Adjustment element

The present invention provides an adjustment element 1 with which a component can be fastened and can be positioned in space. The adjustment element has the following features: a banjo bolt 10 with an external thread 12 with which the component holder 50 can be positioned in the axial direction of the banjo bolt 10, an inner element 20 which is arranged within the banjo bolt 10 and to which the banjo bolt 10 is rotatably fastened, and a washer 30 which is held between the banjo bolt 10 and inner element 20 in a manner such that it can be laterally displaced in the axial direction of the inner element 20 such that the adjustment element 1 can be laterally positioned and can be fixed with a fastening means 40 reaching through the washer 30.

This application is a U.S. National Phase of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/EP2008/008811, filed Oct. 17, 2008 which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 20 2007 016 945.0 filed Dec. 5, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adjustment element with which a component can be fastened and can be positioned in space, i.e., its position in the x, y, and z direction can be selected and fixed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the state of the art, such adjustment elements are used, for example for fastening headlights in motor vehicle manufacturing. During the installation of the headlights, a fastening and a targeted positioning of the headlight is necessary. To implement this, known adjustment elements consist of a hollow bolt, a fastening bolt with washer and a blind rivet nut, which is fastened in an auto body sheet.

The hollow bolt of the adjustment element is screwed into a fastening eye of the headlight corresponding to the desired position in the z direction. Because the hollow bolt is supported on the auto body sheet, it defines the distance between the fastening eye and the auto body sheet, therefore, the z position of the headlight. The fastening bolt grasps through the hollow bolt and is screwed into the blind rivet nut. The diameter of the fastening bolt is less than the through opening of the hollow bolt. As a result, the hollow bolt, and therefore the headlight can be positioned in the xy plane, because the hollow bolt remains laterally movable despite the fastening bolt. As soon as the xy position is adjusted, the fastening bolt is tightened. For this, during tightening a flat washer is pressed onto the surface of the hollow bolt, so that the hollow bolt is held between the auto body sheet and the flat washer. To attain a reliable countering of the hollow bolt using the flat washer, the flat washer completely covers the top side of the hollow bolt. Therefore, on the one hand, the hollow bolt is no longer accessible for further adjustment, and additionally movement of the hollow bolt is prevented by fastening the fastening bolt.

It is therefore disadvantageous with this design that for readjustments of the z position and respectively the hollow bolt, the fastening bolt must always be loosened. During the loosening of the fastening bolt, the fixed xy position is lost simultaneously. After the z position has been readjusted, likewise a readjustment of the xy position must occur. High costs are connected with this high installation and maintenance effort.

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide an adjustment element with which, in comparison to the state of the art, a component can be fastened with less effort and can be positioned in space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The adjustment element according to the invention, with which a component can be fastened and can be positioned in space, has the following features: a hollow bolt having an outer thread, with which a holder of the component can be positioned in the axial direction of the hollow bolt, an inner element, which is disposed within the hollow bolt and to which the hollow bolt is fastened in a rotatable manner, and a washer, which is held laterally movable in the axial direction of the inner element between the hollow bolt and the inner element, so that the adjustment element can be positioned laterally and can be fixed with a fastening means grasping through the washer.

Using the embodiment of the adjustment element according to the invention an independent positioning of a fastened component is possible in the z direction and in the xy plane. The z position is adjusted by rotating the hollow bolt, whereby the holder of the component can be positioned in the z direction in a targeted manner using the outer thread of the hollow bolt and/or using the thread pairing of the hollow bolt and inner element. The z positioning can also occur when the component is fastened in its xy position. The xy position is fixed using a fastening means and the inner element of the adjustment element. The present design simultaneously makes it possible that the xy position of the component can be modified with a z position that is not to be changed. For this purpose, the fastening means, which fixes the inner element, is loosened. Then, the hollow bolt can be moved laterally relative to the fastening means, without change to the adjusted z position. After the new xy position has been adjusted, a renewed fixing of the inner element and therefore also of the hollow bolt occurs using the fastening means.

According to one embodiment, the inner element is fastened within the hollow bolt using a latching. Such a latching guarantees a fastening of the hollow bolt to the inner element that is without play, while at the same time, the hollow bolt can be rotated about its longitudinal axis. Thereby, adjusting a z position—that is, in the longitudinal direction of the hollow bolt—is guaranteed in that the holder of the component to be fastened is screwed onto the outer threads of the hollow bolt up to the desired position.

According to a further embodiment of the adjustment element its hollow bolt has an inner thread running counter to or in the same direction as the outer thread, while its inner element is designed as a threaded bushing and its radial outer side comprises a thread, with which the threaded bushing can be offset within the hollow bolt.

In this preferred embodiment, the hollow bolt and the inner element are fastened together in a rotatable manner using a thread. If the z position of the holder of the component is adjusted by rotating the hollow bolt, the adjustment travel in the z direction results from a movement of the holder on the outer thread of the hollow bolt and an offset of the hollow bolt on the outer thread of the inner element. In this manner by adapting the threads, running in the same direction or opposite directions, on the inner and outer side of the hollow bolt, the number of rotations of the hollow bolt necessary to attain a specific adjustment travel in the z direction, can be adjusted.

In a further embodiment of the adjustment element according to the invention, its hollow bolt has a drive element and/or a collar extending inwardly, which tapers a through opening of the hollow bolt such that it is narrower than an outer diameter of the washer.

The washer is held between the hollow bolt and the inner element using design alternatives described above. If, in addition, the washer is fastened to the fastening means in a captive manner, the adjustment element can be provided as a cohesive unit of hollow bolt, inner element, washer and fastening means. According to a further embodiment, the inner element has an axial projection so that the washer is held between the collar of the hollow bolt and this projection.

According to a further alternative of the adjustment element, the outer diameter of the washer is smaller than a diameter of the through opening of the hollow bolt, and/or a diameter of a through opening of the inner element is larger than a diameter of the fastening means so that, using the differences in the diameters, a maximum lateral positioning travel of the adjustment element can be established.

Because the fastening means, for example a fastening bolt, is fixed in its xy position, the difference between the diameter of the fastening means and the inner diameter of the inner element determines the maximum lateral positionability or adjustability of the inner element or of the adjustment element around the position of the fastening means. Furthermore, it can be applicable that the maximum lateral positioning travel of the adjustment element is determined by the difference between the diameter of the through opening of the hollow bolt and the outer diameter of the washer. As soon as the outside of the washer contacts the inner wall of the hollow bolt during positioning in the xy plane, the maximum lateral positioning travel of the adjustment element has been exhausted. This way, it is possible to determine the maximum lateral positioning travel of the adjustment element by targeted dimensioning of the diameter of the fastening means, of the inner diameter of the inner element, the outer diameter of the washer, and the inner diameter of the hollow bolt.

As design alternatives of the fastening means, it is preferred to equip the fastening means with a head and a thread, or a rotation lock, or a bayonet lock, or a snap lock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a preferred embodiment of the adjustment element1according to the invention in a lateral partial sectional view. The adjustment element1comprises a hollow bolt10, and inner element20and a washer30. It is used for fixing and positioning any arbitrary component, for example a headlight in vehicle manufacturing, in space, that is, in the x, y and z direction. The headlight must be fastened during its installation in the auto body70of the vehicle. For this, the headlight must be positioned such that the requirements on the gap dimensions between the headlight and the auto body parts are fulfilled, especially on the outside of the vehicle. This requires a targeted positioning and fastening in all three spatial directions.

The component to be fastened and positioned, exemplified here by the headlight, comprises a holder50. The holder50is fastened to the adjustment element1, and adjusted in the z direction using an outer thread12of the hollow bolt10. An adjustment in the z direction occurs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow bolt10, as is indicated inFIG. 1by the directional arrows. By rotating the hollow bolt10, the holder50is therefore screwed onto the hollow bolt10to the desired z position. For this purpose, the outer thread12is formed as a standard thread, a fine pitch thread or a self tapping thread. According to a further preferred embodiment, the outer thread12is a self-locking thread as is described, for example, in EP 1 715 198 or EP 1 591 675.

The holder50is preferably provided as a receiving dome made of plastic. Naturally, other materials are also conceivable for the holder50for example metals, which satisfy the necessary stability and weight requirements.

The adjustment element1is fastened using a fastening means40to a fixed point, for example the body70of a vehicle. For this purpose, the fastening means40interacts with an appropriate partner72. According to a first alternative, the fastening means40is a fastening bolt with bolt head42, drive feature, for example slot, hexagon or socket key receiver, and thread44. The fastening bolt40is screwed into a blind rivet nut or a weld nut72, which is fastened to the auto body sheet70. According to a further alternative of the fastening means40, it comprises a rotation lock, or a bayonet lock, or a snap lock on its end axially opposite the head42. These interact with appropriate shapes of the partner72, for example in the auto body sheet70, so that a reliable fixing of the adjustment element1to the auto body70can be implemented using the fastening means40.

If the fastening means40is fastened, for example to the auto body sheet70, the adjustment element1is clamped to the auto body sheet70using the washer30and the inner element20. Because the hollow bolt10is fastened to the inner element20in a rotational manner, in this way, the holder50located on the hollow bolt10is also fixed in its xy position.

According to one embodiment of the adjustment element1, the hollow bolt10is fastened in a rotational manner to the outer side of the inner element20. During rotation of the hollow bolt10, the hollow bolt10is not displaced in the axial direction relative to the inner element20. This is implemented, for example by a snap connection, without play, between the inner element20and the hollow bolt10, so that the adjustment element1is simple to manufacture, and can be moved (not shown).

According to a further alternative, the inner element20has a thread22on its radial outer side that is formed matched to the inner thread40of the hollow bolt10. The inner element20is therefore implemented as a threaded bushing. The outer thread12and the inner thread14of the hollow bolt10are formed in the opposite direction. This has the advantage that during rotation of the hollow bolt10, and with it, the positioning of the holder50/component in the z direction, a combined adjustment travel results for the holder50/component. The combined adjustment travel of the holder50is composed of the offset in the z direction, by rotation of the hollow bolt10on the thread22of the inner element20, and by the holder50being simultaneously screwed onto the outer thread12of the hollow bolt10during its rotation. In the same manner, it is also preferable to form the outer thread12in the inner thread14of the hollow bolt10in the same direction. Therefore, by suitable dimensioning of the pitch of the inner14and outer threads12of the hollow bolt10; it is possible to determine a desired number of rotations of the hollow bolt10for the z positioning of the holder50. This eases the installation of the adjustment element, and the component to be positioned with it, and reduces a possible maintenance effort. The above-mentioned features of the adjustment element1can be seen also inFIG. 2. According to a further design, the inner element20has a sleeve60. The sleeve60is preferably composed of metal or another stabilizing material for reducing the seating stress of a plastic variant of the inner element20. Therefore, materials with appropriate high strength values, i.e., tensile strength and compressive resistance, are preferred. This guarantees a standardized screwed connection with higher fastening torques, therefore, a reliable fastening of the inner element20without the deformation thereof. Therefore the sleeve60inserted into the inner element20acts as a reinforcement or compression limiter, because it minimizes, preferably prevents, a relaxation of the inner element20. With a plastic variant of the inner element20, there exists the possibility that, due to the mechanical loading by the hollow bolt10, it yields or flows, such that the positioning as well as the fastening is disrupted by the adjustment element1. In a further design of the present invention it is also preferable to produce inner element20completely from metal so that due to its material, the inner element20does not require an additional stabilizing sleeve60.

As can be seen inFIG. 2, according to a further design of the adjustment element1, a diameter of a through opening26of the inner element20, with or without sleeve60, is formed larger than a diameter of the fastening means40. When the fastening bolt40is already screwed partially into the weld nut72, whereby the adjustment element1is not yet fixed in its xy position (seeFIG. 1), it is still possible to move the adjustment element1laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the fastening means40. The sideward or lateral movement, or the maximum lateral positioning travel, of the adjustment element1in the xy plane (seeFIG. 1) is determined by the difference between the diameter of the through opening26of the inner element20, or of the sleeve60, and the diameter of the fastening means40. If this lateral positioning travel is utilized, the head42of the fastening means40, after fixing the adjustment element1, is disposed in the desired xy position, for example off-center, relative to the hollow bolt10. This is represented inFIG. 4d.

Alternatively or in combination, the lateral positioning travel in the xy plane is determined by the difference between a diameter of the through opening18of the hollow bolt10and an outer diameter of the washer30, i. e., the distance between the inner wall19of the hollow bolt10and the outer edge of the washer30. The washer30serves to fix the inner element20to the auto body sheet70using the fastening means40. For this, the washer30presses at least on a part of the axial face side of the inner element20facing towards it, and thereby fixedly clamps the inner element20between the washer30and the auto body sheet70. The washer30is disposed on the fastening means40, preferably fastened to it in a captive manner. The inner element20, and with it the adjustment element1, is offset or positioned in the xy plane around the fastening means40before being fixed. The maximum lateral positioning travel is reached as soon as the outer radial edge of the washer30contacts the inner wall of the hollow bolt10. Based on the designs described above, preferably a maximum lateral positioning travel of ±2.5 mm, in combination with a maximum adjustment travel of approximately 8 mm in the z direction using the adjustment element1, is implemented. In a further design of the invention, these positioning travels can be modified in their dimensions to applications.

According to a further embodiment of the adjustment element1, the hollow bolt10comprises a radial collar16extending inward in its through opening18. The collar16narrows the through opening18of the hollow bolt10in such a way that the washer30is held in a captive manner between the collar16and inner element20. If the washer30, in addition, is connected to the fastening means40in a captive manner, the adjustment element1can be provided as a cohesive pre-assembled component. This reduces the installation expenditure of the adjustment element1because no assembly of individual components of the adjustment element1is necessary during the manufacture, for example of a vehicle.

Optionally, the inner element20comprises an axial projection24on one or both axial face sides. Thereby, the washer30is held between the collar16and the projection24. Using the second optional collar, the inner element20is supported on the auto body sheet70.

The assembly of the adjustment element1is explained in an exemplary manner using theFIGS. 3ato3d. The individual components of the adjustment element are shown inFIG. 3ain an exploded representation. These include the hollow bolt10, the washer30, the threaded bushing20and the sleeve60. Initially, according toFIG. 3b, the sleeve60is introduced into the threaded bushing20, preferably press fit, inserted, or insert molded. Then, the washer30is placed on the threaded bushing20with pressed in sleeve60(seeFIG. 3c). If the washer30is disposed on the fastening means40in a captive manner, the fastening means40would be disposed within the threaded bushing20inFIG. 3c. Then, the threaded bushing20with washer30, and possibly fastening means40, is screwed into the hollow bolt10, as shown inFIG. 3d.

Preferably the adjustment element1is pre-assembled in the holder50, for example of a headlight, for delivery to a vehicle manufacturer. This situation is represented as an example inFIG. 4a. For the installation of the headlight, the inner element20is initially placed on the location of the auto body sheet70that has a fastening possibility of the fastening means40(seeFIG. 4b). Then, by insertion of the fastening means40, a prefixing of the adjustment element1and the component fastened thereon is performed (seeFIG. 4c). After the adjustment of the desired position of the component in the xy plane, the adjustment element1is fixed to the auto body sheet70using the fastening means40. This leads for example, to an off-center position of the fastening means40with respect to the through opening18of the hollow bolt10(seeFIG. 4d). This fixing in the xy position is displayed for supplementary illustration also inFIG. 4eas a perspective sectional view.

After the fixing in the desired xy position, the z position of the holder50, and thus of the headlight, is adjusted by rotating the hollow bolt10. This results in the arrangement shown as an example inFIG. 5.

Depending on the desired procedure, it is possible initially to perform the fixing of the adjustment element1in the desired xy position, and subsequently to adjust the z position. It is further conceivable, initially to adjust the xy position, however without fixing the adjustment element1to the auto body sheet70using the fastening means40. Subsequently, the z position is adjusted. Finally, a fastening of the adjustment element1using the fastening means40occurs. The adjustment element1according to the invention also makes it possible to readjust the xy position without having to change the adjustment of the z position. Furthermore it is possible, to offset the z position without having to change or loosen the xy position. Based on this design, an optimal tolerance compensation, and with it a spatial disposition of a component is possible using the adjustment element1in combination with a reliable fastening.

REFERENCE LIST

1Adjustment Element10Hollow bolt12Outer thread of the hollow bolt14Inner thread of the hollow bolt15Drive means of the hollow bolt16Collar of the hollow bolt18Through opening of the hollow bolt19Inner wall of the hollow bolt20Inner element, threaded bushing22Thread of the threaded bushing24Through opening of the inner element, contact surface of the inner element20for the sleeve6030Washer40Fastening means42Head44Thread50Holder60Sleeve61Through opening of the sleeve70Auto body72Partner of the fastening means, for example weld nut; blind rivet nut, clip nut