Method for Connecting a Ball to a First Component in a Positively Locking Manner, and Component Connection

Abstract

A method is provided for connecting a ball to a first component having the following steps: providing a first component which has a through-hole; providing a ball and inserting the ball into the through-hole such that the ball protrudes out of the first component at opposite sides of the first component; placing a first pressing tool on the ball from a first side of the first component and placing a second pressing tool on the ball from a second side of the first component; plastically deforming the ball by pressing together the pressing tools, wherein material of the ball flows both on the first side as well as on the second side of the first component, such that material of the ball covers an edge of the through-hole on the first side and on the second side of the first component, whereby a formfitting connection is produced between the ball and the first component.

Claims

1. A method for connecting a ball to a first component, the method comprising the acts of: providing a first component having a through-hole; providing a ball, and inserting the ball into the through-hole such that the ball protrudes out of the first component at opposite sides of the first component; placing a first pressing tool on the ball from a first side of the first component, and placing a second pressing tool on the ball from a second side of the first component; plastically deforming the ball by pressing together the first and second pressing tools, wherein material of the ball flows both on the first side and on the second side of the first component such that the material of the ball projects beyond an edge of the through hole on the first side and on the second side of the first component, whereby a positively locking connection is produced between the ball and the first component.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ball is inserted into the through hole such that the ball projects out of the first component to approximately or exactly the same extent on the first side and on the second side of the first component.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ball is made of a metal material.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ball is made of steel or aluminum.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the act of: before being plastically deformed, the ball is connected fixedly to a second ball in order to form a double ball.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the act of: subsequently to being plastically deformed, the ball is connected to a second ball.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, as viewed in a direction of a perpendicular bisector of the through-hole, the first and/or the second pressing tool acts on the ball in a radial outer region of the ball, and material of the ball is made to flow radially to the outside in a radial outer region of the ball.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pressing tool is of a sleeve-shaped configuration, an end side of the first pressing tool being pressed against the ball in a radial outer region of the ball during pressing together of the first and second pressing tools.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second pressing tool is of a sleeve-shaped configuration, an end side of the second pressing tool being pressed against the ball on a radial outer region of the ball during pressing together of the first and second pressing tools.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first component is clamped in between a first hold-down device and a second hold-down device.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a recess is provided in the first hold-down device, in which recess the first pressing tool is displaced.

12. The method as claimed claim 11, wherein a recess is provided in the second hold-down device, in which recess the second pressing tool is displaced.

13. A component connection, comprising: a first component which has a through hole, a connecting element which is formed by a ball, the ball being inserted into the through-hole and protruding out of the first component on sides of the first component which lie opposite one another and being plastically deformed by way of pressing such that material of the plastically deformed ball projects beyond an edge of the through-hole on a first side and on a second side of the first component to produce a positively locking connection between the ball and the first component; and a second component which has a through-hole or a receiving opening, the connecting element protruding into the through-hole or into the receiving opening of the second component.

14. The component connection as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second component interacts with the connecting element in a positively locking manner, with a result that the two components are centered relative to one another at a location of the connecting element.

15. The component connection as claimed claim 13, wherein the connecting element is clamped into the through hole or into the receiving opening of the second component.

16. The component connection as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: a clip element clipped onto the connecting element.

17. The component connection as claimed in claim 16, wherein the two components are held together by way of the clip element.

18. The component connection as claimed in claim 13, wherein the two components are components of a vehicle.

19. The component connection as claimed in claim 13, wherein the two components are vehicle body components.

20. The component connection as claimed in claim 13, wherein the two components are connected additionally to one another via a welded connection or an adhesive bond.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a first step for pressing one ball of a double ball to a first component in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates a second step for pressing one ball of a double ball to a first component in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a first component 1 which can be formed, for example, by way of a steel plate, an aluminum plate, a plastic panel or the like. In the case of a plastic component, the first component can be, in particular, a fiber-reinforced plastic component, that is to say a plastic component, the stability of which is reinforced, for example, by way of glass fibers, carbon fibers or the like. A through hole 2 is provided in the first component 1.

[0031] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the first component 1 is clamped inbetween a first hold-down device (upper hold-down) 3 and a second hold-down device (lower hold-down) 4. A cylindrical recess 3a is provided in the upper hold-down 3, in which recess 3a a first pressing tool 5 is arranged displaceably. A cylindrical recess 4a is likewise provided in the lower hold-down 4, in which recess 4a a lower pressing tool 6 is arranged displaceably.

[0032] In the exemplary embodiment which is described in FIGS. 1, 2, a double ball 7 is used which consists of two balls 7a, 7b which are connected to one another. The two balls 7a, 7b can be welded to one another, for example.

[0033] It can be provided that the diameter of the lower ball 7b is at most as great as the diameter of the through hole 2. In principle, the lower ball 7b might also have a certain small oversize in relation to the through hole 2. If the ball 7b has an oversize in relation to the ball 2, the double ball or the ball 7b of the double ball 7 would have to be pressed into the through hole 2 with a certain pressing-in force.

[0034] The double ball 7 is moved into a position, in which the lower ball 7b protrudes out of the through hole 2 on both sides of the through hole 2 and therefore out of the first component 1. In FIG. 1, the lower ball 7b is arranged symmetrically with regard to the first component, that is to say the center point of the lower ball 7b or its equatorial plane lies in a center plane 8 of the first component 1.

[0035] The pressing tools 5, 6 which are used in FIGS. 1, 2 are of sleeve-shaped design. The lower pressing tool 6 can have the shape of a circular cylinder, the internal diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the lower ball 7b, and the external diameter of which is somewhat smaller than or approximately the same size as the diameter of the recess 4a of the hold-down 4.

[0036] The upper pressing tool 5 is likewise of sleeve-like design. During pressing together of the pressing tools 5, 6, end sides 5b, 6b of the pressing tools 5, 6 come into contact with a radial outer region of the lower ball 7b, The radial outer region of the ball 7b is squeezed in between the end sides 5b, 6b of the pressing tools 5, 6, which can be seen best from FIG. 2. The pressing tools 5, 6 are pressed together to such a pronounced extent that the lower ball 7b is deformed plastically. Here, a flow of material of the lower ball 7b occurs in such a way that material of the ball 7b projects beyond an edge of the through hole 2 on a first side 1a and on a second side 1b of the first component 1. This results in a positively locking connection between the ball and the first component 1.

[0037] In the sectional illustration which is shown in FIG. 2, the plastically deformed edge region of the lower ball 7b has the form of a clamp which extends over the entire circumference of the ball 7b. The clamp has a generally U-shape which extends over the entire circumference of the ball 7b. The limbs of the U-shape protrude radially to the outside in relation to the through hole 2 and project beyond the through hole 2 from the top and from the bottom, which results in a positively locking connection between the first component 1 and the ball 7b. It is to be noted expressly that the ball 7b does not necessarily have to be deformed plastically along its entire extent. It is also contemplated that the ball 7b is deformed plastically only along a circumferential partial section or along a plurality of circumferential partial sections.

[0038] The ball 7b is therefore symmetrical with regard to a perpendicular bisector of the through hole 2 even after reshaping or deforming. If the pressing tools 5, 6 are pressed together to a sufficiently pronounced extent, the lower ball 7b is connected fixedly to the first component not only in a translational manner, but rather is also connected fixedly to the first component 1 via a frictional connection so as to rotate with it.

[0039] 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.