GB2116891A

GB2116891A - Fastening and releasing a threaded cap of a motor vehicle shock absorber leg screw connection

Info

Publication number: GB2116891A
Application number: GB08231518A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Horst Klann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-03-19
Filing date: 1982-11-04
Publication date: 1983-10-05
Also published as: GB2116891B; DE8207850U1; FR2523498A1; FR2523498B1

Abstract

A coupling disc is provided with a central bore 5 and has, in one end, at least three radial grooves 6 with slot- shaped openings. Sliding blocks 3 provided with coupling lugs 4 for engagement with the threaded cap, are radially adjustably and exchangeably fastened in the slot-shaped openings by screws. The disc has, on its other end, a recess in the shape of a diametrally extending coupling groove or eccentrically arranged bores 13 for engagement by coupling ribs or pins 15 projecting from a flange 16 on one end of a coupling tube 2 provided with a spanner profile 20. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFiCATION A device for fastening and releasing shock absorber leg screw connections The invention relates to a device for fastening and releasing shock absorber leg screw connections, more especially threaded caps of shock absorber leg sleeves of motor vehicles, which are provided with recesses for coupling lugs in their circumferential surface and/or in their front surface.

Shock absorber legs used most frequently on passenger cars, in particular, are provided with sleeves for receiving the shock absorber cylinder which are equipped at their upper end with a screwed-on threaded cap, which has a central bore.

These threaded caps have as a rule either groovelike recesses along their circumference or bores for pinning which are provided in their front surface on specific radii and in which gripping pins of a turning tool can engage. However, depending on the vehicle type, the threaded caps vary in diameter or the recesses or bores for pinning are provided on varying radii. Furthermore, some threaded caps are provided with recesses or bores for pinning which are offset by centre angles of 1200 relative to one another, while other threaded caps have four recesses or four bores pinning which are offset relative to one another by centre angles of 90".

The task underlying the innovation is to provide a device of the kind mentioned at the beginning which makes it possible to screw such varying threaded caps on shock absorber leg sleeves and to release them therefrom.

According to the innovation, this problem is solved by a device which is characterised by a coupling disc which is provided with a central bore and which has, in one front end, at least three radial grooves with slot-shaped openings, wherein sliding blocks comprising coupling lugs are radially adjustably and exchangeably fastened by means of screws, and which ring disc has in its other front end recesses in the shape of a diametrally extending coupling groove or eccentrically arranged bores as well as by a coupling tube which is provided with a spanner profile at one end and which has, at its other end, a coupling flange comprising frontally projecting coupling ribs or coupling pins which, in relation to the axis of the coupling tube, are arranged diametrally to one another and fit into the coupling grooves or into the bores.

In addition to the mentioned threaded caps, which are provided with recesses in their circumference or with bores for pinning in their front face, there also exist threaded caps which, instead of these recesses or bores for pinning, have a hexagonal socket as a spanner profile.

In order to allow such threaded caps also to be fastened on the associated shock absorber leg sleeves or to be released therefrom with the aid of the device according to the innovation, the device according to the innovation is furthermore characterised by a centrally bored spanner disc which has, at one front end, an axially projecting hexagon and, at the other front end, at least one pin- or rib-like projection which fits into a radial groove in the coupling disc.

It is of advantage if the spanner disc has, at its front end that is opposite to the hexagon, a centring ring which fits into the central bore in the coupling disc.

Another advantageous development of the innovation consists in that the coupling disc has, in its front end that is opposite to the radial grooves, radially extending recesses for the flush reception of screw heads which respectively lie in the same radius vectors as the radial grooves provided in the opposite front end.

In a further development of the innovation, provision is made forthe coupling disco have, in its one front end, altogether six radial grooves, four radial grooves being respectively at an angular distance of 90" and respectively three radial grooves being atan angular distance of 1200.

Due to this development, the device according to the innovation can be optionally used both for threaded caps which have only three recesses or hole for pinning and for those caps which have altogether four recesses or bores for pinning, a start to be made from the fact that the recesses or bores for pinning are at equal angular distances from one another of respectively 1200 or 90".

Another development of the innovation is characterised in that there are provided at least three sliding blocks with rectangular coupling legs and at Ieastthreesliding blocks with cylindrical coupling lugs for optional fastening in the radial grooves in the coupling disc.

The further development feature of the innovation according to which the sliding blocks have tapped holes which are respectively offset relative to the coupling lugs results in the advantage that the coupling lugs can be adjusted to relatively large radius variations of the recesses or bores for pinning provided in the threaded caps.

Some exemplified embodiments of the innovation will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a first constructional form of the device according to the innovation, in a section, Figure 2 shows a view ll-ll of the coupling disc of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a view Ill-Ill of the coupling disc of Figure 1, Figure 4 shows another coupling disc in a front view corresponding to Figure 3, Figure 5 shows a threaded cap in a top view, Figure 6shows a partial section VI-VI of Figure 5, Figure 7 shows another coupling disc in a front view corresponding to Figure 3, Figure 8 shows a different threaded cap in a top view, Figure 9 shows a partial section IX-IX of Figure 7, Figure 10 shows the coupling disc of Figure 7 in a perspective representation, Figure 11 shows a spanner disc in a perspective representation, Figure 12 shows a threaded cap with a hexagonal socket, Figure 13 shows a different constructional form of the device shown in Figure 1, in a perspective representation, Figure 14 shows another constructional form of the coupling disc, and Figure 15 shows a device of the innovation which has been superimposed on the threaded cap of a shock absorber leg sleeve, in a perspective representation.

The device for fastening and releasing threaded caps of shock absorber leg sleeves, shown in Figures 1,2 and 3, consists of a coupling disc 1 and a coupling tube 2 as well as of altogether four sliding blocks 3, whose shape can be seen best in Figure 13 and which each have a rectangular coupling lug 4, The coupling disc 1 has a central cylindrical bore 5 and is provided, in its front end which is downwardly directed in Figure 1 and which is visible in a top view in Figure 3, with four radial grooves 6 which are offset relative to one another by respectively 90O and in which slot-shaped openings 7, which also extend radially, are provided. The openings 7 are narrower than the radial grooves 6 and serve for placing therethrough screws 8 which have a cylindrical head 9 with a hexagonal socket 10.The radial grooves have a right-angled cross-sectional configuration and are open both towards the bore 5 and on the circumference of the coupling disc 1. By contrast, the slot-shaped openings 7 are shorter and end at a certain distance from the outside circumference of the coupling disc 1 and for the bore 5 therein respectively. The sliding blocks 3 are adapted to the cross-sectional configuration of the radial grooves 6 and can therefore be inserted into these and also be displaced therein. Furthermore, the sliding blocks 3 are provided with tapped holes 11 which are offset with respect to the coupling lugs 4.By this means, it is possible to insert the sliding blocks 3 into the radial grooves 6 in a varying manner with respect to the radial position of the coupling lugs 4, so that they are radially outside the tapped hole 11 in one position and radially inside the tapped hole 11 in the other position. This allows, with the same radial displaceability of the sliding blocks 3, the coupling lugs 4 to be set to relatively large radius variations.

The screws 8 are placed through the openings 7 from the rear end of the coupling disc 1 that is opposite to the radial grooves 6 and are screwed into the tapped holes 11 of the individual sliding blocks 3 for fastening the latter. For the reception of the screw heads 9, there are provided in the rear end of the coupling disc 1 radially extending recesses 12 which lie in the same radius vectors as the radial grooves 6.

The radial displaceability of the individual sliding blocks 3 in the radial grooves 6 is determined by the length of the slot-shaped openings 7. In order to allow a connection which is secured against rotation but can be easily released to be established between the coupling tube 2 and the coupling disc, the latter is provided with two diametrically opposite bores for pinning 13 which are uniformly eccentrically arranged with respect to the axis 14 and which serve for receiving coupling pins 15 which are fixedly fastened in blind bores 17 in a coupling flange 16 of the coupling tube 2 and project in an axially extending manner from the front face of the coupling flange 16 by approximately half the thickness of the coupling disc 1. The coupling tube 2 has a central through bore 18 which has a radial widening 19 in the zone of the coupling flange 16.As its upper end, the coupling tube 2 is provided with a hexagon 20 intended as a spanner profile. The coupling disc 1 and the coupling tube 2 can be easily separated at anytime and can also be connected together in the manner shown in Figure 1.The separability is necessary in order to ensure that the screws 8, with which the sliding blocks 3 are fastened in radial grooves 6, are accessible.

The coupling discs 1/1 and 1/2 shown in Figures 4, 7, 10 and 13 respectively have in common the difference from the coupling disc 1 shown in Figures 1,2 and 3 that they each have, in the rear end, a diametrically extending coupling groove 21 which passes over the entire diameter and which is provided instead of the bores for pinning 13. In adaptation thereto, the coupling flange 16 of the coup[ing tube 2/1, shown in Figure 13, is provided at its front end with two diametrally arranged, axially projecting coupling ribs 22 which fit into the coupling groove 21 and by means of which easily releasable positive rotary connections can be established between the coupling tube 2/1 and the coupling discs 1/1 and 1/2 respectively.While the coupling disc 1/2, like the coupling disc 1, has four radial grooves 6 in its front end, which are offset by 90 relative to one another and have slot-shaped openings 7, the coupling disc 1/1 only has three radial grooves 6 which are offset by 120 relative to one another and have slot-shaped openings 7, into which a respective sliding block 3 has been so inserted that its coupling lug 4 lies radially inside the tapped hole 11. In this positiOn, in which coupling lugs 4 respectively lie on a radius R 1, the coupling disc has been co-ordinated with a threaded cap 23 shown in Figure 5 in a top view and which is provided in its circumference with three recesses 24 which are offset by 120 relative to one another and into which the coupling lugs4 of the sliding blocks 3 fit.

The coupling disc 1/2 shown in Figure 7 is equipped with sliding blocks 3/1 which each have a cylindrical coupling lug 4/1 instead of a rectangular coupling lug 4 but which, for the rest, are identical with the sliding blocks 3 in design. These sliding blocks 3/1 are intended for a threaded cap 25 which has four bores 26, which are offset by 90" relative to one another and lie on a common radius R 2, in its front face. Correspondingly, the sliding blocks 3/1 are also so arranged in the grooves 6 in the coupling disc 1/2 that the cylindrical coupling lugs 4/1 lie on the radius R 2.

In Figure 12, there is shown a threaded cap 27 which is provided with a hexagonal socket 28 instead of the recesses 24 or the bores 26. In order to enable such a threaded cap, too, to be screwed on and off with the afore-described device, there is provided, in addition to the sliding blocks 3 and 3/1 and for the replacement thereof, a spanner disc 29 which has a central bore 30 and which has an axially projecting hexagon 31 at one front end and, at the other front end, a profile rib 32 which extends over the entire diameter and which can be fittingly introduced into two diametrically opposite radial grooves 6 in one of the coupling discs 1 or 1/2. For centring in the bore 5 in the coupling disc 1 or 1/2, the spanner disc 29 is additionally provided with a centring ring 33, whose outside diameter has been co-ordinated with the diameter of the bore 5.To allow the spanner disc 29 to be fastened to the coupling disc 1 or 1/2, it is provided with two tapped holes 34, into which screws 8, which are otherwise used for fastening the sliding blocks 3 or 3/1, can be screwed in an analogous manner.

In Figure 14, there is shown another coupling disc 1/3, which has altogether six radial grooves 6, of which four are at a respective angular distance of 90" and three are at a respective angular distance of 1200. In this coupling disc 1/3, the coupling discs 1/1 of Figure 4 and 1/2 of Figures 7,10 and 13 are combined to a certain extent. Like the coupling disc 1, this coupling disc 1/3 also has two diametrically opposite bores for pinning 13 and a central bore 5. In the invisible rear end, this coupling disc 1/3 is also provided with recesses 12 which serve for receiving the screw heads 9 when the screws 8 are passed through the openings 7 for fastening sliding blocks 3 or 3/1 or the spanner disc 29. Figure 15 diagrammatically shows a shock absorber leg 35 with a stub axle 36, a spring plate 37 and a shock absorber leg sleeve 38, in which the cylinder of a shock absorber is located and which is shut at its upper end by a threaded cap 39.

For the application of the described device, for example for releasing the threaded cap 39 from the shock absorber leg sleeve 38, first the coupling disc 1 or 1/1 or 1/2 or 1/3, which is equipped with the fitting sliding blocks 3 or 3/1 or with the spanner disc 29, is superimposed and is brought into positive contact therewith. Thereafter, the coupling tube 2 or 2/1 is passed on the superimposed coupling disc via the position bar 30 of the otherwise invisible shock absorber and is brought into engagement with the coupling disc 1/1 or 1/2. Then, either a screw spanner or else an impact screw driver can be applied to the spanner profile 20.

Claims

1. A device for fastening and releasing shock absorber leg screw connections, more especially threaded caps of shock absorber leg sleeves of motor vehicles, which are provided with recesses for coupling lugs in their circumferential surface and/or in their front surface, characterised by a coupling disc (1, 1/1, 1/2, 1/3) which is provided with a central bore (5) and which has, in one front end, at least three radial grooves (6) with slot-shaped openings (7), in which sliding blocks (3,3/1), which are provided with coupling lugs (4,4/1), are radially adjustably and exchangeably fastened by means of screws (8), and which ring disc (1, 1/1, 1/2, 1/3) has, in its other front end, recesses in the shape of a diametrally extending coupling groove (21) or eccentrically arranged bores for pinning (13) as well as by a coupling tube (2, 2/1) which is provided with a spanner profile (20) at one end and which has, at its other end, a coupling flange (16), with frontally projecting coupling ribs (22) or coupling pins (15) which, in relation to the axis (14) of the coupling tube, are arranged diametrally to one another and fit into the coupling groove (21) or into the bores for pinning (13).

2. A device for fastening and releasing shock absorber leg screw connections, more especially threaded caps of shock absorber leg sleeves, which have a central hexagonal socket intended as a spanner profile, as claimed in Claim 1, characterised by a centrally bored spanner disc (29) which is provided, at one front end, with an axially projecting hexagon and has, at its other end, at least one pin- or rib-like projection (32) which fits into a radial groove (6) in the coupling disc (1, 1/1, 1/2, 1/3).

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, charactersied in that the spanner disc (29) has, at its front end that is opposite to the hexagon (31), a centring ring (33) which fits into the central bore (5) in the coupling disc (1, 1/1,1/2,1/3).

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the coupling disc (1,1/1,1/2,1/3) has, in its front end that is opposite to the radial grooves (6), radially extending recesses (12) for the flush reception of screw heads (9) which respectively lie in the same radius vectors as the radial grooves (6) provided in the opposite front end.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the coupling disc (1/3) has, in one front end, altogether six radial grooves (6), four radial grooves (6) being respectively at an angular distance of 90" and respectively three radial grooves (6) being at an angular distance of 1200.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that there are provided at least three sliding blocks (3) with rectangular coupling lugs (4) and at least three sliding blocks (3/1) with cylindrical coupling lugs (4/1) for optional fastening in the radial grooves (6) in the coupling disc 1/1,1/2,1/3).

7. A device as claimed in Claim 1, or 5, characterised in that the sliding blocks (3,3/1) have tapped holes (11) which are arranged so as to be offset relative to the coupling lugs (4,4/1).

8. A device for fastening a releasing shockabsor- ber leg screw connections substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.