Tie Rod
Description
The invention relates to a tie rod according to the preamble of claim 1.

DE 199 00 264 A1 describes  using a tie rod for a motor vehicle as an example  a structural unit comprising a tube which is provided on at least one side with an internal thread which turns in a first direction of rotation  wherein a threaded sleeve having a corresponding external thread is screwed into the end of the tube. A shank of a ball joint is screwed into this threaded sleeve. For this purpose  the shank has an external thread which turns in the direction opposite to the first direction of rotation and corresponds to the internal thread of the threaded sleeve. By moving the threaded sleeve  which has a key surface extending out of the open end of the tube for attaching a tool for this purpose  the tube and the shank can be moved relative to each other in the axial direction. This means that rotating the threaded sleeve causes the tube and the shank to move towards each other or away from each other. This condition is brought about by the threads which progress in opposing directions. This adjustment mechanism can be used to adjust the length of the structural unit  which is significant with regard to adjusting the track of the vehicle  in particular in the case of the example of a tie rod for motor vehicles presented in the document. In the case of the solution according to DE 199 00 264 A1  it is disadvantageous  however  that the threaded sleeve extends out of the open end of the tube. In this section at least  when used in motor vehicles in particular  there is a risk that corrosion can occur on the free end of the threaded sleeve due to damage or improper handling when adjusting the length of the structural unit. The fundamental risk therefore also exists that this corrosion will expand to the adjacent components  thereby causing the structural unit to become untight or  possibly  permanent unusable.

Document DE 77 32 250 U1 describes a structural unit that is designed similarly to the previously described tie rod and likewise enables the threaded sleeve to be adjusted via a key surface provided for this purpose  and therefore the shank and the tube can move relative to each other in the axial direction.
A disadvantage of this solution  however  is that both the tube and the threaded sleeve screwed into it each comprise at least one longitudinal slot which enables moisture or contaminants to enter the interior of the structural unit  in particular when the structural unit is used in a motor vehicle. An increased load on the threaded regions caused by the foreign substances entering them cannot be ruled out entirely  and there is a potential risk of premature wear or premature ageing of the structural unit and  therefore  there is a risk that functionality will be limited  at the least.

A problem addressed by the invention is that of providing a structural unit comprising a tube and a shank having a threaded sleeve disposed therebetween  using which a length setting between the tube and the shank can be attained by rotating the threaded sleeve  wherein this structural unit should be reliably protected against penetration by moisture and contaminants.
Moreover  a method for the use of such a structural unit and at least one suitable tool for carrying out the method should be provided.
Furthermore  a tie rod for motor vehicles  in particular for commercial vehicles  should be provided  which should ensure that the problem is solved for the aforementioned structural unit  and should ensure that a clamped connection which is constant and can be reproduced using a reliable process exists between the tube  the shank  and the threaded sleeve disposed therebetween.

This problem is solved by the invention having the features of the independent claims. Further embodiments are the subject matter of the particular subsequent dependent claims.

A structural unit comprising a tube which is provided on at least one side with an internal thread which turns in a first direction of rotation  and into the end of which a threaded sleeve is screwed  wherein the threaded sleeve has an internal thread which turns in the direction opposite to the first direction of rotation and has a shank screwed therein  was developed according to the invention in such a way that the entire threaded sleeve is accommodated in the end section of the tube  and the threaded sleeve has a coupling contour on the opening side of the tube.

Given that the entire threaded sleeve is accommodated in the end section of the tube  a structural unit that is reliably protected against penetration by contaminants  and is therefore protected against corrosion  is created using simple means. The coupling contour provided on the threaded sleeve makes it possible to adjust the length of the tube relative to the shank using the threaded sleeve. Additional sealing measures on the opening side of the tube can be provided on the current structural unit according to the invention. This is not absolutely necessary  however  since the threaded sleeve is still accommodated in the tube in a protected manner anyway.

According to a first embodiment of the invention  the coupling contour of the threaded sleeve forms a tool placement surface or tool engagement surface. In this simple manner  it is possible to couple a tool  through the opening side of the tube  with the coupling contour of the threaded sleeve and rotate the threaded sleeve within the tube.

Furthermore  it is advantageously possible to rotate the threaded sleeve within the structural unit since the coupling contour of the threaded sleeve is a contour for the mutual  form-locking engagement of the threaded sleeve with an adapter. The tool and/or the adapter can therefore be permanently attached to the structural unit both in the case of the tool-dependent solution  and in the case of an embodiment comprising an adapter. However  it is also possible to remove the adapter and/or the tool from the structural unit once the length of the structural unit has been set. In either case  it is relatively easy to perform the required or desired length adjustment of the structural unit according to the invention.

Of the large number of possible variant embodiments of the coupling contour of the threaded sleeve  it has proven particularly advantageous for the threaded sleeve to have  as the coupling contour  at least one slot-shaped recess and/or at least one pin formed on the threaded sleeve and/or a section having a polygonal contour. Depending on the coupling contour that is selected  and corresponding thereto  a suitable adapter or a tool that can be used accordingly must be selected  using which the threaded sleeve can be rotated within the tube in order to perform the desired length adjustment of the structural unit according to the invention.

In a special embodiment of the adapter  the adapter can be displaced between the shank and the tube in a thread-independent manner  for example. In this manner  the adapter can be placed on the corresponding coupling contour of the threaded sleeve only for the period of time during which the length of the structural unit is adjusted  for example. Given that the adapter can be moved into the tube and out of the tube in a thread-independent manner  it is furthermore possible – as mentioned above – to remove the adapter from the structural unit entirely. For this purpose and  much more significantly  to enable implementation of the solution according to the invention  the adapter can be used independently of the threads of the threaded sleeve of the tube and of the shank  which are operatively interconnected.

Proceeding from the idea of the above-described embodiment of the invention  the adapter can be displaced between the shank and the tube  for example  in that the outer dimensions of the adapter are smaller  at least in sections  than the inner diameter of the internal thread of the tube  and the inner dimensions of the adapter are greater across the entire length of said adapter than the outer diameter of the external thread of the shank.

In this special manner  the adapter can be moved back and forth without it being dependent on the available thread for this purpose. Therefore  if the end of the tube of the structural unit has a circular cross section  for example  the outer diameter of the adapter would be smaller than the inner diameter of the internal thread of the tube  at least in a main section. The limitation of this dimension of the adapter to one section is based on the condition that it should be possible to limit the adjustment travel of the structural unit. Conversely  the inner diameter of the adapter is greater than the outer diameter of the external thread of the shank. In this case  however  the inner diameter of the adapter must be greater along the entire length in order to permit free  path-independent displacement on the shank.

According to another proposal according to the invention  the adapter is fixedly connected to a sleeve which is screwed onto an external thread of the tube  wherein the sleeve has a tool placement surface on the external peripheral surface thereof in order to move the adapter directly via the sleeve and thereby transfer the rotational motion to the threaded sleeve. This variant  which has a slightly more complex design  is very easy to handle and is therefore advantageous.

Once the structural unit has been adjusted to the necessary length  the components must be fixed relative to one another. Different possible solutions for this are provided in the prior art. According to a particularly simple variant embodiment  the adapter or the component connection between tube and shank is fixed using a locknut. This locknut can be screwed directly onto the external thread of the shank. The use of a locknut has a further advantage. A sealing effect can be simultaneously achieved therewith. By fixing the structural unit using a locknut  the open end of the tube is closed  thereby easily preventing penetration by moisture and contaminants.

These measures can be enhanced multifold when  according to a further proposal of the invention  a self-locking locknut is used as the locknut. The self-locking effect is usually attained via a plastic lining within the thread of the nut  and therefore an additional sealing effect can be attained when such a locknut is used for fastening.

In the sense according to the invention  the locknut serves to directly or indirectly seal the end of the tube. An indirect seal exists  for instance  when an adapter is provided between the locknut and the end of the tube. A direct seal by the locknut exists when the locknut rests directly against the opening of the end of the tube.

At this point  a further and very essential advantage of the solution according to the invention becomes clear. In an advantageous manner  the assemblies under discussion here are suited for use in particular  for example  on tie rods in motor vehicles  as described above in conjunction with the explanation of the prior art. To fix the individual components relative to each other  collar clamps are used which are currently placed onto the end of the tube and screwed down using considerable force  thereby fixing the components relative to one another in a clamping manner. To increase elasticity and enable such clamping to occur  the known solutions comprise at least one slot in the end of the tube and in the threaded sleeve extending out of the tube. As explained initially  it is due precisely to these slots that contaminants and moisture can hardly be prevented from entering the interior of the structural unit. This condition is also accounted for in the solution according to the invention. Since the entire threaded sleeve is accommodated in the end of the tube and the individual parts are fixed using a locknut  the components of the structural unit are loaded against one another and fastened in this manner  and therefore additional collar clamps on the outer circumference of the tube are no longer necessary. As a result  however  the previously mentioned slots can also be avoided  thereby reducing the number of required components and reducing the production effort required for a structural unit according to the invention  and providing a greatly improved seal. The seal was therefore simplified overall  and was associated with the fastening of the components of the structural unit.

To enable a counterforce on the tube to be generated during the displacement movement of the threaded sleeve  a further proposal of the invention provides that a tool placement surface is formed on the external peripheral surface of the tube. In this simplest case  this can be a key surface which is used for the placement of an open-end wrench.

Since the length of the structural unit is usually adjusted manually  it is practical to provide a scale on the external peripheral surface of the tube for use by the user who will perform the adjustment. The scale can be formed by markings. A plurality of markings that indicate the extent of the adjustment movement is therefore preferably provided on the external peripheral surface of the tube. It is therefore possible – in the case of the example of a tie rod for motor vehicles – to set the same length value exactly on both sides  for example.

To prevent the case in which  due to erroneous operation of the structural unit according to the invention  the threaded sleeve is screwed into the tube too far and the components are separated  for instance  an expedient embodiment of the invention provides that the internal thread of the tube has a limited length in order to reduce the axial travel of the threaded sleeve. By way of this simple measure  the threaded sleeve can be prevented from being screwed in too far. The threaded sleeve reaches a stop at the end of the internal thread of the tube  at the latest  and cannot be moved further. The threaded sleeve can therefore be prevented from coming loose the shank. Furthermore  the operator notices the error that was caused  and can now rotate the threaded sleeve out of the tube.

Furthermore  according to a further development of the invention  the threaded sleeve comprises a blocking element through which the shank extends to limit the adjustment travel  and which is accommodated in a groove present in the external peripheral surface of the shank such that the axial displacement thereof is limited  and is inserted into a groove formed in the internal peripheral surface of the threaded sleeve. Preferably  the grooves extend circumferentially along the external peripheral surface of the shank and along the internal peripheral surface of the threaded sleeve. This variant constitutes a particularly simple production possibility. For example  the threaded sleeve can be manufactured together with the blocking element as a prefabricated structural unit. Assembly is simplified overall. The blocking element is inserted into the groove in the internal peripheral surface of the threaded sleeve without axial play  but with clearance in the radial direction. The radial play within the groove for receiving the blocking element makes it possible to use the inherent elasticity of the blocking element  which is significant for the assembly of the structural unit. To simplify this assembly of the blocking element  the shank can comprise a mushroom-cap-shaped end piece  the outer dimensions of which are greater than the inner diameter of a through opening in the blocking element. When the structural unit is assembled  the shank is inserted via the end piece thereof into the through opening of the blocking element which  due to the inherent elasticity thereof  expands in the radial direction within the groove in the threaded sleeve and can be guided over the end piece of the shank. After passing over the end piece of the shank  the blocking element contracts due to the inherent elasticity thereof and therefore approximately has a through opening that corresponds to the circumference of the external peripheral surface of the groove within the shank. The blocking element therefore now rests in the groove of the shank directly against the surface of the groove. The groove of the shank preferably has two lateral contact flanges that limit the axial travel. The contact flanges serve as a stop for the blocking element.

With this solution  an undesired loosening of the individual parts of the structural unit presented herein can be securely and reliably prevented. The available  limited axial adjustment travel of the components relative to each other is defined by this embodiment in a simple manner. Due to the fact that the shank penetrates the blocking element  the blocking element can be disposed within the structural unit. Consequently  the blocking element is protected from mechanical  thermal and chemical influences  thereby constituting a reliable safeguard which is guaranteed for the entire service life of the structural unit. This solution has further advantages  however  such as the prevention of improper adjustment movement of the structural unit  or the simple design thereof.

According to one possible application of a structural unit according to the invention  the structural unit is a component of a tie rod for motor vehicles  and the shank comprises a ball joint housing on the end.

According to the method according to the invention for the use of a structural unit  the shank and the tube are moved in opposite directions by rotating the threaded sleeve within the tube  wherein the coupling contour of the threaded sleeve serves to introduce the torque required for the rotational motion of the threaded sleeve by way of a tool or an adapter. An adapter or a tool is always required for the method because the threaded sleeve is screwed into the end of the tube.

A first tool for the application of the method is characterized  according to the proposal  in that the tool comprises a handle and a key surface having a cycloidal recess which is semicircular at most  for example  for placement onto the external thread of the shank  and at least one pin which extends perpendicularly away from the key surface and is complementary to the coupling contour. Once the locknut has been completely loosened  this manually operated tool is placed onto the external thread of the shank via the cycloidal recess. The at least one pin provided on the key surface of the tool then engages in the coupling contour of the threaded sleeve. Preferably  however  a plurality of pins is provided to attain a better distribution of the force that is introduced. Once the tool has been placed on the coupling contour  it rests on the thread of the shank and can be rotated using the handle thereof  wherein the tool moves the threaded sleeve via the pins and the coupling contour.

Moreover  there are further possibilities for the design of a tool that is suitable for the invention. According to another proposal  for example  the tool comprises a cycloidal recess which is semicircular at most  for example  for placement onto the external thread of the shank on the inner side thereof  a tool placement surface on the outer contour thereof  and at least one pin which extends perpendicularly away from the circumference of the recess and is complementary to the coupling contour. This tool is therefore not manually operated  but rather is placed onto the external thread of the shank via the cycloidal recess  and is then moved in the axial direction along the shank toward the coupling contour of the threaded sleeve  whereby the pin present on the tool and the coupling contour become engaged. Next  another tool can be placed on the tool placement surface provided on the outer contour of the tool  and can be used to adjust the threaded sleeve. In the simplest case  a tool placement surface designed similarly to a hexagonal nut is provided  thereby making it possible for an open-end wrench to be placed on the external peripheral surface of the tool and used to adjust the threaded sleeve. Greater forces can be transmitted using this solution than is possible using a manually operated tool.

A tie rod for motor vehicles is protected  the variant embodiments of which relate to those related to the structural unit described. It is a tie rod for motor vehicles  in particular for commercial vehicles  comprising a tube which is provided on at least one side with an internal thread which turns in a first direction of rotation  and into the end of which a threaded sleeve is screwed  wherein the threaded sleeve has an internal thread which turns in the direction opposite to the first direction of rotation and has a shank of a ball joint housing screwed therein. The entire threaded sleeve is accommodated in the end section of the tube  and the tube is fastened to the shank of the ball joint housing  which is screwed into the threaded sleeve  exclusively via axial clamping using a locknut.

The axial clamping of the components results in a number of advantages. According to the prior art  the tube  threaded sleeve  and shank are clamped after the shank of the ball joint housing is adjusted by radially compressing the slotted tube end and the slotted threaded sleeve using a clamp which is tightened using an attachment screw. In the installed state  the clamp encloses the slotted tube end  the slotted threaded sleeve  and the shank of the ball joint housing.

To enable the clamp to be installed  the tube end must be tapered relative to the original diameter  which constitutes additional complexity.

In addition  the embodiment according to the prior art results in great differences in the clamping effect  in some cases  when implemented in series production. These differences are due  inter alia  to the use of collar clamp which is subject to tolerances and has deviations in the thickness of the material  in the roughness of surfaces that are in contact with the parts to be joined  and other fluctuations of functional dimensions. Further differences in the clamping effect are caused by the attachment screw  the properties of which can fluctuate in series production. Furthermore  the exact same amount of clamping force cannot be reproduced especially when the attachment screw is retightened several times. Moreover  fluctuations in the clamping force can result due to the type of joining of the attachment screw. Experiments have shown that tightening the nut or the screw bolt of the attachment screw using the same torque results in different clamping forces.

In all  the axial clamping of tube  threaded sleeve  and shank results in a clamping effect that is more constant and process-reliable than is the case when collar clamps according to the prior art are used. This is due mainly to the fact that fewer components or parts to be joined interact in the case of axial clamping  thereby reducing the possibilities for influencing the joining force that connects the components.

The invention is described in the following in greater detail with reference to the attached drawings. The example embodiments shown do not limit the invention to the variants shown  but rather serve merely to explain the principle of the invention. In order to illustrate the mode of operation according to the invention  only highly simplified schematic representations are shown in the figures  in which components that are not essential to the invention have been omitted. This does not imply  however  that such components would not be present in a solution according to the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1: shows a sectional view of a first variant embodiment of a structural unit according to the invention 
Figure 2: shows an adapter as an individual part and in a perspective depiction 
Figure 3: shows a second variant of a structural unit according to the invention  in a sectional view 
Figure 4: shows an adapter  which is suitable for the variant in figure 3  as an individual part and in a perspective view 
Figure 5: shows a sectional view of a further variant embodiment of a structural unit according to the invention 
Figure 6: shows the section line VI-VI from figure 5 
Figure 7: shows a fourth possibility for a structural unit according to the invention  in a sectional view 
Figure 8: shows a further variant embodiment of a structural unit according to the invention  in a sectional view 
Figure 9: shows the section line IX-IX from figure 8 
Figure 10: shows a first tool in a perspective view  depicted as an individual part 
Figure 11: shows a second tool in a perspective view  as an individual part
and
Figure 12: shows a section of a cut through the end region of the shank.

Figure 1 shows  using the end piece of a tie rod for a motor vehicle as an example  a structural unit according to the invention in a first variant embodiment in a sectional view and in a simplified depiction. The structural unit comprises a tube 2 which is provided with an internal thread 1 which turns in a first direction of rotation  and into the end of which a threaded sleeve 3 is screwed. The threaded sleeve 3 has an internal thread 4 which turns in the direction opposite to the first direction of rotation. A shank 5 is screwed into the internal thread 4  the exposed free end of which is in the form of a ball joint housing 17. The shank 5 extends all the way through the threaded sleeve 3. Thus  an end piece of the shank 5  which extends out of the threaded sleeve 3  is visible on the right side of the illustration in figure 1. On the side facing the opening of the tube 2  the threaded sleeve 3 has a coupling contour 6 which comprises slot-shaped recesses 8 which extend in the direction of the adjustment movement to be implemented between the tube 2 and the shank 5. An arm 28 of an adapter 7 engages in the slot-shaped recess 8 of the threaded sleeve 3  wherein the arm 28 can be displaced within the slot-shaped recess 8 of the threaded sleeve 3 easily and in a gliding manner. The arm 28  as a component of the adapter 7  therefore engages in a form-locking manner in the coupling contour 6 of the threaded sleeve 3. Furthermore  the special feature of the adapter 7 is that it is designed such that the dimensions thereof allow it to be displaced along the entire shank 5 independently of the thread. The adapter 7 is equipped with a tool placement surface 27 on a flange-type part thereof  thereby enabling it to be moved from the outer side of the structural unit using a suitable tool. The tube 2 also has a tool placement surface 12 on the external peripheral surface thereof  in order to provide the counterforce to said rotational motion. In the example shown  the tool placement surfaces 12 and 27 are designed such that each one can accommodate an open-end wrench. Furthermore  the entire structural unit is fixed using a locknut 11. The locknut 11 serves  in interaction with the adapter 7  to seal the structural unit and  in particular  the open end of the tube 2 against penetration by contaminants and moisture. It also fixes the components that can move relative to one another in the selected position.

Figure 2 shows an adapter 7 that can be used in a structural unit according to figure 1. This adapter 7 has a tool placement surface 27 on a flange-type part. In addition  two arms 28 extend perpendicularly away from this surface. As shown in the depiction in figure 2  the inner surface of the arms 28 and the diameter of the through-hole 34 of the adapter 7 are equipped with a smooth surface  thereby enabling the adapter 7 to glide on the external thread of the shank 5.

Figure 3 shows a variant having the same basic design as the structural unit shown in figure 1. The main differences are seen in the coupling contour 6 of the threaded sleeve 3 and the connection thereof to the adapter 7. For instance  the threaded sleeve 3 comprises a pin 9 that points in the direction of the opening of the tube 2 and leads into a slot 30 of the adapter 7. This slot 30 of the adapter 7 is formed in the peripheral surface 29 of the adapter 7. The adapter 7 shown in figure 3 also has a flange-type expansion  on the outer circumference of which a tool placement surface 27 is formed.

The adapter 7 is shown more clearly in figure 4 than in figure 3. It clearly shows the design of the adapter 7 which comprises two diametrically opposed slots 30 within a peripheral surface 29 which is otherwise designed as a closed peripheral surface having a circular cross section. The previously mentioned tool placement surface 27 is located on the flange—type part of the adapter 7.

A further embodiment of a structural unit according to the invention is shown in figure 5  in a sectional view. The special feature of this variant is that the threaded sleeve 3 has a polygonal contour 10 on the side facing the end of the tube 2. Corresponding thereto  the adapter 7 also has a complementary polygonal contour on the inner side of peripheral surface 29 thereof. The flange-type expansion of the adapter 7  which serves to seal the tube 2 in this example as well  likewise has an above-described tool placement surface 27.

The embodiment shown in figure 5 makes it possible to use an adapter as well as a special tool key which can be placed onto the polygonal contour 10 of the threaded sleeve 3. In order to make contact with the polygonal contour 10  the tool key must be inserted into the open end of the tube 2  however. This would have to be taken into account for a variant embodiment that would not include the adapter 7 shown here.

The section line VI-VI from figure 5 is shown in figure 6. The engagement of the individual components is shown clearly in this case as well. The threaded sleeve 3 is screwed onto the shank 5 via the internal thread thereof. It has the polygonal contour 10. The polygonal contour 10 is enclosed by the corresponding peripheral surface 29 of the adapter 7  thereby permitting longitudinal movement in the sense of a displacement of the adapter 7 on the polygonal contour 10. This potential movement is thread-independent in this case as well. The tool placement surface 27 is present on the outer surface on the flange-type expansion of the adapter 7.
A further example of a structural unit according to the invention is depicted in figure 7. The threaded sleeve 3  which has been screwed into the tube 2  has a coupling contour 6 comprising a slot-shaped recess 8 on the side facing the end of the tube 2. An arm 28 of the adapter 7 engages in a gliding manner in this slot-shaped recess 8 of the threaded sleeve 3. The special feature of the solution shown in figure 7 is that the part of the adapter 7 designed as flange 33 is fixedly connected to a sleeve 31 which has been screwed onto the external peripheral surface of the tube 2  for the purpose of which the tube 2 has a thread corresponding to the sleeve 31 along a section of the external peripheral surface thereof. The connection between flange 33 and sleeve 31 can be a bonded connection or can be established using press fit or an interference fit. Thus  the adapter 7 and  therefore  the threaded sleeve 3  can be displaced within the tube 2 by displacing the sleeve 31 on the outer circumference of the tube 2. The locknut 11 is used here as well to fix the components relative to one another  and also serves to seal the structural unit against penetration by contaminants. Moreover  a tool placement surface 32 is provided on the external peripheral surface of the sleeve 31.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment  in a sectional view  in which a polygonal contour 10 is formed on the threaded sleeve 3 on the opening side of the tube 2. Corresponding to this polygonal contour 10 is a complementary inner contour of the adapter 7. The adapter 7 therefore glides along the longitudinal extension of the polygonal contour 10 of the threaded sleeve 3 during the displacement movement and likewise transfers the rotational motion via this polygonal contour 10. The adapter 7 comprises a flange 33 in this variant solution as well  which is fixedly connected to a sleeve 31 which has been screwed onto the external peripheral surface of the tube 2. The sleeve 31 and the tube 2 have tool placement surfaces 12 and 32 in the manner described above. A locknut 11 on the external thread of the shank 5 serves to seal and fix the components.

The section line IX-IX from figure 8 is shown in figure 9. Clearly  the threaded sleeve 3 has been screwed onto the shank 5 and interacts with the polygonal contour 10 thereof via the corresponding contour of the internal peripheral surface of the adapter 7. The flange 33 of the adapter 7 is fixedly connected to the sleeve 31.

Figure 10 shows  as an example  a tool for the manual actuation and adjustment of a structural unit according to the invention. This tool  which is labeled in entirety with 18  comprises a handle 19 which transitions into a key surface 20. The key surface 20 has a cycloidal – and semicircular in this case – recess 21 in the center. The tool 18 comprises two pins 22 which extend at a right angle away from the key surface 20 and can be engaged with the coupling contour of the threaded sleeve  while the semicircular recess 21 is placed onto the external thread of the shank in a gliding manner. The handle 19 of the tool 18 is used for manual operation.

A further tool for the application of a method according to the invention is shown in figure 11. This two-part tool 23 also comprises  on each half  a cycloidal recess 24 which is semicircular in the present case  which is placed onto the thread of the shank 5  as in the example explained above  and can be guided thereon in a gliding manner. The external peripheral surface of the tool 23 has a tool placement surface 25 which  in this case  was designed similarly to a hexagonal nut overall  and which is produced when both tool halves are placed onto the shank 5  thereby enabling an open-end wrench to be placed on the tool. Two pins 26 which can engage in a corresponding coupling contour 6 of the threaded sleeve 3 extend perpendicularly away from the surface of the tool 23.

Figure 12 shows  as an example  one possibility for integrating a limitation of the adjustment travel into a structural unit according to the invention. It is thereby also made possible to prevent the components from being separated from each other due to improper handling. The end piece of the shank 5 has a special design for this purpose. First  the outer contour thereof is shaped as a mushroom cap. This mushroom-cap-shaped expansion comprises a groove 14 in the shank 5. A blocking element 13  which is annular in this case  glides along the surface of the groove 14. Thus  the groove 14 is also circumferential on the end of the shank 5 located inside the tube. On the side opposite the groove 14  the blocking element 13 is inserted into a further groove 16 in the threaded sleeve 3. In this case  the groove 16 is designed such that the blocking element 13 has only slight axial play  that is play in the longitudinal direction of the structural unit. However  the blocking element 13 has sufficient radial play within the groove 16. The radial play is required so that the blocking element 13  which has limited elasticity  can be slid over the mushroom-cap-shaped expansion of the end section of the shank 5 during initial assembly  and therefore  once the mushroom-cap-shaped expansion of the shank end has been passed over  the blocking element 13 snaps into the groove 14 of the shank 5. It returns to its original shape due to its elasticity. In the shank end 5  the groove 14 has an axial extension in the longitudinal direction of the shank 5  thereby ensuring the required adjustment travel of the threaded sleeve 3 within the structural unit.

List of reference characters

1 internal thread (tube)
2 tube
3 threaded sleeve
4 internal thread (threaded sleeve)
5 shank
6 coupling contour
7 adapter
8 slot-shaped recess
9 pin
10 polygonal contour
11 locknut
12 tool placement surface
13 blocking element
14 groove (in the shank)
15 internal peripheral surface (of the threaded sleeve)
16 groove (in the threaded sleeve)
17 ball joint housing
18 tool
19 handle
20 key surface
21 semicircular recess
22 pin
23 tool
24 recess
25 tool placement surface
26 pin
27 tool placement surface
28 arm
29 peripheral surface
30 slot
31 sleeve
32 tool placement surface
33 flange
34 through-hole

Tie Rod

Claims

1. A tie rod for motor vehicles  in particular for commercial vehicles  comprising a tube (2) which is provided on at least one side with an internal thread (1) which turns in a first direction of rotation  into the end of which a threaded sleeve (3) is screwed  wherein the threaded sleeve (3) has an internal thread (4) which turns in the direction opposite to the first direction of rotation has a shank (5) of a ball joint housing (17) screwed therein 
characterized in that
the threaded sleeve (3) is accommodated entirely in the end section of the tube (2)  and the tube (2) is fastened to the shank (5) of the ball joint housing (17)  which is screwed into the threaded sleeve (3)  exclusively via axial clamping using a locknut (11).
2. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to claim 2 
characterized in that
the opening of the end section of the tube (2)  which annularly encloses the shank (5)  is closed via the locknut (11) directly or via the intermediate connection of a locking element.
3. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to claim 1 or 2 
characterized in that
the threaded sleeve (3) has a coupling contour (6) on the opening side of the tube (2).
4. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to claim 3 
characterized in that
the coupling contour (6) of the threaded sleeve (3) forms a tool placement surface or a tool engagement surface.
5. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to claim 4 characterized

in that
the coupling contour (6) of the threaded sleeve (3) is a contour for the reciprocal  positive engagement of the threaded sleeve (3) with an adapter (7).

6. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to claim 4 or 5 
characterized in that
the threaded sleeve (3) has  as a coupling contour (6)  at least one slot-shaped recess (8) and/or at least one pin (9) formed on the threaded sleeve (3) and/or one section having a polygonal contour (10).

7. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to claim 5 or 6 
characterized in that
the adapter (7) can be displaced axially between shank (5) and tube (2)  and is not engaged with a thread.

8. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to one of the claims 5 to 7 
characterized in that
the outer dimensions of the adapter (7) are smaller  at least in sections  than the inner diameter of the internal thread (1) of the tube (2)  and the inner dimensions of the adapter (7) are greater across the entire length of said adapter than the outer diameter of the external thread of the shank (5).
9. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to one of the claims 5 to 7 
characterized in that
the adapter (7) is fixedly connected to a sleeve (31) which is screwed onto an external thread of the tube (2) and has a tool placement surface (32) on the external peripheral surface thereof.
10. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to one of the claims 5 to 9 
characterized in that

the adapter (7) or the component connection between tube (2) and shank (5) can be fixed using a locknut (11).
11. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to claim 10 
characterized in that
the locknut (11) is self-locking  or is equipped with a locking element.
12. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to one of the claims 1 to 11 
characterized in that
a tool placement surface (12) is formed on the external peripheral surface of the tube (2).
13. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to one of the claims 1 to 12 
characterized in that
markings that form a scale are provided on the external peripheral surface of the tube (2) for adjusting the length of the tie rod.
14. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to one of the claims 1 to 13 
characterized in that
the internal thread (1) of the tube (2) has a defined length in order to limit the axial travel of the threaded sleeve (3).
15. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to one of the claims 1 to 14 
characterized in that
the threaded sleeve (3) comprises a blocking element (13) through which the shank (5) extends  and which is accommodated in a groove (14) present on the external peripheral surface of the shank (5) in such a way that axial travel thereof is limited  and is inserted into a groove (16) formed in the internal peripheral surface (15) of the threaded sleeve (3).

16. The tie rod for motor vehicles according to claim 15 
characterized in that
the grooves (14  16) extend circumferentially along the external peripheral surface of the shank (5) or along the internal peripheral surface (15) of the threaded sleeve (3).
17. The method for the application of a tie rod for motor vehicles according to one of the claims 1 to 16  in which the shank (5) and the tube (2) are moved in opposite directions by rotating the threaded sleeve (3) within the tube (2)  wherein the coupling contour (6) of the threaded sleeve (3) serves to introduce the torque required for the rotational motion of the threaded sleeve (3) by way of a tool (18) or an adapter (7).

Tie Rod

Abstract

The invention relates to a structural unit  e.g. a tie rod  comprising a tube (2) which is provided on at least one side with an internal thread (1) which turns in a first direction of rotation  and into the end of which a threaded sleeve (3) is screwed  wherein the threaded sleeve (3) has an internal thread (4) which turns in the direction opposite to the first direction of rotation and has a shank (5) screwed therein.
According to the invention  the entire threaded sleeve (3) is accommodated in the end section of the tube (2)  and the threaded sleeve (3) has a coupling contour (6) on the opening side of the tube (2).

The method for applying such a structural unit  wherein the shank (5) and the tube (2) are moved in opposite directions by rotating the threaded sleeve (3) within the tube (2)  is characterized in that the coupling contour (6) of the threaded sleeve (3) serves to introduce the torque required for the rotational motion of the threaded sleeve (3) by way of a tool (18) or an adapter (7).

(Figure 1)