U.S. patent application number 16/959479 was filed with the patent office on 2021-03-11 for tolerance compensation device for flat components.
The applicant listed for this patent is Auto-Kabel Management GmbH. Invention is credited to Amir Hossein Attarzadeh, Franz-Heinz Kaszubowski.
Application Number | 20210071694 16/959479 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005238500 |
Filed Date | 2021-03-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210071694 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Attarzadeh; Amir Hossein ;
et al. |
March 11, 2021 |
Tolerance Compensation Device for Flat Components
Abstract
The subject matter relates to a tolerance compensation
comprising a flat part with a first recess for receiving a bolt of
an attachment part and a tolerance slider with a second recess for
receiving the bolt.
Inventors: |
Attarzadeh; Amir Hossein;
(Monchengladbach, DE) ; Kaszubowski; Franz-Heinz;
(Wassenberg, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Auto-Kabel Management GmbH |
Hausen i.W. |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005238500 |
Appl. No.: |
16/959479 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
December 14, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2018/085017 |
371 Date: |
July 1, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G 3/30 20130101; F16B
5/0225 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F16B 5/02 20060101
F16B005/02; H02G 3/30 20060101 H02G003/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 19, 2018 |
DE |
10 2018 106 312.1 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. Tolerance compensation comprising: a flat part with a first
recess for receiving a bolt of an attachment part; and a tolerance
slider with a second recess for receiving the bolt; wherein the
flat part has a longitudinal axis extending from its end face edge
in longitudinal direction and a transversal axis extending
transversally to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first recess
has a greater extent in a direction along the longitudinal axis of
the flat part than the second recess in that direction, the first
recess has an extension in a direction along the transversal axis
which corresponds at least to the extent of the second recess in
this direction, and the tolerance slider for receiving the bolt in
the first and second recess is arranged on the flat part in such a
way that it can be displaced in a direction along the longitudinal
axis of the flat part over the first recess, wherein the flat part
is slotted from the front face edge into the first recess and the
end face edge is elastically deformable due to the slot, so that
the tolerance slider can be pushed onto the end face edge by
compression of the end face edge.
15. Tolerance compensation of claim 14, wherein the tolerance
slider is arranged on the flat part so that it cannot be lost.
16. Tolerance compensation of claim 14, wherein the tolerance
slider is arranged on a wide surface of the flat part and grips
behind a longitudinal edge of the flat part.
17. Tolerance compensation of claim 16 wherein the tolerance slider
grips behind both longitudinal edges of the flat part.
18. Tolerance compensation of claim 14, wherein the tolerance
slider is guided in a groove arranged on a side surface of the flat
part.
19. Tolerance compensation of claim 18, wherein the tolerance
slider engages in the groove.
20. Tolerance compensation of claim 14, wherein the tolerance
slider is guided in the first recess.
21. Tolerance compensation of claim 20, wherein the tolerance
slider is guided in a groove arranged at an inner edge of the first
recess or that the tolerance slider embraces an inner edge of the
recess.
22. Tolerance compensation of claim 14, wherein the first recess is
rectangular or square.
23. Tolerance compensation of claim 22, wherein the second recess
is an oblong hole.
24. Tolerance compensation of claim 14, wherein the second recess
is an oblong hole.
25. Tolerance compensation of claim 14, wherein the transverse axis
of the flat part is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the
flat part.
26. Tolerance compensation of claim 14, wherein the first recess
has an extent in the direction along the longitudinal axis and the
transversal axis of the flat part which corresponds at least to a
tolerance of the position of the bolt on the attachment part.
27. Tolerance compensation of claim 14, wherein the tolerance
slider is made of a metal or a plastic.
28. System with a tolerance compensation of claim 14 and an
attachment part, wherein a flat part with the tolerance
compensation is attached to a bolt arranged on the attachment part,
wherein the bolt is attached to the attachment part with tolerances
and goes through the first and the second recess.
29. System of claim 28, wherein the tolerance slider is held in a
clamping manner at the bolt.
Description
[0001] The subject matter relates to a tolerance compensation
comprising a flat part with a first recess for receiving a bolt of
an attachment part, and a tolerance slider with a second recess for
receiving the bolt.
[0002] Connecting bolts as well as contact bolts are usually welded
onto attachment parts by means of welding robots. During welding,
production-related tolerances of the position of the bolt occur. If
rigid flat cables are to be arranged on such bolts, these
tolerances pose a problem. Since a flat cable is rigid and cannot
be bent arbitrarily, it is hardly possible to compensate for
tolerances, unlike with flexible cables. This is especially true if
the flat parts have receiving holes for the bolts, which are only
slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the bolt.
[0003] If a bolt with the greatest possible tolerance deviation is
attached to the attachment part, it may happen that the flat cable
can no longer be attached to the bolt, since the bolt cannot be
inserted into the recess in the flat cable. This is particularly
problematic in automotive applications, where along the production
line delays in the production process must be avoided as far as
possible.
[0004] For this reason, the subject-matter was based on the object
of optimizing the attachment of a flat part to a bolt, in
particular creating the possibility of fixing a rigid flat cable to
a bolt subject to tolerances in its position.
[0005] This object is solved by a tolerance compensation according
to claim 1. The preferably rigid flat part can be an integral part
of a preferably rigid flat cable or be fixed as an attachment part
to a flat cable. The flat part has a longitudinal extension and a
transverse extension. Starting from a end face edge, the flat part
extends in a longitudinal direction in a longitudinal extension
(hereinafter also referred to as the Y-axis). The end face edge of
the flat part extends transversely, preferably perpendicular to the
longitudinal direction in a transverse direction (hereinafter also
referred to as the X-axis).
[0006] The flat part has a recess for receiving a bolt of an
attachment part. Such a bolt may, for example, be a welded-on
fastening bolt on a motor vehicle body, on an engine, on a gearbox,
on a sheet metal part or on another attachment part in a motor
vehicle. A bolt can also be a contact bolt for electrically
contacting the flat part and the attachment.
[0007] A tolerance slider is arranged at the flat part, which also
has a recess for receiving the bolt. The tolerance slider is
movably arranged on the flat part. For this purpose, the tolerance
slider can be moved along the flat part, particularly along the
longitudinal direction.
[0008] To receive a bolt subject to tolerances, the first recess in
the flat part must be larger than the diameter of the bolt. In
particular, the inside dimensions of the first recess must be
larger than the largest cross-sectional extent of the bolt. Then
the bolt can, even if it is mounted with tolerances deviating from
its nominal position, be inserted into the first recess without the
flat cable having to be bent, compressed or otherwise deformed to
achieve a fit.
[0009] It is proposed that the first recess has a greater size in
one direction along the longitudinal axis of the flat part than the
second recess in that direction. Due to this greater size the bolt
can still be inserted into the first recess if its positioning in
this direction deviates. In addition, the tolerance slider can
afterwards be pushed onto the bolt and the bolt can be inserted
into the recess of the tolerance slide with a exact fit.
Subsequently, the bolt can be attached to the tolerance slider in
the usual way, e.g., by tightening a nut.
[0010] Furthermore, the first recess can have an extent in a
direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the flat part
which is also larger than the diameter of the bolt. Because the
recess has a greater extent than the bolt both in the direction of
the longitudinal axis and in the direction transverse to the
longitudinal axis, especially in the X and Y axes, a bolt with
tolerances can be inserted into the first recess without further
ado. To then fasten the bolt, however, the tolerance slider is
provided. For this purpose, the extent of the first recess in the
direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the flat part is
at least as large as the extent of the second recess in this
direction. Therefore, both the tolerance slider and the flat part
enable a tolerance compensation of the bolt in the direction
transverse to the longitudinal axis, especially in the x-direction.
Since the tolerance slider is slidably arranged on the flat part,
it can be positioned at any position along the longitudinal axis
over the first recess. This enables tolerance compensation in the
longitudinal axis, especially in the y-direction.
[0011] To receive the bolt in the first and second recesses, the
tolerance slider is arranged on the flat part in such a way that it
can be slid in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the flat
part over the first recess.
[0012] This design firstly makes it possible to achieve a tolerance
compensation in the longitudinal axis by positioning the tolerance
slider over the first recess in such a way that the first recess
and the second recess are aligned with the bolt and the bolt can be
inserted into the first and second recess. Since at the same time
the second recess has a greater extension in the direction
transverse to the longitudinal axis, in particular to the X-axis,
tolerance compensation along this axis is achieved at the same
time.
[0013] Finally, the bolt can be fastened to the tolerance
compensation, in particular screwed, by screwing a nut or other
fastening means onto the bolt and the fastening means pressing
through the tolerance slider against the flat part and thus the
flat part against the attachment part to which the bolt is
fastened.
[0014] In the automated or semi-automated production, it is
necessary that the tolerance slider can be positioned on the bolt
by simple hand movements. To prevent the tolerance slider from
being lost, it is proposed that the tolerance slider is positioned
on the flat part so that it cannot be lost. In this way, the
tolerance compensation is always ready for assembly without having
to fear that a part is missing.
[0015] According to an embodiment, it is proposed that the
tolerance slider is arranged on a wide surface of the flat part and
grips behind one longitudinal edge of the flat part, preferably
behind both longitudinal edges of the flat part. The flat part
preferably has one or two end faces, two wide faces and two narrow
side faces. The side faces and the wide faces are limited by the
longitudinal edges. The end face is limited by the end face edges.
The tolerance slider preferably grips behind the longitudinal edges
of the flat part. The tolerance slider rests in a U-shaped and/or
C-shaped manner on the wide surface and has lateral extensions
which engage behind the longitudinal edges of the flat part.
[0016] At the side surface of the flat part, also called the narrow
surface, a groove can be provided. It is proposed that the
tolerance slider engages in this groove and is guided by this
groove. This defines the movement of the tolerance slider along the
flat part. The groove preferably extends at least according to the
first recess in the longitudinal axis. Preferably, the groove can
be guided into the flat part starting from the end face up until
the end of the first recess facing away from the end face is
reached. The groove can also extend beyond the end of the first
recess.
[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that
the flat part is slotted from an end face edge into the first
recess. The slot makes it possible to elastically compress the flat
part along the X-axis in the area of the front end. This can make
it easier to push the tolerance slider onto the front end of the
flat part. In particular, the springing back of the flat part in
the area of the front end can hold the tolerance slider in
position, in particular by clamping. It is proposed that the front
edge is elastically deformable by the slot. This allows the front
edge to be compressed and the tolerance slider to be pushed onto
the front edge by this compression. If the edge springs back
afterwards, a force acting outwards onto the longitudinal edges can
clamp the tolerance slider.
[0018] The tolerance slider can not only grip on the outside of the
flat part, but it can also be guided on the inner surfaces of the
first recess. For this reason, it is proposed that the tolerance
slider is guided in the first recess. In particular, the tolerance
slider can be guided in a groove arranged on an inner edge of the
recess. It is also possible that the tolerance slider encompasses
an inner edge of the recess. Because the tolerance slider is guided
in the recess, the tolerance compensation can be realized in a
particularly small height. This can be particularly advantageous
when installation space is limited.
[0019] The first recess is preferably rectangular or square and the
second recess is preferably an oblong hole. The second recess
preferably has an extent in y-direction which corresponds
approximately to the diameter of the bolt. On the other hand, the
extent in the x-direction can be greater than the diameter of the
bolt, so that tolerance compensation in the x-direction is possible
with the tolerance slider.
[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that
the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the flat part
is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flat part. x- and
y-direction or x- and y-axis are thus perpendicular to each
other.
[0021] According to an embodiment, it is proposed that the recess
has an extension in the direction along the longitudinal axis of
the flat part and in the direction transverse to the longitudinal
axis, which corresponds at least to a tolerance of the position of
the bolt on the attachment part.
[0022] According to an embodiment it is proposed that the tolerance
slider is held to the bolt in a clamped manner. After the first and
the second recess have been placed on the bolt, the bolt can be
fixed to the tolerance compensation, for example by screwing it
on.
[0023] It is also possible that the tolerance slider is made of a
metal or a plastic material. It is also possible that the flat part
is made of metal or a plastic.
[0024] A flat cable can extend along an underbody or along a centre
console in a vehicle, for example. In particular, it may extend
from the engine compartment to the boot. Other routings of the flat
cables are also possible. These long flat cables usually have taps
which are electrically attached to bolts. Such taps can be realized
in particular by so-called connection boxes, which are fixed to the
flat conductor. At the connection boxes, the electrical connections
and, if necessary, fused taps from the flat cable can be provided.
On the output side of the connection boxes, connection lugs can be
provided which are formed according to a tolerance compensation
described above. Thus, a flat cable can be laid in the vehicle and
the fixing and/or electrical contacting of the flat cable can be
carried out via the tolerance compensation. The longitudinal
extension of the tolerance compensation can be transverse,
preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the flat
cable. It is also possible that the flat part itself is a flat
cable. By means of the connection boxes, a number of taps can be
realized along a flat cable, which at the same time can also
represent mechanical fixings of the flat cable. It is also
conceivable that only mechanical fixations of the flat cable can be
realized by appropriate tolerance compensations.
[0025] A further aspect is a system with tolerance compensation as
described above and an attachment part, whereby a flat part with
tolerance compensation is attached to a bolt arranged on the
attachment part, whereby the bolt is attached to the add-on part
with tolerances and is guided through the first and second
recess.
[0026] In the following, the object is explained in more detail by
means of a drawing showing embodiments. In the drawing show:
[0027] FIG. 1 view of a flat part;
[0028] FIG. 2a, b views of a tolerance slider;
[0029] FIG. 3a, b top views of a bolt;
[0030] FIG. 4a, b a tolerance compensation according to an
embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 5a, b a tolerance compensation according to an
embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 6 a side view of a tolerance slider according to an
embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 7a-c a tolerance compensation according to an
embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 8 a tolerance compensation according to an
embodiment;
[0035] FIG. 9 shows an arrangement of tolerance compensations on a
multilayer flat conductor.
[0036] FIG. 1 shows a flat part 2, which has a longitudinal extent
along a Y-axis 4 and a transverse extension along an X-axis 6. The
end face edges 8 run parallel to the X-axis 6. The longitudinal
edges 10 run parallel to the Y-axis. A first recess 14 is provided
in the wide surface 12 of the flat part.
[0037] The recess 14 can be formed as a oblong hole. The extent of
recess 14 along the Y-axis 4 is preferably greater than the extent
of recess 14 along the X-axis 6. The dimensions of recess 14 are
such that the extents in the directions of X-axis 6 and Y-axis 4
are greater than the maximum tolerances of a bolt on an attachment
part.
[0038] A tolerance slider 16 as shown in FIG. 2a, b can be slid
onto the flat part 2 as shown in FIG. 1. A top view of a tolerance
slider 16 is shown in FIG. 2a. The tolerance slider 16 has an
extent along the X-axis 6 which is either slightly larger than the
extent of the flat part 2 along the X-axis 6 or corresponds to the
extent of the recess 14 along the X-axis 6. In the first case, the
tolerance slider 16 can be provided with outer arms 18, as shown in
FIG. 2b, which can embrace the flat part 2 along the longitudinal
edges 10. In the latter case it is possible that the tolerance
slider 16 is inserted into the recess 14. Both will be shown
below.
[0039] A recess 20 is provided in the tolerance slider 16. The
recess 20 preferably has the same extent along the X-axis 6 as the
recess 14, but can also be reduced by the dimension of the webs 22,
which limit the recess 20 in the direction of the longitudinal
edges 24.
[0040] In the y-direction 4, recess 20 has a smaller extent than
recess 14. In particular, the extent of recess 20 in the direction
of the y-axis 4 is preferably only slightly larger than a diameter
of a bolt.
[0041] The arms 18 can be c-shaped in order to e.g., completely
embrace the flat part 2 along the longitudinal edges 10 and, if
necessary, to grip behind it or to engage in a groove arranged on a
side surface.
[0042] Bolts, to which a tolerance compensation according to the
subject-matter is to be attached, can have different shapes. FIGS.
3a and b show examples of such different shapes. For example, a
bolt 26 can have a diameter 26c. This is shown in FIG. 3a.
[0043] FIG. 3b shows that a bolt 26 can also have a rectangular or
square cross-section. Other polygonal cross-sections are also
possible. The longitudinal extent 26 a and the transverse extension
26 b can, for example, be decisive for the size of recess 14 and
20. In particular, recess 14 in Y axis 4 is larger than the
transverse extent 26a. The recess 14 is larger along the X-axis 6
than the transverse extent 26b. The recess 22 preferably is, along
the Y-axis 4, as large as or only slightly larger than the
longitudinal extension 26a. The recess 20 is preferably larger
along the X-axis 6 than the transverse extension 26b.
[0044] To attach the flat part 2 to a bolt 26, it is placed on a
bolt 26 as shown in FIGS. 4-8.
[0045] FIGS. 4a, b show a fastening of a flat part 2 to a bolt 26,
where the bolt 26 has a deviation from its target position in the
image plane to the right and downwards. The tolerance slider 16 can
be moved along the Y-axis 4 on the flat part 2. The displacement
direction 28 corresponds to the orientation of the Y-axis 4. To fix
the flat part 2 to the bolt 26, the recess 14 is placed over the
bolt 26 and the bolt 26 is pushed through the recess 14. At the
same time, the tolerance slider 16 is positioned along the
displacement direction 28 on the flat part 2 in such a way that the
bolt 26 can also be inserted through the recess 20. It can be seen
that the bolt 26 is received by the tolerance slider 16 in such a
way that the recess 20 touches the bolt 26 in close contact,
especially along the Y-axis 4. Thus, the bolt 26 can for example be
screwed to the flat part 2 by means of a screw connection.
[0046] In FIG. 4b it can be seen that the bolt 26 is displaced from
the target position 30 to the right. Furthermore it can be seen
that the tolerance slider 16 engages with its arms 18 in a groove
2a of the flat part 2 on the side faces of the flat part 2.
[0047] FIG. 5a shows a further embodiment in which the bolt 26 is
shifted to the left and upwards in relation to the target position
30. Here too, the extent of recess 14 ensures that the bolt 26 can
be inserted into recess 14 without any problems. The flat part 2
can remain in the target position 30, although the bolt 26 has a
tolerance in relation to it. By shifting the tolerance slider 16
along the shifting direction 28, the bolt 26 can be positioned in
the recess 20.
[0048] FIG. 5b also shows a positioning of the bolt 26 deviating
from a target position 30.
[0049] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a tolerance compensation
according to FIG. 5a. It can be seen how the arms 18 engage in the
groove 2a. The groove 2a extends along the recess 14.
[0050] FIG. 7a shows a flat part 2, which has a slot 32 in the area
of the front face edge 8. The slot 32 extends from the front face
edge 8 to the recess 14. Due to the slot 32 it is possible to
elastically deform the flat part 12 in the area of the recess 14 in
the direction of the X-axis 6. This can be particularly
advantageous if the tolerance slider 16 is to be pushed onto the
flat part 2.
[0051] In FIG. 7b it can be seen that the tolerance slider 16 has
been pushed onto the flat part 2. Here, for example, the slot 32
can serve to compress the front face edge 8 so that the tolerance
slider 6, which embraces the flat part 2 with its arms 18, can be
pushed onto the flat part 2. The slot 32 is then widened again by
the restoring force of the flat part 2, so that the tolerance
slider 16 can be held at the flat part 2, for example in a clamped
manner. The positioning of the bolt 26 in the recesses 14, 20
according to FIG. 7b is carried out as shown in FIG. 4a.
[0052] Subsequently, a fixing of the bolt 26 follows, as shown in
FIG. 7c. For this purpose, a nut 34, for example, is screwed onto
the bolt 26. Via a washer not shown, the nut 34 can be pressed onto
the tolerance slider 16. This fixes the flat part 2 and the
tolerance slider 16 to the bolt 26 and to the attachment part to
which the bolt 26 is attached.
[0053] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment in which the tolerance
slider 16 is guided in the recess 14. It can be seen that the
tolerance slider 16 is guided with its longitudinal edges 24 on the
inside longitudinal edges of recess 14. For this purpose, the
tolerance slider 16 can engage in grooves within the inner surfaces
of recess 14, for example. The tolerance slider 16 can also embrace
the longitudinal edges of recess 14. A positioning of the bolt 26
in the recesses 14, 20 is carried out in such a way that the
tolerance slider 16 is shifted in shift direction 28 in the recess
14 so that it is aligned with the bolt 26. Then the bolt 26 can be
pushed through the recess 20 and thus through the recess 14 and can
be fixed, for example, with a nut, as shown in FIG. 7c, to the
tolerance slide 16.
[0054] FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment in which a flat cable 36
is assembled. The flat cable 36 can, for example, be designed as a
double flat cable and be made up of flat parts lying one above the
other. The double flat cable can be connected with the battery
positive pole on the one hand and the battery negative pole on the
other hand. Taps can be provided at different positions along the
flat cable 36. Thus, two or more taps are possible. These taps can,
for example, be welded onto the flat cable 36 and protected by
means of coupling boxes 38.
[0055] The flat cable 36 can be bent around different axes,
especially around the longitudinal axis of the flat cable 36 and/or
the transverse axis of the flat cable 36 and/or an axis
perpendicular to the drawing plane.
[0056] The Coupling Boxes 38 can be provided for fastening with
coarse threaded bolts 26. For this purpose, tolerance compensations
with flat part 2 and tolerance slider 16 are provided on the
coupling boxes 38. One or more tolerance compensations can be
provided at a coupling box 38.
[0057] The bolts 26 are welded to the body subject to tolerances.
In order to avoid that the flat cable 36 has to be bent when fixing
it, the tolerance compensations according to the subject-matter are
provided. At each of the tolerance compensations, a tolerance of a
bolt 26 can be compensated by moving the tolerance slide 16 along
the flat part 2. Thus, the flat cable 36 or the coupling boxes 38
can be attached to the bolts 26 without mechanical tensions
occurring on the coupling boxes 38, the bolts 26 and the taps
arranged in the coupling boxes 38.
[0058] To fix the bolts 26 to the tolerance sliders, plastic nuts
can be provided, for example, which can be tightened with a few
Newton metres of slots.
[0059] For example, two taps, one at a lower flat cable and one at
an upper flat cable, can be provided at a coupling box 38, so that
the double flat cable 36 can be tapped at its two potentials.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0060] 2 Flat part [0061] 4 Y-axis [0062] 6 X-axis [0063] 8 End
face edge [0064] 10 Longitudinal edge [0065] 12 Wide surface [0066]
14 Recess [0067] 16 Tolerance slider [0068] 18 Arms [0069] 20
Recess [0070] 22 Webs [0071] 24 Longitudinal edge [0072] 26 Bolt
[0073] 26a Longitudinal extent [0074] 26b Lateral extent [0075] 26c
Diameter [0076] 28 Shifting direction [0077] 30 Target position
[0078] 32 Slot [0079] 34 Nut [0080] 36 Flat cable
* * * * *