Engagement bushing for cover panels with support core

Abstract

In an engagement bushing installation for the connection of a lightweight construction panel including spaced first and second cover plates with a support layer disposed therebetween to another structure by a mounting element extending through a passage in the construction panel, the passage includes a first section which extends through the first cover plate and the support layer and a second section of smaller diameter extending through the second cover plate for accommodating the mounting element, an expansion sleeve is disposed in the first section so as to abut the second cover plate and the part of the expansion sleeve disposed in the first cover plate is radially expandable so that it can be expanded into radial engagement with the first cover plate while it is axially engaged with the second cover plate when the lightweight construction panel is engaged by the mounting element with the other structure.

1 . An engagement bushing installation for the connection of a lightweight construction panel ( 100 ) including first and second spaced cover plates ( 101 ,  111 ) with a support core layer ( 121 ) disposed therebetween to a third element ( 150 ,  160 ,  165 ) by means of a mounting element ( 90 ), the bushing having a through bore ( 16 ) for accommodating the mounting element ( 90 ) in order to attach the third element ( 150 ,  160 ,  165 ),
 said lightweight construction panel ( 100 ) having a stepped passage ( 130 ) for receiving the engagement bushing ( 10 ) including a first passage section ( 105 ) which extends through the first cover plate ( 101 ) and the support core layer ( 121 ) and a second passage section of smaller diameter extending through the second cover plate ( 111 ),   said engagement bushing being disposed in the first passage section of the stepped passage ( 130 ) and abutting the second cover plate ( 111 ),   the diameter of the second passage section being only large enough to accommodate the mounting element ( 90 ),   the mounting element ( 90 ) being provided with a wedge structure for expanding the bushing in the area of the first cover plate ( 101 ) into firm radial engagement with the first cover plate ( 101 ) upon being mounted to the third element ( 150 ,  160 ,  165 ) and axially compressing the bushing into firm axial engagement with the second cover plate ( 111 ).   
   
   
       2 . An engagement bushing installation as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the engagement bushing comprises an essentially tubular sleeve ( 11 ) having a planar end face ( 15 ) and a truncated cone-shaped front face ( 12 ) whose imaginary tip is disposed in the sleeve interior ( 17 ) on a centerline ( 9 ) of the sleeve ( 11 ), said sleeve ( 11 ) being radially elastically or plastically expandable in the area of the first cover plate ( 101 ). 
   
   
       3 . An engagement bushing installation as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the front end area of the sleeve ( 11 ) is radially expandable by longitudinal slots formed therein. 
   
   
       4 . An engagement bushing installation as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a wedge element ( 31 ) is disposed between a head ( 93 ) of the mounting element ( 90 ) and the tubular sleeve ( 11 ), the wedge element ( 31 ) having the shape of one of a truncated cone and a pyramid structure. 
   
   
       5 . An engagement bushing installation as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the tubular sleeve ( 11 ) is in the area of its truncated cone-shaped front end ( 12 ) radially elastically deformable by being longitudinally slotted in the front end of the sleeve ( 11 ). 
   
   
       6 . An engagement bushing installation as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the outer wall of the tubular sleeve ( 11 ), at its axial end adjacent the first cover plate ( 101 ) where the sleeve engages the wall of the first passage section ( 105 ), is provided with engagement projections ( 21 ,  24 ,  26 ) biting into the wall of the first passage section ( 105 ) for preventing relative movement between the sleeve ( 11 ) and the lightweight construction panel. 
   
   
       7 . An engagement bushing installation as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the engagement projection comprise at least one of circumferential ribs  21 ,  22  and a plurality of knobs ( 24 ). 
   
   
       8 . An engagement bushing installation as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the wedge element ( 31 ) is formed integrally with the sleeve body ( 11 ). 
   
   
       9 . An engagement bushing installation as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the wedge element ( 31 ) is connected to the sleeve body ( 11 ) by way of a web structure ( 35 ) forming a breaking point to permit breaking of the wedge element ( 31 ) upon mounting of the third element.