Abstract:
An apparatus for releasable fastening and for modifying the relative position of two components ( 1, 1 ′, Bf, G;  2, 2 ′, Bk, Br), which have a common connecting surface forming a contact surface ( 5, 5 ′), comprises two screws ( 3 ), which in coaction with specially configured V-shaped notch zones ( 9   a   1   , 9   a   2   ; 9   b   1   , 9   b   2   ; 9   a   3   , 9   a   4   ; 9   b   3   , 9   b   4 ) permit a relative positioning in zero-backlash and accurately aligned fashion, and serve as the fastening means. It is thereby possible to perform a linear displacement and/or a rotation and/or a tilt in simple fashion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of the German patent application 103 40 604.2 filed Sep. 1, 2003 which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for connecting two components to one another using at least one screw, the relative position being precisely adjustable in one direction during fastening. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to connect two (for example, mechanical or optical) components immovably to one another and additionally to bring about a relative displacement of the one component with respect to the other, it is known, for example, to create a threaded connection by the fact that the component to be aligned comprises at least one elongated hole through which engages a screw that is connected to the stationary part. Another known technical solution consists in providing a transport thread by the actuation of which a linear shift of the movable component is possible. It is additionally known to perform a relative displacement of two components with respect to one another by means of an eccentric. 
     This aforesaid existing art entails several disadvantages. With the elongated-hole version, the component to be moved cannot be precisely and reproducibly displaced in one direction. In particular, small displacements cannot be performed in controlled fashion. The use of a transport thread is on the one hand complex; on the other hand this technical solution results in only an inadequately guided connection, and physical accessibility in the direction of the displacement is moreover always necessary. The use of an eccentric necessitates additional retention in order to prevent displacement in other degrees of freedom; furthermore, immobilization of the position that has been or is to be set is also necessary. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore the object of the present invention to describe a method and an apparatus for releasable fastening and for modification of relative position, the aforesaid disadvantages being reliably eliminated. 
     With the present invention, relative positions can be set in one direction with high precision, and simultaneously an undesired displacement in other degrees of freedom can be prevented. Simple mechanical means are used in this context. An equal and opposite rotation of two screws (or nuts), which coact with a trapezoidal support having a V-shaped flank, allows sensitive, zero-backlash modification of the position of the component that is to be moved and then fastened. 
     The present invention also makes possible, in addition to a pure linear translation with subsequent immobilization of the component, centering in the plane, or alignment in three dimensions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the schematic drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the component according to the present invention that is to be moved and fastened; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a plan view of the two components with the associated shifting and fastening means; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a side view of what is depicted in  FIG. 2   a;    
         FIG. 2   c  shows what is depicted in  FIG. 2   b , but after a rightward displacement; 
         FIG. 2   d  shows what is depicted in  FIG. 2   b , but after a leftward displacement; 
         FIG. 3   a  is a section through the component depicted in  FIG. 1  along its plane of symmetry, to explain the position depicted in  FIG. 2   c;    
         FIG. 3   b  shows what is depicted in  FIG. 3   a , but to explain the position depicted in  FIG. 2   d;    
         FIG. 4  shows a second inventive embodiment having a non-planar contact surface for spherical translation; 
         FIG. 5  shows a slight modification of what is depicted in  FIG. 2   a  (without elongated holes); 
         FIG. 6  shows a further slight modification of what is depicted in  FIG. 5  (with cutouts similar to elongated holes); 
         FIG. 7  shows two further modified forms of the V-shaped notch zones; 
         FIG. 8  shows a further modification of what is depicted in  FIGS. 2   b  through  2   d  (threaded studs with nuts); 
         FIG. 9  shows a combination of two variant embodiments according to  FIG. 5 , their respective translation directions being at right angles to one another; 
         FIG. 10  shows a further embodiment with a disk-shaped component on a baseplate; 
         FIG. 11  shows a further embodiment with a disk-shaped component having an attached “nose”; 
         FIG. 12  shows a further embodiment with a tilting function according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  shows a further embodiment with a tilting function about a central tilt shaft; and 
         FIG. 14  shows a further embodiment having only one screw and a spring. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a mechanical component  2  in perspective. This is a parallelepipedal body whose upper side  2   a  is visible together with one lateral surface  2   b . Located at each of the two end faces are respective V-shaped notch zones  9   a   1 ,  9   a   2  and  9   b   1 ,  9   b   2 . These are planar, beveled surfaces. Surfaces  9   b   1  and  9   b   2  meet at an edge  7   b ; the same applies analogously to  9   a   1 , and  9   a   2 , which meet at edge  7   a . Component  2  has a plane of symmetry which is perpendicular to upper side  2   a  and whose course  2   c  is also shown. It is evident from this perspective depiction that the section plane through component  2  along the plane of symmetry represents a trapezoid. In the event that trapezoidal flanks  7   a ,  7   b  are of identical length, it is an isosceles trapezoid. 
     Into these V-shaped notch zones  9   a   1 ,  9   a   2 ,  9   b   1 ,  9   b   2  engage two screws  3 , as shown in  FIGS. 2   a  through  2   d . Screw heads  3   a ,  3   b  are embodied in countersink-head fashion. They have rounded contours  3   a ′,  3   b ′. This ensures that head  3   a  of screw  3  respectively forms a single-point contact on the one hand with beveled surface  9   a   1 , and on the other hand with beveled surface  9   a   2 . An analogous situation occurs for screw  3  arranged at the right, with its rounded contour  3   b ′. The underside of screw head  3   b  contacts on the one hand beveled surface  9   b   1  and on the other hand beveled surface  9   b   2 . This therefore means that each screw is in engagement with V-shaped notch zones  9   a   1 ,  9   a   2 ,  9   b   1 ,  9   b   2 , and implements a two-point contact. 
       FIG. 2   b  depicts the situation in which left and right screws  3  are anchored to the same “depth” in the fixed base component  1 , so that movable component  2  is in its center position. This is indicated by a dashed vertical line extending through  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b.    
     In  FIG. 2   c , the left screw is rotated along its axis  4   a  deeper into component  1  (cf. the clockwise rotation arrow depicted), while the right screw has been rotated along its axis  4   b  farther out of component  1  (cf. rotation arrow depicted, which illustrates rotation in the opposite direction). The evident result is that by means of this simultaneous and opposite-direction rotary actuation of the two screws  3 , component  2  has been displaced in controlled fashion to the right along contact plane  5  in translation direction  6 . This displacement can be performed sensitively and with zero backlash when both screws  3  are actuated simultaneously. Once the desired position has been reached, the two screws  3  function as permanent immobilization means for component  2  on its support (base component  1 ). It is immediately apparent that as necessary, the two screws  3  can be actuated simultaneously (but in the opposite direction) to establish a different position. This is apparent from  FIG. 2   d . Component  2  has been displaced linearly along translation direction  6 , in which context left screw  3  had to be rotated out of fixed base component  1 , and simultaneously right screw  3  had to be rotated (clockwise) into base component  1 . 
       FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  illustrate the inventive principle of simultaneous opposite-direction actuation of screws  3  to achieve a desired displacement travel of component  2  (linear translation direction  6 ). The Figures depict an isosceles trapezoid that is obtained when a vertical section plane is placed through component  2 , parallel to its plane of symmetry, in such a way that point contact is made the one hand between contour  3   b ′ of screw head  3   b  and beveled surface  9   b   1 , and on the other hand between contour  3   a ′ of screw head  3   a  and beveled surface  9   a   1 . Single-point contact Pbh is visible on the right side, and single-point contact Pat likewise on the left side. These contact points are located at different vertical levels h, t on the isosceles trapezoid. Comparing the schematic diagram of  FIG. 3   a  with the schematic depiction of  FIG. 2   c , it is apparent that in this configuration that is shown, a controlled translation to the right (translation direction  6 ) has been performed. This means that screw head  3   a ′ has, as it were, “slipped” downward along beveled surface  9   a   1 , while right screw head  3   b  has simultaneously been “pushed” upward, i.e. to a higher level. If the rotation direction of the two screws  3  is modified, the result is then the leftward displacement of component  2  depicted in  FIG. 3   b  and  FIG. 2   d.    
     It is within the scope of the present invention to modify the slope of the beveled surfaces from one component to another. Different translation amounts are thus obtained as a function of the thickness of component  2 . It is also possible to equip beveled surfaces  9   a   1 ,  9   a   2 , provided on the left side of component  2 , with a slope different from that of beveled surfaces  9   b   1 ,  9   b   2  arranged on the right side of component  2 . It is additionally possible to vary the V-shaped notch zones  9   a   1 ,  9   a   2 ;  9   b   1 ,  9   b   2 ;  9   a   3 ,  9   a   4 ,  9   b   3 ,  9   b   4  in terms of their V angle. This also yields optimum adaptation capabilities in each individual case in order to achieve a desired translation travel. 
     As is already indirectly evident from  FIG. 2   a , a respective elongated hole is already present in both notch zones, whereas the depiction in  FIG. 5  comprises exclusively V-shaped notch zones. The function of an elongated hole in each of notch zones  9   a   1 ,  9   a   2 ,  9   b   1 ,  9   b   2  is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The axes of elongated holes A lie along the course of plane of symmetry  2   c . The presence of these elongated holes A results in an extended translation travel for a displacement of component  2  that is to be performed. 
       FIG. 7  depicts further geometric variants of the notch zones. While planar notch zones were depicted in  FIG. 5 , as already described above, the left side of  FIG. 7  shows non-planar notch zones  9   a   3 ,  9   a   4  similar to a tapering V opening, while a non-planar notch zone  9   b   3 ,  9   b   4  similar to an expanding V opening is located on the right side of  FIG. 7 . These geometric embodiments can be varied and combined as desired. 
     The same applies to the three-dimensional shape of the undersides of screw heads  3   a ,  3   b . These shapes can be semi-spherical or ellipsoidal or paraboloidal. The only fundamental condition is that the respective contours of screw heads  3   a ,  3   b  form single-point contacts with the respective beveled surfaces. This therefore means that in the context of the present invention it is also possible to embody the undersides of the screw heads in frustoconical fashion if the beveled surfaces are non-planar, so that a non-linear line of all single-point contacts is obtained as screws  3  are rotated. This therefore means that, in contrast to what is depicted in  FIG. 3 , the two isosceles flanks of the trapezoid are not embodied linearly, but rather extend in concave or convex fashion. The term “countersink head” shall include, without limitation, a head having a tapered shape. Frustoconical heads and curved contour heads are examples of countersink heads. 
       FIG. 8  shows that instead of using screws  3 , the device can also be made in such a way that a threaded stud  12 , which has a nut  13  that has rounded contours  3   c ′, is anchored in fixed base component  1  or in a baseplate G. The functionality of achieving a single-point contact is ensured by this geometric conformation as well. It is of course possible to use, in the apparatus according to the present invention, only one screw  3  and one threaded stud  12  with nut  13 . The rounded contour of the nut can also be replaced by a frustoconical shape for use with non-planar beveled surfaces. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a further embodiment. The differences with respect to  FIG. 2   b  are as follows: fixed base component  1 ′ has a non-planar contact surface  5 ′, while  FIG. 2   b  refers to a fixed base component  1  having a planar contact surface  5 . Component  2 ′ that is to be displaced has, on its underside facing toward component  1 ′, a recess  11  in order to ensure unhindered displacement on the convex surface of base component  1 ′ along translation direction  6 ′. The elevated surface of base component  1 ′ is preferably a spherical surface, although other non-planar surface conditions are also conceivable. Instead of an elevated surface (convex surface), a recessed surface (concave surface) can also be present. 
       FIGS. 10 through 14  depict further variants of the present invention in which the movable component is either a rotationally retained disk-shaped embodiment ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ) or a tiltably or pivotably retained embodiment. 
     A disk-shaped component Br is connected via a rotation shaft D to a fixed base component, here called a baseplate G. Disk Br has in its peripheral region two spherical elongated holes L that are at identical distances from the center point of the disk, i.e. from the point at which rotation shaft D penetrates through disk Br. Each of elongated holes L has on its one side a V-shaped contour, only one V side in each case possessing a beveled surface E. 
       FIG. 10  depicts the fact that a screw  3  passes through each elongated hole and is thread-retained in baseplate G (not depicted). The relative positioning of movable component Br is then accomplished by simultaneous rotation of both screws  3  in opposite directions. If, as illustrated by the two rotation arrows, lower screw  3  is rotated clockwise and upper screw  3  is simultaneously rotated in the opposite direction, disk Br then rotates a specific amount about its center point D along circular arrow  14 . 
     In this embodiment as well, the variants mentioned above—in terms of the angle or side length of the V, or the surface shape of individual beveled surface E or the slope of individual beveled surface E—can be provided for. It is also self-evident that a fixed base component  1  or a component  1 ′ can be used instead of baseplate G. 
       FIG. 11  once again shows a disk-shaped component Br. The latter, however, contains at one end of its disk a “nose”  15  that extends in triangular fashion away from disk center point D. The two sides of this nose  15  are in turn embodied as individual beveled surfaces E and are respectively in point contact with screws  3 . In this variant as well, a change in position constituting a certain amount of rotation is possible upon simultaneous but opposite-direction rotation of screws  3 . In  FIG. 11  the disk is once again retained on a baseplate; it is of course also possible for it to be another fixed component  1  or  1 ′. 
       FIGS. 12 through 14  depict tilting mechanisms, in which context component Bk that is to be moved can be tilted in controlled fashion along translation directions  16  about a tilt shaft K. Component Bk is pivot-mounted on tilt shaft K, which in turn is mounted on baseplate G (not depicted). Additionally depicted is a fixed component Bf that can likewise be mounted on baseplate G. Component Bk that is to be tilted has two V-shaped notches, each notch having only one beveled surface. Differential displacement (i.e. tilting, in this case) is accomplished analogously by simultaneous but opposite-direction actuation of the two screws  3 . 
     A further tilting variant is shown in  FIG. 13 . A tilt shaft K is mounted on a baseplate G (not depicted). Component Bk that is to be tilted has on its one side a notch for positively fitting contact with shaft K; located on the other side of component Bk are two V-shaped notch zones that once again each contain only one beveled surface. Corresponding screws  3  are in contact with them. A tilting motion along tilt directions  16  can be accomplished as a result of the arrangement of the notch zones. 
     Lastly,  FIG. 14  depicts a further variant in which, as a modification of what is depicted in  FIG. 12 , movable component Bk has a single notch zone having a single beveled surface E. To make possible a reproducible motion with zero backlash in both directions  16  upon actuation of the single screw  3 , this component Bk is connected to fixed component Bf via a preloading means, in this case a spring  17 . 
     The variants depicted, which individually make possible either a linear translation or a nonlinear translation or a rotation or a tilt, can be combined in any desired fashion so that translations in the plane (centering operation) or in three dimensions (alignment operation) can be achieved. 
     One example is depicted in  FIG. 9 , the principle of which involves a combination of two apparatuses one of which was depicted in isolation in  FIG. 5 . Depicted on a baseplate G is an intermediate component  1   a  having a planar contact surface  5  corresponding in principle to component  2  of  FIG. 5 . Two V-shaped recesses having screws associated with them are evident, the screw head being depicted in the lower part and the screw shaft in the upper part. To minimize unnecessary complexity in this drawing, the labeling of these already-known components with reference characters was omitted. What is still important is that this intermediate component  1   a  can be displaced along the vertical double arrow in the manner already explained. Located on this intermediate component  1   a  is, in turn, a further movable component  2  that can be displaced in horizontal direction  6 . It is thereby possible to displace component  2  in controlled fashion with respect to baseplate G in the X and/or Y direction. 
     All other possible combinations become evident from this exemplifying depiction. For example, instead of intermediate component  1   a  that has a planar contact surface  5 , it is also possible to receive a component  2 ′ that corresponds to a baseplate of elevated configuration in the manner of  FIG. 4 . A component  2  having a planar contact zone and a translation direction rotated 90 degrees can in turn be mounted on this component  2 ′. It is also possible to modify what is depicted in  FIG. 9  so that intermediate component  1   a  is provided on baseplate G, and so that one of the rotational or tilting variants according to  FIGS. 10 through 14  is implemented on intermediate component  1   a . A triple combination (linear displacement+non-linear displacement in a different direction+rotation or tilt) can also be implemented analogously. 
     It is within the scope of the present invention for displaceable component  2 ,  2 ′ to have different functions. It may be, for example, a purely mechanical functional element, for example a stop or an abutment that must be positioned in accurately aligned fashion. On the other hand, it is also possible for this component  2 ,  2 ′ to carry an optical element on its upper side  2   a  so that it functions, in a way, as a mount element. It is thus conceivable for it to be, for example, a prism frame, a graduated device, a mirror, a grating, a light fiber exit end, a diaphragm, a slit, or a lens. 
     PARTS LIST 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 1 
                 Fixed base component with planar contact surface (5) 
               
               
                 1a 
                 Intermediate component with planar contact surface (5) 
               
               
                 1′ 
                 Fixed base component with non-planar contact surface (5′) 
               
               
                 2 
                 Second component in contact with (3a) and (3b) and 
               
               
                   
                 displaceable in planar surface 
               
               
                 2′ 
                 Second component in contact with (3a) and (3b) and 
               
               
                   
                 displaceable in non-planar surface (5′) 
               
               
                 2a 
                 Upper side of (2) 
               
               
                 2b 
                 Visible lateral surface of (2) 
               
               
                 2c 
                 Course of plane of symmetry of (2) extending perpendicular 
               
               
                   
                 to (2a) 
               
               
                 3 
                 Screw(s) 
               
               
                 3a, 3b 
                 Screw head(s) 
               
               
                 3a′, 3b′, 3c′ 
                 Rounded contour(s) of (3a), (3b), (3c) 
               
               
                 4a, 4b 
                 Screw axis/axes 
               
               
                 5 
                 Course of planar connecting surface (contact surface) 
               
               
                 5′ 
                 Course of non-planar connecting surface (contact surface) 
               
               
                 6 
                 Linear translation direction(s) 
               
               
                 6′ 
                 Nonlinear translation direction(s) 
               
               
                 7a, 7b 
                 Trapezoidal flank(s) (in section) 
               
               
                 9a 1 , 9a 2 ; 
                 V-shaped obliquely extending notch zone(s), formed from 
               
               
                 9b 1 , 9b 2   
                 beveled surfaces 
               
               
                 9a 3 , 9a 4 ; 
                 V-like obliquely extending non-planar notch zone(s), 
               
               
                 9b 3 , 9b 4   
                 formed from beveled surfaces 
               
               
                 10a, 10b 
                 Elongated hole(s) in V-shaped notch zone(s) 
               
               
                 11 
                 Recess in underside of (2′) 
               
               
                 12 
                 Threaded studs secured in (1) 
               
               
                 13 
                 Nut for (12) 
               
               
                 14 
                 Rotation direction(s) of (Br) 
               
               
                 15 
                 Symmetrical “nose” on (Br) 
               
               
                 16 
                 Tilt direction(s) of (Bk) 
               
               
                 17 
                 Spring 
               
               
                 A 
                 Cutout(s) similar to elongated holes 
               
               
                 h 
                 Course of plane, parallel to (5), in which (Pah) and (Pbh) 
               
               
                   
                 are located (upper two-point contacts) 
               
               
                 t 
                 Course of plane, parallel to (5), in which (Pat) and (Pbt) 
               
               
                   
                 are located (lower two-point contacts) 
               
               
                 Bf 
                 Fixed component on (G) 
               
               
                 Bk 
                 Component tiltable about (K) 
               
               
                 Br 
                 Component adjustable rotationally about (D) 
               
               
                 D 
                 Rotation shaft on (G) 
               
               
                 E 
                 Individual beveled surface 
               
               
                 G 
                 Baseplate 
               
               
                 K 
                 Tilt shaft on (G) 
               
               
                 L 
                 Spherical elongated hole 
               
               
                 Pah, Pat 
                 Point contacts of (3a′) on (9a 1 ) and (9a 2 ) (left two-point 
               
               
                   
                 contact of (3) on (2)) 
               
               
                 Pbt, Pbh 
                 Point contacts of (3b′) on (9b 1 ) and (9b 2 ) (right two-point 
               
               
                   
                 contact of (3) on (2)) 
               
               
                 Pah, Pbh 
                 Upper point contact(s) of (3a′) and (3b′) 
               
               
                 Pat, Pbt 
                 Lower point contact(s) of (3a′) and (3b′) 
               
               
                 Z 
                 Center