Method for connecting two vehicle components and/or two non-vehicle components

Abstract

A method is provided for connecting a first component to a second component. The two components are placed against each other and pre-fixed, wherein the two components are attached and immovably connected to each other at at least one first connection point via a first detachable component connection and are attached and connected to each other so as to be movable relative to each other in a sliding direction at at least one second connection point via a second detachable component connection. The pre-fixed components are rigidly connected, in particular, by welding.

Claims

1. A method for connecting a first connection component to a second connection component, the method comprising the acts of: placing the first and second connection components against each other; pre-fixing the first and second connection components together, wherein the connection components are attached and non-movably connected to each other at at least one first connection point via a first detachable component connection, and are attached and connected to each other so as to be movable relative to each other in a sliding direction at at least one second connection point via a second detachable component connection; and rigidly connecting the pre-fixed first and second connection components together, wherein at least one of the two components connections is produced by: insertion of a male fixing element into a female fixing element in an insertion direction, wherein: the male fixing element is spaced apart from one of the two connection components and has a sphere or sphere-like shape, the male fixing element being a separate part from the connection components and being connected to said one of the two connection components in a material-locking manner, and the female fixing element is included on the other one of the two connection components and receives the male fixing element, a clamp connection of the fixing elements being produced by the inserting of the male fixing element into the female fixing element in the insertion direction, wherein the second component connection is operatively configured such that heat stress occurring during the rigid connection is compensated in the sliding direction.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of rigidly connecting further comprises the act of welding the pre-fixed first and second connection components together.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the connection components are vehicle components.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of rigidly connecting further comprises the act of generating, via welding, a longitudinal welded seam substantially parallel and coaxial to the sliding direction.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the welding is carried out via a focused laser beam.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the male fixing element is over sized relative to the female fixing element substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction, wherein the two connection components are clamped together on the fixing elements.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the female fixing element comprises a passage hole formed in the second connection component.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the female fixing element comprises a passage hole formed in the second connection component.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the passage hole has a non-circular shape.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the passage hole has a polygonal shape.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the polygonal shape is at least one of a triangle, rectangle and square.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two connection components are fixed in a region of the fixing elements in a manner prohibiting sliding relative to one another in directions perpendicular to the insertion direction.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the female fixing element is a slot and/or an oblong passage hole in which an assigned male fixing element is slidable in a longitudinal direction of the slot and/or the oblong passage hole.

14. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the act of exerting a clamping force onto an outer side of the male fixing element from the outside inward and substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction via at least one clamp element capable of elastic bending that is included at a distance from the second connection component on an edge of the passage hole.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the clamp element grips the assigned male fixing element from behind to form a positive-fit.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the clamp element is a clamp collar extending along substantially an entire edge of the passage hole.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the clamp element comprises multiple clamp collars along an edge of the passage hole, the multiple clamp collars being spaced apart from one other along a periphery and abut against the male fixing element from the outside inward along a section of the periphery.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the clamp element comprises one or more clamp collars that project from the second connection component in an insertion direction.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second connection components is a vehicle sheet metal component.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second connection components is a vehicle body component.

21. The method according to claim 7, wherein the passage hole is formed by stamping the passage hole out of the second connection component.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the clamp collar is a bent section of the second connection component.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the male fixing element comprises only metal.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein the male fixing element is welded onto the first connection component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a sheet of metal with a steel sphere welded onto the same;

(2) FIGS. 2, 3 show a sheet of metal having a passage hole with a clamp collar around the periphery thereof;

(3) FIGS. 4-6 show different exemplary embodiments with different clamp collars;

(4) FIG. 7 shows two exemplary components according to the invention that are fixed to each other in a floating manner; and

(5) FIG. 8 shows the basic principle of the invention, of two vehicle components intended to be connected to each other by laser welding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) FIG. 1 shows a first sheet of metal 1, wherein a steel sphere 2 is welded onto the same.

(7) FIGS. 2, 3 show a second sheet of metal 3, wherein a passage hole 4 is stamped into the same, having a curved collar 5 which functions as the clamp collar. The passage hole 4 and/or the clamp collar 5 have a diameter which is slightly smaller than the sphere 2. The clamp collar, however, is sufficiently elastic for the sphere to be able to be inserted through and/or into the passage hole 4.

(8) The passage hole 4 can have a nearly rectangular and/or square shape, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3. In the case of a nearly square geometry of the passage hole 4, the clamp collar 5 presses the sphere 2 from the outside inward at four point positions which are spaced apart from each other at approx. 90.

(9) FIG. 4 shows the two metal sheets 1, 3 in the assembled state. The sphere fixed onto the metal sheet 1 has been inserted through the passage hole 4 from the bottom. The clamp collar 5 presses against the sphere 2 from the outside inward substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction 6. The two metal sheets 1, 3 are therefore positioned and fixed relative to each other substantially without play in directions which are perpendicular to the insertion direction 6.

(10) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment wherein, rather than a peripheral clamp collar, multiple tooth-like clamp collar elements 5a, 5b, 5c are included, and are evenly distributed around the periphery.

(11) In the embodiment in FIG. 6, only two such tooth-like clamp collar elements 5a, 5b are included, and are spaced approx. 180 from each other along the periphery. The two clamp collar elements 5a, 5b are arranged on sides of the sphere 2 which are opposite each other.

(12) FIG. 7 shows one embodiment wherein a first sphere 2a and a second sphere 2b are arranged on a first metal sheet 1 at a distance from each other. Both spheres 2a, 2b can be welded onto the metal sheet 1.

(13) A first rectangular and/or square passage hole 4a is included in the second metal sheet 3, and is assigned to the sphere 2a. This passage hole 4a has a clamp collar 5 running around the periphery, similarly to that shown in FIGS. 2-4. As such, the two metal sheets 1, 3 are fixed relative to each other in the region of the sphere 2a, perpendicular to the insertion direction.

(14) In contrast, the second passage hole 4b is an oblong passage hole, having two clamp collars 5a, 5b running along the hole periphery which press against the outer side of the sphere 2b from opposite sides. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 7, the metal sheets are fixed to each other in a floating manner. Stresses between the attachment points are prevented by the oblong hole 4b.

(15) The two metal sheets 1, 3 can be easily fit together and then permanently, rigidly connected to each other, for example by welding. The heat stresses occurring during the welding process are automatically compensated due to the floating arrangement of the two metal sheets.

(16) FIG. 8 shows an embodiment which is very similar to that in FIG. 7. A first component connection 7 is formed by a sphere 2a welded onto the metal sheet 1. This sphere 2a is inserted through a rectangular and/or square passage hole 4a included in the second metal sheet 3. A second component connection 8 is formed by a sphere 2b welding onto the first metal sheet 1. This sphere 2b is inserted through the oblong passage hole 4b.

(17) The two metal sheets are therefore pre-fixed and floating in the direction of the arrow 9. A weld seam 12 is generated by way of a laser welding device 10 having a focusing lens 11. The welded seam 12 is parallel to the direction of the arrow 9. The welded seam 12 in this case is generated in the region between the two component connections 7, 8. The heat stresses occurring during the laser welding process can be compensated without problem by the floating fixation of the two metal sheets 1, 3.

(18) 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.