US 12,473,939 B2
Apparatus and method for connecting two components by means of at least one ball
Martin Endres, Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm (DE); and Franz Korber, Mallersdorf (DE)
Assigned to Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, Munich (DE)
Appl. No. 17/915,867
Filed by Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, Munich (DE)
PCT Filed Mar. 4, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/055433
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 29, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/197751, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 7, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 108 850.7 (DE), filed on Mar. 31, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0131941 A1, Apr. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. F16B 21/07 (2006.01); F16B 5/06 (2006.01)
CPC F16B 21/071 (2013.01) [F16B 5/0642 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for connecting a first component to a second component by a ball which is fastened to the first component and which is fastenable in an opening of the second component, comprising:
a tool which includes two gripping elements and a retaining means;
wherein the ball can be encompassed and pulled into the opening in a fastening direction by the two gripping elements;
wherein the second component is holdable in a position relative to the tool along the fastening direction by the retaining means;
wherein the two gripping elements are movable relative to the retaining means along the fastening direction to pull the ball into the opening until the first and second components are in contact with one another; and
a robot means, wherein the tool is movable in three dimensions by the robot means.