Component having a joining element, component combination of at least two components, and method for production thereof

Abstract

A component including at least one joint, at which a joining connection to a further component is to be formed later, is provided. A joining element having a holding section is pressed into the component, and the joining element also has a functional section, by way of which at least one further function can be implemented. The holding section of the joining element is arranged in a passage hole, and the passage hole is widened in at least one edge region by an embossing. The holding section of the joining element is pressed into the passage hole and is connected to the hole wall in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner and engages in the embossing. A component combination of at least two components which includes such a component and a method for producing the component and the component combination are also provided.

Claims

1. A component, comprising: at least one joint, at which a joined connection is subsequently to be formed with another component; and an auxiliary joining element that has been pressed with a retaining portion into the component where the auxiliary joining element has a functional portion with which at least one further function is realizable, wherein the retaining portion of the auxiliary joining element is arranged in a through-hole, the through-hole is expanded at at least one peripheral region by an indentation, the retaining portion of the auxiliary joining element has been pressed into the through-hole and is connected to a hole wall in a force- and/or form-fitting manner and engages in the indentation, and the through-hole is expanded at both peripheral regions by an indentation into which the retaining portion of the auxiliary joining element engages.

2. A component, comprising: at least one joint, at which a joined connection is subsequently to be formed with another component; and an auxiliary joining element that has been pressed with a retaining portion into the component where the auxiliary joining element has a functional portion with which at least one further function is realizable, wherein the retaining portion of the auxiliary joining element is arranged in a through-hole, the through-hole is expanded at at least one peripheral region by an indentation, the retaining portion of the auxiliary joining element is fixed to a hole wall of the through-hole in a force-fitting manner and engages in the indentation.

3. The component according to claim 2, wherein the indentation is in the form of an impressed chamfer.

4. The component according to claim 2, wherein the retaining portion is accommodated entirely in the through-hole.

5. The component according to claim 2, wherein the retaining portion is accommodated entirely in the through-hole.

6. The component according to claim 2, wherein the retaining portion extends through the component and is at least flush with a top side, facing away from the functional portion, of the first component, or projects therebeyond.

7. The component according to claim 5, wherein the retaining portion extends through the component and is at least flush with a top side, facing away from the functional portion, of the component, or projects therebeyond.

8. The component according to claim 6, wherein an interlayer element has been introduced between the retaining portion and the component.

9. The component according to claim 7, wherein an interlayer element has been introduced between the retaining portion and the component.

10. The component according to claim 8, wherein the retaining portion is additionally connected in a materially bonded manner to the interlayer element and/or the component.

11. The component according to claim 9, wherein the retaining portion is additionally connected in a materially bonded manner to the interlayer element and/or the component.

12. The component according to claim 2, wherein the functional portion is in the form of a bolt shank, threaded bolt, nut, compressed tube or part of a clip connection.

13. The component according to claim 7, wherein the functional portion is in the form of a bolt shank, threaded bolt, nut, compressed tube or part of a clip connection.

14. A component assembly of at least two components that are joined at at least one joint, comprising: a first component having the pressed-in auxiliary joining element according to claim 2; and a second component, wherein the auxiliary joining element is connected in a materially bonded manner to the second component or to a second auxiliary joining element provided in the second component.

15. The component assembly according to claim 14, wherein the first and/or second component is/are made of a lightweight material, and the auxiliary joining elements are made of steel.

16. The component assembly according to claim 14, wherein the component assembly is part of a vehicle body.

17. A method for producing a component having an auxiliary joining element, the method comprising the acts of: creating a through-hole at at least one joint in the component; introducing an indentation such that the through-hole is expanded in at least one peripheral region; and pressing the auxiliary joining element into the through-hole such that a retaining portion of the auxiliary joining element is fixed to a hole wall of the through-hole in a force fitting manner and engages in the indentation, wherein the auxiliary joining element has a functional portion.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein a second indentation is formed such that the through-hole is likewise expanded at the other peripheral region, and the retaining portion forms an undercut at both indentations after the pressing in.

19. A method for producing a component assembly of at least two components that are joined at at least one joint, the method comprising the acts of: forming a first component by way of a method according to claim 17; positioning and orienting a second component relative to the first component; and forming a materially bonded connection at the at least one joint by welding, soldering or adhesive bonding, wherein the auxiliary joining element is connected in a materially bonded manner to a base material of the second component or to a second auxiliary joining element, which is provided at the joint in the second component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an example of a component assembly according to the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a further example of a component assembly.

(3) FIG. 3 is a procedure for pressing in the auxiliary joining element.

(4) FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a further example of a component assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(5) FIG. 1 shows a sectional illustration of the joint of a component assembly 1, which includes two components 2, 3. The component assembly 1 has been produced by the method according to the invention. The component assembly 1 can have a plurality of such joints, which may be formed identically or differently.

(6) The first component 2 is a sheet-form component made of a lightweight material, for example aluminum or a fiber composite plastic. The term aluminum also comprises the corresponding aluminum alloys. The second component 3 is a sheet-form component and is likewise made of a lightweight material. The two components 2, 3 have been fixedly joined indirectly at the joint by means of a first auxiliary joining element 4, which has been pressed into the first component 2, and a second auxiliary joining element 5, which has been pressed into the second component 3, by a weld spot 6 connecting the two auxiliary joining elements in a materially bonded manner. The auxiliary joining elements 4, 5 are each made of a steel material. The welding was carried out by way of a conventional resistance spot welding process. Likewise, other welding methods are possible, or elongate weld seams. As an alternative to welding, the auxiliary joining elements could also be joined together by a soldered connection or an adhesive bond. If appropriate, the components can have additionally been adhesively bonded at a different point than the joint.

(7) The first auxiliary joining element 4 has a retaining portion 7, with which it has been pressed into the first component 2 in a force- and form-fitting manner, and a functional portion, 8, which is illustrated only schematically in the figures and which is configured to fulfill a further function, preferably to provide a further fastening possibility. To this end, the functional portion 8 can be configured for example as part of a clip connection, as a pin or with a thread.

(8) The retaining portion 7 of the first auxiliary joining element 4 is received entirely in the first component 2. It is not supported on a surface of the first component 2, but rather is also fixed in the component 2 in a form-fitting manner in the direction of the joining axis F by two undercuts 9 and 10.

(9) FIG. 2 shows the first component 2 and the first auxiliary joining element 4 before the latter is pressed into the first component 2. The first auxiliary joining element 4 has a head-free retaining portion 7 with a substantially cylindrical shape. The retaining portion 7 is pressed into a through-hole 13 that has been produced beforehand in the first component 2, for example by cutting or punching. In the peripheral region of the hole 13, respective indentations 14 and 15 have been impressed in the form of a chamfer. The retaining portion 8 is now pressed into the through-hole 13, wherein the material of the retaining portion 8 is permanently deformed and enters into a force-fitting connection with the hole wall. Around the indentations 14, 15, the retaining portion 8 also forms in each case an undercut.

(10) The second auxiliary joining element 5 is a metal slug which has been pressed into the second component 3 and has likewise been fixed in the second component in a form-fitting manner in the direction of the joining axis F via two undercuts 11 and 12. The second auxiliary joining element is pressed in as described above for the first auxiliary joining element 4.

(11) In a following step, the second component is positioned with respect to the first component and the weld 6 is formed, to which end for example the auxiliary joining elements can be brought into contact with the electrodes of a resistance spot welding device.

(12) FIG. 3 shows an alternative component assembly 1A. Where identical reference signs are used, what has been said for FIG. 1 applies correspondingly. The component assembly 1A comprises the first component 2 with its auxiliary joining element 4, and a third component 16, which is made of a steel material. The weld 17 connects the auxiliary joining element 4 in a materially bonded manner to the base material of the third component 16.

(13) In contrast to conventional component assemblies with auxiliary joining elements, a much smaller height of the component assembly can be achieved, since the auxiliary joining elements can, if required, terminate flush with the workpiece surfaces. Of course, it is possible to allow the auxiliary joining elements to protrude for example in the region of the joint beyond the workpiece surface, for example for the targeted formation of an ignition spark.

(14) It is likewise possible, during the pressing of the auxiliary joining element into the component, for a protective layer (not illustrated), for example a film for preventing contact corrosion, to be additionally introduced between the auxiliary joining element and the hole wall.

(15) The shown gap between the components is not necessary. In the component assembly, the components can also rest directly on one another.

(16) Although two indentations in the form of chamfers are shown in each case in the figures, the through-holes in the components can also each be provided with an indentation or chamfer only on one side. Similarly, the form of the indentation is not limited to the chamfer geometry shown in FIGS. 1 to 3; rather, modifications are possible, for example the domed indentation 14A shown in FIG. 4. It is also possible for the retaining portion to already have, before the pressing-in, a shape which bears in the manner of an undercut against the indentation, for example the cylindrical auxiliary joining element 4A shown in FIG. 4 with an expanded head portion 18 in the region of the retaining portion 7.

(17) In FIGS. 1-3, for reasons of clarity, the profile of the hole wall is illustrated as if the inclined hole wall transitions directly into a perpendicular hole-wall portion in the region of the chamfer. In reality, however, it is possible for a collar-like encircling plateau to be formed between the inclined wall portion and the perpendicular wall portion, said plateau being brought about by the geometry of the impressing stamp.

(18) As a result of the impressed chamfer in the through-hole and the pressed-in auxiliary joining element, very high strengths are achieved. For example, in one test, a through-hole with a core diameter of 12 mm was formed in a sheet made of a 5000 series aluminum alloy (basic strength of 120 to 140 N/mm.sup.2) with a thickness of 2.5 mm. At the peripheral regions, a chamfer was impressed at an angle of 45 degrees with an impression depth of 0.7 mm and a plateau width of 0.4 mm. A cylindrical sheet-metal slug made of S355 with a thickness of 4 mm and a diameter prior to pressing of 11.7 mm was pressed into the through-hole. After pressing, pull-out forces for the slug of 8.5 to 12.6 kN resulted for each side.

(19) The exemplary embodiments are not true to scale and not limiting. Modifications that fall within the routine activities of a person skilled in the art are possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(20) 1, 1A Component assembly 2 First component 3 Second component 4, 4A, 5 Auxiliary joining element 6 Weld spot 7 Retaining portion 8 Functional portion 9-12 Undercuts 13 Through-hole 14, 15 Chamfers 16 Component 17 Weld 18 Head portion F Joining axis

(21) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.