Setting device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a setting device for fastening an element to a workpiece having a guide device that can be brought into mechanical contact with the element and that has an axial hollow space for guiding the element, and having an axially movable ram for moving the element in a setting direction through the hollow space of the guide device, wherein the guide device has at least one first and one second guide element, wherein the guide elements bound the axial hollow space and are preloaded by means of a preloading device by a preloading force acting radially inwardly on at least one guide element, in particular all of the guide elements, and wherein the preloading device comprises at least one elastic preloading element that generates the preloading force and that is at least partly produced from an elastomer.

1 . A setting device for fastening an element to a workpiece, having the setting device comprising:
 a guide device that can be brought into mechanical contact with the element and that has an axial hollow space for guiding the element, and   an axially movable ram for moving the element in a setting direction through the hollow space of the guide device,   wherein the guide device has at least one first and one second guide element, wherein the first and second guide elements bound the axial hollow space and are preloaded by means of a preloading device by a preloading force acting radially inwardly on at least one guide element, and wherein the preloading device comprises at least one elastic preloading element that generates the preloading force and that is at least partly produced from an elastomer.   
     
     
         2 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the preloading device preloads the first and second guide elements by a preloading force acting radially inwardly on all of the guide elements. 
     
     
         3 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the preloading element is an element that is closed in the peripheral direction and that surrounds the guide elements at their radial outer side in the peripheral direction.   
     
     
         4 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the preloading element is an element of annular form. 
     
     
         5 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the preloading device has a contact section that is arranged at the guide device and that projects in at least one section of the guide device in the radial direction beyond an outer contour of the guide elements with the contact section forming at least one support point for the radial support of the guide device.   
     
     
         6 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the preloading element has a contact section that is arranged at a component of the setting device at least partly receiving the guide device, with the contact section projecting radially inwardly and forming at least one support point for the radial support of the guide device. 
     
     
         7 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the preloading element is a separate component having a contact section that is arranged in the radial direction between the guide device and a component of the setting device at least partly receiving the guide device, with the contact section forming at least one support point for the radial support of the guide direction. 
     
     
         8 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the contact section is arranged at a radial outer side of one of the guide elements. 
     
     
         9 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of contact sections that are arranged distributed in the peripheral direction of the guide device and/or in the peripheral direction of a component of the setting device at least partly receiving the guide device. 
     
     
         10 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein guide elements that are adjacent in the peripheral direction are separated from one another by an interval. 
     
     
         11 . A The setting device in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein a respective at least one insulation element is arranged in the interval. 
     
     
         12 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the insulation element comprises or is completely produced from an electrically insulating and/or elastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 10 ,
 wherein the insulation element substantially completely fills the interval.   
     
     
         14 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the insulation element comprises an elastomer. 
     
     
         15 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the insulation element has a circular, oval, trapezoid, or wedge-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         16 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein a geometry of the insulation element is substantially constant in the longitudinal direction of the insulation element. 
     
     
         17 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a geometry of the preloading element is substantially constant in the peripheral direction of the preloading element. 
     
     
         18 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the preloading element and the insulation element comprises a vulcanized elastomer plastic. 
     
     
         19 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the preloading element and the insulation element comprises a vulcanized elastomer plastic, wherein the preloading element and the insulation element are formed in one piece. 
     
     
         20 . The setting device in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the preloading element and the insulation element is at least partly molded to the guide device.