Method for Exchanging a Section of a Plastic Component

Abstract

A method is provided for exchanging a section, in particular a damaged section, of a plastic component. The method includes: separating the section from the plastic component; providing at least one connecting element made from a plastic; pressing the at least one connecting element onto the plastic component such that the one connecting element abuts a remaining part of the plastic component; oscillating the connecting element by an ultrasonic sonotrode; and welding the connecting element to the remaining part of the plastic component; providing a replacement section for the separated section, wherein the replacement section has a hole, in particular a through-hole; applying the replacement section in the region from which the separated section was separated, such that the replacement section is clamped by its hole directly in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner onto the connecting element and/or the connecting element extends at least some way through the through-hole, wherein a clip element is clipped onto a section of the connecting element extending through the hole. The clip element projects beyond the through-hole and connects the replacement part to the remaining part of the plastic component in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner.

Claims

1. A method for exchanging a section of a plastic component, the method comprising the acts of: separating a section from the plastic component; providing at least one connection element made from a plastic; pressing the at least one connection element against the plastic component such that the connection element comes to bear against a remaining part of the plastic component; causing the connection element to vibrate via an ultrasonic sonotrode so as to weld the connection element to the remaining part of the plastic component; providing a replacing section that replaces the section separated from the plastic component, the replacing section having a hole; mounting the replacing section in a region from which the separated section was separated, wherein the mounting of the replacing section is carried out by one or both of: (i) clamping the replacing section directly onto the connection element with a form and/or force fit, or (i) extending the connection element through the hole in the replacing section by at least a defined amount, wherein a clip element is clipped onto a section of the connection element that extends through the hole, the clip element projecting above the hole and connecting the replacing section to the remaining part of the plastic component with a form and/or force fit.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the replacing section projects above the remaining part of the plastic component by at least a defined amount, wherein an adhesive is inserted between the replacing section and the remaining part of the plastic component and is used to adhere the replacing section to the remaining part of the plastic component.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remaining part of the plastic component has a physical mark, and the connection element is positioned in relation to the remaining part by way of the physical mark.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the physical mark is a hollow recess.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the physical mark is made on the remaining part at a point at which the connection element is to be welded to the remaining part.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection element has at least one ball.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastic component is a fiber-reinforced plastic component.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic component is a carbon and and/or glass fiber-reinforced plastic component.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastic component has pre-defined severing points and is separated precisely at the pre-defined severing points.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastic component is a bodywork component of a vehicle.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection element is made from a thermoplastic material at least in the region in which it is welded to the remaining part.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastic component is made from a thermoplastic material at least in the region of the remaining part in which it is welded to the connection element.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection element is made to vibrate in a translational motion by way of the ultrasonic sonotrode.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection element is made to vibrate in a rotary motion by way of the ultrasonic sonotrode.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the section separated from the plastic component is a damaged section of the plastic component.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hole in the replacing section is a through-hole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows an individual step for exchanging a section of a plastic component.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows an individual step for exchanging a section of a plastic component.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows an individual step for exchanging a section of a plastic component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a plastic component 1, which may for example be a bodywork component or a bodywork structural component of a vehicle. It is possible for pre-defined severing points 2a, 2b in or on the plastic component 1, at which the plastic component 1 can be separated off, already to be provided at the factory. The separating off may, for example, be performed by cutting, sawing or in another manner.

[0025] In a manner not illustrated in more detail here, a section la of the plastic component that is located between the two severing points 2a, 2b is separated. After it has been separated, a remaining part 1 of the plastic component 1 remains (see FIG. 2).

[0026] A plastic ball 4a made from plastic material is welded to the remaining part 1 of the plastic component 1 by use of a sonotrode 3. A further ball 4b is then welded to the ball 4a (cf. FIG. 3). The two balls 4a, 4b form a double ball that acts as a connection element.

[0027] In the same way, a double ball 4a, 4b is welded on at the opposite side of the remaining part 1 of the plastic component 1 by use of a sonotrode.

[0028] Then, a replacing section 5 is provided. The replacing section 5 may, for example, be likewise a plastic component, or a component made from another material. The replacing section 5 has two through holes 6a, 6b.

[0029] The replacing section 5 is arranged such that the connection elements that are formed by the two double balls 4a, 4b and 4a, 4b project into or partly through the through holes 6a, 6b. Provided the two double balls 4a, 4b and 4a, 4b are oversized in relation to the through holes 6a, 6b and the replacing component 5 has a certain elasticity in the region of the through holes 6a, 6b, the replacing component 5 can be clamped to the double balls 4a, 4b and 4a, 4b directly by way of its through holes 6a, 6b.

[0030] As can be seen from FIG. 3, the upper balls 4b and 4b each project by at least a certain amount out of the through holes 6a, 6b. As an alternative or in addition to the above-described direct clamping, it is possible for a respective clip element 7a or 7b to be clipped onto the projecting part of the connection elements, that is to say to the upper balls 4b, 4b, and for the replacing section to be connected in this way to the remaining part 1 with form fit and/or a force fit.

[0031] Before the replacing section 5 is placed on the remaining part 1, it is possible for a layer 8 of adhesive to be inserted between the replacing section 5 and the remaining part of the plastic component 1, by which the replacing section 5 is glued to the remaining part 1. As a result of the clipped-on clip elements 7a, 7b and/or the direct clamping of the replacing section 5, it is ensured that the replacing section 5 is fixed sufficiently reliably and firmly to the remaining section 1 and thus the adhesive 8 is able to cure properly.

[0032] 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.