Adjusting unit for adjusting a spacing between two members

• US 7,356,879 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
• Original Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
• Inventors: Figge, Hans-Ulrich, Dembowsky, Hans-Joachim, Jodeleit, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/190,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20060032016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 16/82, 16/85, 16/86.R, 16/86.A, 16/86.B, 248/188.4, 248/410, 248/411, 411/383, 411/384, 411/535, 411/182, 411/349, 411/549, 411/550, 411/551, 292/DIG.14
• US Class Current: 16/82
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 35/041 Specially-shaped shafts shape of thread F16B33/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0233 allowing for adjustment perpendicular to the plane of the plates

Abstract

An adjusting unit for adjusting a spacing between a fixedly mounted first member and a resiliently mounted second member. The adjusting unit comprises an adjusting screw and a sleeve-like receiving member which are adjustable relative to each other via a pair of threads. The adjusting screw has an end provided with an abutment surface adapted to be supported against the resiliently mounted second member, and the receiving member has an annular flange adapted to be supported against the fixedly mounted first member such that the spacing between the first and second members is adjustable by adjusting movements of the adjusting screw relative to the receiving member.

Claims

1. An adjusting unit for adjusting a spacing between a fixedly mounted first member and a resiliently mounted second member,

the adjusting unit comprising an adjusting screw and a receiving member,

said adjusting screw being of one-piece structure and comprising a shaft provided with male threads, and a head,

said receiving member being of one-piece structure and comprising female threads in engagement with said male threads so that said adjusting screw and said receiving member are adjustable relative to each other,

said adjusting screw having an end provided with an abutment surface adapted to be supported against said resiliently mounted second member and said receiving member having an annular flange adapted to be supported against said fixedly mounted first member such that the spacing between said first and second members is adjustable by rotational movements of the adjusting screw relative to the receiving member,

said head of the adjusting screw being adapted to engage said receiving member for limiting adjusting movements of said adjusting screw into said receiving member and said adjusting screw having an annular shoulder facing away from said head and adapted to engage said receiving member for limiting adjustment movements of the adjusting screw in a direction out of said receiving member such that, when the adjusting unit is being pre-assembled, the adjusting screw is moveable to a central position from which it may be displaced in opposite axial directions.

2. An adjusting unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said annular flange of said receiving member is held in engagement with said first member by a plurality of first spring legs of said receiving member.

3. An adjusting unit as defined in claim 2, wherein said spring legs each have a face axially spaced from said annular flange by a predetermined amount, and are deflectable radially inwards so as to enable the adjusting unit to be inserted into a hole of said first member and to deflect said first spring legs until said first member is clamp-ed between said faces of said first spring legs and said annular flange.

4. An adjusting unit as defined in claim 3 wherein said first spring legs are disposed in windows of an intermediate portion of said receiving member.

5. An adjusting unit as defined in claim 4 wherein said intermediate portion of said receiving member has a polygonal cross-section matingly shaped with respect to said hole of said first member.

6. An adjusting unit as defined in claim 3 wherein said first spring legs have external tapered surfaces for facilitating insertion thereof into the hole of said first member.

7. An adjusting unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said annular flange of said receiving member is of a concave arcuate shape so as to be axially deformable for a predetermined amount.

8. An adjusting unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said receiving member has a plurality of second spring legs deflectable radially outwards and arranged to be deflected radially outwards when the adjusting screw is screwed into the receiving member, and adapted to be deflected back when the second spring legs have passed said shoulder of said adjusting screw such as to engage said shoulder in order to limit adjusting movements of the adjusting screw in a direction out of said receiving member.

9. An adjusting unit as defined in claim 8 wherein said second spring legs of said receiving member are positioned in windows of said receiving member.

10. An adjusting unit as defined in claim 9 wherein said second spring legs of said receiving member have tapered surfaces cooperating with said adjusting screw.

11. An adjusting unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjusting screw has opposite axial ends each provided with drive means for engagement with a tool.

12. An adjusting unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjusting screw has at least one annular sealing rib sealingly engaging a smooth bore of a sealing portion of said receiving member.

13. An adjusting unit as defined in claim 12 wherein said annular sealing rib is of a diameter exceeding that of said smooth bore so as to provide for a self-locking action for securing said adjusting screw in its axial position relative to said receiving member.

14. An adjusting unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjusting screw and said receiving member are made of plastic material.

15. An adjusting unit as defined in claim 14 wherein the plastic material of said receiving member and the plastic material of said adjusting screw are plastic materials of different hardnesses.