radius of curvature.
[0143] In the lateral direction, each of the undercut sections 114
is bounded by a lateral boundary surface 124 running
perpendicularly relative to the respective contact area 106 and
108.
[0144] The width b i.e. the extent thereof in the thickness
direction 116, for each of the undercut sections 114 amounts to
approximately 1 mm for example.
[0145] The height h, i.e. the distance between the base surface 120
and the undercut surface 122, for each of the undercut sections 114
amounts to approximately 2 mm for example.
[0146] The base section 112 of each groove 110 is bounded by
lateral boundary walls 126 which run substantially perpendicularly
relative to the respective contact area 106 or 108 and are spaced
from each other by the groove width B.
[0147] As can be seen from FIG. 3 for example, a substantially
cylindrical access boring 128 opens out into the groove 110 of the
first component 102, said boring running perpendicularly relative
to one of the lateral boundary walls 126 and the other end thereof
opening out at a major face 129 of the plate-like first component
102, this thereby enabling access to the base section 112 of the
groove 110 to be made from the exterior of the first component
102.
[0148] In order to form the previously described grooves 110 in the
components 102 and 104, the groove cutting device 130 schematically
illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 can be used for example.
[0149] This groove cutting device 130 comprises an electrically
insulated housing 132 which has a substantially flat lower bearing
surface 134 and, oriented at right-angles thereto, a substantially
flat front bearing surface 136.
[0150] The front bearing surface 136 comprises a passage slot 138
through which a section of a milling disk 140 can pass, said disk
being held such that it can rotate about a vertical rotational axis
142 in the interior of the housing 132 and it is caused to make
such a rotational movement about the rotational axis 142 by means
of an electrical drive motor 144.
[0151] The milling disk 140 comprises radially projecting milling
teeth 146 around its periphery for milling the base section 112 of
a groove 110 and annular groove teeth 148 which project in the
axial direction and serve for milling the undercut sections
114.
[0152] The drive motor 144 and the milling disk 140 attached
thereto can be raised or lowered automatically along the axial
direction 151 of the milling disk 140 by means of a displacement
device 150. The displacement device 150 and the drive motor 144 are
accommodated in a drive unit 152 of the groove cutting device 130
which is displaceable relative to the housing 132, by means of a
handle 154 arranged thereon, in a displacement direction 156
running radially relative to the rotational axis 142 of the milling
disk 140 and perpendicularly relative to the front stop surface
136.
[0153] The displacement device 150 for the axial movement of the
milling disk 140 can be implemented as a normal electric motor and
associated transmission or as a stepping motor.
[0154] The necessary energy for the displacement movement can be
produced by means of a mains power pack or a generator which is
coupled to the main drive spindle of the groove cutting device
130.
[0155] In particular, the generator can be implemented as an
electrically controllable eddy-current coupling wherein an
arbitrarily adjustable torque can be transferred to a reciprocating
means which can mechanically convert this torque into a
reciprocating movement of the milling disk 140 without the use of
an additional motor, for example, by means of a crank drive
arrangement or with the help of an adjustable swash plate.
[0156] The stroke path, over which the milling disk 140 is raised
or lowered in the axial direction 151 by the actuation of the
displacement device 150, is manually selectable by means of a
selector switch or by means of a CNC control system.
[0157] The manner of functioning of the previously described groove
cutting device 130 is as follows:
[0158] The front bearing surface 136 of the groove cutting device
130 is placed on the contact area 106 of that component (for
example the first component 102) in which the groove 110 is
intended to be formed.
[0159] Subsequently, the milling disk 140 is set into rotational
movement and is pushed out of the housing 132 against the component
102 that is to be worked upon by means of the handle 154 so that
the milling disk 140 mills out from the component 102 a base
section 112 which is in the form of a section of a regular cylinder
having an increasing groove depth (see FIG. 12).
[0160] When the desired groove depth T is reached, a displacement
process of the milling disk 140 is initiated by means of the
displacement device 150, whereupon the milling disk 140 is moved
upwardly in the axial direction 151 by the desired width b of the
undercut section 114 and the upper undercut section 114 of the
groove 110 is then milled by means of the annular groove teeth 148
(see FIG. 13).
[0161] Subsequently, the milling disk 140 is moved downwardly in
the opposite direction back into the initial position and then
continues to be moved further downwardly by the desired width b of
the undercut section 114, whereby the annular groove teeth 148 of
the milling disk 140 now mill the lower undercut section 114 (see
FIG. 14).
[0162] When the lower undercut section 114 has also been milled,
the milling disk 140 is moved back upwardly along the axial
direction 151 into its initial position and is withdrawn from the
finished groove 110 in the direction of displacement 156 by pulling
back the handle 154 (see FIG. 15).
[0163] Initiation of the displacement process can be effected by
means of a manually operated switch on the groove cutting device
130 for example.
[0164] As an alternative thereto, provision may also be made for
the groove cutting device 130 to comprise a depth probe which
automatically initiates the displacement process of the
displacement device 150 when the desired groove depth T is reached
i.e. when the milling disk 140 has moved out from the housing 132
by a predetermined distance.
[0165] Once the displacement process has been initiated, the
further time sequence of the displacement process, i.e. the
movement of the milling disk 140 upwardly by the distance b, the
subsequent movement of the milling disk 140 downwardly by the
distance 2b and the concluding movement of the milling disk 140
upwardly by the distance b into the starting position is effected
automatically by appropriately controlling the displacement device
by means of a (not illustrated) control device of the groove
cutting device 130.
[0166] In this way, the groove 110 including the undercut sections
114 can be produced in a simple manner in just a single processing
step.
[0167] As an alternative to the groove cutting device 130
illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the groove cutting device 158
illustrated in FIG. 16 could also be used for the production of the
grooves 110 in the components 102 and 104.
[0168] This groove cutting device 158 comprises an electrical drive
unit in an insulated housing 160 and a machining head 162 which is
mounted thereon and comprises a T-groove cutter 164 that is
rotatable about a rotational axis 166.
[0169] The T-groove cutter 164 comprises a shank part 168 having a
diameter which corresponds to the diameter B of the base section
112 of the groove 110 that is to be milled, and a head part 170 the
diameter of which corresponds to the sum, B+2b, of the widths of
the base section 112 and the undercut sections 114.
[0170] Furthermore, the groove cutting device 158 comprises a
guidance device 172 for guiding the groove cutting device 158 in a
pre-milled guide groove 174 (see FIGS. 17 and 18).
[0171] This guidance device 174 comprises a quarter-circular
disk-shaped front guide element 174 which is arranged in front of
the T-groove cutter 164 in the direction of movement of the groove
cutting device 158 during the milling process and the thickness
thereof is substantially equal to the width B' of the pre-milled
guide groove 174.
[0172] Furthermore, the guidance device 172 comprises a
substantially quarter-circular disk-shaped rear guide element 178
which is arranged behind the T-groove cutter 164 in the direction
of movement of the groove cutting device 158 during the milling
process and the thickness thereof corresponds substantially to the
width B of the base section 112 of the groove 110 that is to be
milled.
[0173] Furthermore, the rear guide element 178 is provided with two
guide teeth 180 which are arranged directly behind the head part
170 of the T-groove cutter 164 and which extend respectively
upwardly and downwardly in the thickness direction of the rear
guide element 178 by the desired width b of the undercut sections
114 of the groove 110 that is to be milled.
[0174] The groove 110 is produced in the contact area 106 of the
first component 102 for example using the previously described
groove cutting device 158 as follows:
[0175] Firstly, a guide groove 174 in the form of a section of a
regular cylinder the groove depth T of which corresponds to the
groove depth of the groove 110 that is to be produced and the width
B' of which is smaller than the width B of the base section 112 of
the groove 110 that is to be formed is produced by means of a
groove cutting device which is known and does not therefore need to
be described in detail here (see FIGS. 17 and 18).
[0176] In particular, the width B' of the guide groove 174 may
amount to approximately 4 mm for example.
[0177] Subsequently, the guide groove 174 is widened out to form
the desired groove 110 with the undercut sections 114 by means of
the groove cutting device 158.
[0178] For this purpose, the front guide element 176 of the
guidance device 172 is entered into the guide groove 174 until such
time as the outer surface 182 of the front guide element 176, which
is in the form of a section of the surface of a regular cylinder
and has the same radius of curvature as the guide groove 174, abuts
flush against the groove base surface of the guide groove 174 and
the T-groove cutter 164 is still located in front of the contact
area 106.
[0179] Subsequently, the groove cutting device 158 is pivoted in
such a way that the outer surface 182 of the front guide element
176 slides along the arc-shaped curved groove base surface of the
guide groove 174 and the T-groove cutter 164 thereby enters into
the first component 102 and mills both the widened base section 112
of the groove 110 as well as its undercut sections 114 (see FIGS.
19 and 20).
[0180] Thereby, the guide teeth 180 arranged on the rear guide
element 178 run in the undercut sections 114 of the groove 110 that
were produced by the T-groove cutter 164 and therefore provide
additional guidance for the groove cutting device 158.
[0181] The groove cutting device 158 continues to be pivoted along
the guide groove 174 until such time as the T-groove cutter 164
emerges from the component 102 at the end of the guide groove 174
opposite the starting point and the guide teeth 180 are also no
longer in engagement with the undercut sections 114 of the groove
110 that has been produced.
[0182] The groove cutting device 158 can now be withdrawn from the
component 102, and the groove 110 including its undercut sections
114 is finished (see FIGS. 21 and 22).
[0183] After the grooves 110 in the first component 102 and the
second component 104 have been produced, the access boring 128
connecting the one major face 129 to the base section 112 of the
groove 110 is then produced in the first component 102.
[0184] The connecting means 100 which connects the two components
102 and 104 together comprises a first connecting element 184 for
insertion into the groove in the first component 102 and a second
connecting element 186 for insertion into the groove 110 in the
second component 104, such as are illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7.
[0185] The first connecting element 184 comprises a housing 188
that is substantially in the form of a section of a regular
cylinder and includes an arc-shaped curved bearing surface 190
which is in the form of an arc of a circle in a longitudinal
section taken in the longitudinal direction 192 of the connecting
element 184, and also a flat bearing surface 194 located opposite
the curved bearing surface 190 as well as two lateral side faces
198 running substantially parallel to the direction of connection
196.
[0186] A respective arc-shaped curved holding projection 200
protrudes from the lower edge of the side faces 198 in a thickness
direction 202 which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction
192 and the direction of connection 196.
[0187] Each holding projection 200 is bounded in the direction
towards the bearing surface 194 by an arc-shaped curved supporting
surface 204 which is in the form of an arc of a circle in a
longitudinal section taken along the longitudinal direction
192.
[0188] Each holding projection 200 is bounded on the side remote
from the bearing surface 194 by a likewise arc-shaped curved
bearing surface which is in the form of an arc of a circle in a
longitudinal section taken along the longitudinal direction 192 and
adjoins the bearing surface 190 of the housing 188 in flush
manner.
[0189] The supporting surface 204 and the bearing surface 206 of
each holding projection 200 are connected to one another by a side
face 208 which runs substantially parallel to the longitudinal
direction 192 and is parallel with the direction of connection
196.
[0190] The profile of each holding projection 200 substantially
corresponds to the profile of the respectively associated undercut
section 114 of the groove 110, and the curvature of the holding
projection 200 corresponds to the curvature of the associated
undercut section 114 so that the holding projections 200 of the
first connecting element 184 are insertible into the undercut
sections 114 of the groove 110 and are adapted to be displaced
therein in sliding manner.
[0191] Furthermore, the first connecting element 184 comprises a
seating chamber 210 that is surrounded by the housing 188 for
accommodating a holding element 212 which can emerge from the
seating chamber 210 through a mouth 214 at which the seating
chamber 210 opens out into the bearing surface 194 of the first
connecting element 184.
[0192] The seating chamber 210 can extend on the side thereof
remote from its bearing surface 194 into the curved bearing surface
190.
[0193] The holding element 212 comprises a plate-like base body 216
which, at one end, is provided with ring-like elevated portions 218
that surround a seating opening 220 having a polygonal cross
section which is aligned with a substantially circular passage
opening 222 in one of the side faces 198 of the housing 188.
[0194] The ring-like elevated portions 218 are supported on
abutments which are arranged in the seating chamber 210 so that the
holding element 212 is held on the housing 188 such as to be
rotatable about the central axis 224 of the seating opening
220.
[0195] The free end of the holding element 212 remote from the
ring-like elevated portions 218 is provided with arc-shaped
projections 226 which project from the base body 216 on both sides
thereof in the thickness direction 202.
[0196] Furthermore, on both sides of the mouth 214 of the seating
chamber 210, the first connecting element 184 comprises a
respective insertible projection 228 in the form of a substantially
parallelepipedal dowel pin 230 which extends in the direction of
the connection 196 commencing from the bearing surface 194 and
tapers towards the end thereof remote from the bearing surface 194
in order to facilitate the insertion thereof into a respective
seating pocket 232 of the second connecting element 186 that is
complementary to the dowel pin 230.
[0197] The insertible projections 228 of the first connecting
element 184 fit very precisely into the seating pockets 232 of the
second connecting element 186 in the thickness direction 202 so
that the insertible projections 228 can accommodate the shear
stresses of the connection between the components 102 and 104 in
the thickness direction 202, and, additional dowel pins, such as
are necessary in the case of most other connecting means, can be
dispensed with.
[0198] In the longitudinal direction 192 however, the seating
pockets 232 have a greater extent than the insertible projections
228 so that the first connecting element 184 and the second
connecting element 186 can be mutually displaced in the
longitudinal direction 192 in order to enable the tolerances in the
connection between the components 102 and 104 to be compensated for
in this way.
[0199] The second connecting element 186 likewise comprises a
housing 234 which is substantially in the form of a section of a
regular cylinder and has an arc-shaped curved bearing surface 190
that is in the form of an arc of a circle in a longitudinal section
taken along the longitudinal direction 192 of the connecting
element 186, a flat bearing surface 194 located opposite the curved
bearing surface 190, side faces 198 and holding projections 200
which protrude from the side faces 198 in the thickness direction
202, said projections having a curved supporting surface 204
directed towards the bearing surface 194, a curved bearing surface
206 that is flush with the bearing surface 190 and a side face
208.
[0200] Furthermore, as can best be seen from FIG. 6, apart from the
seating pockets 232 for the insertible projections 228 of the first
connecting element 184, the housing 234 of the second connecting
element 186 also comprises a receiving chamber 236 which is
arranged centrally between the seating pockets 233 and opens out
into a mouth 238 in the bearing surface 194 and can extend into the
bearing surface 190 on the opposite side.
[0201] Protruding into the interior of the receiving chamber 236
from both sides of the mouth 238, there is a respective restraining
projection 240 which is in the form of a section of a regular
cylinder and has an arc-shaped curved restraining surface 242 in
the thickness direction 202 so as to leave a gap between the two
restraining projections 240 the width of which is slightly greater
than the thickness of the base body 216 of the holding element 212
of the first connecting element 184.
[0202] For the purposes of establishing the releasable connection
between the first component 102 and the second component 104 by
means of the connecting means 100 consisting of the first
connecting element 184 and the second connecting element 186, one
proceeds as follows:
[0203] Firstly, as is illustrated in FIG. 23, the first connecting
element 184 is pushed into the groove 110 in the first component
102 in such a way that the holding projections 200 of the first
connecting element 184 engage in the undercut sections 114 of the
groove 110 and the passage opening 222 in the side face 198 of the
housing 188 aligns with the access boring 128 in the first
component 102 (see FIG. 24).
[0204] In like manner, the second connecting element 186 is pushed
into the groove 110 in the second component 104 in such a way that
its holding projections 200 engage in the undercut sections 114 of
the groove 110 and the housing 234 of the second connecting element
186 is accommodated substantially entirely in the groove 110 (see
FIG. 24).
[0205] The holding element 212 of the first connecting element 184
is then pivoted completely into the seating chamber 210 of the
first connecting element 184 (see FIG. 24).
[0206] In this release position of the holding element 212, the two
components 102 and 104 can be moved against each other until their
contact areas 106 and 108 as well as the bearing surfaces 194 of
the connecting elements 184 and 186 fit together in flush manner
and the insertible projections 228 of the first connecting element
184 engage in the seating pockets 232 of the second connecting
element 186 (see FIG. 25).
[0207] Then, the actuating end of a cranked polygonal key 244 is
introduced through the access boring 128 in the first component 102
and the passage opening 222 in the housing 188 of the first
connecting element 184 into the seating opening 220 of the holding
element 212 and brought into engagement with the latter (see FIG.
25).
[0208] Subsequently, the holding element 212 is pivoted out from
the seating chamber 210 of the first connecting element 184 by
means of the polygonal key 242 so that the arc-shaped projections
226 of the holding element 212 enter the receiving chamber 236 of
the second connecting element 186 through the mouth 238 and thereby
engage behind the restraining projections 240.
[0209] The curvature of the arc-shaped projections 226 of the
holding element 212 on the one hand and the curvature of the
restraining surfaces 242 of the restraining projections 240 are
matched to one another in such a way that the two connecting
elements 184 and 186 are pulled against each other to an increasing
extent in the direction of the connection 196 during the process of
pivoting the holding element 212 into the receiving chamber 236 and
there results as large a contact area as possible between the
restraining surfaces 242 and the arc-shaped projections 226 of the
holding element 212.
[0210] In consequence, compression stress points in the contact
areas between the restraining projections 240 and the arc-shaped
projections 226 of the holding element 212 are prevented and the
strength of the material from which the holding element 212 and the
housing 234 of the second connecting element 186 are made is used
as uniformly as possible.
[0211] The holding element 212 and the housings 188 and 234 of the
respective connecting elements 184 and 186 can therefore be made,
in particular, of an injection moulded synthetic material.
[0212] When the connection between the connecting elements 184 and
186 is loaded in the direction of connection 196, the holding
element 212 experiences substantially only tension and thrust
forces, but only to a negligibly small degree, bending moments.
[0213] The seating chamber 210 of the first connecting element 184,
the receiving chamber 236 of the second connecting element 186 and
the outer contours of the connecting elements 184 and 186 are
formed in such a way that they can be manufactured in one-piece
manner.
[0214] The holding element 212 can be pushed into the seating
chamber 210 through the mouth of the seating chamber 210 onto the
bearing surface 190 of the first connecting element 184 so that the
housing 188 of the first connecting element 184 does not need to be
separable.
[0215] Consequently, one can dispense with constructing the housing
188 of the first connecting element 184 in the form of two
half-shells, this thereby increasing the rigidity of the first
connecting element 184.
[0216] Since the curved bearing surfaces 190 of the connecting
elements 184 and 186 have the same radius of curvature as the
groove base surfaces 118 of the grooves 110 upon which the bearing
surfaces 190 can slide and abut, and since the holding projections
200 of the connecting elements 184 and 186 in the form of an arc of
a circle can be displaced tangentially in the respectively
associated undercut sections 114 of the grooves 110 using just a
small amount of force and hence the connecting elements 184 and 186
still have a certain degree of freedom of movement when
establishing the connection, it is still possible to make
corrections with respect to the mutual positioning of the
connecting elements 184 and 186 during the process of connecting
the components 102 and 104.
[0217] This significantly reduces the need for precision in regard
to the location of the grooves 110 in the components 102 and 104
and thus leads to it being considerably easier for the user to
use.
[0218] When the holding element 212 is moved from the release
position illustrated in FIG. 25 into the holding position
illustrated in FIG. 26, then, due to the tensile forces which act
on the connecting elements 184 and 186 in the direction of
connection 196, such a large amount of static friction will be
produced between the supporting surfaces 204 of the holding
projections 200 on the one hand and the undercut surfaces 122 of
the undercut sections 114 of the grooves 110 which are thereby in
contact therewith on the other that the previously described
remaining degree of freedom of movement is neutralised and an
extremely firm connection between the components 102 and 104 is
established.
[0219] As a result of the support for the holding projections 200
on the undercut surfaces 122 of the undercut sections 114 of the
grooves 110 in the components 102 and 104, the connecting elements
184 and 186 are thus securely anchored in the respectively
associated component 102 and 104.
[0220] In the holding position illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 26, the
holding element 212 in cooperation with the restraining projections
240 prevents a relative movement of the first connecting element
184 and the second connecting element 186 along the direction of
the connection 196.
[0221] In order to then release the first component 102 and the
second component 104 from each other, it is only necessary to again
insert a polygonal key 244 through the access boring 128 in the
first component 102 so as to engage with the seating opening 220 in
the holding element 212 and then to move the holding element 212 by
pivoting it in the opposite direction from the holding position
into the release position illustrated in FIG. 25 in which the
arc-shaped projections 226 of the holding element 212 no longer
engage behind the restraining projections 240 of the second
connecting element 186 so that the connecting elements 184 and 186
can easily be moved apart along the direction of connection
196.
[0222] As can be seen from FIGS. 27 to 31, the profiles of the
holding projections 200 do not by any means always have to be
formed such that they are exactly rectangular, as is illustrated in
FIG. 28.
[0223] Rathermore, provision could also be made for the profile of
the holding projections 200 to be trapezoidal, this then tapering
with increasing spacing from the side faces 198 of the respective
housing 188 and 234, as is illustrated in FIG. 29.
[0224] As an alternative thereto, provision may also be made for
the profile of the holding projections 200 to taper with decreasing
spacing from the respectively associated side face 198, as is
illustrated in FIG. 30.
[0225] Furthermore, provision may be made for the profile of the
holding projections 200 to have an outer contour which is curved at
least in sections thereof, for example a semicircular outer
contour, such as is illustrated in FIG. 31.
[0226] A second embodiment of a connecting means 100 which is
illustrated in FIGS. 32 to 34 differs from the previously described
first embodiment in that the holding element 212 in the second
embodiment is formed as a threaded element 246 having an external
thread 248 which is brought into engagement with an internal thread
250 of a restraining element 252 of the second connecting element
186 for the purposes of connecting the two components 102, 104.
[0227] As can best be seen from FIG. 33, the threaded element 246
of the first connecting element 184 comprises outside the external
thread 248 a cylindrical head part 254 having a central seating 256
for an actuating section of a (not illustrated) actuating element
such as a polygonal key or a screwdriver for example, wherein the
seating 256 has a polygonal cross section complementary to the
cross section of the actuating section.
[0228] Between the head part 254 and the external thread 248 of the
threaded element 246, there is arranged a cylindrical shank part
258 which has a smaller diameter than the head part 254.
[0229] The head part 254 and the shank part 258 are arranged in a
stepped seating chamber 260 of the housing 188 of the first
connecting element 184 which has a lower chamber section 262 of
greater diameter and an upper chamber section 264 of lesser
diameter, wherein the two chamber sections 262, 264 merge into one
another at a shoulder 266 on which the head part 254 of the
threaded element 246 is supported.
[0230] The upper chamber section 264 extends upwardly along the
direction of connection 196 and opens out into the bearing surface
194 of the first connecting element 184.
[0231] The threaded element 246 serving as a holding element 212 is
thus arranged on the first connecting element 184 such that it is
rotatable about an axis of rotation 268 that is oriented parallel
to the direction of connection 196.
[0232] The restraining element 252 of the second connecting element
186 has a parallelepipedal outer contour and is held such that it
is displaceable in the longitudinal direction 192 in non rotatable
manner in a likewise parallelepipedal seating chamber 270 in the
housing 234 of the second connecting element 186.
[0233] The seating chamber 270 is pierced by an access channel 272
which extends along the direction of the connection 196 from the
bearing surface 194 of the second connecting element 186 through
the seating chamber 270 up to the curved bearing surface 190 of the
second connecting element 186 and it has an elongate and in
particular, oval cross section.
[0234] For the purposes of establishing the connection between the
first component 102 and the second component 104, the first
connecting element 184 and the second connecting element 186 of the
second embodiment of the connecting means 100 are inserted into the
respective grooves 110 of the first component 102 and the second
component 104.
[0235] Then, the second component 104 with the second connecting
element 186 is placed on the first component 102 with the first
connecting element 184 in such a way that the external thread 248
of the threaded element 246 extends through the access channel 272
of the second connecting element 186 into the seating chamber 250
and comes into engagement with the internal thread 270 of the
restraining element 252.
[0236] Subsequently, the threaded element 246 is set into rotation
about the rotational axis 268 by means of the (not illustrated)
actuating element (a screwdriver for example) which engages in the
seating 256 in the head part 254 of the threaded element 246
through an access boring in the first component 102 so that the
external thread 248 of the threaded element 246 is screwed into the
internal thread 250 of the restraining element 252 and hence the
second connecting element 186 is pulled against the first
connecting element 184 until the state illustrated in FIG. 34 is
reached, in which the bearing surfaces 194 of the two connecting
elements 184, 186 fit flushly together and the external thread 248
extends beyond the seating chamber 270 into the section of the
access channel 272 lying between the seating chamber 270 and the
bearing surface 190 of the second connecting element 186.
[0237] In order to enable the actuating element to engage in the
seating 256 in the head part 254 of the threaded element 246, the
access boring in the first component 102 in the case of this
embodiment is aligned coaxially with respect to the axis of
rotation 268 of the threaded element 246 and thus parallel to the
direction of the connection 196.
[0238] In this embodiment, the separation of the two components 102
and 104 from each other is effected in that the external thread 248
is unscrewed from the internal thread 250 of the restraining
element 252 by rotating the threaded element 246 in the opposite
direction by means of the (not illustrated) actuating element until
the threaded element 246 is no longer in engagement with the
restraining element 252 and the second connecting element 186 can
thus be removed from the first connecting element 184.
[0239] Due to the displaceability of the restraining element 252 in
the longitudinal direction 192 and as a result of the elongate
cross section of the access channel 272, it is possible to have a
certain amount of relative movement between the threaded element
246 and the housing 234 of the second connecting element 186 when
establishing the connection between the first component 102 and the
second component 104 so that tolerances in the positioning of the
grooves 110 in the components 102, 104 can thereby be compensated
for.
[0240] The second embodiment of the connecting means 100
illustrated in FIGS. 32 to 34 does not comprise insertible
projections on the first connecting element 184, but, in like
manner to the first embodiment, it does comprise holding
projections 200 on the connecting elements 184 and 186.
[0241] In all other respects, the second embodiment of the
connecting means 100 illustrated in FIGS. 32 to 34 coincides in
regards to the construction and manner of functioning thereof with
the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 31, so that to this
extent reference is made to the previous description thereof.
[0242] A third embodiment of the connecting means 100 illustrated
in FIGS. 35 to 39 differs from the previously described first
embodiment in that the housing 188 of the first connecting element
184 comprises a hump-like elevated portion 274 between the two
insertible projections 228, said elevated portion engaging in a
complementarily shaped depression 276 in the housing 234 of the
second connecting element 186 in the connected state of the
components 102, 104 (see FIG. 37).
[0243] A certain amount of play is present in the longitudinal
direction 192 between the elevated portion 274 and the depression
276 so that tolerances in the positioning between the grooves 110
and the components 102, 104 can be compensated for.
[0244] In this embodiment, the holding element 212 of the first
connecting element 184 is formed as a threaded element 278 which
comprises a hollow cylindrical socket section 280 having an
internal thread 282 and a shaft section 284 that extends downwardly
from the socket section 280 along the direction of connection 196
and has a smaller diameter than the socket section 280 as well as a
driven element 286 which projects downwardly from the periphery of
the socket section 280 in the axial direction (see in particular,
FIG. 38).
[0245] As can best be seen from FIG. 36, the threaded element 278
is arranged in a stepped seating chamber 288 of the housing 188 of
the first connecting element 184, said chamber comprising a lower
chamber section 290 of greater diameter and an upper chamber
section 292 of lesser diameter wherein these chambers merge into
one another at a shoulder 294.
[0246] The threaded element 278 is arranged in the seating chamber
288 such as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation 296 oriented
parallel to the direction of connection 196.
[0247] Furthermore, in order to be able to produce a rotational
movement of the threaded element 278 about the axis of rotation
296, there is provided in the lower chamber section 290 of the
seating chamber 288 a hollow cylindrical magnet element 298 which
is aligned coaxially with respect to the threaded element 278 and
is pushed partially onto the shaft section 284 of the threaded
element 278 and it is provided at the end face thereof facing the
socket section 280 with an axially projecting driver element 300
(see in particular, FIG. 38).
[0248] The magnet element 298 consists of a permanent magnet
material which is magnetized substantially perpendicularly to its
longitudinal axis and thus perpendicularly to the axis of rotation
296 (so-called diametrical magnetization).
[0249] The diametrically magnetized magnet element 298, which is
mounted on the shaft section 284 of the threaded element 278 such
as to be rotatable about the axis of rotation 268, can be caused to
make an oscillatory rotational movement about the axis of rotation
296 by means of a time varying external magnetic drive field that
acts on the magnet element 298 from outside the connecting means
100, said movement producing a directed rotational movement of the
threaded element 278 about the axis of rotation 296 due to the
interaction between the driver element 300 of the magnet element
298 and the driven element 286 of the threaded element 278.
[0250] For this purpose, there is used a drive unit 302 which is
schematically illustrated in FIGS. 38 and 39, said drive unit
comprising a housing 304, which consists of a synthetic material
for example, an electric motor 306 having a drive shaft 308
arranged in the housing 304, and a drive magnet 310 connected in
mutually non-rotatable manner to the drive shaft 308.
[0251] The drive magnet 310 is formed as a cylindrical high power
permanent magnet which is magnetized substantially perpendicularly
to the longitudinal direction 312 of the drive shaft 308 (so-called
diametrical magnetization).
[0252] For the purposes of establishing a rotational movement of
the threaded element 278, one now proceeds as follows:
[0253] The drive unit 302 is moved relative to the first connecting
element 184 into a position in which the longitudinal direction 312
of the drive shaft 308 of the drive unit 302 and the axis of
rotation 296 of the threaded element 278 are oriented parallel to
each other and the spacing between the drive magnet 310 and the
magnet element 298 is as small as possible in order to obtain as
strong a mutual interaction of the magnets as possible. The
location of the drive unit 302 and that of the magnet element 298
in this position are schematically illustrated in FIGS. 38 and
39.
[0254] If the electric motor 306 of the drive unit 302 is now
operated in such a way that the drive shaft 308 and thus the drive
magnet 310 rotate in the clockwise direction for example (when
viewed along a line of sight indicated by the arrow 39 in FIG. 38),
then the north pole (N) and the south pole (S) of the drive magnet
310 thereby rotate in the clockwise direction due to the
diametrical magnetization of the drive magnet 310, as is to be seen
in the schematic illustration of FIG. 39.
[0255] The rotational movement of the drive magnet 310 thus
produces a rotating and hence time varying magnetic drive
field.
[0256] In order to enable this magnetic drive field to penetrate
into the interior of the first connecting element 184 and interact
with the magnet element 298, the housing 188 of the first
connecting element 184 consists of a non-ferromagnetic material,
for example, it consists of a synthetic material.
[0257] Since unlike poles of the magnet element 298 and the drive
magnet 310 attract one another and like poles of these elements
repel each other, the magnet element 298 in the seating chamber 288
rotates in the opposite direction of rotation due to the
interaction with the drive magnet 310, i.e. in the counter
clockwise direction (in the line of sight indicated by the arrow 39
in FIG. 38).
[0258] Due to this rotational movement, the driver element 300 of
the magnet element 298 comes into contact with the driven element
286 of the threaded element 278 so that the threaded element 278 is
forced by the magnet element 298 into making a rotational movement
about the axis of rotation 296 in the same direction of rotation as
that of the magnet element 298.
[0259] The magnet element 298 and the threaded element 278 carried
along thereby follow the rotational movement of the drive magnet
310 until such time as the resistance acting on the threaded
element 278 (which, for example, is exerted due to the fact that
the internal thread 282 of the threaded element 278 is rotated on a
complementary external thread 314 of a restraining element 316
provided on the second connecting element 186) becomes so large
that the torque being transferred by the rotary magnetic field
produced by the drive magnet 310 is no longer sufficient to
continue to rotate the threaded element 278. When such a blockage
point is reached, the threaded element 278 and the magnet element
298 then remain in the position they have reached, whilst the drive
magnet 310 continues to rotate.
[0260] After the drive magnet 310 has continued to rotate through
approximately 180.degree. so that the like poles of the drive
magnet 310 and the magnet element 298 are then located directly
opposite each other, the magnet element 298 is again caused to move
in a flip-over process, namely, in a direction of rotation having
the same sense as the direction of rotation of the drive magnet 310
until the unlike poles of the drive magnet 310 and the magnet
element 298 are located directly opposite each other once
again.
[0261] Once this state is reached, the direction of rotation of the
magnet element 298 then reverses again, and the magnet element 298
again rotates in the opposite sense to the drive magnet 310, as
occurred in the phase prior to the blockage of the threaded element
278.
[0262] The magnet element 298 is now accelerated through
approximately half a revolution by the rotating magnetic field of
the drive magnet 310 until the driver element 300 again strikes the
driven element 286 of the threaded element 278 and the impulse of
the magnet element 298 is suddenly transferred to the driven
element 286 and thus to the threaded element 278. Due to this large
impulse transmission, the threaded element 278 can release itself
from its blockage position and continue to rotate through a certain
angle into a position in which a renewed blockage of the threaded
element 278 occurs. The magnet element 298 thus stops again in this
new blockage position without being able to follow the drive magnet
310 any further until the like poles of the magnet element 298 and
the drive magnet 310 are located directly opposite each other again
and a renewed flip-over process of the magnet element 298 enables
renewed reception of an impulse to occur.
[0263] The threaded element 278 continues to rotate from blockage
position to blockage position in this periodically repeating
manner. The repeated receipt of momentum and striking of the driver
element 300 against the driven element 286 produce an impact hammer
action which powerfully accelerates the rotational movement of the
threaded element 278 about the axis of rotation 296 against a
resistance.
[0264] Further details for the process of creating a rotational
movement of the threaded element 278 by means of an external drive
magnet 310 can be derived from DE 198 07 663 A1 to which reference
in this connection is made and which is hereby incorporated as a
component part of the present description.
[0265] Due to the rotational movement of the threaded element 278
that is produced in such a manner, the internal thread 282 of the
threaded element 278 can be screwed to the external thread 314 of
the restraining element 316 provided on the second connecting
element 186 or it can be released from the external thread 314
(upon reversal of the direction of rotation of the drive magnet
310).
[0266] In this embodiment, the restraining element 316 comprises a
square head 318 which is fed with a certain amount of play into a
parallelepipedal seating chamber 320 within the housing 234 of the
second connecting element 186 and thus prevented from rotating
about the direction of the connection 196.
[0267] From the lower surface of the square head 318, the external
thread 314 of the restraining element 316 extends through an access
channel 322 running parallel to the direction of the connection 196
into the depression 276 of the second connecting element 186 so
that this external thread 314 is then located opposite the internal
thread 282 of the threaded element 278 on the first connecting
element 184 (see FIGS. 35 and 36).
[0268] Furthermore, as can be seen from FIG. 37, there is provided
in the seating chamber 320 a compression spring 324 which biases
the restraining element 316 against the first connecting element
184 in the direction of connection 196.
[0269] For the purposes of establishing the connection between the
first component 102 and the second component 104 by means of the
third embodiment of the connecting means 100, one proceeds as
follows:
[0270] After the first connecting element 184 and the second
connecting element 186 have been inserted into the respective
grooves 110 of the first component 102 and the second component
104, the second component 104 with the second connecting element
186 is moved against the first component 102 with the first
connecting element 184 in such a way that the internal thread 282
of the threaded element 278 comes into engagement with the external
thread 314 of the restraining element 316.
[0271] The insertible projections 228 also penetrate the seating
pockets 232 of the second connecting element 186 that are
complementary thereto and the hump-like raised portion 274 of the
first connecting element 184 enters the depression 276 in the
second connecting element 186 that is complementary thereto.
[0272] Subsequently, in the manner already described hereinabove,
the threaded element 278 is caused to effect a rotational movement
about the axis of rotation 296 by means of the drive unit 302 in
such a manner that the socket section 280 of the threaded element
278 having the internal thread 282 and the restraining element 316
having the external thread 314 are screwed together so that the
second connecting element 186 is pulled against the first
connecting element 184 and the connection between the components
102 and 104 is established.
[0273] For the purposes of releasing the connection between the
components 102 and 104, the screwed connection between the threaded
element 278 and the restraining element 316 is undone by using the
drive unit 302 with the opposite direction of rotation of the drive
magnet 310.
[0274] In all other respects, the third embodiment of the
connecting means 100 illustrated in FIGS. 35 to 39 coincides in
regards to the construction and manner of functioning thereof with
the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 31, so that to this
extent reference is made to the previous description thereof.
[0275] A fourth embodiment of the connecting means 100 illustrated
in FIGS. 40 to 45 differs from the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.
1 to 31 in that instead of having two insertible projections 228 on
the first connecting element 184, there is provided just a single
central insertible projection 326 which engages in a seating pocket
328 of the second connecting element 186 that is complementary
thereto in the connected state of the components 102, 104.
[0276] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first connecting
element 184 does not comprise just a single holding element 212,
but rather, it comprise two holding elements 212 which are held
such as to be pivotal on the housing 188 of the first connecting
element 184, these holding elements being in the form of hinged
levers 330 of which one is arranged on each side of the central
insertible projection 326.
[0277] The inner end regions 332 of the hinged levers 330 which are
mounted on bearing projections 335 such as to be pivotal about
pivotal axes 333 engage in a seating chamber 334 within the housing
188 and are held at a distance from one another by means of a
spreading mechanism 336.
[0278] The spreading mechanism 336 itself comprises a first
spreading element 338 having a square head 340, a shank section 342
which extends from the square head 340 in the longitudinal
direction 192 and a threaded section 344 having an external thread
which adjoins the shank section 342.
[0279] Furthermore, the spreading mechanism 336 comprises a second
spreading element 346 having a cylindrical head section 348 and a
hollow cylindrical socket section 350 which is provided with an
internal thread and extends from the head section 348 in the
longitudinal direction 192 such as to be coaxial with the shank
section 342 of the first spreading element 338.
[0280] The internal thread of the socket section 350 of the second
spreading element 346 is now in engagement with the external thread
of the threaded section 344 of the first spreading element 338.
[0281] Furthermore, the socket section 350 is provided at the end
thereof facing the square head 340 of the first spreading element
338 with a driven element 352 which projects in the radial
direction.
[0282] Between the square head 340 of the first spreading element
338 and the socket section 350 of the second spreading element 346,
there is a hollow cylindrical magnet element 354 having diametrical
magnetization which is arranged on the shank section 342 of the
first spreading element 338 such as to be rotatable about the
common longitudinal axis 356 of the two spreading elements 338 and
346.
[0283] At the end face thereof facing the socket section 350 of the
second spreading element 346, the magnet element 354 is provided
with a driver element 358 which projects in the axial direction and
which can act on the driven element 352 on the socket section
350.
[0284] Between the square head 340 of the first spreading element
338 and the end face of the magnet element 354 facing said square
head, there is arranged a compression spring 360 which biases the
magnet element 354 against the socket section 350 of the second
spreading element 346.
[0285] As can best be seen from FIGS. 44 and 45, the second
spreading element 346 of the spreading mechanism 336 is adapted to
be driven in like manner to the threaded element 278 of the
previously described third embodiment of the connecting means 100,
by means of a drive unit 302 incorporating a rotary drive magnet
310 which interacts with the magnet element 354, such as to execute
a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis 356 relative to
the first spreading element 338 which is held in a constant
rotational position by its square head 340.
[0286] To this end as illustrated in FIGS. 44 and 45, the drive
unit 302 is oriented outside the connecting means 100 in such a way
that the longitudinal direction 312 of the drive shaft 308 is
oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 356 of the
spreading elements 338, 346 and the spacing between the drive
magnet 310 and the magnet element 354 is made as small as
possible.
[0287] In the housing 234 of the second connecting element 186,
there are provided two receiving chambers 362 into which the outer
end regions 364 of the hinged lever 330 can enter when the bearing
surfaces 194 of the connecting elements 184 and 186 abut one
another.
[0288] Furthermore, recesses 337 for seating the bearing
projections 335 protruding from the housing 188 are provided in the
housing 234.
[0289] At the edges thereof facing the first connecting element
184, the receiving chambers 362 are bounded in sectional manner by
a respective restraining projection 366 which can be engaged behind
by the respectively associated hinged lever 330 when the hinged
lever 330 concerned is pivoted about its pivotal axis 333 from the
release position illustrated in FIG. 42 into the holding position
illustrated in FIG. 43.
[0290] Such a pivotal action can be effected by means of the
previously described spreading mechanism 336.
[0291] In this embodiment, the respective housings 188 and 234 of
the first connecting element 184 and the second connecting element
186 are preferably formed in two-piece manner, whereby the two
parts fit together along the longitudinal centre plane of the
respective housing.
[0292] For the purposes of establishing a connection between the
first component 102 and the second component 104 by means of the
fourth embodiment of the connecting means 100, one proceeds as
follows:
[0293] The first connecting element 184 and the second connecting
element 186 are inserted into the respective groove 110 in the
first component 102 and in the second component 104.
[0294] Thereafter, the second component 104 with the second
connecting element 186 is placed on the first component 102 with
the first connecting element 184 in such a way that the outer end
regions 364 of the hinged lever 330 which is located in the release
position enter into the receiving chambers 362 of the second
connecting element 186 and the central insertible projection 326 of
the first connecting element 184 enters into the seating pocket 328
of the second connecting element 186.
[0295] Subsequently, the second spreading element 346 is caused to
effect a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis 356 by
means of the drive unit 302 in such a manner that the head section
348 of the second spreading element 346 is removed from the square
head 340 of the first spreading element 338 and hence the overall
length of the spreading mechanism 336 increases, whereby the inner
end regions 332 of the hinged lever 330 are moved away from each
other, the hinged levers 330 are pivoted about their pivotal axes
333 and are thereby moved into the holding position illustrated in
FIG. 43 in which the outer end regions 364 of the hinged lever 330
engage behind the respectively associated restraining projections
366 of the second connecting element 186 and abut said projections
so that the second connecting element 186 is locked onto the first
connecting element 184 and the connecting elements 184, 186 can no
longer be moved apart along the direction of connection 196.
[0296] In order to release the connection of the components 102,
104, the second spreading element 346 is rotated relative to the
first spreading element 338 about the longitudinal axis 356 by
means of the drive unit 302 in the reverse direction of rotation so
that the head section 348 of the second spreading element 346 is
moved towards the square head 340 of the first spreading element
338 and the overall length of the spreading mechanism 336
shortens.
[0297] The inner end regions 332 of the hinged lever 330 thereupon
no longer lie on the square head 340 of the first spreading element
338 or on the head section 348 of the second spreading element 346
so that the spreading mechanism 336 no longer presents any
resistance to a pivotal movement of the hinged levers 330 from the
holding position illustrated in FIG. 43 into the release position
illustrated in FIG. 42.
[0298] After this process of unlocking the hinged levers 330, the
second connecting element 186 can then be removed from the first
connecting element 184 along the direction of connection 196.
[0299] In all other respects, the fourth embodiment of the
connecting means 100 illustrated in FIGS. 40 to 45 coincides in
regards to the construction and manner of functioning thereof with
the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 31, so that to this
extent reference is made to the previous description thereof.
[0300] A fifth embodiment of the connecting means 100 which is
illustrated in FIGS. 46 to 48 differs from the first embodiment
which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 31 in that no pivotal holding
element is provided and in that, instead of having the two
insertible projections 228 on the first connecting element 184,
there is provided just a single central insertible projection 378
which is in the form of a substantially parallelepipedal block
dowel 380 and projects upwardly from the bearing surface 194. In
the connected state of the components 102, 104, the insertible
projection 378 enters a complementary, substantially
parallelepipedal seating pocket 382 which is formed in the housing
234 of the second connecting element 186.
[0301] For the purposes of establishing a connection between the
components 102 and 104 by means of the fifth embodiment of the
connecting means 100, one proceeds as follows.
[0302] The first connecting element 184 and the second connecting
element 186 are inserted into the respective groove in the
respective first component 102 and second component 104.
[0303] Subsequently, the bearing surface 194 and the insertible
projection 378 of the first connecting element 184 and/or the
bearing surface 194 and the boundary surfaces of the seating pocket
382 of the second connecting element 186 are provided with a
suitable adhesive.
[0304] Thereafter, the second component 104 with the second
connecting element 186 is moved against the first component 102
with the first connecting element 184 in such a way that the
insertible projection 378 of the first connecting element 184
enters the seating pocket 382 of the second connecting element 186
and the bearing surfaces 194 of the two connecting elements 184,
186 abut.
[0305] The two components 102, 104 are held in this position until
the adhesive has hardened and hence an integral bond has been
established between the first connecting element 184 and the second
connecting element 186 and thus between the first component 102 and
the second component 104.
[0306] In all other respects, the fifth embodiment of the
connecting means 100 illustrated in FIGS. 46 to 48 coincides in
regards to the construction and manner of functioning thereof with
the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 31, so that to this
extent reference is made to the previous description thereof.
* * * * *