Release: october 2003

Patented product forms watertight joint between two components By developing the UNITEC® SCREW CLIP - P-in-P system, Böllhoff (Bielefeld) has made extremely tight joints possible, even on thin-walled components. Components joined using this system are also considerably lighter and easier to recycle than similar components fastened together using conventional methods. This is because both the screw clip and the screw are made completely out of plastic (P-in-P). The system can be used for wall thicknesses ranging from 0.8 mm to 2.5 mm, joins components made out of various materials (e.g. steel, aluminium and plastic) and incorporates an impressive quick-assembly process in those situations where access to only one side of the component is possible. This innovation will be used in areas including the automotive industry as well as engine and plant construction. The screw (PPA GF) features a high round profile; the screw clip (PA) has four turns, two locks and the upper part is thin-walled. First, the screw clip is inserted into the square opening (8 x 8 mm) of component A and then rotated clockwise. The locks and the helix flank support guarantee that the inserted screw clip is properly fixed (locking device). Next, component B featuring an opening ( 7 mm) is placed on the screw clip located in component A and the screw is then inserted. The ribs on the thin-walled part of the screw clip ensure a secure hold and safe working during pre-assembly. The thread geometry of the P-in-P screw, with its high round profile, plays an important role during the final assembly. With this thread geometry the screw threads itself into the thick-walled lower part of the screw clip. Once the inserted self-tapping screw has reached a certain position, the tapping process begins. The thick-walled part of the screw clip is drawn up under component A, starting the forming of the thin-walled upper part. Following a slight clockwise rotation the helix flanks fit into component A. Component B is pressed so firmly onto the flange of the screw clip that the joint is watertight. Thanks to the thread geometry the assembly process is extremely gentle and can be repeated several times. Responsible: Annette Steils, Projectmanager Böllhoff Produktion GmbH & Co. KG, Archimedesstraße 1-4, 33649 Bielefeld Tel. 0521/4482-451, Fax 0521/4482-475, asteils@boellhoff.com Copy requested to: Böllhoff publicity manager Wolfgang Sönel Archimedesstr. 1-4 D-33649 Bielefeld Text download: UNITEC® screw clip (Characters including spaces 2,216)

Picture download: UNITEC® screw clip (ca. 1.007 KB)