METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SOLDER DEPOSIT, AND SOLDER DEPOSIT

Abstract

in a method for producing a solder deposit in a metal sheet, a depression is made in a topside of the metal sheet through deep drawing, thereby causing material to protrude on a bottom side of the metal sheet. The metal sheet is then subjected to a material forming process to produce a collar such that the collar projects in relation to the topside. The collar is then at least partially pressed in a direction of the depression to reduce a cross-sectional area of a mouth of the depression, and the protruding material on the bottom side is completely pushed back so that the bottom side in a region of the depression is in one plane with neighboring regions of the bottom side.

Claims

1.-8. (canceled)

9. A method for producing a solder deposit in a metal sheet, said method comprising: making a depression in a topside of the metal sheet through deep drawing, thereby causing material to protrude on a bottom side of the metal sheet; subsequently subjecting the metal sheet to a material forming process to produce a collar such that the collar projects in relation to the topside; at least partially pressing the collar in a direction of the depression to reduce a cross-sectional area of a mouth of the depression; and completely pushing back the protruding material on the bottom side so that the bottom side in a region of the depression is in one plane with neighboring regions of the bottom side.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising pushing back the collar so that the collar does not project beyond the topside.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising smoothing the topside and the bottom side of the metal sheet in a pressing device after pressing the collar so as to remove any protrusion on the topside and the bottom side.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising producing a plurality of said depression simultaneously in the topside of the metal sheet.

13. A metal sheet, comprising: a topside; a solder deposit as produced by a method set forth in claim 9, said solder deposit being formed by an undercut depression in the topside; and a bottom side configured in a region of the depression in one plane with neighboring regions of the bottom side.

14. The metal sheet of claim 13, wherein the depression has a cross-sectional area which continuously increases from the topside to a bottom of the depression.

15. The metal sheet of claim 13, wherein the depression has a dovetail-shaped cross-section.

Description

[0015] The invention is explained hereinafter with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings. It is shown in:

[0016] FIG. 1 a cross-section of a metal sheet during a first manufacturing step;

[0017] FIG. 2 the metal sheet after the first manufacturing step in the direction of view of the bottom side;

[0018] FIG. 3 the metal sheet of FIG. 2 viewed in the direction of the topside;

[0019] FIG. 4 the metal sheet of FIG. 3 during the next manufacturing step;

[0020] FIG. 5 the metal sheet after completion of the manufacturing step of FIG. 4 as viewed in the direction of its topside; and

[0021] FIG. 6 the metal sheet of FIG. 5 during a final manufacturing step.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a metal sheet 1 with a topside 2 and with a bottom side 3. The metal sheet 1 is located in a pressing tool. Two punches 4, 5 serve as upper tool and are moved against the topside 2 of the metal sheet 1 so that identical depressions 6 are created in the metal sheet 1. The displaced material is displaced in the direction of the bottom side 3. For this purpose, recesses 8 are located in the lower tool 7 to match the cross-sectional area of the punches 4, 5. The punches 4, 5 or the recesses 8 in the lower tool 7 are preferably circular in cross-section.

[0023] It is apparent that the projections formed through material displacement during deep drawing are not separated from the metal sheet 1, but remain connected to the metal sheet 1 via a narrow web. FIG. 2 shows the bottom side 3 of the metal sheet 1 in the direction of view of the projections 9 which are formed through deep drawing and have a substantially cylindrical cross-section. FIG. 3 shows the metal sheet 1 in the direction of view of its topside 2. The two depressions 6 have a cylindrical shape.

[0024] In the next manufacturing step, the projections 9 that protrude with respect to the bottom side 3 are pushed back. For this purpose, the metal sheet 1 is inserted into a further forming tool according to the schematic illustration of FIG. 4. The punches 4, 5 there engage in the depressions 6 of the metal sheet and fill them. At the same time, the punches 4, 5 are surrounded by mold cavities 10, 11 adjacent to the topside 2 of the metal sheet 1. This exemplary embodiment involves ring-shaped mold cavities 10, 11 which are traversed by the respective punch 4, 5 in the longitudinal direction. In the invention, either the lower tool 7 can level the projections 9 to such an extent that material of the metal sheet flows into the mold cavities 10, 11. As an alternative or in addition, the upper tool 12 may be lowered in relation to the punches 4, 5 so that material flows backwards into the mold cavities 10, 11 in opposition to the movement of the upper tool 12.

[0025] Regardless of whether the lower tool 7, the upper tool 12 or at the same time the punches 4, 5 are actuated, a collar 13 is formed around the periphery of the punches 4, 5, as can be seen in particular in the plan view of the topside 2 according to FIG. 5. The collar 13 does not constrict the cross-section of the depressions 6 in the topside 2. The depressions 6 still have walls that are substantially perpendicular to the topside 2 or to the metal sheet 1.

[0026] The orientation of the lateral walls is changed in a final manufacturing step. The metal sheet 1 is once again placed between an upper tool 12 and a lower tool 7 so that the topside 2 and the bottom side 3 are completely smoothed by pressing. The material of the collar 13 is here displaced in the direction of the depression 6, so that the depression 6 obtains a dovetail-shaped cross-section. As a result, the depression 6 is undercut. The cross-sectional area of the depression 6 increases continuously from the topside 2 toward a bottom 14 of the depression 6.

[0027] In a final step, a solder can be introduced into such a depression 6 and is melted in a further manufacturing step in order to connect the metal sheet 1 to further components. The solder can be cast in or also pressed in so as to be formfittingly anchored to the metal sheet, before the metal sheet 1 is further processed, in particular transported.

[0028] The Figures show by way of example an application with two identically configured solder deposits. The solder deposits can be present at a greater number as well as on opposite sides. Several soldering deposits can also have different shapes in their cross-section.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0029] 1—metal sheet

[0030] 2—topside of 1

[0031] 3—bottom side of 1

[0032] 4—punch

[0033] 5—punch

[0034] 6—depression

[0035] 7—lower tool

[0036] 8—recess

[0037] 9—protrusion

[0038] 10—mold cavity

[0039] 11—mold cavity

[0040] 12—upper tool

[0041] 13—collar

[0042] 14—bottom