Method for connecting two components

Abstract

A method for connecting two components. The method includes heating a deformation region of at least one component part to provide complete heating. The at least one component part is plastically deformed after the complete heating of the deformation region.

Claims

1. A method for joining two components by plastic deformation, the method comprising the steps of: simultaneously heating a plurality of different axially spaced deformation ranges of at least one component by radiation including a laser for heating an entire circumference of the at least one component, the deformation ranges comprising two deformation areas; and plastically deforming the at least one component part after simultaneously heating the plurality of axially spaced deformation ranges such that the deformation areas protrude radially outward from the least one component, wherein another component is sandwiched between the two deformation areas.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plastic deformation occurs in a heated state.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the deformation area is cooled down prior to the plastic deformation.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the structure of the at least one component is locally weakened by the heating.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the two component parts are bonded to one another by crimping, the deformation areas being in direct contact with the another component.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the two components are metallic component parts that are joined to one another.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein radiation is a ring-shaped radiation diverted via an optical means.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the heated component part, after bonding with another component part, is cooled in such a way, that subsequently the heated component part has the desired material properties.

9. A method for joining two components by plastic deformation, the method comprising the steps of: simultaneously heating a plurality of axial extents of at least one component by radiation to provide a plurality of heated of axial extents, each of said axial extents being located at a spaced location from each other, wherein a non-radiated area of the at least one component extends between each of said axial extents and another one of said axial extents; and subsequent to initiating said radiation, plastically deforming the at least one component part such that each of said heated axial extents extends radially outward from the least one component to form plastically deformed areas of said at least one component, wherein another component is fixed via said plastically deformed areas of said at least one component, said another component being located opposite at least a portion of said non-radiated area.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the plastic deformation occurs in a heated state.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the deformation area is cooled down prior to the plastic deformation.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the structure of the at least one component is locally weakened by the heating.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the two component parts are bonded to one another by crimping, said another component being in direct contact with said plastically deformed areas.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the two components are metallic component parts that are joined to one another.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the radiation is a ring-shaped radiation diverted via an optical means.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein the heated component, after fixing to the another component, is cooled in such a way, that subsequently the heated component part has desired material properties.

17. A method for joining two components by plastic deformation, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least a first component, said first component comprising a first area and a second area, said first area being located at a spaced location from said second area; providing at least a second component; simultaneously heating said first area and said second area by radiation to provide a plurality of heated areas, said first component comprising a non-radiated area extending between said first area and said second area; and subsequent to initiating said radiation, arranging said second component adjacent to said first component and plastically deforming the first component such that each of said first area and said second area extends radially outward from the first component to form at least a first plastically deformed area and a second plastically deformed area of said first component, wherein said second component is fixed to said first component via said first plastically deformed area and said second plastically deformed area, said second component being located opposite at least a portion of said non-radiated area.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the plastic deformation occurs in a heated state.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the first area and the second area are cooled down prior to the plastic deformation.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein the radiation is a ring-shaped radiation diverted via an optical means, said second component being in direct contact with said first plastically deformed area and said second plastically deformed area.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a view showing a bond with crimping and flanging;

(3) FIG. 2 is a view showing a bond between a cross beam and a side part of a motor vehicle seat;

(4) FIG. 3 is a view showing the component part's heating;

(5) FIG. 4 is a view showing an embodiment of the method according to the invention; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a view showing another embodiment of the method according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIG. 1 shows the bond between a first component part 1, in this case a pipe, with two secondary component parts 2, 3. Pipe 1 is pushed into the two component parts 2, 3, as illustrated by the blue arrow, and plastically deformed thereafter, so that the pipe is tightly bonded with the component parts 2, 3. The bond between pipe 1 and the component part 2 takes place by crimping 5, while component part 3 is attached to the pipe's 1 end by flanging 4. During crimping or flanging, the pipe 1 is plastically deformed in such a manner, that the component parts 2, 3 are bonded with the pipe by form-fit and/or force-fit. While component part 2 is connected to pipe 1 in a manner, in which torque is transferred, pipe 1 may rotate within side part 3.

(8) FIG. 2 shows an application of the bond according to FIG. 1. It is recognizable, that pipe 1 is the cross beam of the frame of a seat part of a motor vehicle seat, which is for one bonded with a side part 3 of this frame, and also with a part 2 of the height adjustment of the motor vehicle seat.

(9) In FIG. 3, the heatingaccording to the inventionof the pipe, for producing the bond with another component part is shown. For heating, pipe 1 is transported through a heating 7 via a drive 6, in this case two rollers, in which the pipe is simultaneously and entirely heated in one, in this case in several place(s), which are preferably provided at a distance from one another. The pipe is heated simultaneously and evenly along its entire circumference. Preferably the pipe does not move during its heating. In the present case, heating occurs in the area of circular ring 8. For this matter, the circular ring 8 on the pipe's outer circumference is simultaneously and/or evenly heated. Immediately afterwards, deformation of the pipe for producing the crimping or flanging bond takes place. In the present case, the heating of circular ring 8 at the outer circumference of pipe 1 occurs via a laser beam, which is converted via multiple optical means, particularly a cone-shaped mirror, into a ring-shaped radiation, into which the component part to be heated, in this case pipe 1, is placed, in order to locally and simultaneously heat it in its entire volume. In relation to the cone-shaped mirror, the component part to be heated may be shifted, so that areas may be heated, which are axially spaced. However, in the course of the actual heating of the heating area 8, the pipe 1 preferably stands still. Furthermore, the apparatus features a camera, by which the pipe's temperature is measured at the heated circumference. This camera's signal is used for regulation of the laser.

(10) In FIG. 4 a first embodiment of the process according to the invention is shown. The component part 1 is locally heated to a temperature via a heating means 7, for example a ring laser, in this case toroidal, which is denoted by reference numeral 8. Afterwards, the component part 1 is removed from the heating 7, in this case by a robot, and joined to component parts 2, 3 by crimping and flanging. In comparison to a non-heated deformation range, the heating of the deformation range reduces the energy F required for the deformation. Not until then is the component part cooled down to a temperature T2. Cooling can take place in such a way, that it results in a structural change in the heated and/or deformed area.

(11) In FIG. 5 an alternative version of the process is shown. After heating, the heated areas are cooled off in a controlled manner in such a way, that the component part's structure is intentionally weakened locally, in particular by a structural change. Not until after the component part has been cooled down, does the deformation take place, in this case by crimping and flanging, which has already been described above. As a result of the component part's structure having been intentionally weakened in the bonding area, the deformation may occur more easily and/or free of crack formation. The heating/cooling may occur inline or offline.

(12) While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.