Patent Application
20070280780
The present invention relates to a fitting device for a tube-shaped workpiece for use in internal combustion engine facilities. In the following, a fitting device is to be understood as any type of fitting or any guide, through which a tube-shaped workpiece may be spatially oriented in the region of an internal combustion engine facility The tube-shaped workpiece may be held in the internal combustion engine facility exclusively by the fitting device or in connection with other means suitable for this purpose.
In internal combustion engine facilities tube-shaped workpieces are frequently positioned, because of the ever more compact construction in engines and engine facilities, in such a way that they are either guided through openings in other components of the internal combustion engine facility or rest with one free end against other components of the internal combustion engine facility and must be attached there. In the further course of events, the term internal combustion engine facility is considered as comprising both an internal combustion engine and also the associated exhaust system, particularly exhaust manifold, catalytic converter, and possibly turbocharger.
For example, measuring the oxygen content in the exhaust duct through oxygen measuring probes, i.e., lambda probes, to achieve exhaust gases which are as free of contaminants as possible, is known in motor vehicles. For this purpose, the lambda probes are positioned in an exhaust duct of an internal combustion engine facility, only the region of the probe which comprises the sensor being positioned within the exhaust duct, while the remaining region of the probe, to which the connection sockets are attached, for example, is positioned outside the exhaust duct The lambda probe may itself be a tube-shaped workpiece or may be contained in a tube-shaped workpiece. Further embodiments of the tube-shaped workpiece comprise, for example, tube-shaped workpieces having clamping arrangements and tubular connection elements and fastening elements, which may have threads on at least some sections. The tube-shaped workpiece may have any arbitrary cross-section in principle, i.e., the cross-section does not necessarily have to be circular.
In internal combustion engine facilities, among other things, laminar components are used which, because of their laminar design and the compact construction of internal combustion engine facilities, often represent an obstruction for tube-shaped workpieces of the internal combustion engine facility, so that the latter must be guided through the laminar components. Thus, for example, in automobile manufacture, to shield temperature-sensitive components and assemblies from heat sources, particularly components which guide exhaust gases, in general laminar heat shields are positioned between the heat sources and the temperature-sensitive components. In the region of the exhaust gas system, the heat shields are often positioned in such a way that the lambda probes project beyond them and therefore an opening must be arranged in the heat shields, through which the lambda probe may be guided. The opening must have a larger diameter than the diameter of the lambda probe, i.e., offer sufficient tolerance so that strains and finally damage of the components do not occur due to movements of the components caused by vibration of the internal combustion engine facility and, in addition, due to temperature-dependent expansions of the components. The larger diameter is additionally used to make it easier to install and/or uninstall the tube-shaped workpiece on the internal combustion engine facility. An example of this is the installation and/or uninstallation of the lambda probe using a wrench on the exhaust manifold.
Leakages occur in this region due to the larger diameter of the opening in comparison to the workpiece which is guided through the opening. Particularly ill openings through heat shields, chimney effects may occur due to the large temperature differences of the surrounding air of the two sides of the heat shield, due to which hot air flows into regions of temperature-sensitive components and damage of these components may occur (e.g., melting of cable insulation, deformation of plastic components, etc.). In order to overcome this problem, constructions are known in which the part of the tube-shaped workpiece which projects through the opening of another component is provided with an insulating stocking which seals the opening. This has the disadvantageous effect that the permanent attachment of such an insulating stocking is very complex and therefore significantly increases the complexity of the manufacturing process of such arrangements.
With tube-shaped workpieces which rest against laminar components and/or are attached thereto, strains and finally damage to the components may occur due to the different thermal expansion coefficients of the different components and due to vibration of the internal combustion engine facility.
The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a fitting device for a tube-shaped workpiece, which achieves an optimum tolerance equalization for the opening in a laminar component necessary for the installation of the tube-shaped workpiece and also achieves a reliable and permanent covering of this opening. In addition, the fitting device is to offer sufficient tolerance for the movements of the tube-shaped workpiece, in order to thus reduce strains and avoid damage to the components.
This object is achieved according to the present invention by the fitting device as claimed in claim 1. The fitting device has at least one basic body having a reception area for the reception of the tube-shaped workpiece, the basic body being arranged in the region of an opening of a laminar component of the internal combustion engine facility and at least a part of the basic body essentially being movable in a movement plane which is oriented parallel to the plane of the opening. In addition, the fitting device has a frame element which holds the basic body and is supported in the boundary region of the opening of the laminar component Furthermore, the fitting device is arranged in such a way that it covers the opening of the laminar component after reception of the tube-shaped workpiece.
Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are specified in the dependent claims.
Through the arrangement of the frame element and the basic body, the opening in the laminar component is covered and the fitting device therefore acts as a seal for this opening. Leakages are thus avoided. Furthermore, because at least a part of the basic body is movable in the region of the opening in a plane which is positioned parallel to the plane of the opening of the laminar component, the fitting device provides sufficient tolerance for the movements of the tube-shaped workpiece to be received by the basic body, so that strains on the workpiece or on the fitting device are avoided. The plane in which at least a part of the basic body is movable is referred to the following as the movement plane. In addition, the expression “a plane which is positioned parallel to the plane of the opening in the laminar component”, is to comprise both planes parallel to the opening plane and also the opening plane itself in the scope of the present invention.
The basic body is not fixed on a specific shape in principle. It may be arranged both in one piece and may also be arranged from multiple individual elements, in particular as multilayered. In principle, the basic body is not restricted to a movement in the movement plane, but rather may be arranged in such a way that movements in all three dimensions, including tilting movements in relation to the movement plane, may be executed. The frame element may be supported on the laminar component on one side or on both sides.
The fitting device according to the present invention is preferably positioned in openings of heat shields in the region of internal combustion engine facilities. Frequently, these heat shields are located in the region of the exhaust gas system, and the tube-shaped workpieces which are to be received by the fitting device and/or pass through it are preferably sensors, particularly lambda probes. It is advantageous in this case that a chimney effect is avoided and temperature-sensitive components on the side of the heat shields facing away from heat source are not damaged and, in addition, the sensors which are guided through the fitting device are also protected themselves.
In a preferred embodiment, the basic body is made of metal or a metal alloy, especially preferably from copper or steel. These materials are especially suitable both due to their good shaping properties and due to their heat resistance. In addition, high-temperature-resistant fiber-reinforced materials may be used for implementing the basic body. A combination of these materials is also possible. The frame element of the fitting device according to the present invention also preferably comprises the materials cited for the basic body.
In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the edge of the frame element is arranged as a flange. The flange is positioned in this case in such a way that the flange of the fitting device rests on the boundary region of the opening of the laminar component In a variation of the present invention, the flange of the frame element is fixedly attached to the boundary region of the opening of the laminar component, the connection advantageously being produced through welding, riveting, clawing, and/or flanging. This ensures that the fitting device is fixed in place and only the basic body may move together with the tube-shaped work-piece in relation to the laminar component. The flange may be formed from multiple layers of the frame element, for example, from two layers which expediently terminate flush at their face sides.
The frame element is arranged in such a way that it holds the basic body. For this purpose, the frame element preferably at least partially encloses a boundary region of the basic body. Care is to be taken in the case that the enclosure is arranged so that the movement freedom of the basic body is not obstructed. The length of the enclosure is to be larger in this case than the maximum play of the enclosed part of the basic body, so that secure mounting of the basic body in the frame element is ensured. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the frame element is arranged as two-layered, the layers being brought together in the boundary region in order to implement the flange. The two layers then spread out toward the middle of the frame element, so that a part of the basic body may be supported between them and they enclose it
In an alternative embodiment, the frame element has an upper and a lower fitting element, which rest at their boundary regions against the laminar component and between which at least a part of the basic body is arranged. Advantageously, both the upper and the lower fitting elements are arranged as planar at least in the opening boundary region, so that they rest flush against the laminar component. The laminar component may also be leveled locally for this purpose.
Furthermore, it is preferable to connect the upper and lower fitting elements to one another by transverse webs, so that the rigidity of the frame element is improved and the upper and lower fitting elements may not shift or twist in relation to one another. In addition, grooves may be provided on the insides of the two fitting devices, which each receive a free end of the web, resulting in an elevation of the long-term stability of the fitting device. The height of the webs is essentially tailored to the thickness of the laminar component, so that no large projections arise on the laminar component. In this implementation, in principle, initially the entire basic body or at least a part of the basic body is movable in relation to the frame element. The frame element may be movable in relation to the laminar component. However, the upper and the lower fitting elements are more preferably attached fixedly to the laminar component through welding, riveting, clawing, and/or flanging, through which the stability of the fitting device is further increased.
The fitting device according to the present invention is expediently installed by assembling the individual components or pre-assembled components on the laminar component. For example, firstly the lower fitting element of the frame element is attached to the laminar component, the basic body or at least a part of the basic body is placed, and subsequently the upper fitting element is attached to the diametrically opposing boundary section of the laminar component
In a further preferred embodiment, the frame element is arranged as a part of the basic body. In this case, the frame element expediently essentially consists of an upper and lower fitting element, which are both arranged as planar and are positioned in such a way that their outer edges each rest flush on a diametrically opposing side of the boundary region of the opening of the laminar component. In this arrangement, care should be taken that the two fitting elements are oriented essentially congruent to one another. The two fitting elements are connected to one another on their inner edges, the connection point being arranged at a distance to the laminar component, so that the movement freedom of the frame element and/or basic body is ensured.
The inner edges may be connected to one another in different ways, for example, by inserting and attaching a ring or a disk of suitable thickness. The connection between the inner edges of the fitting elements is especially preferably manufactured from a multilayered clawing, so that an internal bead arises on the frame element, which may be tailored to the thickness of the laminar component through the selection of the number of layers, so that a flush connection again arises. It is especially preferable if the boundary region of at least one fitting element may be bent back and then a part of this bent-back boundary region may be bent forward again. If the inner region of the other fitting element is now bent back once, the bent regions engage in one another, and a clawing may be produced. Simultaneously, a congruent arrangement of the fitting elements is ensured by the specific arrangement. The clawing is expediently performed on the laminar component after one of the fitting elements has been positioned on one side and the other fitting element has been positioned on the diametrically opposing side of the laminar component Alternatively, the inner edges of the fitting elements, which are only flanged on themselves and are not clawed with one another, may also be connected to one another by welding or riveting. The flanging may be performed once or repeatedly, so that the particular fitting element is arranged as either C-shaped or S-shaped. It is also possible to combine a C-shaped fitting element with an S-shaped fitting element
In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the reception region of the basic body for the tube-shaped workpiece is arranged as a passageway in the basic body. The size and the shape of the passageway are preferably essentially tailored to the tube-shaped workpiece in this case, so that the basic body rests against the tube-shaped workpiece. This implementation is especially advantageous if the tube-shaped workpiece projects beyond the laminar component and must be guided through it.
Furthermore, it is advantageous for the passageway of the basic body to be arranged as a hollow pipe. socket which is open at both face sides, through which the tube-shaped workpiece is guided. In this embodiment, the stability of the mounting of the tube-shaped workpiece in the fitting device is elevated further. Alternatively or additionally, it is preferable for the passageway region to be provided with a thread into which the tube-shaped workpiece may be screwed using a fitting counter thread. Through the threaded connection, both the overall rigidity of the system and also the tightness between disk element and tube-shaped workpiece are elevated further. The threaded connection may also be used in this case for the purpose of attaching the laminar component to another component and simultaneously providing sufficient tolerance for this attachment via the fitting device.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the basic body is not provided with a passageway opening, but rather the reception region of the basic body has a fastening element, through which the tube-shaped workpiece is attached to the basic body. The fastening element is preferably arranged as a screw. This embodiment is especially advantageous if the tube-shaped workpiece is positioned resting against the laminar component
The fastening element of the reception region of the basic body may also be arranged as a clamping apparatus. The tube-shaped workpiece may thus be attached by clamping to the basic body. This is especially advantageous if frequent replacement or removal of the tube-shaped workpiece is to be expected.
In a further preferred embodiment, the reception region of the basic body is arranged as a bearing bush. It is advantageous in this case that the mounting of the tube-shaped workpiece in a bearing bush is very stable. To additionally elevate the rigidity of die connection, the tube-shaped workpiece may be fixedly connected to the bearing bush of the reception region.
At least one buffer is expediently positioned within the bearing bush, so that vertical movements of the tube-shaped workpiece or the laminar component which may be caused by vibrations of the internal combustion engine facility are compensated for, without damage of the tube-shaped workpiece occurring. It is preferable for the buffer to be arranged as a wire cushion, since this may be manufactured easily and cost-effectively. However, it may also be a suitable elastomeric material.
In a further preferred embodiment, the boundary region of the opening of the laminar component is arranged on at least one side as a recess in the laminar component The thickness of the recess is expediently arranged in this case in such a way that it essentially corresponds to the thickness of the fitting element of the frame element resting against the corresponding side of the laminar component This has the advantage that the fitting device does not project and the surface of the laminar component is planar. If the laminar component is a heat shield, for example, the heat shield is typically 1.1 mm to 1.6 mm thick. Furthermore, in this case the thickness of a fitting element of the frame element resting against the heat shield is approximately 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm. Correspondingly, in this case die heat shield was made 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm (or 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm in the case of recesses on both sides) thinner in the boundary region of the opening than in the remaining region. In the case of heat shields manufactured from metal layers, the recess is preferably produced by leveling this region.
The fitting device according to the present invention may be used for fitting arbitrarily many tube-shaped workpieces. For example, multiple reception regions for the reception of one tube-shaped workpiece each may be provided on a basic body. It is also possible to implement the frame element in such a way that it may receive multiple basic bodies. The number of fitting devices required may thus be reduced for tube-shaped workpieces positioned closely next to one another. The fitting device may be arranged to receive the tube-shaped workpieces from only one side or even from both sides. It may also be arranged to receive different tube-shaped workpieces simultaneously. If the tube-shaped workpieces are guided through the fitting device, they may be introduced into the fitting device from the same side or different sides. A fitting device which receives multiple basic bodies is advantageously formed from two components for easier installation. The two components of the fitting device are preferably arranged as connectable to one another using a bayonet connection in this case.
In principle, the play of the individual parts of the fitting device is restricted. The play is delimited by geometric conditions such as the size of the opening in that laminar component, the diameter of the tube-shaped workpiece, etc. In addition, in the event of unlimited play, the coherence of the individual components of the fitting device would not be ensured. Therefore, it is expedient to provide at least one limit stop in each movement direction of at least one part of the basic body. The limit stops delimit the play of the at least one part of the basic body and hold it in the fitting device.
The basic body is not restricted in principle to a specific shape, as noted. It may be arranged in relation to the frame element in such a way that a movement of at least the part of the basic body which is movable in the movement plane is only possible along one direction of the movement plane. This may be advantageous in particular if the tube-shaped workpiece to be received is subjected to movements in only one direction of the movement plane. In this case, strains are avoided through the movement clearance along one direction, and stable mounting is simultaneously ensured by avoiding unnecessary play along the other direction of the movement plane.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the basic body is provided with a one-piece configuration. The construction of the fitting device is thus less complex and the manufacturing is simplified. The installation and/or uninstallation is also made easier by the one-piece configuration of the basic body, since the work step of joining multiple components to a basic body is dispensed with. Because of the one-piece configuration, the basic body is movable as a whole in the movement plane. The basic body provided with a one-piece configuration is preferably arranged as a disk element, since this basic shape is especially suitable for use on laminar components.
In principle, the disk element is not restricted to a specific shape. However, it is advantageously arranged as round, oval, or polygonal, the frame element holding the disk element being arranged as tailored to the selected shape of the disk element. Furthermore, if polygonal disk element are used, it is advantageous for the rotational ability of the disk element to be able to be restricted. The disk element may additionally be arranged as flat over only a partial region, i.e., only where it is necessary for the mobility in the disk plane, for example, in the outer boundary region. In the remaining regions, the disk element may have its height built up.
In a further embodiment, the disk element is arranged as multilayered. As a function of the particular shape and design of the disk element, a multilayered construction may simplify the manufacturing processes and the installation and contribute to the disk element corresponding better to the frame element. It is also possible to implement only partial regions of the disk element as multilayered.
To improve the coverage of the opening in the laminar component by the fitting device, it is expedient for at least one side of the disk element to have a bead in the passageway region. In this way, the tightness in the connection region between tube-shaped workpiece and fitting device is elevated.
The frame element is expediently arranged in such a way that it encloses the boundary region of the disk element. As mentioned before, it is to be ensured in this case that the enclosure is arranged in such a way that the movement freedom of the disk element is not obstructed. The length of the enclosure is to be larger in this case than the maximum play of the disk element, so that secure mounting of the disk element in the frame element is ensured.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the basic body comprises two parts, which are separate per se, that form the basic body together. In this way, the flexibility of the fitting device and its adaptability to the installation conditions are improved. The first and the second part of the basic body may each have a one-piece configuration or even be arranged from multiple individual elements, particularly as multi-layered. When the fitting device is installed, the first and the second parts may already be pre-installed and assembled into the basic body or the assembly may be performed only after the installation. At least the first part of the basic body is arranged in such a way that it is movable essentially in the movement plane.
The first part of the basic body is advantageously arranged so it is additionally movable out of the movement plane, particularly by an angle of at most 15°, preferably at most 10°, especially preferably at most 6°. In this way, the first part of the basic body may also yield completely in relation to forces acting on the fitting device which do not act exclusively in the movement direction, but rather also slightly diagonally thereto. Since the first part is also movable out of the plane, a tolerance for transverse force components of the acting force in relation to the movement plane may also be provided, through which strains arising in the laminar component may be reduced even better. The first part of the basic body is preferably only movable out of the plane by at most one of the above-mentioned maximum angles, since otherwise the construction of the fitting device becomes complex. However, a larger angle offset is also possible in principle.
For a two-piece construction of the basic body, at least the second part is expediently movable transversely to the movement plane. The tolerance for the movements of the tube-shaped workpiece to be received by the basic body is thus enlarged. The basic body is arranged to transmit its movement freedom to the tube-shaped workpiece. In addition to movements in the movement plane, the tube-shaped workpiece may also move transversely to the movement plane, through which strains due to manufacturing tolerances, travel-caused vibrations, or temperature-dependent expansions of the components are reduced further and the installation and uninstallation of the tube-shaped workpiece is simultaneously made easier. The movement transverse to the movement plane comprises all movements which do not lie in the movement plane itself. The movement transverse to the movement plane may be executed linearly, in a plane, or spatially. The transverse movement is preferably executed at an angle of 45° to 135°, especially preferably at an angle of 70° to 110° in relation to the movement plane.
As noted, the second part of the basic body is movable transversely to the movement plane of the first part of the basic body. Since the movement plane is arranged parallel to the laminar component in the region of the opening, the second part of the basic body is therefore also movable transversely to the laminar component The transverse movement preferably occurs essentially orthogonally to the movement plane of the first part. Since lambda probes which project through the heat shield are frequently positioned essentially orthogonally to the opening plane of the opening in the heat shield, for example, a corresponding arrangement of the second part of the basic body is often advisable.
In principle, the first part of the basic body is not restricted to movement in the movement plane and the second part of the basic body is not restricted to movement transverse to the movement plane. Therefore, both the first part and also the second part of the basic body may be movable in the movement plane and transversely to the movement plane. Multiaxial movements may also be executed in order to compensate for simultaneously occurring longitudinal, transverse, and/or tilting movements. The multiaxial movement may be executed in this case by only one of the two parts alone or by a combination of the movements of the two parts. In order to ensure sufficient guiding of the individual parts of the basic body, it is preferable if, for the first alternative, only a further part of the basic body is movable transversely to the plane and, for the second alternative, only a further part of the basic body is movable in the movement plane. The part of the basic body which is movable both in the movement plane and also transversely thereto is preferably arranged as integrated into the other part of the basic body. This part of the basic body is supported in such a way that it is moved along either in the movement plane or in the direction transverse to the movement plane by movements of the other part of the basic body and may perform the other type of movement independently. This means that the part arranged as integrated is supported in the other part essentially without play in its movement direction. In this way, the construction of the fitting device is simplified and its tightness is increased.
In principle, either the first part of the basic body or the second part of the basic body may receive the tube-shaped workpiece. Correspondingly, the tube-shaped workpiece is thus either held by the part which moves laterally in the movement plane (i.e., the first part), or by the part which executes the movement transverse to this plane (i.e., the second part). In this case, the one part of the basic body preferably has an opening, particularly positioned centrally. The region around the opening is arranged in this case in such a way that the other part of the basic body which receives the tube-shaped workpiece is received in the manner of a displaced restraint. In addition, the other part expediently also has an opening, particularly positioned centrally, which is arranged to receive the tube-shaped workpiece.
Depending on which part holds the tube-shaped workpiece, a different relative arrangement of the first and second part and frame element to one another is expediently selected. If the tube-shaped workpiece is held by the first part, the first part is expediently supported on the second part of the basic body and this in turn is supported on the laminar component via the frame element. The movement in the movement plane is preferably achieved in a first variation in that the first part of the basic body has a fork-like boundary region, which encloses a boundary region of the second part while leaving a gap between the diametrically opposing abutting faces of both parts. Alternatively, the second part of the basic body may have a fork-like boundary region, which encloses a boundary region of the first part while leaving a gap between the diametrically opposing abutting faces of both parts. If the second part carries the workpiece, it is expediently supported on the first part of the basic body and this in turn is supported via the frame element on the laminar component, the frame element either being movably supported on the opening edge of the laminar component in the movement plane or the second part being movably supported on the frame element in the movement plane. The movable mounting in the movement plane may be performed as described above in connection with the implementation of the frame element or the movable mounting of at least the part of the main body. Principally, it is also possible to have the frame element enclose both parts of the basic body.
To execute the transverse movement (i.e., transverse to the movement plane of the first part), the second part is preferably displaceably restrained, as noted. For this purpose, it expediently has a tubular section, which interlocks with a tubular section of the first part or of the frame element. Both tubular sections are mutually displaceable in the axial direction, which corresponds to the transverse movement of the second part In order to prevent one tubular section from slipping out of the other, both tubes expediently have a limit stop in the region of their mutually inserted ends. In an especially simple implementation, these may be formed by angling the end regions of the tubular sections. In this case, the end region of the inner tube is bent outward and the end region of the outer tube is bent inward, so that both limit stops hit one another when the tubular sections are pulled furthest apart In principle, it does not matter which tubular section lies on the inside and which lies on the outside.
In order to also prevent pushing out on the diametrically opposing side, a further limit stop may be provided there. This may be a lock washer clamped to the holding device in the face-side end region of the tubular section. By using a lock washer, the limit stop may be installed easily on the tubular section without using additional tools and is simultaneously securely held on the section by the clamping.
To suppress and/or restrict the rotation of the tubular sections in relation to one another and/or to delimit the displacement path, at least one groove may be arranged in the first or second part and at least one corresponding web may be arranged in the other part. For example, if the width of a groove essentially corresponds to the width of a web, the rotational ability of the tubular sections in relation to one another may be suppressed by engaging the web in the groove. If the groove is arranged as wider than the web engaging therein, the rotational ability is not suppressed completely, but rather restricted.
Furthermore, the grooves and/or the webs may be arranged having different depths and/or heights, through which the displacement path of one tubular section in the other in the axial direction may be restricted. Through appropriate implementation of the grooves, these may act as limit stops for the webs, through which not only is the longitudinal displacement restricted, but rather one tubular section may also be held in the other. In such an embodiment, the implementation of separate peripheral limit stops may be dispensed with. In principle, grooves and webs of different shapes and lengths may be arranged in a fitting device. Preferably, two essentially identical, diametrically opposing webs are arranged on one of the tubular sections. Multiple pairs of grooves are arranged on the other component, the grooves of a particular pair of grooves being arranged as essentially identical and positioned diametrically opposing. In contrast, the various pairs of grooves are each arranged as different from one another, so that by inserting the webs into different pairs of grooves, the displacement path and/or the rotational range of the tubular section carrying the webs is changeable. For example, two pairs of grooves of different lengths having an angle of 90° between the individual grooves may be distributed uniformly around the circumference of the tubular section, longer and shorter grooves alternating. However, more than two different groove lengths and angles different from 90° are also conceivable.
With the mounting of the second part of the basic body described, it is linearly displaceable in one direction, and the mounting may simultaneously absorb restraining torques. The second part of the basic body is thus displaceably restrained in the first part of the basic body or in the frame element in a mechanical sense. Optimum guiding of the second part of the basic body in the movement direction transverse to the movement plane is thus ensured, and tipping of the tube-shaped workpiece in relation to the movement plane is simultaneously prevented. The danger of damage to the tube-shaped workpiece is thus reduced.
The second part of the basic body is preferably given a pot-like configuration. The basic geometrical shape of the pot is expediently tailored to that of the complementary tubular section, and the dimensions of the top are selected in such a way that its side walls rest approximately flush against the inner or outer lateral surface of the tubular section of the first part or frame element. This ensures that the pot-like second part of the basic body may be moved or displaced in the longitudinal direction of the tubular section, but tilting is simultaneously prevented. The height of the pot expediently essentially corresponds approximately to the height of the tubular section, so that the entire length of the pot may be inserted into the tubular section.
For reception of the tube-shaped workpiece in the pot-like second part of the basic body, it is expedient to provide a passageway in its floor region. Furthermore, it is preferable to implement a sealing element, such as a bead, on at least one side of the floor region of the pot in the region of the passageway. In this way, the tightness in the connection region between tube-shaped workpiece and fitting device is elevated.
The tubular section on the first part or the frame element is expediently manufactured by bending over an inner boundary region of the particular part. It is advantageous in this case that the manufacturing of the tubular section may be performed without adding an additional component, through which the manufacturing process of the fitting device is simplified overall.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in the following on the basis of the attached drawing.
8 schematically shows a top view of a lock washer;
In the different embodiments illustrated in the following, identical components are provided with identical reference numbers. Furthermore, it is to be noted that the exemplary embodiments illustrated are not to be considered as limiting the present invention and that the figures are only schematic in character.
The perspective view of a partial region of a laminar component 15 is illustrated in
As may also be inferred from
A sectional side view of a fitting device 10 having a basic body arranged as a perforated disk and having a peripheral flange 11 is illustrated in
In
In
In
The tubular section 291 is essentially cylindrical. Correspondingly, the fitting elements 12a, 12b of the frame element 14 are arranged as circular rings. The region of the welded connection of the fitting elements 12a and 12b to one another is positioned at a distance to the laminar component 15, so that a clearance 17 arises as an annular gap delimited by the upper fitting element 12a, the lower fitting element 12b, and the laminar component 15. The peripheral arrangement of the clearance 17 ensures that the basic body 16 is movable in the movement plane E1 via its first part 29. In the embodiment illustrated in
The second part 30 of the basic body 16, which is provided with a pot-like configuration, is also arranged as cylindrical and tailored to the tubular section 291. The tubular section 301 is at least partially enclosed by the tubular section 291. The upper boundary region 302 of the second part 30 provided with a pot-like configuration is offset slightly outward and rests against the interior of the tubular section 291. Furthermore, the side region of the part 30 provided with a pot-like configuration rests against the tapered region 292, which is offset inward. The taper 292 and the expansion 302 are essentially arranged as point-symmetrical to one another and correspond to one another in such a way that when the second part 30 is pulled out of the tubular section 291, the expansion 302 stops at the taper 292. The taper 292 of the tubular section 291 therefore fulfills both a limit stop function and also a guide function. The bent-over inner boundary region of the upper fitting element 12a is used as a limit stop in the upper end region of the tubular section 291.
Due to the guiding of the pot-like second part 30 on the tubular section 291 and/or on the taper 292, only a linear movement of the pot-like 30 along the central axis 31 and/or a rotation around the central axis 31 is possible, i.e., in the direction orthogonal to the movement plane E1. In contrast, twisting around another axis or tilting of the pot-like second part 30 in the first part 29 are avoided.
Furthermore, the pot-like second part 30 of the basic body 16 has an approximately centrally positioned passageway 20 in its floor region for the reception of the tube-shaped workpiece (not shown here). The passageway 20 is arranged as essentially circular. A bead 25 is arranged in the passageway boundary region 303 of the pot-like second part 30. The passageway boundary region 303 is arranged as slightly elevated in relation to the floor region of the pot-like second part 30 by this bead. This elevation 303 is arranged for geometrical adaptation of the pot-like second part 30 to the tube-shaped workpiece, specifically a lambda probe, to be guided through the passageway 20, and thus ensures optimal contact of the pot-like second part 30 on the lambda probe. The bead 25 improves the tightness of the contact of the tube-shaped workpiece (not shown here) on the pot-like second part 30. It is arranged in the example shown in
For the reception of the first part 29, in the embodiment shown in
In principle, a combination of one of the embodiments from
In
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102004023442.6 | May 2004 | DE | national |
| 102005001453.4 | Jan 2005 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP05/05101 | 5/11/2005 | WO | 11/13/2006 |
