U.S. patent application number 15/157166 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-08 for method for producing a cage nut having a retaining device.
The applicant listed for this patent is GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Nedschroef Schrozberg GmbH. Invention is credited to Thomas Endt, Rainer Krauss, Stefan Neuhauser, Siegfried Oberndorfer.
Application Number | 20160258469 15/157166 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45491510 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160258469 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Endt; Thomas ; et
al. |
September 8, 2016 |
Method for producing a cage nut having a retaining device
Abstract
This invention relates to a method for producing a cage nut
including the steps of punching out a bracket-shaped holder having
a base plate and three angled legs, and a passage opening having an
insertion slot in the base plate; producing a nut having a radially
protruding angular flange and a threaded-sleeve-like receptacle for
bolts; injection moulding a retaining collar having elements for
covering passage opening of the holder on both sides of the passage
opening, and having a bush connecting to cover elements; putting
the retaining collar onto base plate via insertion slot until cover
elements cover edge regions of the passage opening on both sides;
axially displacing threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle of the nut
into connecting bush of retaining collar in passage opening;
caulking an end of threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle, which end
projects from the retaining collar, to an axially oriented cage nut
being radially displaceable in passage opening.
Inventors: |
Endt; Thomas; (Russelsheim,
DE) ; Krauss; Rainer; (Brettheim, DE) ;
Oberndorfer; Siegfried; (Gerabronn, DE) ; Neuhauser;
Stefan; (Niedernhausen, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nedschroef Schrozberg GmbH
GM Global Technology Operations LLC |
Schrozberg
Detroit |
MI |
DE
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
45491510 |
Appl. No.: |
15/157166 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13996079 |
Jul 26, 2013 |
9360039 |
|
|
PCT/EP2011/006378 |
Dec 16, 2011 |
|
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15157166 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23K 31/02 20130101;
F16B 37/044 20130101; B21K 1/701 20130101; Y10T 29/49948
20150115 |
International
Class: |
F16B 37/04 20060101
F16B037/04; B23K 31/02 20060101 B23K031/02; B21K 1/70 20060101
B21K001/70 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 23, 2010 |
DE |
102010055554.1 |
Claims
1. Method for producing a cage nut (1), wherein the method
comprises the assembly steps of: punching out a bracket-shaped
holder (7) comprising a base plate (30) and three angled legs (27,
28, 29), and a passage opening (8) having an insertion slot (13) in
the base plate (30); producing a nut (4) comprising a radially
protruding angular flange (5) and a threaded-sleeve-like receptacle
(6) for bolts; injection moulding a retaining collar (9) comprising
cover elements (10, 11) for covering the passage opening (8) of the
holder (7) on both sides of the passage opening, and comprising a
connecting bush (12) which connects to the cover elements (10, 11);
putting the retaining collar (9) onto the base plate (30) of the
holder (7) via the insertion slot (13) until the cover elements
(10, 11) cover edge regions of the passage opening (8) on both
sides; axially displacing the threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle
(6) of the nut (4) into the connecting bush (12) of the retaining
collar (9) in the passage opening (8); and caulking an end of the
threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle (6), which end projects from
the retaining collar (9), to an axially oriented cage nut (1) which
is radially displaceable in the passage opening (8).
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the caulking takes place in
a compression press using a caulking punch.
3. Method for fixing components in a vehicle, said method
comprising the steps of: using a plurality of cage nuts (1) and
using appropriate bolts for affixing components to the vehicle, the
cage nuts having radially protruding angular flange (5) and a
threaded-sleeve-like receptacle (6) for a bolt; a holder (7) having
a passage opening (8) for receiving the sleeve-like bolt receptacle
and being engaged over the angular flange in a bracket-like manner;
a retaining collar (9) being of one piece and having first and
second cover elements (10,11), the retaining collar being formed to
surround the sleeve-like bolt receptacle of the nut and being
supported on the holder (7) in a region of the passage opening (8);
and welding legs (27, 28, 29) of the holders (7) of the cage nuts
(1) at predetermined fixed positions on the components for fixing
to the vehicle.
4. The method for fixing components in a vehicle according to claim
3, including the step of affixing vehicle seats to profiled rails
and welding the legs (27, 28, 29) of the holders (7) of the cage
nuts (1) onto the profiled rails at predetermined fixed positions
of abutments and arranging the cage nuts (1) securely in the holder
(7) solely by the one-piece retaining collar (9) in a manner that
shocks cannot trigger sources of noise or loosen the nut from the
retaining collar.
5. The method for fixing components in a vehicle according to claim
3, including the step of affixing an engine to a panel in an engine
chamber of the vehicle and welding the legs (27, 28, 29) of the
holders (7) of the cage nuts (1) onto the panel at predetermined
affixed positions of abutments.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This divisional application claims priority to U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/966,079 filed Jul. 26, 2013 which claims
priority to PCT Application No. EP2011/06378 filed Dec. 16, 2011
which claims priority to German Patent Application No
102010055554.1 filed Dec. 23, 2010, each of which are incorporated
by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A cage nut comprising a retaining device and a method for
producing said cage nut are described. The cage nut comprises a nut
comprising a radially protruding angular flange and a
threaded-sleeve-like receptacle for a bolt. A holder comprising a
passage opening, through which the sleeve-like bolt receptacle
passes, engages in a bracket-like manner over the angular flange of
the nut. A retaining collar, which surrounds the sleeve-like bolt
receptacle of the nut, is supported on the holder in the region of
the passage opening.
[0003] A cage nut of this type is known from DE 94 09 087 U 1 as a
retaining device for a nut. Cage nuts of this type are used as part
of a nut and bolt connection, components, such as motor vehicle
engines or seats in a vehicle, being attached by means of the cage
nuts to an abutment of the body of the vehicle. In order to
simplify assembly, the cage nut is pre-assembled by means of the
holder in the region of the passage opening of the abutment, which
opening is designated for the screw bolts. For this purpose, the
holder is rigidly connected to the abutment and, in the
installation position, engages over the nut which is loosely
arranged inside said holder.
[0004] During subsequent screwing of a screw bolt into the nut
thread of the threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle, the holder
provides rotationally fixed support for the radially protruding
flange which is provided on the nut. At the same time, the holder
prevents the nut from yielding in the axial direction of the screw
bolt. Accordingly, the screw bolt can be screwed into the nut
without said nut having to be fixed manually or by using
corresponding tools.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0005] This divisional application claims priority to U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/966,079 filed Jul. 26, 2013 which claims
priority to PCT Application No. EP2011/06378 filed Dec. 16, 2011
which claims priority to German Patent Application No
102010055554.1 filed Dec. 23, 2010, each of which are incorporated
by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A cage nut comprising a retaining device and a method for
producing said cage nut are described. The cage nut comprises a nut
comprising a radially protruding angular flange and a
threaded-sleeve-like receptacle for a bolt. A holder comprising a
passage opening, through which the sleeve-like bolt receptacle
passes, engages in a bracket-like manner over the angular flange of
the nut. A retaining collar, which surrounds the sleeve-like bolt
receptacle of the nut, is supported on the holder in the region of
the passage opening.
[0007] A cage nut of this type is known from DE 94 09 087 U1 as a
retaining device for a nut. Cage nuts of this type are used as part
of a nut and bolt connection, components, such as motor vehicle
engines or seats in a vehicle, being attached by means of the cage
nuts to an abutment of the body of the vehicle. In order to
simplify assembly, the cage nut is pre-assembled by means of the
holder in the region of the passage opening of the abutment, which
opening is designated for the screw bolts. For this purpose, the
holder is rigidly connected to the abutment and, in the
installation position, engages over the nut which is loosely
arranged inside said holder.
[0008] During subsequent screwing of a screw bolt into the nut
thread of the threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle, the holder
provides rotationally fixed support for the radially protruding
flange which is provided on the nut. At the same time, the holder
prevents the nut from yielding in the axial direction of the screw
bolt. Accordingly, the screw bolt can be screwed into the nut
without said nut having to be fixed manually or by using
corresponding tools.
[0009] In order to compensate assembly tolerances between a
component to be assembled, such as an engine or a seat of a vehicle
and the fastening points provided in the body comprising a cage
nut, the nut is retained in the holder with play. Accordingly, a
gap remains between the radial outer periphery of the
threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle of the nut and the passage
opening on the holder. As a result, when using the known holder,
there is a risk that the nut in the holder may tilt against the
axial orientation of the screw bolt. Owing to the tilting movement
of the nut, it becomes difficult to screw the screw bolt into the
internal thread of the nut in a coaxial direction.
[0010] Furthermore, nuts in the conventional holders cause a
disturbing rattling noise when the cage nut is provided for the
component at a plurality of fixing points in order for it to be
possible to use a plurality of variants of the components at any
time. Excess cage nuts, which are used in correspondence with the
assembly requirements of a plurality of different component
variants, can move relative freely in the holder in this case and
as a result can cause these disturbing rattling noises particularly
inside a vehicle, especially since the nuts can move freely in the
known holders in an axial and radial direction and turning of the
angular flange region may lead to disturbing metallic impact noises
which give the impression that this model has been unsafely and
incorrectly assembled.
[0011] The problem addressed by the application is that of
providing a cage nut in which the risk of tilting is reduced and
noise is suppressed for cage nuts which have been assembled and
fixed as a precautionary measure. A method is further specified,
using which a cage nut of this type can be produced.
[0012] This problem is solved by the independent claims.
Advantageous developments emerge from the dependent claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] As a solution to this problem, a cage nut comprising a
retaining device and a method for producing said cage nut are
described. The cage nut comprises a nut comprising a radially
protruding angular flange and a threaded-sleeve-like receptacle for
a bolt. A holder comprising a passage opening, through which the
sleeve-like bolt receptacle passes, engages in a bracket-like
manner over the angular flange of the nut. A retaining collar,
which surrounds the sleeve-like bolt receptacle of the nut, is
supported on the holder in the region of the passage opening. The
retaining collar is in one piece and comprises first and second
cover elements covering the passage opening of the holder on both
sides. The cover elements of the one-piece retaining collar are
mechanically connected via a connecting bush which concentrically
adjoins the bolt receptacle. The connecting bush is radially spaced
apart from the passage opening.
[0014] An advantage of this cage nut comprising a retaining device
is that when assembling the cage nut, the number of parts to be
interconnected is reduced to three elements, specifically a
specially shaped cage nut, a holder and a retaining collar, such
that a cage nut of this type in the holder thereof can be
cost-effectively produced. A further advantage consists in that,
owing to the fact that the retaining collar is in one piece, the
displaceability of the nut is ensured while maintaining the axial
orientation thereof in the passage opening.
[0015] In addition, the nut is fixed by the retaining collar in the
axial direction such that tilting of the axis of the nut within the
holder is no longer possible owing to the one-piece retaining
collar. Lastly, the axial movement of the nut and the turning of
the angular flange are restricted to such an extent that metallic
touching or contact, which causes noise, between the holder and the
nut is prevented by the one-piece retaining collar. Owing to the
retaining collar, the radial displacement which is permitted within
limits does not lead to any metallic contact between the metal nut
and the metal holder. Noise from unused positions having a cage nut
is thus prevented.
[0016] In a further embodiment, the holder of the cage nut
comprises an insertion slot for the retaining collar for inserting
the retaining collar into the passage opening. Said insertion slot
has an opening width which is, however, less than the outer
diameter of the connecting bush of the one-piece retaining collar.
It is therefore provided that the connecting bush comprises
respectively opposing slots at the transitions into the cover
elements, such that a resilient portion is formed on both sides of
the threaded bush, which portion yields into the insertion slot
when the retaining collar is pushed in and springs back to its
original shape when it reaches the passage opening. Owing to this
springing back, permanent protection against loss is achieved as
soon as the threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle is pushed into the
retaining collar.
[0017] It is further provided that, in order to fix the cage nut in
the retaining collar, the threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle
projects beyond the one-piece retaining collar and comprises
caulked points distributed over the periphery of the projecting
region.
[0018] Said caulked points can be made in a compression press by a
punch in a simple manner, and are usually distributed over three
points on the periphery of the projecting end of the bolt
receptacle. The depth of the caulked points can be set in the
compression press. By setting the size of the caulked point, the
sliding displaceability of the one-piece retaining collar on the
holder in the region of the passage opening can finally be set,
especially since, when caulking, the one-piece retaining collar is
clamped between the radially protruding angular flange and the
caulked points.
[0019] Furthermore, it is provided that the first cover element of
the one-piece retaining collar is arranged between the protruding
angular flange and the holder and projects beyond the edge faces of
the angular flange. Owing to this projection of the first cover
element beyond the edge of the angular flange, it is additionally
ensured that radial displacements of the nut and thus the angular
flange in the holder cannot lead to metallic contact, which causes
noise, between the holder and the nut. This promotes protection
against noise and ensures complete electrical insulation between
the nut and the holder.
[0020] The complete insulation of the nut having an internal thread
provides a further advantage, in which, for example during
subsequent coating operations in a bath for cathodic dip coating,
only the holder of the cage nut, which holder is welded to the
body, is coated. Since the nut itself cannot be exposed to the
coating potential, the coating remains limited to the metal holder.
The nut itself, which is electrically insulated by the one-piece
retaining collar made of plastics material, and in particular the
internal thread thereof, remains free of a coating layer despite
the metallically conductive cage. In addition, it is provided that
the second cover element, which is supported on the holder, does
not project beyond the holder itself and is preferably disc-shaped.
The outer dimensions of the cage nut are thus determined by the
holder.
[0021] In a further embodiment, the first cover element is a plate
which is arranged between the protruding angular flange and the
holder, said plate comprising resiliently pretensioned wave-shaped
indentations at the edges transverse to the insertion slot relative
to the holder. When pushing the retaining collar into the insertion
slot, said resiliently pretensioned wave-shaped indentations ensure
that the connecting bush is axially oriented and the nut can be
positioned in a resiliently pretensioned axial orientation in the
connecting bush without problems.
[0022] It is additionally provided that the second cover element,
which rests on the holder, comprises bulges. Said bulges are
provided such that the second cover element, when pushed into the
insertion slot, can pretension the resilient wave-shaped
indentations of the first cover element on the holder. The second
cover element can be correspondingly formed and can either comprise
pretensioned spring elements if the first cover element comprises
corresponding bulges in order to press the spring elements of the
second cover element against the holder, or the second cover
element can comprise corresponding bulges in order to pretension
the above-mentioned pretensioned wave-shaped indentations of the
first cover element against the holder in the region of the passage
opening. These embodiments are presented in detail in the figures
below.
[0023] In addition to the above-mentioned radial slots in the
transition regions between the cover element and the connecting
bush for forming spring elements of the connecting bush and for
forming the wave-shaped indentations or bulges of the cover
elements, a further measure is provided for improving the radially
displaceable seat of the nut in the passage opening. For this
purpose, further transverse slots are provided in the connecting
element. Said transverse slots are provided so as to be parallel to
the resilient wave-shaped indentations and transverse to the
insertion slot in the transition of the connecting element to the
first cover element. Said additional slots in the connecting bush
which are positioned transverse to the insertion slot and parallel
to the wave-shaped indentations or to the bulges do weaken the
connecting bush, which mechanically connects the first and the
second cover element of the one-piece retaining collar, but are not
undercut or cut so deeply as to impair the coherence of the
one-piece retaining collar. These free cuts make it possible to
arrange the resilient wave-shaped indentations closer to the
connecting bush and thus to produce a larger region of action
having pretensioning.
[0024] A further embodiment provides that the radially protruding
angular flange is rectangular. In this case, the holder comprises
three angled legs of a base plate comprising the passage opening,
the three legs engaging over three edge faces of the rectangular
flange of the nut. By means of these three legs, the cage nut can
be securely welded to a fixing position of the body region and at
the same time, the nut can be fastened in the holder and in the
fixing position in a rotationally fixed but radially displaceable
manner via the rectangular flange.
[0025] The displaceability of the nut within the holder does depend
on the requirements of the tolerance ranges in manufacturing, but
it is provided that the nut comprising the retaining collar which
is pretensioned in the holder has greater radial displacement in
the direction of the insertion slot than in the direction
transverse to the insertion slot. The cage nut can thus be
prefabricated with a relatively high elongate slot length and low
elongate slot width such that the threaded-sleeve-like bolt
receptacle can be displaced into the position of a screw bolt.
[0026] While, as already mentioned above, the nut and the holder
comprise metal alloys, the one-piece retaining collar can be
manufactured from plastics material. A plastics material of this
type should be dimensionally stable and nevertheless have resilient
properties in order to provide the various resilient elements for
the cover plates of the cover elements.
[0027] A method for producing a cage nut has the following method
steps. Firstly, a plurality of bracket-shaped holders comprising a
base plate and three angled legs and a passage opening comprising
an insertion slot in the base plate are punched out of a sheet
metal plate. This can take place in a single punching step, such
that mass production of bracket-shaped holders of this type is
possible. Nuts are then produced which comprise a radially
protruding angular flange and have a threaded-sleeve-like bolt
receptacle for a bolt.
[0028] After punching and then production of these two components
for a cage nut, or at the same time, a retaining collar can be
injection moulded, the retaining collar comprising two cover
elements which can cover the passage opening of the holder on both
sides and is provided with a connecting bush which connects the
cover elements. Now that these three components are available for
the cage nut, the retaining collar is first put onto the base plate
of the holder via the insertion slot until the cover elements cover
the edge regions of the passage opening on both sides.
[0029] The threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle of the nut is then
axially displaced into the connecting bush of the retaining collar
in the passage opening. An end of the threaded-sleeve-like bolt
receptacle is then caulked, which end projects from the retaining
collar, to an axially oriented cage nut which is radially
displaceably mounted in the passage opening. In this last method
step, the contact pressure of the two cover elements on the edge
region of the passage opening in the holder can additionally be
set.
[0030] This method has the advantage that the cage nuts can be
produced using relatively cost-effective manufacturing means and
tools and are fixed in the holder such that they are indeed
slidingly displaceable in the radial direction and remain axially
oriented, but the nut cannot move in the axial direction such that
noise occurs or tilting is possible.
[0031] A compression press using a caulking punch is provided for
the caulking, the entire projecting end of the bolt receptacle not
being caulked in an annular manner, but caulking rather only taking
place at three positions distributed over the periphery.
[0032] A method for fixing components in a vehicle using a
plurality of cage nuts according to the above embodiments and using
appropriate bolts provides that vehicle seats are fixed to profiled
rails in the vehicle or engines are fixed to panels in an engine
chamber of the vehicle, after which legs of the holders of the cage
nuts are welded onto the profiled rails or onto the panels at
predetermined fixing positions of abutments. In this case, it is
advantageously possible to provide fixing points which are provided
for other ranges of models for example in seat fixing, without said
cage nuts having to be fixed using blind screws or stoppers. The
cage nuts are arranged so as to be secured in the holder solely by
the one-piece retaining collar such that shocks cannot trigger any
sources of noise or loosen the nut from said retaining collar.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] Embodiments are now described in greater detail with
reference to the appended figures, in which:
[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a nut for a cage
nut according to a first embodiment;
[0035] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a holder for the
cage nut according to the first embodiment;
[0036] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a retaining collar
for the cage nut according to the first embodiment;
[0037] FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal section through the cage
nut according to the first embodiment;
[0038] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a nut for a cage
nut according to a second embodiment;
[0039] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a holder for the
cage nut according to the second embodiment;
[0040] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a retaining collar
for the cage nut according to the second embodiment;
[0041] FIG. 8 is a schematic longitudinal section through the cage
nut according to the second embodiment;
[0042] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a nut for a cage
nut according to a third embodiment;
[0043] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a holder for the
cage nut according to the third embodiment;
[0044] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a retaining
collar for the cage nut according to the third embodiment; and
[0045] FIG. 12 is a schematic longitudinal section through the cage
nut according to the third embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0046] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a nut 4 for a cage
nut according to the first embodiment. Said nut 4 comprises an
approximately angular flange 5, from which a bolt receptacle 6 for
a screw bolt projects. Said nut 4 comprises a continuous internal
thread 31, which stretches from the flange underside 32 to a
projecting end 33 of the bolt receptacle 6. The radially protruding
flange 5 is rectangular in this embodiment and has four edge faces
18, 19, 20 and 21. The length of the flange 5 between the edge face
18 and the edge face 20 is I.sub.1 and the width of the flange 5
between the edge face 19 and the edge face 21 is b.sub.1.
[0047] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a holder 7 for the
cage nut according to the first embodiment. The holder 7 comprises
a base plate 30 in which a passage opening 8 is provided, through
which the threaded-sleeve-like bolt receptacle 6 of the nut 4 shown
in FIG. 1 can be inserted. The diameter d.sub.3 of said passage
opening 8 is considerably less than the diameter d.sub.1, shown in
FIG. 1, of the bolt receptacle. The base plate 30 is bent on three
sides to form legs 27, 28 and 29, which can engage over the edge
faces 19, 20 and 21, shown in FIG. 1, of the flange 5.
[0048] An edge face 34 which does not comprise a leg of this type
has an insertion slot 13, of which the width b.sub.3 is less than
the diameter d.sub.3 of the passage opening 8. In addition, the
opposing legs 27 and 29 comprise foot elements 35, 36 and 37, by
means of which the holder 7 can be welded onto an abutment of a
vehicle body. The legs 27 and 29 then engage over the edge faces 19
and 21, shown in FIG. 1, of the radially protruding flange 5.
[0049] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a retaining collar
9 for the cage nut according to the first embodiment. Said
retaining collar 9 is in one piece and is composed of three
components, specifically of a first cover element 10, which can
cover the passage opening 8 shown in FIG. 2 from below, of a second
cover element 11, which can cover the passage opening 8 shown in
FIG. 2 from above, and of a connecting bush 12 arranged
therebetween, which mechanically interconnects the two cover
elements 10 and 11.
[0050] The inner diameter d.sub.4 of the connecting bush 12 is
dimensioned such that it corresponds to the outer diameter d.sub.1
of the bolt receptacle 6 of the nut 4 in FIG. 1, additional inner
beads 40 ensuring a press fit of the bolt receptacle 6 when
assembling the cage nut. The outer diameter d.sub.5 of the
connecting bush 12 is less than the inner diameter d.sub.3 of the
passage opening 8 shown in FIG. 2. As a result, sufficient play
between the one-piece retaining collar 9 and the holder 7 inside
the passage opening 8 of the holder 7 shown in FIG. 2 is ensured.
The outer diameter d.sub.5 of the connecting bush 12 of the
retaining collar 9 is also less than the width b.sub.3 of the
insertion slot 13 of the holder 7 shown in FIG. 2.
[0051] When pushing the retaining collar 9 into the passage opening
8 of the holder 7 in arrow direction A via the insertion slot 13,
as shown in FIG. 2, the retaining collar 9 would therefore remain
caught on the insertion slot 13. In order to prevent this, the
connecting bush 12 comprises radial slots 14 and 15 at the
transitions of the connecting bush 12 to the cover elements 10 and
11, such that opposing spring elements 16 emerge. When inserting
the retaining collar 9 into the insertion slot 13 in arrow
direction A, said spring elements 16 of the connecting bush 12
yield and make it possible to position the retaining collar 9 in
the passage opening 8. In this case, spacing remains between the
connecting bush 12 and the passage opening 8, since the outer
diameter d.sub.5 is less than the inner diameter d.sub.3. This
spacing makes it possible for the retaining collar 9 to be radially
displaced in the passage opening 8.
[0052] Owing to the two cover elements 10, 11, the retaining collar
9 ensures that radial sliding displacement on the base plate 30 of
the holder 7 is possible. In order to ensure pretensioning between
the holder 7 and the retaining collar 9, the first cover element 10
is formed as a plate which comprises a wave-shaped indentation 25
at each of its edges 22 and 23, which indentation can resiliently
yield. The second cover element 11 conversely comprises bulges 24,
which are supported on the base plate 30 of the holder 7 such that,
after inserting the retaining collar 9 into the passage opening 8
via the insertion slot 13, the retaining collar is fixed to the
base plate 30 in a slidingly displaceable manner.
[0053] The inner opening 39 of the retaining collar 9 always
remains axially oriented during possible radial displacements.
After sliding together the holder 7 and the retaining collar 9, the
nut 4 comprising the bolt receptacle 6 can be displaced through the
inner opening 39 in arrow direction B, as shown in FIG. 1, such
that the legs 27 and 29 of the holder 7 engage over the edge faces
19 and 21 of the flange 5 of the nut 4. By pushing in the part 4,
the spring element 16 is automatically blocked, and this makes
non-destructive removal impossible. An assembled cage nut of this
type can then be fixed to an abutment by means of the foot elements
35, 36 and 37 of the legs 27 and 29 and a screw bolt can be
inserted, via the flange underside 32, into the nut 4 which is
stably held in the axial direction.
[0054] FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal section through the cage
nut 1 according to the first embodiment. In this longitudinal
section, the three components, which have been described above with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, are connected, such that the retaining
collar 9 is arranged in the passage opening 8 of the holder 7 and
covers the passage opening 8 with its cover elements 10 and 11. The
connecting bush 12, which mechanically connects the cover elements
10 and 11 of the retaining collar 9, holds the nut 4 in the holder
7 in an axially oriented manner by means of a coaxial press fit. In
addition, the nut 4 is fixed in the inner opening 39 of the
connecting bush 12 by means of its threaded-sleeve-like bolt
receptacle 6.
[0055] A region 41 projecting from the retaining collar 9 comprises
caulked points 17 which are distributed over the periphery and
prevent the bolt receptacle 6 from slipping out of the retaining
collar 9. Opposite this region 41 of the nut 4 projecting from the
retaining collar 9, the underside 32 of the radially protruding
angular flange 5 is arranged, from which underside a screw bolt can
be screwed into the internal thread 31 of the nut 4. Since the foot
elements 37 and 38 of the leg 29 are materially connected to an
abutment of a panel, the nut 4 is fixed against turning in the
holder 7 by the rectangular flange 5.
[0056] Furthermore, the first cover element 10 of the retaining
collar 9 produced from plastics material is adapted to the
rectangular flange 5 such that the length I.sub.2 shown in FIG. 3
is slightly greater than the length I.sub.1, shown in FIG. 1, of
the rectangular flange 5 and likewise the width b.sub.2, shown in
FIG. 3, of the first cover element 10 of the retaining collar 9 is
greater than the width b.sub.1 of the rectangular flange 5 shown in
FIG. 1, which ensures that the rectangular flange 5 in the assembly
as shown in FIG. 4 does not cause a short circuit, despite the
radial displaceability of the retaining collar 9 in the passage
opening 8, and the nut 4 remains isolated in all positions of the
holder 7. No electrical contact with the body thus occurs, such
that in cathodic dip coating in a cathodic dip coating bath, the
nut and the internal thread thereof are not also coated.
[0057] FIGS. 5 to 8 show a cage nut 2 according to a second
embodiment of the cage nut 1 described in FIGS. 1 to 4. Components
in FIGS. 5 to 8 which have the same function as those in FIGS. 1 to
4 are denoted by identical reference signs and are not further
discussed. It is easy to see that the nut 4 and the holder 7 in
FIGS. 5 and 6 do not differ from the nut 4 shown in FIG. 1 and the
holder 7 shown in FIG. 2, and therefore further discussion is
unnecessary. A modified retaining collar 9' is only shown in FIG. 7
and differs from the retaining collar in FIG. 3 in that the
connecting bush comprises a further slot, transverse to the
insertion slot 13 shown in FIG. 2, as a free cut 42 in addition to
the radial slots 14 and 15.
[0058] Said free cut 42 can be seen more clearly in FIG. 8, which
is a schematic longitudinal section through the cage nut 2
according to the second embodiment. In this longitudinal section
according to FIG. 8, the free cut 42 can be seen in the marked
circle C, it being possible by means of this free cut 42 for the
transverse resilient wave-shaped indentation 25 to be arranged
considerably closer to the passage opening 8, whereby both the
spring constant of the resilient wave-shaped indentation 25 can be
reduced and a compact construction of the cage nut 2 is possible,
since the longitudinal extension of the radially protruding flange
5 can be reduced. FIGS. 9 to 12 show a third embodiment of a cage
nut 3, wherein here, too, components having the same functions as
in the preceding figures are denoted by identical reference signs
and are not further discussed. In this third embodiment, too, the
nut 4, as can be seen in FIG. 9, and the holder 7, as can be seen
in FIG. 10, remain unchanged, as already described with reference
to FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0059] Only the retaining collar 9'' differs from the preceding
embodiment in that the lower cover element 10 has a planar surface,
from which yielding bulges 24 project. Spring elements 26 protrude
from the opposing cover element 11 towards the base plate 30, shown
in FIG. 10, of the holder 7, which spring elements ensure that the
retaining collar 9'' can be inserted into the holder 7 under
pretensioning. In this embodiment, too, by means of the size of the
planar cover element 10 it is ensured that the radially protruding
angular flange 5 cannot cause a short circuit between the holder 7
and the nut 4, despite the radial displaceability of the retaining
collar 9'' in the holder 7. Noise is also prevented by this new
retaining collar 9''.
* * * * *