# US 10,309,435 B2 · Positioning devices with tolerance compensation, a set of automotive components comprising such a device and a positioning method with tolerance compensation

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- Number: US 10,309,435 B2
- Document ID: US10309435B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/216,051
- Filed: 2016-07-21
- Published: 2017-02-16
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-07-21
- Assignees: Mgi Coutier Espana Sl
- Applicants: Mgi Coutier Espana Sl
- Inventors: Javier Couto Maquieira; José Manuel Fernandez Estevez; Javier Casal Gomez; Mauricio Canosa Carril
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309435B2

## CPC

- F16B 5/0216: {the position of the plates to be connected being adjustable}
- F16B 5/0233: {allowing for adjustment perpendicular to the plane of the plates}
- F16B 5/025: {specially designed to compensate for misalignement or to eliminate unwanted play}
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)

## Abstract

A positioning device with tolerance compensation including: a screw; a primary tightening member, and a secondary nut. The screw includes a driving portion cooperating with a driving tool to rotatably drive the screw and is located in an axial end portion of the screw; primary and secondary external threads, the primary external thread being further from the driving portion than the secondary external thread, the directions of the secondary external thread and the primary external thread are opposing; and an abutment projecting between the primary and secondary external threads. The primary tightening member includes a primary internal thread adapted to cooperate with the primary external thread, the primary tightening member and the abutment secured to an intermediate component. The secondary nut includes a secondary internal thread cooperating with the secondary external thread and is configured to bear against the intermediate component to fasten a first component on a second component.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A positioning device with tolerance compensation, for positioning a first automotive component with respect to a second automotive component by fastening the first automotive component on an intermediate component, the positioning device with tolerance compensation comprising:
a screw having at least:
one driving portion configured to cooperate with a driving tool so as to rotatably drive the screw, the driving portion being located in an axial end portion of the screw,
one primary external thread and one secondary external thread, the primary external thread being further from the driving portion than the secondary external thread, the direction of the secondary external thread being opposite to the direction of the primary external thread, and
one abutment extending in protrusion between the primary external thread and the secondary external thread,
a primary tightening member having a primary internal thread configured to cooperate with the primary external thread, the primary tightening member being intended to be secured to the first automotive component; and
a secondary nut having a secondary internal thread configured to cooperate with the secondary external thread, the secondary nut and the abutment being configured to bear against the intermediate component so as to fasten the first automotive component on the intermediate component, wherein
the primary external thread, the secondary external thread, the primary internal thread and the secondary internal thread are configured so that a secondary torque caused by the frictions between the secondary external thread and the secondary internal thread is higher than a primary torque induced by the frictions between the primary external thread and the primary internal thread.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The positioning device with tolerance compensation according to claim 1, further comprising a coating product disposed between the secondary external thread and the internal thread.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The positioning device with tolerance compensation according to claim 1, wherein the primary tightening member is formed by an insert configured to be secured to the first automotive component.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The positioning device with tolerance compensation according to claim 1, wherein the secondary external thread extends from the driving portion to the abutment, and wherein the primary external thread extends from the abutment to an end portion of the screw opposite to the driving portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The positioning device with tolerance compensation according to claim 1, wherein the abutment is located substantially at the middle of the screw along an axial direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The positioning device with tolerance compensation according to claim 1, wherein the secondary external thread is dextral and the primary external thread is sinistral.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A set of automotive components, for equipping a motor vehicle, the set of automotive components comprising at least:
a first automotive component defining a portion of the outer surface of the motor vehicle,
a second automotive component defining a portion of the outer surface of the motor vehicle, and
an intermediate component configured to support the first automotive component,
wherein the set of automotive components further comprises at least one positioning device with tolerance compensation according to claim 1, the positioning device with tolerance compensation being arranged so as to fasten the first automotive component to the intermediate component.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The set of automotive components according to the claim 7, wherein the second automotive component and the intermediate component form a single part.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A positioning method with tolerance compensation, for positioning a first automotive component with respect to a second automotive component by fastening the first automotive component on an intermediate component, the positioning method with tolerance compensation comprising the steps of:
providing a set of automotive components according to claim 8 in a disassembled state, the or each primary external thread being engaged in a respective primary internal thread,
connecting the first automotive component to the intermediate component by means of said at least one positioning device,
rotatably driving the screw so that the driving portion is pulled away from the primary tightening member until the abutment cooperates with the abutment portion,
rotatably driving the screw so that the screw displaces the first automotive component relative to the second automotive component, and
rotatably driving the secondary nut relative to the secondary external thread until the secondary nut presses against the intermediate component so as to fasten the first automotive component to the intermediate component.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The positioning method with tolerance compensation according to claim 9, wherein each step of rotatably driving the screw comprises an engagement step for engaging a driving tool on the secondary nut.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The positioning method with tolerance compensation according to claim 9, wherein the step of rotatably driving the secondary nut is performed until the abutment exerts on the intermediate component an adhesion torque higher than the secondary torque.
