Positioning apparatus

• US 10,519,996 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2017
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Brausse, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cozart, Jermie E
• Application Number:
  US15/823,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20180149180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/15 having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/16 having fluid storage compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/025 Side sills thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 29/008 predominantly of light alloys, e.g. extruded
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 1/02 Installations or systems with accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 1/04 Accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2201/21 using springs
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2201/60 Assembling or methods for making accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0406 for rods or tubes being coaxial F16B7/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0413 for tubes using the innerside thereof F16B7/025 takes precedence

Abstract

A positioning apparatus for positioning a tubular fluid container in an elongate carrier which is configured as a hollow profile. In order to simplify the positioning of the tubular fluid container, the positioning apparatus includes spring elements, by way of which the tubular fluid container is positioned in the elongate carrier.

Claims

1. A positioning apparatus for positioning a tubular fluid container in an elongated and hollow carrier, wherein the positioning apparatus comprises (i) spring elements by way of which the tubular fluid container is positioned in the elongated carrier, and (ii) a releasable fastening apparatus for positioning the tubular fluid container in the elongated carrier by way of the spring elements in a sprung manner.

2. The positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular fluid container is a fluidic pressure accumulator.

3. The positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated carrier is a sill of a motor vehicle.

4. The positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening apparatus is a lever that is attached at one end of the tubular fluid container, via which lever the tubular fluid container is configured to be rotated in the elongated carrier, the lever being fixed relative to the elongated carrier in order to hold the tubular fluid container in position in a stable manner in the elongated carrier.

5. A positioning apparatus for positioning a tubular fluid container in an elongated and hollow carrier, wherein the positioning apparatus comprises spring elements by way of which the tubular fluid container is positioned in the elongated carrier, wherein the positioning apparatus comprises at least three of said spring elements, which are leaf springs and are attached to an outside of the tubular fluid container, the leaf springs being oriented about a longitudinal axis of the tubular fluid container in such a way that the tubular fluid container is braced in the elongated carrier when the tubular fluid container is rotated in the elongated carrier in a positioning rotational direction.

6. The positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tubular fluid container is configured to be moved in a relieved manner in the elongated carrier in a direction of the longitudinal axis when the tubular fluid container is rotated in the elongated carrier in a free rotational direction which is opposed to the positioning rotational direction.

7. The positioning apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the elongated carrier has an angular or rectangular cross-sectional profile with corners, in which the spring elements are configured to become caught when the tubular fluid container is rotated in the positioning rotational direction.

8. A method for positioning a tubular fluid container in an elongated and hollow carrier, comprising:

inserting the tubular fluid container in the elongated and hollow carrier; and

rotating the tubular fluid container in one rotational direction such that spring elements extending from the tubular fluid container become caught on interior edges, surfaces or corners of the elongated and hollow carrier.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein rotation of the tubular fluid container in an opposite rotational direction does not cause the spring elements to become caught on the interior edges, surfaces or corners of the elongated and hollow carrier.