Patent Publication Number: US-2007121278-A1

Title: Articulated device comprising two relatively movable elements

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) to DE 10 2005 057 010.0, filed Nov. 30, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an articulated device having two relatively movable elements such as two guide rods of a rod assembly for a movable motor vehicle roof, and relates to a method for connecting the relatively movable elements of the articulated device.  
      2. Background Art  
      DE 40 30 855 C2 describes a joint for the bearing of levers, rockers, or the like. The joint includes a pivot pin and two relatively movable guide rods. The pivot pin includes a support head and a shaft which accommodate boreholes in the guide rods. The pivot pin includes first and second step sections. The diameter of the first step section is larger than the diameter of the second step section, which by a closing head establishes the connection between the guide rods on a side facing away from the support head. A plastic bearing bush encloses the first step section. A stop guides the first step section on one of the guide rods.  
      DE 197 23 401 C1 describes first and second hinge portions which are combined so as to be relatively movable. A borehole in the first hinge portion includes a collar bushing. The collar of the collar bushing is guided around the outer boundary of the first hinge portion. A bearing bush having two cones is inserted into a borehole in the second hinge portion. An intermediate bushing is supported on the cone of the bearing bush facing the first hinge portion. An adjacent collar for the first hinge portion rests on an axial boundary of the bearing bush. A hinge pin and a nut hold both hinge portions in position. The hinge pin includes a head and passes through both hinge portions with the nut supported by one cone on the other cone of the bearing bush.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An object of the present invention is an articulated device having two relatively movable elements in which the articulated device has a relatively simple design and satisfactory function.  
      Another object of the present invention is a method for manufacturing the articulated device in which the method is easily carried out and is operationally reliable.  
      In carrying out the above objects and other objects, the present invention provides an articulated device. The articulated device includes a first element having a first borehole and a second element having a second borehole. The articulated device further includes a metallic bearing bush having first and second radial collars. The bearing bush positioned within the first borehole. The articulated device further includes a pivot pin cooperating with the first and second elements to movably connect the first and second elements to one another. The pivot pin has first and second step sections having different diameters. The diameter of the first step section is larger than the diameter of the second step section. The first step section has a support head. The first and second step sections have a stop between them. The first step section extends through the first borehole of the first element and is supported on the second element by the stop such that the radial collars of the bearing bush enclose a portion of the first element adjacent to the first borehole. The second step section extends through the second borehole of the second element and is axially secured therein. At least one of the radial collars of the bearing bush is shaped into an end position and the second step section is fixed in place by a rivet head connecting the first and second elements.  
      Further, in carrying out the above objects and other objects, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an articulated device having first and second guide rods, a pivot pin having first and second step sections in which the first step section has a support head, and a bearing bush having a prefabricated state in which the bearing bush includes first and second radial collars, the first step section having a support head. The method includes placing the first guide rod on a pressing and flanging device and positioning the bearing bush in its prefabricated state above the first guide rod. The method further includes pressing the bearing bush into a first borehole in the first guide rod such that the bearing bush projects from the first borehole with a free bushing section and has a preliminary flange forming the second radial collar. The method further includes combining the first guide rod and the bearing bush into a unit. The method further includes inserting the pivot pin into the first borehole in the first guide rod of the unit. The method further includes inserting the unit together with the pivot pin into a sizing device. The method further includes pressing the pivot pin together with the first step section into the first borehole through the bearing bush such that the second radial collar is shaped into a final flange. The method further includes bringing the support head of the first step section into contact with the first radial collar. The method further includes inserting the second step section of the pivot pin into the second borehole in the second guide rod such that a free end of the pivot pin projecting from the second borehole forms a rivet head.  
      An articulated device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes two relatively movable elements. Each element is a guide rod of a rod assembly for a movable motor vehicle roof. The guide rods along with a pivot pin and a bearing bush form the articulated device which may be easily manufactured with exemplary functioning and durability. The collars for the bearing bush and the step sections of the pivot pin as well as the rivet head of the pivot pin contribute in this regard. A groove in the transition region between the support head and the first step section and/or a groove in the transition region between the stop of the first step section and the second step section ensures a targeted tolerance compensation. The method for manufacturing the articulated device is characterized by ease of conversion and excellent process reliability. The steps of the method may be practically implemented using automated technology.  
      The above features, and other features and advantages of the present invention as readily apparent from the following detailed descriptions thereof when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      An exemplary embodiment of an articulated device having two relatively movable elements, and a method for manufacturing the articulated device are described in further detail below with reference to the Figures in which:  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the articulated device;  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the articulated device detail X shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the articulated device detail Y shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of the articulated device with respect to a first step of the method for manufacturing the articulated device;  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of the articulated device with respect to a second step of the method;  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of the articulated device with respect to a third step of the method;  
       FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of the articulated device with respect to a fourth step of the method;  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-sectional of a section of the articulated device with respect to a fifth step of the method;  
       FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the articulated device with respect to a sixth step of the method;  
       FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the articulated device with respect to a seventh step of the method; and  
       FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the articulated device with respect to an eighth step of the method. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3 , different views of an articulated device Gv in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention are shown.  FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional view of articulated device Gv.  FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the articulated device detail X shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the articulated device detail Y shown in  FIG. 1 .  
      Articulated device Gv includes two elements Evb I and Evb II which are relatively movable to one another. In this embodiment, element Evb I is a first guide rod  1  and element Evb II is a second guide rod  2 . First and second guide rods  1 ,  2  are part of a rod assembly for a movable roof of a motor vehicle. First and second guide rods  1 ,  2  are relatively movable to one another to move the roof between a closed position in which the roof covers the vehicle interior and an opened position in which the roof is lowered to expose the vehicle interior.  
      A retaining device  3  movably connects first and second guide rods  1 ,  2  to one another. Retaining device  3  includes a pivot pin  5  which cooperates with first and second guide rods  1 ,  2  to movably connect the guide rods to one another. Pivot pin  5  includes a shaft  6  having a first step section  7  and a second step section  8 . First step section  7  has a diameter D 1  and second step section  8  has a diameter DII. Diameter DI of first step section  7  is larger than diameter DII of second step section  8 .  
      Shaft  6  of pivot pin  5  includes a support head  10  which meets with the bottom surface of first guide rod  1 . First step section  7  extends from support head  10  through a first borehole  11  in first guide rod  1 . A bearing bush  12  is inserted to enclose first guide rod  1  with radial collars  13 ,  14  for axially securing bearing bush  12 . A stop  15  on shaft  6  is between first and second step sections  7 ,  8 . Second guide rod  2  rests on stop  15 . Second step section  8  extends within a second borehole  16  in second guide rod  2  which axially secures second step section  8  on the top side  17  of second guide rod  2 .  
      Bearing bush  12  is made of a suitable metal. At least one of collars  13 ,  14  is brought into an end position EL by shaping. A rivet head  19  having a recessed bore  18  for pivot pin  5  produces the axial securement. Rivet head  19  is likewise made of a suitable metal. Recessed bore  18  ensures the targeted formation of rivet head  19 .  
      First and second guide rods  1 ,  2  are made of a metallic material respectively having flattened guide rod sections  20 ,  21 . Guide rod sections  20 ,  21  are superposed and have a rectangular cross-section. Second guide rod  2  is in contact with collar  14  for first guide rod  1 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , a circumferential first groove  23  is in a first transition region  22  of pivot pin  5  between support head  10  and first step section  7 . Circumferential first groove  23  is in the form of a recess. A similarly designed circumferential second groove  24  is in a second transition region  25  between stop  15  and second step section  8 .  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 4 through 11 , individual steps of a method for manufacturing articulated device Gv in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of articulated device Gv with respect to a first step of the method. In this step, first guide rod  1  is placed on a pressing and flanging device  26 . Bearing bush  12  is situated above first guide rod  1 . A bar  27  of pressing and flanging device  26  passes through first guide rod  1  and, in a sectional manner, through bearing bush  12 .  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of articulated device Gv with respect to a second step of the method. In this step, bearing bush  12  is pressed into first borehole  11  in first guide rod  1  by a stamp  28  in pressing and flanging device  26 . As a result, a bearing bush section  29  projecting from first borehole  11  undergoes preliminary flanging  31  by a shaping cone  30  in pressing and flanging device  26 .  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of articulated device Gv with respect to a third step of the method. In this step, first guide rod  1  and bearing bush  12  are joined in the second step to form a prefabricated unit  32 .  
       FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of articulated device Gv with respect to a fourth step of the method. In this step, pivot pint  5  in its prefabricated state is inserted into first borehole  11 . That is, pivot pin  5  is inserted into bearing bush  12  for first guide rod  1  of unit  32 .  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of articulated device Gv with respect to a fifth step of the method. In this step, unit  32  formed of first guide rod  1  and bearing bush  12  together with pivot pin  5  are inserted into a sizing device  33 .  
       FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of articulated device Gv with respect to a sixth step of the method. In this step, pivot pin  5  together with its first step section  7  is pressed into first borehole  11 . That is, pivot pin  5  together with its first step section  7  is pressed into bearing bush  12 . First step section  7  of pivot pin  5  and first borehole  11  in first guide rod  1  are sized. Preliminary flange  31  is converted by shaping to the final flange form which forms collar  13 .  
       FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of articulated device Gv with respect to a seventh step of the method. In this step, support head  10  of pivot pin  5  is brought into contact with collar  13 .  
       FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of articulated device Gv with respect to an eighth step of the method. In this step, second step section  8  of pivot pin  5  is inserted into second borehole  16  of second guide rod  2 . A free end  34  of pivot pin  5  projecting from second borehole  16  is formed as rivet head  19  by a riveting device  35 .  
      While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the present invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.