BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a hinge part with a toothed element produced by fine blanking and cold forming;
FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a hinge part with an inserted toothed element;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a casing of a hinge attachment assembled of a first and a second hinge part;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a form-fit assembled hinge attachment; and
FIGS. 5
a to 5d depict possible variants of form-fit connections.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a first hinge part 1 as one half of a casing and a toothed element 2 with common hinge axis A. In the depicted example, the The first hinge part 1 was produced of a blank (not shown) with a thickness d of 4 mm, by fine blanking and forming. While depicted as circular in the example, the first hinge part is not limited to such geometrical shape. The finished part has a circular edge 3, a central hole 4 for inserting a hinge axle (not shown) along a hinge axis A, a circular plane seating 5 for the toothed element 2 directly adjacent to the inner side of edge 3, a depression 6 disposed concentric with regard to the hinge axis A for forming a circular inner edge, and four ejected recesses 7, which serve for the fixing of the back of the seat to the frame by welding.
The second hinge part 8 has a substantially convergent design as the first hinge part 1, and forms the second half of the casing.
The toothed element 2 has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the edge 3. Fine teeth 10 with a radius of for instance 0.3 mm are cut in the inner side 9 of the toothed element 2, which extend over the entire height H of the toothed element 2 and at least over one segment of the circle of element 2. Of course also the whole toothed element 2 may be equipped with teeth throughout an inner side thereof.
The toothed element 2 in this preferred embodiment, in comparison with the thickness d of the first hinge part 1, has a height which is approximately 1.7-fold bigger, and thus is dimensioned significantly stronger. Depending on the height and the width of the toothed element, respective high moments can be received and transmitted. With the use of various toothed elements 2 with different heights and widths, it becomes possible to manufacture hinge attachments with different load limits.
FIG. 2 shows the toothed element 2 inserted into the first hinge part 1. The bottom side of the toothed element 2 lies in the horizontal plane seating 5, directly adjacent to the inner side 11 of edge 3 of the first hinge part 1, and the outer side is supported by the inner side 11 of edge 3, so that the toothed element 2 is secured perpendicular to the hinge axis A. The bent off circular edge 3 thus effectively forms an abutment 12 for the toothed element 2. Because the toothed element 2 in comparison to the wall thickness d of the first hinge part 1 is dimensioned significantly stronger, the edge 3 ends approximately in the central plane ME of the toothed element 2. The edge 3 then lies at a height of the toothed element 2, which corresponds to about 45% of the height of the latter.
Along the central plane ME, the inner line 13 (inner corner) of the edge 3 is materially connected to the toothed element 2 by laser welding. Of course also other welded connections or adhesive connection are suitable. The circular welding connection 14 at the outer line 13 secures the toothed element 2 against detachment in the Y-direction or in the direction of the hinge axis A.
FIG. 3 shows the casing 15 comprised of the first hinge part 1 with a joint created by welding toothed element 2 and the second hinge part 8. The second hinge part 8 of similar design with its outer edge 3 abuts on the edge of the first hinge part 1. The edges 3 of both casing parts are encompassed by a clamp ring 16, which fixes both parts at each other by clamping.
FIG. 4 shows a form-fit connection between toothed element 2 and the abutment 12 of the hinge part 1. At the inner side of the abutment 12 extends the seating 5, which is dimensioned to provide an interference fit when toothed element 2 is inserted. To prevent twisting of the toothed element 2 in relation to the abutment 12 at the vertical wall of abutment 12, beads 18 are formed in regular distances concentrically to the hinge axis A, which when joined form-fit, lie in recesses 19 respectively placed on the outer perimeter of the toothed element 2.
FIGS. 5
a to d show possible versions of the form-fit connection between abutment 12 and toothed element 2, wherein in FIG. 5a the arrangement of bead 18 at the toothed element 2 and the respective recess 19 in abutment 12 is shown, in FIG. 5b the version of FIG. 4, in FIG. 5c is shown the alternating arrangement of form-fit connections 20 at the perimeter of abutment 12 and of toothed element 2 is shown, and in FIG. 5d the arrangement of to aligned with each other recesses 19 forming a room 22 for inserting a lock pin 21 is shown.
When assembled and under load, the toothed element 2 respectively supports against the inner wall 11 of edge 3 of the first hinge part 1 and the second hinge part 8. During transmission of the load the force is applied to the toothed element 2, so that in case of a welded connection 14 the latter is not subject to shearing forces.
Where an interference fit between toothed element 2 and abutment 12 occurs, an equal division of the applied forces is applied to the form-fit connections regularly placed on the perimeter, so that a detachment of the interference fit is safely excluded.
With the method according to the invention, a casing 15 for a hinge attachment of a car seat with a wall thickness d of 4 mm is manufacturable. At first, the basic parts 1 and 8 are made from a blanking strip or sheet by conventional fine cutting and forming. Separately, the production of the toothed element 2 is carried out also by fine blanking. The components are produced in simple fine blanking tools, which are all known and the description of which can be omitted herein.
By virtue of inserting the toothed element 2 into the hinge part 1 tailored to the dimensions of the toothed element and welding the same with the toothed element 2 or pressing the toothed element 2 into the seating 5 of the hinge part 1, an assembly suitable for hinge attachments is developed. By choosing a definite height and width of the toothed element 2 a casing 15, a hinge attachment of a car seat can be manufactured for a definite load moment.
LIST OF DRAWING REFERENCES
- first hinge part 1
- toothed element 2
- edge of 1 and 83
- hole 4
- seating 5
- depression 6
- recess 7
- second hinge part 8
- inner side of 39
- fine toothing 10
- wall of 111
- abutment 12
- inner line of 313
- welded connection 14
- casing 15
- clamp ring 16
- interference fit 17
- bead 18
- recess 19
- form-fit connection 20
- lock pin 21
- insertion room 22
- hinge axle A
- bottom FE
- height of 2 H
- central plane ME
Patent Application
20070234536
