Method for Producing a Component Assembly, and Component Assembly

Abstract

A method produces a component assembly, in which a first component and a second component are welded together, forming a front fillet weld. To reduce susceptibility to corrosion, a connection region to be smoothed, which includes the front fillet weld and component sections adjacent thereto on both sides, is melted, at least on the surface, such that the surface in the smoothed region extends continuously and the transition to adjacent unsmoothed regions is edge-free, and impurities are eliminated.

Claims

1. A method for producing a component assembly having reduced tendency toward corrosion, the method comprising: welding a first component and a second component to one another to form a lap fillet weld; at least superficially melting a connecting region to be smoothed, which connecting region comprises the lap fillet weld and component portions adjoining thereon on both sides, such that a surface has a continuous profile in a smoothed connecting region and merges without edges into adjoining unsmoothed regions.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the smoothing is performed by a laser beam, which is guided in an oscillating and defocused manner over the connecting region to be smoothed.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the smoothed connecting region has a width which corresponds to at least twice the weld seam width.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the smoothed connecting region has a width which corresponds to at least twice the weld seam width.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the smoothed connecting region has a mean roughness value of 3 m or less.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the smoothed connecting region has a mean roughness value of 3 m or less.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the smoothing is performed by a scanner-based remote laser beam device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second components are aluminum components.

9. A component assembly, comprising: a first component and a second component, which are welded to one another by a lap fillet weld to form the component assembly, wherein a surface of the component assembly is smoothed by melting in a connecting region, which comprises both the lap fillet weld and also portions adjoining laterally thereon of the first and second components, in such a way that the surface has a continuous profile in the connecting region and merges without edges into adjoining unsmoothed regions.

10. The component assembly according to claim 9, wherein the surface has a mean roughness value of less than 3 m in the smoothed connecting region.

11. The component assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first and second components are vehicle body components or vehicle body add-on components.

12. The component assembly according to claim 9, wherein the component assembly is a vehicle door or a vehicle hatch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a component assembly having a formed lap fillet weld, which is already partially smoothed.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the unsmoothed lap fillet weld from FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the component assembly from FIG. 1 having an already smoothed connecting region.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present invention will be explained on the basis of the component assembly 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] A first component 2 is welded to a second component 3 by a lap fillet weld 4. The components 2 and 3 can be, for example, an inner plate and an outer plate of a vehicle door.

[0027] The lap fillet weld 4 extends along the end face of the first component 2 and can have, for example, a profile curved three-dimensionally or in the plane. Upper and lower plates 2, 3 can also be connected to one another by multiple lap fillet welds. The lap fillet welds can be formed using conventional methods, with and without additional material. The formation of the lap fillet weld by tactile laser welding has proven itself in particular, the position of the laser beam being guided by a tactile seam guiding system, which feels along the fillet like a feeler.

[0028] After the formation of the lap fillet weld 4, a laser beam L of a laser remote device is now oriented onto the connecting region 5 to be smoothed (indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 1) and guided along it. The connecting region 5 comprises the weld seam 4, and also a component portion 6 of the first component 2 adjoining the weld seam and a component portion 7 of the second component 3.

[0029] The laser beam L is guided over the connecting region, wherein it effectuates superficial melting of the material of the weld seam 4, and of the adjoining component portions 6, 7. The laser beam L is used as a defocused beam, i.e., it has a focal position which is located significantly above or below the weld seam plane, whereby the energy density coupled into the components is reduced. The resulting relatively large laser spot is additionally moved in an oscillating manner over the components, illustrated by the arrow O in FIG. 1. The oscillation O superimposed on the advancing movement V of the laser beam L can have any arbitrary shape in this case, for example, a circular or sinusoidal oscillation or other shapes. The melting can take place very rapidly due to the use of a scanner-based laser remote facility, for example, at working speeds of up to 9 m/minute.

[0030] The superficial melting effectuated by the laser beam L results in smoothing of the seam region and harmonization of the topography of the components 2, 3 in the connecting region 5. As a result, the connecting region located in the advancing direction behind the laser beam L is provided as a smoothed region 5A. In particular, the width of the connecting region 5 is selected in such a way that an edge of the upper plate is completely melted and a rounded transition free of edges and shoulders is formed between the weld seam 4 and the first component or upper plate 2. The connecting region 5 has a width, for example, which corresponds to at least twice the weld seam width, thus, for example, a strip having at least half of the width of the weld seam 4 is smoothed on the right and left of the weld seam. The molten material partially also flows in the direction toward the second component 3 or lower plate, where it effectuates a smoothing of the transition between lap fillet weld 4 and lower plate 3. In addition, cleaning of the surface from smoke traces and other contaminants is achieved by the laser beam smoothing.

[0031] The component assembly 1 thus produced is distinguished by a lap fillet weld 4 having a very smooth surface and a continuous surface profile, i.e., free of edges and shoulders, in the region of the connection section 5. The tendency toward corrosion is significantly reduced, moreover the durability of corrosion protection layers, which are applied in subsequent processing steps, improves on the smoothed surface. FIGS. 2 and 3 additionally show a sectional view of the lap fillet weld before the smoothing (FIG. 2) and after the smoothing (FIG. 3). Moreover, the oscillation of the laser beam L having the maximum deflections is shown in FIG. 3.

[0032] The exemplary embodiments are not to scale and are not restrictive. Modifications in the scope of routine measures in the art are possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0033] 1 component assembly [0034] 2, 3 components [0035] 4 lap fillet weld [0036] 5 connecting region [0037] 5A smoothed connecting region [0038] 6, 7 component portion [0039] O oscillation movement [0040] L laser beam [0041] V advancing direction

[0042] 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.