METHOD OF MAKING A SHAPED PART FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

First and second metallic parts are joined by first providing a face of the first part with a formation projecting from and forming only a limited portion of the face and then connecting the first part with the second part by fixing the formation to a face of the second part such that the formation holds the first and second parts in a preassambled position with the faces of the first and second parts confronting and out of contact with each other at a predetermined spacing. Then the two spaced and confronting faces of the first and second parts are coated, after which the first and second parts are pushed together with deformation of the formation of the first part into a final-assembly position with the coated faces pressing directly against each other. Then the first and second parts are permanently joined together.

Claims

1. A method of joining two metallic parts, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first part having a face with a formation projecting from and forming only a limited portion of the face of the first part; connecting the first part with a second part by fixing the formation to a face of the second part such that the formation holds the first and second parts in a preassambled position with the faces of the first and second parts confronting and out of contact with each other at a predetermined spacing; coating at least the two spaced and confronting faces of the first and second parts; pushing the first and second parts together with deformation of the formation of the first part into a final-assembly position with the coated faces pressing directly against each other; and permanently joining the first and second parts together in the final-assembly position.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein one of the parts has a throughgoing hole for a fastener and the other part is a perforated reinforcement plate of metal that covers the hole and is fastened to the shaped part.

3. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second parts are pushed and joined together and bolting through the hole.

4. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the reinforcement plate is the first plate and is formed with at least one tab constituting the formation, at an outer edge of the reinforcement plate, and angled toward the other part.

5. The method defined in claim 4, wherein the reinforcement plate has a respective such tab on each of two opposite outer edges.

6. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step, prior to pushing together the first and second parts, of: welding the tab of the first part to the second part for fixing the preassembled position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0024] An embodiment of a shaped part according to the invention for a motor vehicle is shown in the drawing and described below. Therein:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a top view of a shaped part including a reinforcement plate;

[0026] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the shaped part including reinforcement plate;

[0027] FIG. 3 is an end view of same, partly in section.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a shaped part 1 for a motor vehicle, comprising a throughgoing hole 2 for a fastening element and a perforated reinforcement plate 3 covering the hole 2 and fixed to the shaped part 1. The reinforcement plate 3 in this embodiment is basically rectangular, although it is possible to use a reinforcement plate 3 with another shape. The shaped part 1 can be a body or a frame component. All parts are composed of metal, preferably steel.

[0029] Other shaped parts or body components can be attached to the shaped part 1 but are not shown in the drawing, the hole 2 being provided to allow insertion of a fastener appropriate for effecting secure attachment, in particular, a bolt.

[0030] The reinforcement plate 3 has two limited portions for secure attachment of the plate to the shaped part 1, these being in the form of tabs 5 that, as highlighted in FIGS. 2 and 3, are angled toward the shaped part 1 and that securely attach the reinforcement plate 3 to the shaped part 1 in a specified assembly position with a spacing 4 between the shaped part 1 and the reinforcement plate 3. The tabs 5 are on two opposing outer edges 6 and 7 of the reinforcement plate 3, ends 8 of the tabs 5 being attached to the shaped part 1, for example, welded or soldered. This is advantageous since angular forces during the screwing action act through the fastener on the individual components, and any improper rotation by the reinforcement plate 3 in the rotation direction of the fastener is precluded due to the secure attachment of the reinforcement plate 3 by the diagonally opposite tabs 5.

[0031] Attachment between the shaped part 1 and the reinforcement plate 3 is effected at the end edges 8 of the tabs 5 by welding or soldering. Other joining technologies are also possible, however.

[0032] FIG. 3, in particular, illustrates that the reinforcement plate 3 is offset by the spacing 4 from the shaped part 1. The reinforcement plate 3 is held at the spacing 4 from the shaped part 1 by the tabs 5 that are angled toward the shaped part 1. When a coating of corrosion-protection agent is applied, the corrosion-protection agent also gets into the spacing 4 between the shaped part 1 and the reinforcement plate 3, with the result that confronting faces 9 of both parts, which are pressed against each other in the specified assembly position, are also coated with a corrosion-protection agent.

[0033] The invention is not restricted to the illustrated embodiment but can be varied in multiple ways within the scope of the invention.

[0034] All novel individual features and combined features that are disclosed in the description and/or drawing are considered to be essential to the invention.