Procedure for rivets, riveting tool, riveting machine and airbag component

Abstract

A method of riveting using a plastically deformable plastic rivet is provided. The method includes positioning the plastic rivet in front of the rivet on a component, of a motor vehicle, and deforming the rivet by a riveting die by applying a riveting force, such that a rivet holds the component wherein the rivet is with a rivet dynamometer and the riveting force is measured and a rivet is set with a predetermined breaking point.

Claims

1. A method of riveting using a plastically deformable plastic rivet, the method comprising positioning a riveting unit in front of a rivet, the rivet positioned on a component of a motor vehicle, and deforming the rivet with a riveting die of the riveting unit by applying a riveting force, such that the rivet holds the component, wherein the riveting force is measured with a rivet dynamometer and said rivet is set with a predetermined breaking point.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a variety of rivet stamps are arranged on a tool and the riveting force of at least two rivet stamps is measured individually.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the rivet is provided in a motor vehicle with a burst seam which includes an airbag seam.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising logging the riveting force and carrying out a quality assurance for said rivet.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein an interior trim component of an automotive vehicle or an outer panel of a motor vehicle part is processed in an already laminating system state.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said riveting force is less than 500 N.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said riveting force does not exceeds a maximum riveting force.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising interrupting the riveting process when a maximum allowable riveting, force has been exceeded.

9. A method according to claim 1 further comprising determining a maximum riveting force for the set rivet.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the maximum permissible riveting force is determined by an optical assessment and wherein the maximum allowable riveting force is reduced accordingly.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the maximum permissible riveting force is determined based on an assessment of a rivet breaking point and wherein said maximum allowable riveting force is reduced in accordance with said breaking point.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the riveting force is measured on a holder of a riveting stamp on a tool.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method of riveting is performed with a hot rivet process including (i) first heating of the rivet by directing a flow of gas to the rivet, (ii) then deforming the rivet with a heated rivet stamp located inside the riveting unit, (iii) and stopping the heating and directing a cool gas flow through the sleeve to cool the rivet and rivet stamp.

14. A riveting tool with riveting for a plastically deformable plastic rivet, adapted to perform a method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein riveting has a rivet dynamometer for measuring an axial riveting force.

15. A riveting tool according to claim 14, wherein a data line is provided, with leads to a controller so that the controller can evaluate the riveting force during riveting.

16. A riveting machine adapted for performing a method according to claim 1.

17. A riveting machine ac cording to claim 16, with a riveting tool, a force sensor and a controller.

18. A riveting machine adapted for performing a method according to claim 14.

19. A method of riveting using a plastically deformable plastic rivet, the method comprising positioning a riveting unit in front of a rivet, the rivet positioned on a component of a motor vehicle, and deforming the rivet by a riveting die by applying a riveting force, such that a rivet holds the component wherein the riveting three is measured with a rivet dynamometer and wherein an individual riveting stamp is longitudinally adjusted with respect to its longitudinal axis to achieve a riveting force modification.

20. A method of riveting using a plastically deformable plastic rivet, the method comprising positioning a riveting unit in front of a rivet, the rivet positioned on a component of a motor vehicle, and deforming the rivet by a riveting die by applying a riveting force, such that a rivet holds the component wherein the riveting three is measured with a rivet dynamometer and wherein the different maximum allowable rivet forces for different rivets are approved to set variously shaped rivets and/or for setting rivets in various materials on the component.

21. A method of riveting using a plastically deformable plastic rivet, the method comprising positioning a riveting unit in from of a rivet, the rivet positioned on a component of a motor vehicle, and deforming the rivet by a riveting die by applying a riveting force, such that a rivet holds the component wherein a variety of rivet stamps are arranged on a tool and the riveting force of at least two rivet stamps is measured individually.

22. A method of riveting using a plastically deformable plastic rivet, the method comprising positioning a riveting unit in front of a rivet, the rivet positioned on a component of a motor vehicle, and deforming the rivet by a riveting die by applying a riveting force, such that a rivet holds the component wherein a maximum riveting force for the rivet is determined, and the maximum permissible riveting force is determined by an optical assessment of a good side and the maximum allowable riveting force is reduced.

23. A method of riveting using a plastically deformable plastic rivet, the method comprising positioning, a riveting unit in front of a rivet, the rivet positioned on a component of a motor vehicle, and deforming the rivet by a riveting die by applying a riveting force, such that a rivet holds the component wherein a maximum riveting force for the rivet is determined and the maximum permissible riveting force is determined based on an assessment of a rivet breaking point by the maximum riveting force and is reduced to the breaking point or previous damage to the breaking point.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. The following is displayed there:

(2) FIG. 1 is a semi-transparent representation of a perspective view of a riveting unit with a holder and showing the rivet and component schematically, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a modified representation as detail of the holder from a different perspective, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and

(4) FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section showing the riveting unit with the holder, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) The riveting unit 1 in the figures consists essentially of the riveting stamp 2 (not shown in FIG. 3), which is supported on a rivet stamp socket 3, wherein in the riveting stamp 2, an air guide sleeve 4 is arranged in an advantageous application of revelation from DE 100 38 158 B4, which serves as a hold-down during the riveting.

(6) The air guide sleeve 4 has a connection port 5 for supplying cooling air to the riveting stamp 2.

(7) The riveting unit 1 is constructed stretched along a longitudinal direction 6 and substantially cylindrical.

(8) Along the longitudinal direction 6 is more in the direction of application 7, i.e. in practice, usually lower end of the riveting unit 1, the riveting die 2 with its air guide sleeve 4.

(9) Contrary to the direction 7 of the cylindrical body, it is continued in a spring element 8, which is configured resiliently to a first coil spring 9 and a second coil spring 10 in the longitudinal direction 6 of the riveting unit 1, so that the rivet stamp socket 3 can be added with the attached riveting stamp 2 and the also mounted air guide sleeve 4 axially under construction or dismantling of a linear spring force in holder 11.

(10) There is a threaded ring 12, in which the function of a spindle can lengthen or shorten riveter 1 axially so that (not shown) a once given installation situation of the holder 11 on a tool in a riveting between the spring element 8 and the holder 11 sets smaller rivet forces.

(11) The holder 11 consists essentially of a retaining body 13, which is on one hand, a cylindrical receptacle 14 for the cylindrical body 15, which then continues into the spring element 8 and ultimately towards the riveting stamp 2 in the direction of attack 7; on the other hand has the support flange 13 by a projection 16 for placement on the tool carrier.

(12) In the embodiment chosen here, the projection 16 is in applying a longitudinal force along the direction of attack 7, in practice as a force opposite to the direction of attack 7, prone to bend around a bending axis 17. This means that upon application of a riveting force, a material expansion takes place at a lower side 18 of the projection 16. There is a strain gauge 19 arranged, that registers the extension of the underside 18 of the projection 16 and is also connected to a data attached to the riveting unit 1 amplifier 20.

(13) In use, the riveting unit 1 of the tool carrier travels with a variety of riveting units 1 along the direction of attack 7 against the rivets 50 of a component 55 and sets the riveting stamp 2 on the rivet 50. The further forward movement of the tool holder in the direction of attack 7, the riveting die 2 are driven into the rivet 50, thus deforming the rivet 50.

(14) A flat plate bending 21 ensures that the plastically deformed expectant material of the plastic rivet 50 is placed flat on the outside of the two connected components, i.e. on the side of the rivet 50, which is located on the component 55.

(15) During deforming, the pressure acting axially against the direction of application 7 is to be determined in the force of the riveting unit 1 via the deformation at strain gauge 19, in the pre-amplified to be transmitted by the strain gauge 19 at the data amplifier 20, and then a controller (not shown) on the tool station is fed.

(16) Finally, a logging and/or a changed setting the rivet forces can be done.

(17) It is understood that the embodiment presented here is only one of numerous possible designs.

(18) The scope of the present patent application is determined solely by the claims, while the embodiment is intended only to illustrate one possible embodiment of the invention.