Electrically Contacting Fastening Device

{
  "publication_number": "US9799967B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Electrically Contacting Fastening Device",
  "abstract": "An electrically contacting fastening device has a threaded bolt and a nut, between which an electric contact element can be arranged. The threaded bolt has a contacting portion for creating planar contact with the contact element, and a threaded portion. The nut can be secured on the threaded bolt by way of the threaded portion and at an end face has a contacting area for creating planar contact with the contact element. The threaded portion of the threaded bolt is provided with a lubricant coating and the contacting portion of the threaded bolt, the contact element and the end-face contacting area of the nut are permanently free of lubricant.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An electrically contacting fastening device, comprising: a threaded bolt; an electric contact element; and a nut, wherein the electric contact element is arrangable between the threaded bolt and the nut, the threaded bolt has a contacting portion for planar contact with the electric contact element, and a threaded portion, the nut is fastenable on the threaded bolt by way of the threaded portion and, on a face side, has a contacting area for planar contact with the electric contact element, the threaded portion of the threaded bolt is provided with a lubricant coating, and the contacting portion of the threaded bolt, the electric contact element and the face-side contacting area of the nut are permanently free of lubricant, the electric contact element has a co-planarity in a range of 30-65 μm respectively with the contacting area of the nut and the contacting portion of the threaded bolt, so that in a fastened condition, the electric contact element rests against the contacting portion and the contacting area in a planar and tight manner, whereby the electrically contacting fastening device is resistant to corrosion.",
    "2. The electrically contacting fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the threaded bolt and the nut are made of aluminum.",
    "3. The electrically contacting fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the nut is configured as a cap nut.",
    "4. The electrically contacting fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the threaded bolt has a planar and disk-shaped contacting portion.",
    "5. The electrically contacting fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the face-side contacting area of the nut has a planar configuration.",
    "6. The electrically contacting fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the electric contact element has a tin coating of 10-15 μm.",
    "7. The electrically contacting fastening device according to claim 2, wherein the nut is configured as a cap nut.",
    "8. The electrically contacting fastening device according to claim 7, wherein the threaded bolt has a planar and disk-shaped contacting portion.",
    "9. The electrically contacting fastening device according to claim 8, wherein the face-side contacting area of the nut has a planar configuration.",
    "10. The electrically contacting fastening device according to claim 9, wherein the contact element has a tin coating of 10-15 μm.",
    "11. A method of providing an electrically contacting fastening device having a threaded bolt and a nut between which an electric contact element is arrangeable, the method comprising the acts of: providing the threaded bolt having a contacting portion and a threaded portion; providing the nut having a threaded portion and a face-side contacting area; and applying a lubricant coating, via dipping or by a flowing around, on the threaded portion of the threaded bolt, and maintaining the contacting portion of the threaded bolt, the face-side contacting area of the nut, and the contact element arrangeable between the contacting portion and the face-side contacting area permanently free of lubricant, wherein wherein the act of applying the lubricant coating is carried out by guiding the threaded portion of the threaded bolt through a lubricant bath, while the threaded bolt is held by the contacting portion on a movable rail.",
    "12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the electric contact element has a co-planarity in a range of 30-65 μm respectively with the contacting area of the nut and the contacting portion of the threaded bolt, so that upon tightening, the electric contact element rests against the contacting portion and the contacting area in a planar and tight manner, whereby the electrically contacting fastening device is resistant to corrosion.",
    "13. An electrically contacting fastening device, comprising: a threaded bolt; an electric contact element; and a nut that is fastenable to the threaded bolt, wherein the electric contact element is disposed between the threaded bolt and the nut, the threaded bolt has a contacting portion for planar contact with the electric contact element, and a threaded portion, the nut is fastenable on the threaded bolt by way of the threaded portion and, on a face side, has a contacting area for planar contact with the electric contact element, and the electric contact element has a co-planarity in a range of 30-65 μm respectively with the contacting area of the nut and the contacting portion of the threaded bolt, so that upon tightening, the electric contact element rests against the contacting portion and the contacting area in a planar and tight manner, whereby the electrically contacting fastening device is resistant to corrosion.",
    "14. The electrically contacting fastening device according to claim 13, wherein the threaded portion of the threaded bolt is provided with a lubricant coating.",
    "15. The electrically contacting fastening device according to claim 13, wherein the contacting portion of the threaded bolt, the electric contact element and the face-side contacting area of the nut are permanently free of a lubricant coating."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention relates to an electrically contacting fastening device having a threaded bolt and a nut, between which an electric contact element is arranged.\n\nThese types of contact connections are known in general, for example, from German Patent Document DE 20 2005 021 114 U1 or German Patent document DE 10 2008 010 352 A1.\n\nIn the case of the electrically contacting fastening of the nut and the threaded bolt having a contact element arranged in-between, high tightening torques are required at the nut, in order to maintain the predefined electrical resistance of the contacting for the entire service life. In the case of arc-ignited aluminum fastening and contacting devices having a threaded bolt, a contact element, preferably a cable lug, and a nut, a lubricant is therefore used for screwing the nut to the threaded bolt, because otherwise a plastic deformation of the thread and a type of welding-together of the bread material generally called a “galling of the thread”, may occur when the nut is tightened.\n\nConventionally, such components used in mass production (for example, within the scope of a motor vehicle) of the fastening device (threaded bolt, nut) in the drum process, are coated with a lubricant, particularly all locations on the nut being coated with the lubricant. Although the lubricant promotes the fastening suitability at high tightening torques for ensuring a secure mechanical connection, it has poor electric conductivity and, because of its sliding characteristics, increases friction corrosion at the contact surfaces with respect to the contact element during its service life.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01R 4/34",
    "F16B 2001/0021",
    "F16B 2200/79",
    "F16B 33/06",
    "H01R 11/12",
    "H01R 11/26"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16B 1/00",
    "F16B 33/06",
    "H01R 11/12",
    "H01R 11/26",
    "H01R 4/34"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Bayerische Motoren Werke AG"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Tobias Moosmayr",
    "Josef Forster",
    "Tobias Brandstetter"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-07-06",
  "publication_date": "2017-10-24",
  "grant_date": "2017-10-24",
  "priority_date": "2014-01-17",
  "application_number": "US-201615202958-A",
  "family_id": "51905074",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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}