Abstract:
A positive coupling between a first housing component ( 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 ), which has a first flange ( 11   a,    12   a,    31   a ), and a second housing component ( 12, 22, 32, 42, 52 ), which has a second flange ( 12   a,    22   a,    32   a ). The positive coupling is formed by an interlocking element is an insert ( 13, 23, 33, 43, 53 ) which is located between the first and the second flanges ( 11   a,    12   a;    21   a,    22   a;    31   a,    32   a ). The recesses ( 11   b,    12   b;    21   b,    22   b;    31   b,    32   b,    32   c;    41   b,    42   b;    51   a ) are formed both in the first flange and in the second flange ( 11   a,    21   a,    31   a,    12   a,    22   a,    32   a ) while the projections ( 13   a,    13   b;    23   a,    23   b;    33   a  to  33   d;    43   a,   43   b;    53   a ) are arranged on both sides of the insert ( 13, 23, 33, 43, 53 ) for mating engagement with the recesses ( 11   b,    12   b;    21   b,    22   b;    31   b,    32   b,    32   c;    41   b,    42   b;    51   a ).

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from German patent application serial no. 10 2012 204 626.7 filed Mar. 22, 2012. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention concerns a positive coupling between a first housing component with a first flange and a second housing component with a second flange, wherein interlocking elements in the form of projections and recesses are provided for the transmission of transverse forces between the housing components. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In the older application by the present applicant with official file number DE 10 2011 003 324.6 a positive coupling between a transmission housing and an engine flywheel housing is described. The interlocking elements are in the form, on the one hand, of projections arranged and made integrally with the flange of the transmission housing, and, on the other hand, recesses made in the flange of the engine flywheel housing. The flanges of the two housings are, as it were, keyed into one another so that torque can be transmitted from one housing to the other. The production of such projections and recesses on the housings incurs additional costs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Starting from that prior art, the objective of the present invention is a positive coupling for the better transmission of torques and transverse forces, which can be produced simply and inexpensively. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, for the interlocked joint of the type mentioned at the start a separate insert is provided, which can be clamped between the flanges and has projections on both sides, which engage with interlock in recesses arranged in the two flanges. The insert thus acts as a torque or transverse force transmitting element between the two housing components. Compared with the prior art the advantage of the insert provided with projections is that it can be produced inexpensively and can also be fitted simply, for example like a sealing element between the flanges. 
         [0006]    According to a preferred embodiment the projections are made integrally with the insert. This keeps production costs low and facilitates assembly. 
         [0007]    In a further preferred embodiment the insert can be made from a metallic material. This enables various possibilities for producing the projections, in particular by stamping, punching, collar raising, embossing or solid deformation. Thus, the projections can be made inexpensively from a sheet section in a single working operation. 
         [0008]    In a further preferred embodiment the projections can be in the form of collars, i.e. raised perforations which engage with interlock in correspondingly shaped recesses. 
         [0009]    According to another preferred embodiment the projections can be in the form of closed protuberances, for example knobs or studs, which are also arranged on both sides of the insert and positively engage in correspondingly shaped recesses in the flanges. 
         [0010]    In a further preferred embodiment the projections can be solid, for example cylindrical projections standing out from both sides of the insert, which engage in the recesses. 
         [0011]    In another preferred embodiment the insert can be a plastic component. It is then preferably produced by injection molding, the projections being injected with the insert. 
         [0012]    According to a further preferred embodiment the projections can be welded onto the insert. In this way tooling costs can be saved. 
         [0013]    In another preferred embodiment sealing means are provided between the insert and at least one flange. This produces a sealed joint between the two housing components in the area of the flange plane. 
         [0014]    According to a further preferred embodiment the sealing means are in the form of an elastomeric layer which is vulcanized onto the insert, in particular in the area of the projections or studs. This allows the insert and the seal to be fitted as one component. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0015]    Example embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing and are described in more detail below, so that further characteristics and/or advantages can emerge from the description and/or the drawings, which show: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1 : known transmission housing having a number of flange planes, 
           [0017]      FIG. 2 : A first example embodiment of the invention, with an insert between the two housing flanges, 
           [0018]      FIG. 3 : A second embodiment of the invention for an insert, 
           [0019]      FIG. 4 : A third embodiment of the invention for an insert, 
           [0020]      FIG. 5 : A fourth embodiment of the invention for an insert, 
           [0021]      FIG. 6 : A fifth embodiment of the invention for an insert, 
           [0022]      FIG. 7 : A section through the insert shown in  FIG. 6 , with its seal. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a known transmission housing  1 , which is connected by means of a flange  3  to a flywheel housing  2 . The transmission housing  1  is divided by further flanges  4 ,  5 ,  6  into individual housing components or sections  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  9   a.  By means of the flange joints, on the one hand, the housing components are sealed and, on the other hand, the flange joints enable transverse forces and/or torques to be transmitted from one part of the housing to another. In this connection, with a view to more precise details reference is made to the previously mentioned, older application by the present applicant with official file number DE 10 2011 003 324.6, whose entire content is subsumed in the disclosure content of the present application. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows a first example embodiment of the invention for a flange joint  10 , which comprises a first housing component  11  having a first flange  11   a  and a second housing component  12  having a second flange  12   a.  The flanges  11   a,    12   a  are flat and have depressions or recesses  11   b ,  12   b  distributed around the periphery of the flanges  11   a,    12   a.  In this example embodiment the recesses  11   b,    12   b  are in the form of blind bores, i.e. of circular-cylindrical shape. Between the flanges  11   a ,  12   a  is arranged a separate insert  13 , which has projections  13   a,    13   b  in the form of raised collars or perforations on both sides, i.e. on the side facing the first flange  11   a  and on the side facing the second flange  12   a.  In this case the insert  13  is a sheet-metal component, i.e. made from a metallic material; the collars  13   a,    13   b  are produced by punching and drawing through, and are therefore formed integrally with the insert  13 . The collars  13   a,    13   b  positively engage, without play, in the recesses  11   b,    12   b  and thus form an interlocked joint between the first housing component  11  and the second housing component  12 , so that transverse forces and/or torques can be transmitted. Thus, the insert  13  acts as an interlocking transmission element between the housing components  11 ,  12 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows a second example embodiment of the invention for a flange joint  20  between a first housing component  21  having a first flange  21   a  and a recess  21   b , and a second housing component  22  having a second flange  22   a  and a recess  22   b . Between the two flanges  21   a,    22   a  is clamped a separate insert  23  which has on both sides projections in the form of protuberances  23   a,    23   b  that engage, with interlock, in the recesses  21   b,    22   b.  In contrast to the open perforations  13   a,    13   b  in the first example embodiment, the protuberances  23   a,    23   b  are closed, so that including its projections the insert  23  has an unbroken surface. By virtue of the protuberances  23   a,    23   b  the insert transfers transverse forces and/or torques from the first housing component  21  to the second housing component  22  and thus—as in the first example embodiment—it acts as a transmission element. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a third example embodiment of the invention for a flange joint  30 , which connects a first housing component  31  having a first flange  31   a  and a second housing component  32  having a second flange  32   a.  In the first flange  31   a  are formed cylindrical recesses  31   b,    31   c  in the form of blind bores, and in the second flange  32   a  corresponding recesses  32   b,    32   c  are formed, which are aligned coaxially with the bores  31   b,    32   c  in the first flange  31   a . Between the two flanges  31   a,    32   a  is clamped a separate insert  33 , which has on both sides projections  33   a ,  33   b  and  33   c,    33   d  respectively opposite one another. The insert  33  consists of a metallic material and the projections  33   a  to  33   d  are produced by solid deformation such that on both sides of the insert the material is thickened to form cylindrical studs. The solid projections  33   a  to  33   d  engage, with interlock and without play, in the recesses  31   b    31   c  on one side and in the recesses  32   b,    32   c  on the other side. As in the previous example embodiments, the insert  33  acts as a transmission element between the two housing components  31 ,  32 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a variant of the example embodiment in  FIG. 4 , i.e. a fourth example embodiment of the invention for a flange joint  40  between a first housing component  41  and a second housing component  42 , in which recesses  41   b  and  42   b  are formed. An insert has, in alternation, projections or raised areas  43   a  on one side and projections or raised areas  43   b  on the other side, which engage respectively, with interlock and without play, in the recesses  41   b  of the first housing component  41  and in the recesses  42   b  of the second housing component  42 . Like the insert  33  in  FIG. 4 , the insert  43  is produced by solid deformation so that solid cylindrical studs  43   a,    43   b  are obtained. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows a fifth example embodiment of the invention for a flange joint  50  between a first housing component  51  and a second housing component  52 , between which a separate insert  53  is clamped. The first housing component  51  has a recess in the form of a bore  51   a  leading into a threaded bore  51   b  which is a threaded blind bore. The insert  53  has a projection  53   a  in the form of a raised collar or perforation, which engages with interlock in the bore  51   a.  The second housing component  52  has a through-going bore  52   a  aligned coaxially with the threaded bore  51   b  and the raised collar  53   a,  through which a screw-bolt  54  passes. By virtue of the screw-bolt  54 , of which a plurality can be distributed around the circumference of the two housing components, the two housing components are clamped and held together by friction force. In this example embodiment the raised collar or perforation  53   a  of the insert  53  has a dual function: on the one hand it acts as an interlock element between the two housing components  51 ,  52  (additional projections as in the previous example embodiments can in this case be omitted), and on the other hand the perforation  53   a  provides a through-passage for the screw-bolt  54 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  shows a section along the plane  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 . The insert  53  is coated on both sides with a sealant  55 , which can be vulcanized to form an elastomer layer on both sides of the insert  53 . To improve the sealing action the insert  53  has bumps or bead-like elevations  53   b,    53   c  on both sides. Thus, between the housing components  51 ,  52  there in formed a joint which is both interlocked and sealed. 
       INDEXES 
       [0000]    
       
           1  Transmission housing 
           2  Engine flywheel housing 
           3  Flange 
           4  Flange 
           5  Flange 
           7  Housing section 
           8  Housing section 
           9  Housing section 
           9   a  Housing section 
           10  Flange joint 
           11  First housing component 
           11   a  First flange 
           11   b  Recess 
           12  Second housing component 
           12   a  Second flange 
           12   b  Recess 
           13  Insert 
           13   a  Projection (collar) 
           13   b  Projection (collar) 
           20  Flange joint 
           21  First housing component 
           21   a  First flange 
           21   b  Recess 
           22  Second housing component 
           22   a  Second flange 
           22   b  Recess 
           23  Insert 
           23   a  Projection (protuberance) 
           23   b  Projection (protuberance) 
           30  Flange joint 
           31  First housing component 
           31   a  First flange 
           31   b  Recess 
           31   c  Recess 
           32  Second housing component 
           32   a  Second flange 
           32   b  Recess 
           32   c  Recess 
           33  Insert 
           33   a  Projection (stud) 
           33   b  Projection (stud) 
           33   c  Projection (stud) 
           33   d  Projection (stud) 
           40  Flange joint 
           41  First housing component 
           41   b  Recess 
           42  Second housing component 
           42   b  Recess 
           43  Insert 
           43   a  Projection (stud) 
           43   b  Projection (stud) 
           50  Flange joint 
           51  First housing component 
           51   a  Recess 
           51   b  Threaded bore 
           52  Second housing component 
           52   a  Through-going bore 
           53  Insert 
           53   a  Projection (collar) 
           53   b  Elevation 
           53   c  Elevation 
           54  Screw-bolt 
           55  Sealant