Tolerance absorber sleeve and assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10215215-B2
Application number	US-201715726200-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2017
Priority date	Apr 9, 2015
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

Tolerance absorber sleeve ( 20 ) for fastening a first component ( 40 ) to a second component ( 30 ) within a predetermined tolerance range (D), wherein said sleeve ( 20 ) is made of a metallic material and comprises a wall ( 21 ) and a first axial end portion ( 26 ) and a second axial end portion ( 27 ). Said sleeve ( 20 ) is adapted to be arranged in a hole of said first component ( 40 ) and abutting said second component ( 30 ) at the second axial end portion ( 27 ), wherein said wall ( 21 ) of said sleeve ( 20 ) comprises at least one weakening zone ( 22 ) adapted to plastically deform upon axial compression of the sleeve ( 20 ), such that said wall ( 21 ) of said sleeve ( 20 ) forms a first radially outward projection ( 201 ) on a first side of said hole of said first component ( 40 ), and a second radially outward projection ( 202 ) on a second side of said hole of said first component ( 40 ), whereby said tolerance absorber sleeve ( 20 ) is adapted to hold said first component ( 40 ) by said first and second projections ( 201, 202 ) within a predetermined tolerance range (D) from said second component ( 30 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tolerance absorber sleeve for fastening a first component to a second component within a predetermined tolerance range (D), wherein said sleeve is made of a metallic material and comprises a wall and a first axial end portion and a second axial end portion, wherein said sleeve is adapted to be arranged in a hole of said first component and abutting said second component at the second axial end portion, wherein said wall of said sleeve comprises at least one weakening zone adapted to plastically deform upon axial compression of the sleeve, such that said wall of said sleeve forms a first radially outward projection on a first side of said hole of said first component, and a second radially outward projection on a second side of said hole of said first component, whereby said tolerance absorber sleeve is adapted to hold said first component by said first and second projections within the predetermined tolerance range (D) from said second component, wherein said weakening zone extends along a circumference of said sleeve, and wherein said weakening zone comprises at least one perforation, wherein the weakening zone comprises a first and a second weakening region, wherein said first and second weakening regions are arranged at different locations along an axial extension of said tolerance absorber sleeve, wherein the weakening zone has a first axial deformation resistance in the first weakening region, and a second axial deformation resistance in the second weakening region, wherein said first axial deformation resistance is higher than or equal to the second axial deformation resistance.

2. The tolerance absorber sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein said weakening regions are separated by a rigid region, wherein said rigid region has an axial deformation resistance greater than that of each of the first and second weakening regions.

3. The tolerance absorber sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein said tolerance absorber sleeve comprises an abutment flange at the second axial end portion and a securing section, wherein said securing section extends axially from said abutment flange, and wherein said securing section is configured to act as a blind rivet.

4. The tolerance absorber sleeve according to claim 3 , wherein said securing section comprises a further weakening zone and a threaded section on the interior surface of said securing section, wherein said threaded section is adapted to be engaged by a threaded member and subsequently pulled towards the second component, whereby said sleeve is partially deformed forming a third radially outward projection, such that the sleeve is secured to the second component by means of the abutment flange and said third radially outward projection.

5. A tolerance absorber assembly comprising a tolerance absorber sleeve and a first and second component, wherein said sleeve is made of a metallic material and comprises a wall and a first axial end portion and a second axial end portion and said wall comprises at least one weakening zone, wherein said weakening zone extends along a circumference of said sleeve, wherein said weakening zone comprises at least one perforation, wherein said tolerance absorber sleeve is arranged in a hole of said first component and abutting said second component at said second axial end portion of the sleeve, and wherein the weakening zone comprises a first radially outward projection on a first side of said first component and a second radially outward projection on a second side of said first component, wherein said first and second radially outward projections are formed by plastic deformation of said weakening zone, wherein said first and second radially outward projections hold said first component within a predetermined tolerance range (D) from said second component.

6. The tolerance absorber assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said assembly further comprises a threaded fastener, wherein said threaded fastener comprises:
a bolt, which is threadingly engaged with a threaded opening on said second component or with a nut located on the opposite side of the second component,
or
a nut, which is threadingly engaged with a threaded stud arranged on said second component,
whereby said sleeve is fastened to said second component by said threaded fastener.

7. The tolerance absorber assembly according to claim 6 , wherein said threaded fastener is a bolt, and wherein a shaft of said bolt has an outer dimension essentially equal to the smallest inner dimension of said sleeve, whereby the forming of said radially outwards projections in an outward direction is promoted.

8. The tolerance absorber assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said tolerance absorber sleeve comprises an abutment flange at the second axial end portion of the sleeve abutting the second component and a securing section, wherein said second component comprises a through-hole, and wherein said securing section extends axially from said abutment flange through said through-hole and is configured to act as a blind rivet.

9. The tolerance absorber assembly according to claim 7 , wherein said first component is held tightly by said first and second radially outward projections.

10. The tolerance absorber assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the hole of said first component has a cross section substantially corresponding to the cross section of the tolerance absorber sleeve at the weakening zone.

11. The tolerance absorber assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the inner circumferential surface of said hole of said first component is bevelled, convex or tapered.

12. A vehicle comprising the tolerance absorber assembly according to claim 5 .

13. The tolerance absorber assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said first component is held tightly by said first and second radially outward projections.

14. The tolerance absorber assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the hole of said first component has a cross section substantially corresponding to the cross section of the tolerance absorber sleeve at the weakening zone.

15. The tolerance absorber assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the inner circumferential surface of said hole of said first component is bevelled, convex or tapered.

16. A method for fastening a first component to a second component within a predetermined tolerance range (D) using a tolerance absorber sleeve and a threaded member, wherein said tolerance absorber sleeve comprises a wall and a first and a second axial end portion, wherein said wall has a weakening zone arranged to plastically deform upon axial compression of said sleeve, wherein said weakening zone extends along a circumference of said sleeve, and wherein said weakening zone comprises at least one perforation , wherein said method comprises:
arranging said first and second components within the predetermined tolerance range (D) from each other,
arranging said tolerance absorber sleeve in a hole of said first component and abutting said second component,
securing said tolerance absorber sleeve to said second component using said threaded member, and
compressing said tolerance absorber sleeve using said threaded member, whereby a first radially outward projection is formed on a first side of said hole of said first component, and a second radially outward projection is formed on a second side of said hole of said first component.

Assignees

• Ningbo Geely Automobile Res & Development Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zylberstein Daniel
• Tullberg Oscar
• Stoddart Tom

Classifications

• F16B29/00

  Screwed connection with deformation of nut or auxiliary member while fastening ({Nuts fastened to surfaces by riveting F16B37/065}; members deformed for locking screws, bolts or nuts F16B39/22) · CPC title

• F16B31/02 Primary

  for indicating {the attainment of a particular tensile load} or limiting tensile load {(apparatus for, or method of, determining value of torque or twisting moment for tightening a nut or other member similarly stressed G01L5/24)} · CPC title

• F16B5/0258

  using resiliently deformable sleeves, grommets or inserts (F16B43/001 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16B5/0233 Primary

  allowing for adjustment perpendicular to the plane of the plates · CPC title