Connection, Connection System, and Method for Connecting at Least Two Components

Abstract

A connection between at least two components of a motor vehicle includes at least one connection unit which is arranged and/or formed on one of the components, and provides at least one connection surface of the connection. At least one characteristic of the connection unit is deliberately changeable, in such a manner that an adhesion capability of the connection surface is adjustable.

Claims

1. A connection between at least two components of a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one connection unit which is arranged and/or formed on one of the components, and provides at least one connection surface of the connection, wherein at least one characteristic of the connection unit is deliberately changeable, in such a manner that an adhesion capability of the connection surface is adjustable.

2. A connection system for connecting at least two components of a motor vehicle, comprising least one connection as claimed in claim 1 and at least one control and/or regulating unit which is configured to deliberately expose the connection unit of the connection to at least one external influencing factor in such a manner that the at least one characteristic of the connection unit is deliberately changeable for adjusting the adhesion capability of the connection surface of the connection unit.

3. The connection system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control and/or regulating unit is configured to deliberately expose the connection unit to the at least one external influencing factor depending on a detected current or a predetermined driving state of the motor vehicle.

4. The connection system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control and/or regulating unit is configured to deliberately expose the connection unit to the at least one external influencing factor depending on a detected current acoustic behavior of the motor vehicle.

5. A method for connecting at least two components of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of: arranging and/or forming at least one connection unit on one of the components which are not connected to each other, which connection unit provides at least one connection surface and of which at least one characteristic is changeable by deliberate exposure to at least one external influencing factor in such a manner that an adhesion capability of the connection surface is adjustable; reducing the adhesion capability of the connection surface to a predetermined first level by deliberate exposure of the connection unit to a predetermined first value of the at least one external influencing factor; positioning the components that are to be connected to each other in their respective connection positions relative to each other in such a manner that the connection surface directly contacts the respective other component; and increasing the adhesion capability of the connection surface to a predetermined second level, which is greater than the first level, by deliberately exposing the connection unit to a predetermined second value of the at least one external influencing factor, wherein the second value differs from the first value.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the deliberate exposure of the connection unit to a predetermined first value of the at least one external influencing factor take place actively, and the deliberate exposure of the connection unit to a predetermined second value of the at least one external influencing factor takes place passively.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein after the components have been connected to each other, the connection unit is deliberately exposed to the at least one external influencing factor depending on a detected current or a predetermined driving state of the motor vehicle.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein after the components have been connected to each other, the connection unit is deliberately exposed to the at least one external influencing factor depending on a detected current acoustic behavior of the motor vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of the inventive connection system; and

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a representation of an exemplary workflow for the inventive method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of an inventive connection system 1 for connecting two components 2 and 3 of a motor vehiclenot further shown.

[0029] The connection system 1 comprises a connection 4 between components 2 and 3. The connection 4 comprises a connection unit 6 which is arranged and/or formed on the component 3, and provides at least one connection surface 5 of the connection 4. At least one characteristic of the connection unit 6 is deliberately changeable, in such a manner that an adhesion capability of the connection surface 5 is adjustable.

[0030] The connection system 1 further comprises a control and/or regulating unit 7 which is configured to deliberately expose the connection unit 6 of the connection 4 to the at least one external influencing factor in such a manner that the at least one characteristic of the connection unit 6 is deliberately changeable for adjusting the adhesion capability of the connection surface 5 of the connection unit 6.

[0031] The control and/or regulating unit 7 may be configured to deliberately expose the connection unit 6 to the at least one external influencing factor depending on a detected current or a predetermined driving state of the motor vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the control and/or regulating unit 7 may be configured to deliberately expose the connection unit 6 to the at least one external influencing factor depending on a detected current acoustic behavior of the motor vehicle.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a representation of an exemplary workflow for the inventive method for connecting at least two components of a motor vehicle. A connection system as shown in FIG. 1 may be used to carry out the method.

[0033] In a first assembly step 10, at least one connection unit is arranged and/or formed on one of the components which are not connected to each other, which connection unit provides at least one connection surface and of which at least one characteristic is changeable by deliberate exposure to at least one external influencing factor in such a manner that an adhesion capability of the connection surface is adjustable.

[0034] In a second assembly step 20, the adhesion capability of the connection surface is reduced to a predetermined first level by deliberate exposure of the connection unit to a predetermined first value of the at least one external influencing factor.

[0035] In a third assembly step 30, the components that are to be connected to each other are positioned in their respective connection positions relative to each other in such a manner that the connection surface directly contacts the respective other component.

[0036] In a fourth assembly step 40, the adhesion capability of the connection surface is increased to a predetermined second level, which is greater than the first level, by deliberately exposing the connection unit to a predetermined second value of the at least one external influencing factor, wherein the second value differs from the first value. In this context, the deliberate exposure of the connection unit to a predetermined first value of the at least one external influencing factor may take place actively and the deliberate exposure of the connection unit to a predetermined second value of the at least one external influencing factor may take place passively. Then, the components are connected to each other in a fixed manner.

[0037] In a subsequent method step 50, after the components have been connected to each other, the connection unit is deliberately exposed to the at least one external influencing factor depending on a detected current or a predetermined driving state of the motor vehicle. Alternatively or additionally in method step 50, after the components have been connected to each other, the connection unit may be deliberately exposed to the at least one external influencing factor depending on a detected current acoustic behavior of the motor vehicle.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0038] 1 Connection system

[0039] 2 Component

[0040] 3 Component

[0041] 4 Connection

[0042] 5 Connection surface

[0043] 6 Connection unit

[0044] 7 Control and/or regulating unit

[0045] 10 First assembly step

[0046] 20 Second assembly step

[0047] 30 Third assembly step

[0048] 40 Fourth assembly step

[0049] 50 Method step

[0050] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the embodiments of 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 embodiments of the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.