Method for producing a workpiece composite, and workpiece composite

Abstract

A workpiece composite and a method for producing the workpiece composite having at least two workpieces are provided. A first workpiece and a second workpiece are positioned relative to each other, and an integral connection between the end face of the first workpiece and the second workpiece is formed in a joint section by way of a thermal joining method. Prior to forming the integral connection, the first workpiece is provided with an indentation or embossing, which adjoins the end face, at least in the joint section, whereby the thickness of the first workpiece is reduced in the region of the end face.

Claims

1. A method for producing a workpiece composite comprising at least two workpieces, in which a first workpiece and a second workpiece are positioned in relation to one another wherein the first workpiece is arranged overlapping the second workpiece, the method comprising the acts of: forming a fillet weld between an end face of the first workpiece and a flank of the second workpiece in a joining portion by a thermal joining method; and before forming the fillet weld, providing the first workpiece at least in the joining portion with an indentation adjoining the end face, whereby a thickness of the first workpiece is reduced in the region of the end face, wherein the first workpiece is already provided with a surface coating in a form of an anticorrosion layer before the indentation is provided, and wherein the surface coating is at least partially retained in the region of the indentation.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indentation provides the first workpiece with a bevel.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indentation is produced in a same process step in which the end face is produced by severing or trimming of the first workpiece.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second workpiece is provided in the joining portion with an indentation, which locally reduces a thickness of the second workpiece.

5. A workpiece composite of at least two workpieces, comprising: a first workpiece and a second workpiece, wherein the first workpiece is arranged overlapping the second workpiece and wherein the first workpiece and the second workpiece are connected in a joining portion by a fillet weld produced by a thermal joining method, wherein the fillet weld is formed between an end face of the first workpiece and a flank of the second workpiece, the first workpiece is provided at least in the joining portion with an indentation adjoining the end face such that a thickness of the first workpiece is reduced in the region of the end face by the indentation, wherein the first workpiece is already provided with a surface coating in a form of an anticorrosion layer before the indentation is provided, and wherein the surface coating is at least partially retained in the region of the indentation.

6. The workpiece composite according to claim 5, wherein the indentation is a bevel running along the end face of the workpiece.

7. A workpiece composite comprising at least two workpieces, wherein the workpiece composite is produced by the method of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a basic diagram of a workpiece composite produced by the method.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a configuration by way of example for producing a workpiece composite by an exemplary method according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a configuration by way of example for producing a workpiece composite by an exemplary method according to the invention.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a configuration by way of example for producing a workpiece composite by an exemplary method according to the invention.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a configuration by way of example for producing a workpiece composite by an exemplary method according to the invention.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a configuration by way of example for producing a workpiece composite by an exemplary method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(7) FIG. 1 is a basic diagram of a workpiece composite 1 given by way of example, which has been produced by the method disclosed here.

(8) The workpiece composite 1 comprises a first workpiece 2, which is arranged overlapping with a second workpiece 3, and in a joining portion 4 is connected to the second workpiece 3 by way of an integral joining connection 5. The joining connection 5 is formed by way of example as an edge fillet weld between an end face 6 of the first workpiece 2 and the second workpiece 3. The edge fillet weld 5 may also be referred to as a side fillet weld.

(9) FIG. 2 shows the workpiece composite 1 from FIG. 1 before the forming of the weld seam 5. The first workpiece 2 and the second workpiece 3 have very different thicknesses D1 and D2, which for example differ from one another by more than 0.6 mm. In order to improve the weldability of the two workpieces, before the forming of the edge weld seam 5, an indentation 7 has been produced in the first workpiece 2. The indentation 7 adjoins the end face 6 and is formed in such a way that the thickness D.sub.red of the first workpiece 2 at the end face 6 is reduced in comparison with the original workpiece thickness D1. In particular, the indentation 7 has the effect of producing a joining geometry in the joining portion 4 with which the joining of the workpieces is possible by conventional thermal joining methods, such as for example welding, in spite of great differences in thickness. By analogy, it is of course similarly possible to connect the workpieces for example by way of weld brazing or brazing. Correspondingly, the joining connection 5 may also be formed as a brazed connection or as a welded/brazed connection.

(10) While in FIG. 1 the workpieces are arranged in an overlapping arrangement, other arrangements, such as for example the arrangement shown in FIG. 3 with a butt joint, are similarly possible. Here, the indentation 7 may be formed in such a way that the workpieces to be connected have substantially the same thickness at their end faces.

(11) The indentation 7 represented in FIGS. 1 to 3 has the effect that the first workpiece is provided toward the end face 6 with a bevel. In the region of the bevel, the thickness of the first workpiece is reduced linearly, when seen from the original thickness D1 in the direction of the end face 6. For production reasons, there may be a small plateau 8 at the transition from the end face 6 to the bevel, as represented in FIG. 3. Nevertheless, the indentation 7 may also have other forms, for example a rounded form, as represented by way of example on the basis of the indentation 7A in FIG. 4.

(12) The indentation 7, 7A is formed in the first workpiece before the integral connection is produced. The indentation may be produced already during the production of the first workpiece 2, for example in the rolling mill or in a forming step for shaping the first workpiece 2. It is particularly preferred if the indentation 7 is produced in the same process step in which the end face 6 is also produced by trimming or severing the first workpiece 2.

(13) The method is particularly advantageous if the first workpiece 2 has a surface coating. The surface coating may be for example an anticorrosion coating, an adhesion coating or some other functional surface coating. It may for example be applied integrally to the first workpiece or lie loosely on it. FIG. 5 shows by way of example a not yet joined workpiece composite 1A in the case of which the first workpiece 2A comprises a main body 9, which is provided with a surface coating 10 completely on both surfaces. The forming of the indentation 7 has the effect that part of the main body 9 and the surface coating 10 located on it are depressed. The resultant recompaction has the effect that the surface coating 10 possibly has a thinner layer thickness in the region of the indentation 7 than in the remaining region of the workpiece. The surface coating 10 is preferably retained up to the end face 6. It is thus possible to introduce the surface coating specifically into the region of the indentation 7. If for example an adhesive coating or a brazing film is used as the surface coating 10, it can be specifically introduced into the indentation 7, and as far as into the joining region, by the method. Subsequent sealing or finishing of the indentation 7 is unnecessary. Workpiece composites can be produced with great functionality and little additional production expenditure.

(14) Similarly, the second workpiece 3 may be provided with an indentation as described for the first workpiece. FIG. 6 shows a further workpiece composite 1B, given by way of example, before forming the integral joining connection, in which both the first workpiece 2B and the second workpiece 3B are provided with a surface coating 10. Indentations 7B and 7C have the effect that both workpieces are provided with a bevel, so that the thickness of the workpieces D3 and D4 decreases toward the end face 6 and a single-V butt weld becomes possible in spite of the very different workpiece thicknesses.

(15) The first workpiece and the second workpiece are not specifically restricted and may for example be a semifinished product, such as for example a sheet blank, or a component, such as for example a sheet-metal component or a sandwich component. The workpieces preferably have thicknesses in the range of up to 4 mm. The invention is both suitable for connecting individual sheet blanks to form a tailored blank, such as for example a tailor-welded blank, or for applying one or more reinforcing sheets to a sheet blank or a shaped sheet-metal component. Similarly, the invention can also be used for joining shaped sheet-metal components to one another to form a component composite. In particular, workpieces with thicknesses differing greatly from one another can be reliably joined to one another.

(16) The same reference signs denote the same elements. The exemplary embodiments are not true to scale and are not restrictive. Modifications within the routine activities of a person skilled in the art are possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(17) 1, 1A, 1B workpiece composite 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3B workpieces 4 joining portion 5 integral connection 6 end face 7, 7A, 7B indentation 8 plateau 9 main body 10 surface coating D1, D2, D.sub.red thickness

(18) 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.