Method for stabilizing and/or for reducing tensions occurring within the wall-like structure by means of laser welding

Abstract

A method for targeted influencing of the deformation behavior of a wall-like structure, in particular a rear wall structure of a vehicle seat, which structure is heated in at least one region at least section by section by means of a laser light source. According to the invention at least one region which influences a strength and/or a tension of the wall-like structure is selectively chosen and is lasered for increasing the strength of the wall-like structure and/or for reducing tensions within the wall-like structure. The wall-like structure is characterized in that in a selectively chosen region the structure has at least one laser-welded seam which is generated by a laser light source of a laser device, increases the strength of the wall-like structure and/or reduces tensions in the wall-like structure.

Claims

1. A method for a targeted influencing of a deformation behavior of a wall-like structure, the method comprising: selectively choosing at least one region of the wall-like structure that influences a strength and/or tension of the wall-like structure; and lasering at least one section in the at least one region selectively chosen, via a laser light source, to increase the strength of the wall-like structure and/or to reduce the tension within the wall-like structure, wherein, during the lasering, at least one laser-welded seam or a laser-welded seam structure comprising a plurality of laser-welded seams is lasered into the wall-like structure, wherein the wall-like structure is connected to a support structure, wherein, before the connection or welding of the wall-like structure to the support structure, a ribbed structure is introduced or embossed into the wall-like structure, wherein the lasering is performed before or after the introduction of the ribbed structure having the elevations and depressions into the wall-like structure, wherein the support structure is a profile frame, an inner contour of the profile frame framing an area of the wall-like structure, and wherein the at least one laser-welded seam or the laser-welded seam structure is located at least within the area of the wall-like structure that is framed by the profile frame.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lasering is performed before, after, or during connection or welding of the wall-like structure to the support structure.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, the ribbed structure includes elevations and depressions, wherein the structure of the elevations and depressions is predefinable, and wherein the elevations and depressions are formed substantially linear and introduced running as substantially straight lines or as curves.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wall-like structure is a rear wall structure of a vehicle seat.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one laser-welded seam or the structure of the plurality of laser-welded seams of the laser-welded seam structure is predefinable, wherein the at least one laser-welded seam or the plurality of laser-welded seams are formed in the shape of lines and are introduced running as straight lines or as curves.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one laser-welded seam or the plurality of laser-welded seams, are lasered substantially horizontally and/or vertically and/or diagonally relative to an imaginary horizontal line into the wall-like structure, wherein the horizontal and/or vertical and/or diagonal laser-welded seams are lasered onto or into elevations and/or depressions of the wall-like structure which are arranged horizontally and/or vertically and/or diagonally relative to the imaginary horizontal line.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one region influencing the strength and/or the tension of the wall-like structure preps selectively chosen based on: dimensions and/or a wall thickness of the wall-like structure; and/or a height of elevations and/or a depth of depressions and/or a geometric form of a ribbed structure in the wall-like structure; and/or a geometric design of a support structure that is connected to the wall-like structure.

8. A wall-like structure, comprising: a selectively chosen region having at least one laser-welded seam or a laser-welded seam structure that is generated by a laser light source of a laser device, wherein the at least one laser-welded seam increases a strength of the wall-like structure, and/or reduces tensions in the wall-like structure, wherein the wall-like structure is a rear wall structure of a seat structure of a vehicle seat, wherein the wall-like structure has a ribbed structure, wherein a support structure is connected to the wall-like structure, wherein the support structure is a profile frame, an inner contour of the profile frame framing an area of the wall-like structure, and wherein the at least one laser-welded seam or the laser-welded seam structure is located at least within the area framed by the profile frame.

9. The wall-like structure according to claim 8, wherein the at least one laser-welded seam or the laser-welded seam structure is formed in the wall-like structure.

10. The wall-like structure according to claim 9, wherein the at least one laser-welded seam, based on an arrangement on the wall-like structure, is at least one horizontal laser-welded seam or at least one vertical laser-welded seam or at least one laser-welded seam diagonal relative to an imaginary horizontal line, and wherein the laser-welded seam structure has horizontally running laser-welded seams and/or vertically running laser-welded seams and/or laser-welded seams running diagonally relative to the imaginary horizontal line.

11. The wall-like structure according to claim 10, wherein the ribbed structure has elevations and depressions.

12. The wall-like structure according to claim 11, wherein the ribbed structure having the elevations and depressions within the wall-like structure and the at least one laser-welded seam or the laser-welded seam structure within the wall-like structure are arranged parallel or at a predefinable angle to one another, wherein the ribbed structure having the elevations and depressions within the wall-like structure and the at least one laser-welded seam or the laser-welded seam structure are arranged orthogonally to one another.

13. The wall-like structure according to claim 11, wherein the at least one laser-welded seam or the laser-welded seam structure are arranged on the elevations and/or in the depressions of the wall-like structure.

14. The wall-like structure according to claim 11, wherein the at least one laser-welded seam or the laser-welded seam structure are arranged at a predefinable angle that is orthogonal to the elevations and/or in the depressions of the wall-like structure.

15. A backrest part and/or seat part of a vehicle seat comprising a wall-like structure produced by the method according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1a and 1b show a course of laser-welded seams on a rear wall structure of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2a shows a vehicle seat with a seat part and a backrest part, whereby the backrest part has a wall-like structure with a support structure;

(4) FIGS. 2b, 2c, and 2d show laser-welded seam structures;

(5) FIGS. 3a and 3b show an exemplary embodiment of the arrangement of a support structure on a rear wall structure and a ribbed structure and a laser-welded seam structure arranged thereon; and

(6) FIG. 4 shows a relationship of two selected parameters in the laser welding process for creating strengthening lines on a wall-like structure, the rear wall structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) In the text below, the terms horizontal (from left to right) and vertical (from top to bottom) refer, for example, to a course of laser-welded seams 21, 22 and ribs 11, 12 in the plane of the rear wall structure in relation to the position of rear wall structure 10 shown in the figures.

(8) FIG. 1a shows by way of example the side, facing away from the upholstery, of a rear wall structure 10 of a vehicle seat F or a bench seat or a bench seat, comprising a plurality of vehicle seats F, in a motor vehicle.

(9) FIG. 2a shows a schematically illustrated vehicle seat F. It comprises a seat part S and a backrest R, whereby the wall-like structure is a rear wall structure 10 of backrest part R. Rear wall structure 10 is connected to a support structure 30, particularly a profile frame.

(10) The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the rear wall structure 10, which is connected to support structure 30.

(11) A ribbed structure 1112 embossed into the metal sheet of rear wall structure 10 can be seen in FIG. 1a. Ribbed structure 1112 runs both vertically and horizontally.

(12) Elevations 11 and depressions 12 of the ribbed structure in the exemplary embodiment are arranged orthogonal to one another within rear wall structure 10.

(13) Cut-outs for seat belt attachment, backrest adjustment, and attachment of rear wall structure 10 are shown in the left top edge region, in the right bottom edge region, and in the middle upper region.

(14) In a selected middle region, two horizontal laser-welded seams 21, introduced in the shape of lines in rear wall structure 10, run parallel to one another.

(15) In the initial example, horizontal laser-welded seams 21 run virtually over the entire width of rear wall structure 10.

(16) A detail enlargement of rear wall structure 10 is shown in FIG. 1b.

(17) It can be seen by means of the enlargement that elevations 11 and depressions 12 of ribbed structure 1112 are each introduced close to the side edge of rear wall structure 10.

(18) FIG. 1b shows, furthermore, that two horizontal laser-welded seams 21 (shown hatched) are run from an edge region over the middle region of rear wall structure 10. Two horizontal laser-welded seams 21 are arranged one above the other at a small distance to one another in the middle region of rear wall structure 10.

(19) Rear wall structure 10 in a selectively chosen region is strengthened by the arrangement of the two laser-welded seams 21, whereby laser-welded seams 21, 22 in an embodiment of the invention are arranged within elevation 11 of ribbed structure 1112. They exert the effects described below very effectively there, as tests have shown.

(20) The selectively chosen region of the laser-welded seam structures in this exemplary embodiment was chosen in a targeted manner over the entire width of rear wall structure 10.

(21) This arrangement has the result that rear wall structure 10 is strengthened over the entire width.

(22) The strengthening is the greatest in the middle region due to the arrangement of the two horizontal laser-welded seams 21 one above the other, so that the greater tensions present in this middle region of rear wall structure 10 are prevented.

(23) The strength, particularly the bending strength of rear wall structure 10 in the middle of the rear wall structure is enhanced, on the one hand, by the laser strengthening in this region in an advantageous manner by the arrangement of the two horizontal laser-welded seams 21 one above the other.

(24) On the other hand, a heat input in the region, critical due to tension, of rear wall structure 10 occurs twice here by the introduction of heat by two laser-welded seams 21 lying very closely next to one another.

(25) This heating by the laser light source advantageously leads to a relaxation of the material structure of the illustrated rear wall structure 10 in the selected region.

(26) The laser strengthening lines can be introduced in the middle and/or at the edges in a ribbed structure 1112 in the selectively chosen region.

(27) The stabilizing effects of ribbed structure 1112 and laser-welded seam structure 20 are mutually strengthened thereby by the laser strengthening.

(28) It is provided that elevations 11 and depressions 12 of ribbed structure 1112 within rear wall structure 10 and horizontal and vertical laser-welded seams 21, 22 within rear wall structure 10 are arranged in each case orthogonal to one another.

(29) In an embodiment of the invention, a ribbed structure 1112 and a plurality of laser-welded seam structures 20 can be arranged on a rear wall structure 10.

(30) The plurality of laser-welded seam structures 20 creates geometric forms, particularly laser-welded seams which are parallel to one another and are arranged at right angles to one another, particularly rectangles.

(31) Other possible arrangements of ribbed structures 1112 and associated laser-welded seam structures 20 are shown in an exemplary selection of three possible variants in FIGS. 2b to 2d and are described hereafter.

(32) Shown are three schematic illustrations of rear wall structures 10 according to FIG. 1.

(33) FIG. 2b shows in a first variant three horizontal laser-welded seams 21, parallel to one another and lying one above the other, as laser-welded seam structure 20, which in each case run over the entire width of rear wall structure 10 and are arranged each in a horizontally running depression 12 (rib depression) of ribbed structure 1112.

(34) FIG. 2c in a second variant shows a laser-welded seam structure 20, introduced by laser strengthening. It is located in the central region of rear wall structure 10 and is made as a rectangle of two horizontal laser-welded seams 21, running parallel to one another, and two vertical laser-welded seams 22, substantially perpendicular thereto and likewise running parallel to one another. The horizontal and vertical laser-welded seams 21, 22 have their starting point and endpoint at an intersection or contact point of two lines.

(35) In a third variant according to FIG. 2d, the horizontally running laser strengthening lines 21 extend beyond the points of intersection. Together with the vertically running laser-welded seams 22, they form a rectangle as in FIG. 2c, which is close to the center of rear wall structure 10, but in the top middle region of rear wall structure 10.

(36) However, the points of contact of vertical laser-welded seams 22 with the lower horizontal laser-welded seam 21 represent the starting point of vertical laser strengthening lines 21.

(37) Structure 20 shown in FIG. 2d by means of the laser strengthening alone or in combination with the shown ribbed structure 1112 represents an especially preferred variant, because it was determined that crossing laser-welded seams 21, 22 of laser-welded seam structure 20 affect especially advantageously the total strength of rear wall structure 10 and the reduction of tensions in rear wall structure 10.

(38) All possible variants of the invention as shown in FIGS. 2b to 2d have in common that they strengthen selectively chosen regions of rear wall structure 10.

(39) The arrangement of laser-welded seams 21, 22 by means of their position, preferably on elevations 11 of ribbed structure 1112, their length, and/or arrangement to one another within rear wall structure 10, has a strengthening effect on the entire rear wall structure 10.

(40) The arrangement of laser-welded seams 21, 22 in depressions 12 of ribbed structure 1112 is also conceivable according to the invention.

(41) Laser-welded seams 21, 22, particularly in a preferred embodiment of the invention, are arranged parallel to the inner contour of support structure 30, that is, running parallel to the inner contour of the profile frame. This design is especially advantageous, because the lines of action of support structure 30 run parallel to the lines of action of laser-welded seams 21, 22.

(42) In particular, the bending strength of rear wall structure 10 is greatly increased thereby.

(43) Moreover, at least some of the horizontal and vertical laser-welded seams 21, 22 are arranged so that during the strengthening process they heat the material in selected regions by means of a laser light source. The selected regions are chosen so that the regions characterized by undesirable tensions are treated with heat, whereby these tensions are reduced during the heating by laser welding.

(44) In an embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, it is provided that laser-welded seam structure 20 is arranged within the support structure, particularly profile frame 30.

(45) FIG. 3a in this regard shows schematically two rear wall structures 10, connected to one another, on the side facing away from upholstery.

(46) As in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2b to 2d, a ribbed structure 1112 is introduced, which in the shown exemplary embodiment was created by rib embossing.

(47) The laser-welded seam structure 20 introduced by means of the laser strengthening corresponds to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2d.

(48) The difference between FIGS. 2c and 3a is that rear wall structure 10 in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3a is connected to profile frame 30 as a support structure.

(49) It is mentioned at this point that other profile frames as well, which have only one top and bottom opposite support structure 30 of profiles or a support structure arranged opposite to the left and right, can be connected to rear wall structure 10. As explained, ribbed structures 1112 or laser-welded seam structures 20 are adapted to this modified support structure 30; that is, other geometric arrangements are optionally formed for laser-welded seam structures 20, which have not been described in greater detail here.

(50) Laser-welded seam structure 20 due to the laser strengthening in this exemplary embodiment is located within support structure 30; that is, laser-welded seams N; 21, 22 do not extend beyond the inner contour of support structure 30.

(51) It is particularly made clear in FIGS. 3a, 3a that ribbed structure 1112 is formed in the bearing surface of profile frame 30 on the rear wall structure and even peripherally projects over the outer contour of profile frame 30, as a result of which the ribbed structure is visible beyond profile frame 30.

(52) It was already explained that this arrangement is possible, because ribbed structure 1112 was introduced before the attachment of profile frame 30 to rear wall structure 10.

(53) In a sectional illustration through rear wall structure 10, ribbed structure 1112, particularly a depression 12 (rib depression) and thereto an elevation 11 (rib elevation) in the wall-like structure, is shown in FIG. 3b. A distance x of 2 mm, for example, is selected between a depression and elevation. The wall thickness of rear wall structure 10, therefore of the metal sheet, is, for example, about 0.5 mm.

(54) Shown is the alternative course of a laser-welded seam N; 21, 22, which is shown hatched analogous to FIG. 1b; unlike in the previous FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2b, 2c, 2d, it runs orthogonal to depression 12 and runs onto an adjacent elevation 11 of ribbed structure 1112 on one side or, as shown in FIG. 3b, onto an adjacent elevation 11 of ribbed structure 1112 on both sides.

(55) It can be assured likewise advantageously by this orthogonal course that the strengthening effects of ribbed structure 1112 and laser-welded seam structure 20 due to the laser strengthening overlap and strengthen further, so that the clicker effect is prevented.

(56) The particular horizontal or vertical laser-welded seam N; 21, 22 in this embodiment runs orthogonal to at least one depression 12 onto at least one elevation 11 or even beyond the at least one elevation 11 to next depression 12, in which the particular horizontal or vertical laser-welded seam N; 21, 22 continues and again crosses the particular depression 12 orthogonally.

(57) The orthogonal crossing of one or more depressions 12 or one or more elevations 11 of a laser-welded seam or a plurality of laser-welded seams N; 21, 22, as shown in FIG. 3b, also represents only one variant, however.

(58) It is also provided in other variants that one or more laser-welded seams N; 21, 22 cross one or more depressions 12 or one or more elevations 11 not orthogonally but at a predefinable angle. The one or the plurality of laser-welded seams N; 21, 22 in these variants therefore do not run in depressions 12 and/or on elevations 12, but cross depressions 12 and/or elevations 12 at a predefinable angle, preferably orthogonally.

(59) The already mentioned course of ribbed structure 1112 beyond support structure 30, that is, below support structure 30, in each embodiment advantageously enables stabilization of the regions of rear wall structure 10, which regions project on the edges beyond support structure 30.

(60) It is necessary for this purpose to arrange ribbed structure 1112, as explained, before the welding of rear wall structure 10 to profile frame 30.

(61) Laser-welded seam structure 20 in the preferred process is introduced after the welding to profile frame 30.

(62) The warpage, not to be prevented totally in the welding process during the connection of profile frame 30 to rear wall structure 10 and/or during the introduction of ribbed structure 1112, is greatest within the inner contour of the profile frame, because this is a closed region, which permits no relaxation in a direction lying in the plane of rear wall structure 10. The warpage can therefore be relaxed only orthogonally to the plane, as a result of which the clicker effect occurs, which is advantageously prevented by this invention, however.

(63) The introduction of a laser-welded seam structure 20 by laser strengthening by the method of the invention necessarily leads to a heating of critical regions and thus to a reduction of warpage. Moreover, the laser-strengthened regions are hardened and by the selection of the arrangement of laser-welded seam structure 20 by means of the laser strengthening strengthen the entire region in the interior of support structure 30. The sum of the described effects makes the occurrence of a so-called clicker effect virtually impossible.

(64) Apart from the arrangement of laser-welded seam structure 20 by means of laser strengthening, the parameters for introducing the structure are critical for the combination of strengthening and relaxation of the entire rear wall structure.

(65) Critical process-engineering welding parameters in this case are the type of laser source, the power of the laser source, the focal spot diameter or defocus, the laser travel speed (rate of advance v), and the depth E and width of the strengthening track.

(66) A possible combination provides for the operation of an Nd:YAG laser (type of laser source) with a 4 kW burning power and a defocus of 30 mm.

(67) FIG. 4 shows the effect of the travel speed or rate of advance v of such a laser on the welding depth E during laser strengthening of a material HC300X, mentioned by way of example, in a 0.5 mm wall thickness based on a characteristic K and an associated interpolated characteristic K1.

(68) In order to produce the described positive and desired properties of the method of the invention, there can be especially no burn-through (E=100%) through the particular material.

(69) Laser-welded seam structure 20 can be introduced on one side or on both sides of rear wall structure 10.

(70) Rear wall structure 10, lasered according to the method of the invention, therefore has at least one laser-welded seam N; 21, 22 on at least one side or on both sides.

(71) For an optimal result, a minimum penetration depth of E=50% should be produced.

(72) In laser welding on both sides, the laser-welded seams N; 21, 22 are to be formed in different regions, because otherwise a burn-through of laser-welded seams 21, 22 may occur.

(73) The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.