FR2825123A3 - SOCKET COUPLING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

This device, making it possible to connect a first part to a second part in a separable manner, comprises a part of a coupling device in the form of a bowl, which can be elastically deformed and comprising a fixing part fixed to the first part and a bowl spherical (10) formed during forming on this fixing part, and a part of coupling device of spherical shape, which can be elastically deformed and comprising a fixing part fixed to the second part, a spherical head which can be put in place by engagement in the spherical cup (10) and an intermediate part located between the fixing part and the spherical head. On its outside face, the spherical cup (10) of the cup-shaped coupling part is provided with several recesses ( 24) distributed in the circumferential direction.

Description

separation (106.2) are integrated in the bottom of the housing.

  The present invention relates to a socket coupling device for separably connecting a first part to a second part, comprising a coupling device part, hereinafter coupling part, in the form of a bowl. , being able to be elastically deformed and comprising a fixing part fixed to the first part and a spherical cup produced during forming on this fixing part, and a part of coupling device, hereinafter coupling part, of spherical shape, can be elastically deformed and comprising a fixing part fixed to the second part, a spherical head which can be put into place by engagement in the spherical cup and an intermediate part located between the fixing part and the

spherical head.

  A socket coupling device of this generic type is known from the German utility model No. 299 20 379.4 of the applicant. This interlocking coupling device comprises an elastically deformable cup-shaped coupling part and an elastically deformable spherical coupling part which can be engaged by axially pressing them one into the other. Since in this interlocking coupling device, the spherical cup and the fixing part of the cup-shaped coupling part are made on their external face without shaping of material used for stiffening, they have a wall thickness thickened accordingly. If several coupling devices are used to connect the two parts (sheets), compensation for tolerances must be provided between the corresponding holes in the first part and the cup-shaped coupling part. Expressed more precisely, the cup-shaped coupling portion of a socket coupling device is fitted into the corresponding hole of the first part in an adjusted manner, while the others holes in the first part are oversized with respect to the cup-shaped coupling parts of the other coupling devices, so that there is a corresponding clearance each time. It follows that the spherical cups of the cup-shaped coupling parts concerned must be made all the thicker, in order to be held in the oversized holes of the first part. The thicker the cup-shaped coupling part, the more difficult it is to be able to

  introduce it into the associated hole of the first part.

  The object of the invention is to improve a coupling device by socket, of the generic type defined in the introduction, so that the introduction of the coupling part into the parts to be connected is facilitated, without any existing the

  risk of untimely separation of the coupling device.

  To this end, the invention relates to a coupling device by socket, of the generic type considered, characterized in that, on its outer face, the spherical cup of the cup-shaped coupling part is provided with several recesses distributed in the circumferential direction. Advantageously, the number and the shape of the recesses can be chosen in such a way that the cup-shaped coupling part can be introduced with a relatively low nesting force in a hole.

  correspondent of the associated room or first room.

  The recesses provided in accordance with the invention increase the flexibility of the cup-shaped coupling part, so that, when introduced into the hole, the material of the cup-shaped coupling part collects in some measure. Therefore, despite a relatively large material thickness of the cup-shaped coupling part, it is possible

  to connect it without problem to the associated part.

  In order to avoid, despite the increased flexibility of the cup-shaped coupling part, untimely separation of the spherical coupling part from the cup-shaped coupling part, provision may be made according to Another development of the invention, that, on its inner face, the fixing part of the cup-shaped coupling part is provided with more than one sail-like parts repaired in the circumferential direction. The number and shape of these protruding parts are chosen in an appropriate manner. Preferably, the number and the shape of the projecting parts can be chosen in such a way that they bear on the intermediate part, in order to prevent an untimely separation of the spherical head from the spherical bowl, thus

  as the bowl-shaped coupling part outside the first part.

  Advantageously, the recesses are each oriented radially with respect to the projecting parts. Consequently, the protrusions effectively prevent the ball head from "unbuttoning" out of the ball bowl, or the bowl-shaped coupling part from the ball

associated room.

  The socket coupling device according to the invention may also have one or more of the following features: - the spherical cup has an outer surface in the conical assembly and the recesses are made by extending in a way axially rectilinear, - four recesses are provided which have a shape such that when viewed from above, the spherical cup has the shape of a cross with equal branches having rounded corners between the branches, - the projecting parts are made in extending axially rectilinearly, - in plan view, the projecting parts have an approximately rectangular contour, - the fixing part of the cup-shaped coupling part has an annular groove which receives the first part, in the area of its hole, in such a way that, therefore, only the cup-shaped coupling part is held on the first part, - the hole of the pr first part is oversized with respect to the internal diameter of the annular groove in such a way that, to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and deformations of material, the cup-shaped coupling part can execute a limited transverse movement vis-à-vis the first part, - the fixing part of the spherical coupling part is made in the form of an elastic clip which is formed during the forming on the intermediate part and which can be put in place by latching in a hole in the second part, - the elastic clip comprises an elastic blade produced during forming on the intermediate part, a central core produced during formation on the elastic blade and two spring branches produced during forming on the core, - the leaf spring has a slightly curved shape and a rectangular outline, - the hole of the second part has a rectangular outline and the branches of spring hanging on the edges of the hole have a shape

  adapted accordingly.

  An example of implementation of the invention is set out below in detail with reference to the drawings. We see: in Figure 1, a sectional view of a coupling device by embedding in the assembled and closed state, in Figure 2, a sectional view of the cup-shaped coupling part, Figure 3, a sectional view of the cup-shaped coupling part after rotation of 90 relative to Figure 2, in Figure 4, a bottom view of the cup-shaped coupling part Figure 2, in Figure 5, a top view of the cup-shaped coupling part of Figure 2, in Figure 6, a perspective view of the cup-shaped coupling part of Figure 2, in FIG. 7, a side view of the spherical coupling part of the socket coupling device of FIG. 1, in FIG. 8, a side view of the coupling part of spherical shape after rotation of 90 with respect to Figure 7, in Figure 9, a bottom view of the spherical coupling portion of the Figure 7, in Figure 10, a top view of the spherical coupling portion of Figure 7, in Figure 11, a perspective view of the spherical coupling portion of Figure 7, Figure 12 a top view of the second part among the parts to

connect from figure 1.

  Figure 1 shows a coupling device by nesting in the assembled and closed state in which it connects two parts 2, 4 in the form of a plate (sheets). The socket coupling device consists of a coupling device part 6, hereinafter cup-shaped coupling part and a coupling device part 8, hereinafter part coupling, spherical in shape. The cup-shaped coupling part 6 is made of a material having vibration-absorbing properties, for example rubber or thermoplastic elastomer, while the spherical coupling part 8 is for example made of a plastic material reinforced by

of a filler or metal.

  The cup-shaped coupling part 6 consists of a spherical cup 10 and a fixing part 12 which is formed thereon during forming and by means of which the coupling part 6 is fixed to the part 2. The coupling part 8 of spherical shape consists of a spherical head 14, an intermediate part 16 and a fixing part 18 by means of which the part

  coupling 8 is fixed to part 4.

  Reference is now also made to FIGS. 2 to 6. The coupling part 6 has approximately the shape of a mushroom head without shaping of material making a stiffening whatever they are on the external face. However, instead of shaping of material making a stiffening on the outer face, the coupling part 6 has a wall thickness

  relatively large, as shown in the drawings.

  The spherical bowl 10, which is provided with a cavity 20 in the form of a partial sphere, has an outer surface 22 of frustoconical shape. As shown, the spherical bowl 10 is provided with recesses 24 on its outer face. In the example of implementation shown, there are provided four recesses 24 which are conical extending axially continuously and have a shape such that when viewed from above (FIG. 5), the spherical cup 10 has the shape of a cross with equal branches having rounded corners between the branches. However, it is understood that the number and the shape of the recesses 24 can also be chosen in another way. It is essential that the recesses 24 give the cup-shaped coupling part 6 a flexibility such that it can be easily inserted into a hole 50 associated with

room 2 to be connected.

  The fixing part 12 of the cup-shaped coupling part 6 is essentially made up of a collar 26 which is separated from the spherical cup 10 by an annular groove 28 and is provided with a sealing lip sure

its upper side.

  So that the spherical bowl 10 can securely hold the spherical head 14, the partial sphere-shaped cavity 20 of the spherical bowl 10 is significantly larger than the area of a hemisphere. There is therefore obtained, at the lower end of the cavity 20 in the form of a partial sphere, a constriction to which is connected an inner surface 32 which widens outwards in the form of a funnel. The inner surface 32 of the cup-shaped coupling part 6 is provided with protruding parts 34 which are drawn inwards. In the example of implementation shown, there are provided four projecting parts 34 which are made in a continuous manner axially and have, in top view (Figure 4), a rectangular outline (essentially square). As is apparent in particular from a comparison of FIGS. 4 and 5, the projecting parts 34 are oriented in the same radial direction as the recesses 24. The projecting parts 34 thus ensure a certain stiffening of the internal face of the part cup-shaped coupling 6 in the zones oriented in the same radial direction as the recesses 24, as well as

  is set out below in an even more precise manner.

  To describe the coupling part 8 of spherical shape, reference is now made to FIGS. 7 to 11. In the example of implementation shown, the spherical head 14 has an upper flat face and a surface in the form of a partial sphere. which is dimensioned so that it can be put into place by engagement in the spherical cup 10 of the coupling part 6. An annular groove 15 is provided between the spherical head 14 and the intermediate part 16. The intermediate part 16 has a surface cylindrical outer surface whose diameter corresponds approximately to the outer diameter of the spherical head 14. The fixing part 18 of the coupling part 8 of spherical shape is produced in the form of an elastic clip. The elastic clip consists of an elastic blade 40, which is connected to the intermediate part 16, and of a central core 42 which is formed during the forming, at its first end, on the elastic blade 40 and the other of which end is connected to two elastic branches 44. In the disassembled state, the elastic blade 41 has a slightly curved shape (see FIGS. 7 and 11) and

  a rectangular outline (see Figures 9,10).

  As is apparent from the drawings, and in particular from FIG. 1, the elastic blade, the central core 42 and the elastic branches 44 of the elastic clip are arranged in such a way that the branches as possible inserting the spring branches 44 by embedding through a hole 52 in the part 4, after which the elastic blade 40 and the elastic branches 44 enclose the part 4 between them. In the example of implementation shown , the hole 52 of the part 4 has a rectangular contour to which the shape of the elastic branches 44 is adapted (see FIG. 9). However, it is understood that other contour shapes can be chosen both for the hole 52 of the part 4 and for the

elastic blade 40.

  For mounting the coupling device by socket, we connect each of the two coupling parts 6 and 8 respectively to its associated part 2 or 4. For this purpose, we introduce u it from below the part of acco up Lement 6 in the form of a bowl in the hole 50 of the part 2, until the part 2 engages in the groove in the naked eye the ire 28 of the coupling part 6. As already indicated, the recesses 24 facilitate the introduction of the coupling part 6 into the hole 50, since the recesses 24 allow the material of the spherical bowl

10 to "pick up on itself".

  The coupling part 8 of spherical shape is connected to the part 4 by introducing above the elastic branches 44 into the hole 52 of the part 4, until clearings 46 located at the free ends of the elastic branches 44 hang in the edges of the hole 52. The elastic blade 40 and the elastic branches 44 then pinch between them the part 4, so that the coupling part 8 of spherical shape is held on the part 4 without possibility

of displacement.

  If, as described, each of the coupling parts 6 and 8 is connected respectively to its part 2 or 4, it suffices, to close the coupling device by housing, to axially fit the part coupling 8 of spherical shape in the coupling part 6 in the form of a bowl, until the spherical head 14 engages in the spherical bowl 10. The spherical head 14 is then surrounded, with hooking , by the spherical bowl 10 on more than half of its upper face. The constriction 30 of the coupling part 6 then hooks into the annular groove 15 of the coupling part 8. The intermediate part 16 of the coupling part 8 is then supported, by its upper end, on the upper ends of the protrusions 34 of the coupling part 6. The protrusions 34 serve as additional security preventing the coupling device from "unbuttoning", which means that they prevent untimely separation of the head spherical 14 out of the

  spherical cup 10, as well as the coupling part 6 outside of part 2.

  If the parts 2 and 4 have very large dimensions, it may then be necessary to provide several coupling devices by socket to connect them. It is then inevitable that, due to manufacturing tolerances, the holes used to receive the coupling devices have variable spacings. In this case, advantageously, a single hole in the first part 2 is made in a manner precisely adjusted to the inside diameter of the annular groove 28 of the associated coupling part 6, while the other holes 50 are oversized with respect to the internal diameter of the annular grooves 28 of the other coupling parts 6, as shown in FIG. 1. The annular slot which then appears allows limited transverse displacement of the part of coupling 6 in the form of a bowl with respect to the part 2. This transverse displacement capacity makes it possible not only to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, but also

  material deformations, for example thermal expansions.

  As already described in the introduction, this oversizing of the holes 50 located in the part 2 requires a thickness of material of the coupling part 6 in the form of a cup which is increased accordingly. However, the recesses 24 nevertheless allow a problem-free introduction of the coupling part 6 into the hole 50 of the part 2, while the protruding parts 34 obstruct the risk of inadvertent separation of the coupling device.

by nesting.

  The described embedding coupling device ensures perfect decoupling of sheets to be bonded against vibrations and other relative displacements.

between rooms 2, 4.

Claims (15)

  1. Coupling device by socket for connecting in a separable manner a first part (2) to a second part (4), comprising a part of coupling device (6) in the form of a bowl, capable of be elastically deformed and comprising a fixing part (12) fixed to the first part (2) and a spherical cup (10) formed during forming on this fixing part, and a coupling device part (8) of spherical shape , capable of being elastically deformed and comprising a fixing part (18) fixed to the second part (4), a spherical head (14) which can be put into place by engagement in the spherical bowl (10) and an intermediate part (16) located between the fixing part (18) and the spherical head (14), characterized in that, on its external face, the spherical cup (10) of the coupling part (6) in the shape of a cup is provided with several recesses (24) distributed according to the circumferential direction.   2. Nesting coupling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the number and shape of the recesses (24) are chosen in such a way that the coupling part (6) in the form of a bowl can be introduced. with relatively low embedding force in a hole   corresponding (50) of the first part (2).   3. Coupling device by socket according to any one of   Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that, on its inner face, the part of   fixing (12) of the cup-shaped coupling part (6) is provided with   several projecting parts (34) distributed in the circumferential direction.   4. Nesting coupling device according to claim 3, characterized in that the number and shape of the projecting parts (34) are chosen in such a way that they bear on the intermediate part (16), so to prevent inadvertent separation of the spherical head (14) from the spherical bowl (10), as well as from the coupling part (6) in the form of a bowl outside of the first part (2).   5. Nesting coupling device according to any one of   Claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the recesses (24) are oriented   each in a radial manner with respect to the projecting parts (34).   6. Coupling device by socket according to any one of   Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the spherical cup (10) has a   outer surface (22) in the conical assembly and the recesses (24) are made   extending axially rectilinearly.   7. Nesting coupling device according to claim 6, characterized in that there are provided four recesses (24) which have a shape such that in top view, the spherical cup (10) has the shape of a cross with branches   equal with rounded corners between the branches.   8. Nesting coupling device according to any one of   Claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the projecting parts (34) are produced   extending axially rectilinearly.   9. Nesting coupling device according to claim 8, characterized in that, seen from above, the projecting parts (34) have a contour   ap roxi matively recta ng u la i re.   10. Coupling device by socket according to any one of   Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the fixing part (12) of the part   cup-shaped coupling (6) has an annular groove (28) which receives the first part (2), in the region of its hole (50), in such a way that, therefore, only the part cup-shaped coupling (6) is held on the first part (2).   11. Coupling device according to claim 10, characterized in that the hole (50) of the first part (2) is oversized with respect to the internal diameter of the annular groove (28) in such a way that , to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and material deformations, the cup-shaped coupling part (6) can move transversely   limited vis-à-vis the first part (2).   12. Device for coupling by fitting according to any one of the   Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the fixing part (18) of the part   coupling (8) of spherical shape is renlée in the form of an elastic staple which is formed during forming on the intermediate part (16) and which can be   positioning by snapping into a hole (52) in the second part (4).   13. Coupling device by socket according to claim 12, characterized in that the elastic clip comprises an elastic blade (40) formed during forming on the intermediate part (16), a central core (42) produced at forming on the elastic blade (40) and two spring branches (44) made at forming on the core (42).   14. Coupling device by socket ^ 'tement according to claim 13, characterized in that the spring leaf (40) has a slightly   curved and a rectangular outline.   15. Coupling device by socket according to any one of   Claims 13 and 14, characterized in that the hole (52) in the second part (4)   has a rectangular outline and the spring arms (18) hooking on