Device and Method for Making a Screwed Connection Between a First Component and At Least One Further Component

• US 20090003963A1
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co.KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG), Winker Massivumformung GmbH & Co. KG.
• Original Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Winker, Alexander, Koniger, Florian, Breitenbach, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 7,757,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/349
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/066 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/141 Mechanical overload release couplings

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10, 30) which is used to produce a screw connection between a first component (14, 60) and at least one additional component (15, 70), by means of a fixing screw (12) or a fixing groove (50, 55) and a corresponding fixing element (16, 73). Said device (10, 30) comprises a rotationally mounted tool (11, 31), wherein the fixing screw (12) and/or the fixing groove (50, 55) is maintained in a manner that prevents it from rotating and in an axially fixed manner and wherein the head (20) of the fixing screw (12) and/or the fixing groove (50, 55) is maintained at a distance (S) in relation to the first component (14, 60) as long as both components (14, 60; 15, 70) are joined together. According to the invention, at least one energy accumulator (18, 48) is provided between the tool (11, 31) and the first component (14, 60). At least the joining force and the maximum and the total desired clamping force of the prepared screw connection can be predetermined by means of the at least one energy accumulator (18, 48). The invention also relates to a fixing groove (50, 55) for the inventive device and/or the inventive method.

Claims

1. A device for making a screwed connection between the first component and at least one further component by means of a fastening screw of a fastening nut and a corresponding fastening element, wherein the device has a rotatably mounted tool, in which the fastening screw or fastening nut is retained so that it cannot rotate and is axially fixed, and in which the head of the fastening screw of the fastening nut is retained at a distance from the first component until both components are joined together, characterised in that at least one force accumulator is provided between the tool and the first component.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the tool is supported by an axial bearing on a bearing flange.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterised in that the bearing flange is mounted on the tool.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the force accumulator is designed as a device that can be compressed and expended, in a force-dependent manner, in the direction of joining of the components by the distance.

5. The device according to claim 4, characterised in that the at least one force accumulator is designed as a mechanically operating device.

6. The device according to claim 4, characterised in that the at least one force accumulator is designed as a hydraulically or pneumatically operating device.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one force accumulator is provided between a bearing flange mounted on the tool and a support flange arranged between the bearing flange and the first component.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterised in that the support flange is axially movable on guide bolts fastened to the bearing flange.

9. The device according to claim 7, characterised in that the at least one force accumulator is arranged around at least one bearing bolt and the support flange is axially movable on the at least one bearing bolt.

10. The device according to claim 7, characterised in that the support flange has on its surface facing the first component at least one spacer.

11. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the tool is composed of a socket wrench, a spherical clamping sleeve and a locking nut).

12. The device according to claim 11, characterised in that the tool is rotatable by rotating the socket wrench.

13. The device according to claim 11, characterised in that the spherical clamping sleeve is axially displaceable along the socket wrench by rotating the locking nut.

14. The device according to claim 11, characterised in that the free end of the socket wrench has an axial recess with a housing for receiving a fastening nut.

15. The device according to claim 11, characterised in that the free end of the socket wrench and the free end of the spherical clamping sleeve form a clamping device for a fastening screw or fastening nut.

16. The device according to claim 15, characterised in that the clamping device is provided with clamping elements.

17. The device according to claim 16, characterised in that the free end of the spherical clamping sleeve has a cutout, and in that the clamping elements are fixed when the spherical clamping sleeve is axially displaced in one direction and the fastening screw or fastening nut is retained in a clamping manner, and in that the clamping elements rest in the cutout when the spherical clamping sleeve is axially displaced in the opposite direction, and the fastening screw or fastening nut is released.

24. A fastening nut for a device according to claim 1, with an outer polygon, characterised in that a clamping shoulder is provided adjacent to the outer polygon.

25. The fastening nut according to claim 24, characterised in that the clamping shoulder is formed by an annular groove.

18. A method for making a screwed connection between a first component and at least one further component by means of a fastening screw or a fastening nut and a corresponding fastening element, wherein the fastening element is pulled onto the fastening screw or tightened into the fastening nut by rotating the fastening screw or fastening nut until the two components are joined together, wherein the head of the fastening screw or the fastening nut is retained at a distance from the first component, the fastening screw of the fastening nut is then tightened until it bears against the first component, characterised in that at least the joining force of the finished screwed connection is predetermined by means of a force accumulator.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterised in that the total required clamping force of the finished screwed connection is predetermined by means of the force accumulator.

20. The method according to claim 18, characterised in that the force introduced into the system by rotating the fastening screw or the fastening nut is absorbed and stored in the force accumulator.

21. The method according to claim 18, characterised in that the head of the fastening screw or the fastening nut is moved in the direction of the first component as soon as the force introduced into the system exceeds the accumulator force of the force accumulator.

22. The method according to claim 18, characterised in that the force stored in the force accumulator is transmitted to the finished screwed connection after the clamping of the fastening screw or fastening nut.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterised in that the force transmitted to the finished screwed connection from the force accumulator corresponds to the required clamping force of the screwed connection.