Self-adjusting spacer device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10150355-B2
Application number	US-201415102927-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2014
Priority date	Dec 16, 2013
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

Self-adjusting spacer device, including a bushing having a cavity with a longitudinal axis, a pin having a shank inserted into said cavity and a head projecting outside of said cavity, the cavity of the bushing and the pin being provided with respective threaded portions that do not extend over the entire circumference of the pin and the cavity, and the pin being rotatable relative to the bushing between (i) an adjustment position in which the threaded portion of the pin is disengaged from the threaded portion of the bushing and the pin is capable of moving axially with respect to the bushing, and (ii) a locking position in which the threaded portion of the pin engages the threaded portion of the bushing and in which the pin is locked axially with respect to the bushing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A self-adjusting spacer device, comprising:
a bushing having a cavity with a longitudinal axis; and
a pin having a shank inserted into said cavity and a head projecting outside of said cavity,
wherein the cavity of the bushing and the pin are provided with respective threaded portions that do not extend over the entire circumference of the pin and the cavity, and the pin is rotatable relative to the bushing between:
an adjustment position in which the threaded portion of the pin is disengaged from the threaded portion of the bushing and the pin is movable axially with respect to the bushing, and
a locking position in which the threaded portion of the pin engages the threaded portion of the bushing and the pin is locked axially with respect to the bushing, and

wherein the pin comprises a sealing element which establishes a sealing contact with the inner surface of said cavity, and
wherein the sealing element is a sleeve of elastomeric material overmolded on the shank of the pin.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion of the pin comprises two non-threaded flat portions opposite to each other and spaced apart by a distance less than the diameter of the threaded portion.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said threaded portion of the bushing is formed on two radial projections extending inwardly from the inner surface of said cavity.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pin is provided with radial projections which engage a first and a second pair of axial grooves formed on the inner surface of said cavity respectively in the adjustment position and in the locking position.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein said bushing has an annular collar fitted with an annular sealing lip.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said bushing is provided with integral fastening elements protruding from the outer surface of said bushing and located below said collar.

7. A self-adjusting spacer device, comprising:
a bushing having a cavity with a longitudinal axis; and
a pin having a shank inserted into said cavity and a head projecting outside of said cavity,
wherein the cavity of the bushing and the pin are provided with respective threaded portions that do not extend over the entire circumference of the pin and the cavity, and the pin is rotatable relative to the bushing between:
an adjustment position in which the threaded portion of the pin is disengaged from the threaded portion of the bushing and the pin is movable axially with respect to the bushing, and
a locking position in which the threaded portion of the pin engages the threaded portion of the bushing and the pin is locked axially with respect to the bushing,

wherein the pin includes a seal, and
wherein the seal establishes a sealing contact with the inner surface of said cavity, wherein the seal is a sleeve.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the seal establishes a liquid-tightness between the pin and the bushing.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Yon Fulvio Pacifico
• Coccoz Andrea

Classifications

• E05Y2600/61

  Threaded members · CPC title

• F15B21/04

  Special measures taken in connection with the properties of the fluid · CPC title

• F16B33/004

  Sealing; Insulation (by means of washers F16B43/001) · CPC title

• E05Y2800/12

  Sealing · CPC title

• B60J10/45

  Assembling sealing arrangements with vehicle parts · CPC title