Fasteners and Sealing
Flexible system solution
Peter Kalkenings and Dr Gerhard Reusmann look at new lock bolts which offer a complete system of fastener, tool and assembly equipment.
T
he surface coating of high-strength lock bolts for use in automobile construction called for the short-term development of a high-performance solution that could handle low annealing temperatures in particular. A zinc flake coating
was able to satisfy these and other requirements and, in combination with a black top coat, also enables the premium appearance required.
sector. The focus of collaboration lies upon engineering co-operation with the customer with the aim of achieving best-possible implementation of the respective specifications. In the field of fastening technology the range of products supplied includes blind rivets, threaded components and rapid assembly systems, together with the associated processing technology.
Secure fastening
With the new HS lock bolts the company offers a complete system of fastener, tool and assembly equipment, with the fastener already registered for patent. A lock bolt system such as this consists of a fastening collar and a lock pin, with the fastening collar pressed into the grooving surrounding the lock bolt. In the process the components are also tightened using the assembly tool. Once the pretension has been achieved, the protruded end of the lock bolt is removed. The entire procedure takes approximately 1.5 seconds. The tightness of the fastening is comparable to a screwed connection of the same quality. The system also offers key advantages compared to standard welding procedures. As the process is a cold joining one, the disadvantages of an adhesive procedure, such as the risk of heat generation, are avoided. The lock bolt system is employed, for example, in securing
the rails for the height adjuster of car seats. These are safety components that are not permitted to fail, even in the event of a crash. For this reason, amongst others, the automotive industry places particularly high requirements on the stability of the material. The HS lock bolts are therefore produced from steel with a relatively high C content, hardened to a particularly high level in the shearing zone using a special procedure. The aspect of corrosion protection also plays a role in the interior of the vehicle. In this case 72 hours of salt spray testing were required. Also important is the ductility of the coating, as the parts may be moulded in installation. However, what is truly decisive is that the partially inductively hardened steel components are no longer exposed to high temperatures in the coating process in order to avoid loss of stability. As the fasteners are at least partially located in visible areas, a black appearance is also required.
Rapid problem solving
Fig. 1. The lock bolt system is employed, for example, in securing the rails for the height adjuster of car seats. Here is an example in the Ford Fiesta.
Photo: Ford.
Gebr. Titgemeyer GmbH & Co KG, Osnabrück, is one of the leading international companies in the field of fastening technology and vehicle components. Its customers include firms in the automotive and railed vehicle industries, vehicle and chassis construction, shipbuilders and the aerospace
40
www.engineerlive.com
Titgemeyer supplies the standard lock bolt system to Johnson Controls Automotive Experience, a global leader in the field of car seats, roof liner systems, door cladding, instrument panels and electronics for vehicle interiors. The programme includes, for example, modular metal structures for seating systems and various mechanisms for items such as locks, seat rails and height or rest adjusters. In this project the specifications of the OEM with regard to the stability of the rails for the height adjuster and their securing were increased due to a change in the framework conditions, leading to the
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68