U.S. patent application number 13/670503 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-09 for tool and method for joining material layers.
This patent application is currently assigned to MAGNA STEYR FAHRZEUGTECHNIK AG & CO. KG. The applicant listed for this patent is MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & CO. KG. Invention is credited to Manuel ERLACHER, Bernhard HOFER, Martin RODLER.
Application Number | 20130112664 13/670503 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47143540 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130112664 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ERLACHER; Manuel ; et
al. |
May 9, 2013 |
TOOL AND METHOD FOR JOINING MATERIAL LAYERS
Abstract
A tool configured to join at least two material layers, of which
at least one material layer is in the form of a metal material
layer, by a pin. The tool includes a driving-in device which drives
the pin through the at least two material layers to be joined, and
a welding device which, after the driving-in of the pin, welds at
least one first section of the pin to the at least one metal
material layer.
Inventors: |
ERLACHER; Manuel;
(Radenthein, AT) ; HOFER; Bernhard; (Graz, AT)
; RODLER; Martin; (Krottendorf, AT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Fahrzeugtechnik AG & CO. KG; MAGNA STEYR |
Graz |
|
AT |
|
|
Assignee: |
MAGNA STEYR FAHRZEUGTECHNIK AG
& CO. KG
Graz
AT
|
Family ID: |
47143540 |
Appl. No.: |
13/670503 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
219/78.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23K 2103/42 20180801;
B21J 15/025 20130101; F16B 5/04 20130101; B23K 11/00 20130101; B29C
66/742 20130101; B29C 66/41 20130101; B23K 2103/172 20180801; B29C
66/7212 20130101; B29C 65/562 20130101; B29C 66/8242 20130101; B29C
66/43 20130101; B29C 65/564 20130101; B21J 15/08 20130101; B23K
11/0046 20130101; B23K 2103/18 20180801; B29C 66/8322 20130101;
B29C 66/7212 20130101; F16B 5/07 20130101; B23K 9/20 20130101; B29C
66/7212 20130101; B29C 65/7841 20130101; B29C 66/21 20130101; B29C
65/64 20130101; B29C 66/81431 20130101; B29C 66/1122 20130101; B29K
2309/08 20130101; B29C 66/7212 20130101; B21J 15/147 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
219/78.01 |
International
Class: |
B23K 11/00 20060101
B23K011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 7, 2011 |
DE |
DE 2011 117 962.7 |
Claims
1. A tool configured to join at least two material layers, of which
at least one material layer is composed of a metal, the tool
comprising: a driving-in device configured to drive a pin through
the at least two material layers to be joined; and a welding device
configured such that, after the driving-in of the pin, to weld at
least one first section of the pin to the at least one material
layer composed of the metal.
2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the at least first section of the
pin bears against a front end of the pin in the driving-in
direction.
3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the welding device conducts a
welding current through the pin.
4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the welding device welds ends of
the pin to a respective one of the at least two material
layers.
5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the driving-in device is configured
such that the pin is driven pneumatically through the surface of
the at least two material layers.
6. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is configured to prestress
the at least two material layers against one another before the pin
is driven through the surface of the at least two material
layers.
7. A method for joining at least two material layers, of which at
least one material layer is composed of a metal, the method
comprising: providing a tool including a driving-in device and a
welding device; providing a fastener; driving the fastener using
the drive-in device through the surface of the at least two
material layers; and then welding the fastener using the welding
device to the at least one metal material layer after driving the
fastener.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the material
layers is composed of a plastic.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the material
layers is composed of a fibre-plastic composite.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the fibre-plastic composite
comprises glass-fibre-reinforced plastic.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one metal material
layer is formed by a metal auxiliary element.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein: the at least two material
layers comprises a first, outermost metal material layer, second
and third inner non-metal material layers, and a fourth, outermost
metal material layer; the fastener comprises an elongated, headless
pin; and welding the fastener comprises creating a welded
connection at a first contact point between a first distal end of
the elongated pin and the first, outermost metal material layer and
a second contact point between a second distal end of the elongated
pin and the fourth, outermost metal material layer.
13. The method of claim 7, wherein: the at least two material
layers comprises a first, outermost metal material layer, a second
inner non-metal material layer, and a third, outermost non-metal
material layer; the fastener comprises an elongated pin having a
pin head at a distal end thereof; driving the fastener comprises
fixing the third, outermost non-metal material layer via the pin
head; and welding the fastener comprises creating a welded
connection at a contact point between a distal end of the elongated
pin and the first, outmost metal material layer.
14. The method of claim 7, wherein: the at least two material
layers comprises a first and second non-metal material layers; the
fastener comprises an elongated pin having a pin head at a distal
end thereof; driving the fastener comprises fixing the first
non-metal material layer via the pin head; and welding the fastener
comprises providing a weldable metal material at a contact point on
the second non-metal material layer and then creating a welded
connection at the contact point between a distal end of the
elongated pin, the weldable metal material and the second non-metal
material layer.
15. The method of claim 7, wherein: the at least two material
layers comprises a first and second non-metal material layers; the
fastener comprises a headless, elongated pin; and welding the
fastener comprises providing a first weldable metal material at a
first contact point on the first non-metal material layer and a
second weldable metal material at a second contact point on the
second non-metal material layer, and then creating a first welded
connection at the first contact point between a first distal end of
the elongated pin, the first weldable metal material and the first
non-metal material layer, and a second welded connection at the
second contact point between a second distal end of the elongated
pin, the second weldable metal material and the second non-metal
material layer.
16. A method for joining at least two material layers, of which at
least one material layer is composed of a metal, the method
comprising: pre-stressing the material layers; driving a fastener
into the material layers; and then creating a welded connection at
at least one contact point between the fastener and the metal
material layer after driving the fastener by conducting a welding
current through the fastener.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least two material
layers comprises: a first, outermost layer; second and third inner
layers; and a fourth, outermost layer.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein: the innermost layer and the
outermost layer are each composed of metal material; and the
intermediary layers composed of glass-fibre-reinforced plastic
(GFRP).
19. The method of claim 17, wherein driving the fastener comprises
driving the fastener through the material layers in a manner such
that a portion of the fastener protrudes through the surface of
first outermost material layer and the fourth outermost material
layer, respectively.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein conducting a welding current
comprises conducting a welding current through the fastener such
that welds are created at contact points at the first outermost
material layer and the fourth outermost material layer,
respectively.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119 to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2011 117 962.7
(filed on Nov. 7, 2011), which is hereby incorporated by reference
in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a tool for joining at least
two material layers, of which at least one material layer is in the
form of a metal material layer, by a pin, and to a method for
joining at least two material layers, of which at least one
material layer is in the form of a metal material layer, by a
pin.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Methods of this type for connecting material layers are
used, for example, in the car industry and especially in the
production of motor vehicles and components thereof of composite
construction. For example, it may be necessary in this case to
fasten plastics parts or add-on parts made of
glass-fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP) to body components made of
steel sheet.
[0004] As is known, connections of this type may be produced, for
example, by mechanical riveting, wherein the rivet penetrates a
first material layer and merely deforms a second material layer.
Furthermore, in order to join metal material layers, spot welding
is known, by way of which metal layers are melted in a locally
small area and are welded to each other by the subsequent
solidification. Furthermore, the use of a nail is known, said nail
being driven through two material layers to be connected and
thereby, by way of a form-fitting connection and also by way of a
frictional connection via the dynamic effect at the head end of
said nail, being able to produce a permanent connection between the
material layers. In this case, the nail has relatively little
resistance against being pulled out axially from the material
layers.
[0005] A method for joining two joining parts, in particular flat
materials, of the type in question is known from DE 10 2004 025 492
A1. In this method, a joining element, in particular a rivet, is
driven through one of the joining parts. The rivet bears against
the second joining part, subjects the latter to a mechanical load,
or, in accordance with one embodiment, even brings about a notch in
the second joining part. In a subsequent welding process, current
is then conducted into the contact points between the joining
element and joining part and the latter are thereby welded. For
this purpose, use is advantageously made of conventional welding
tongues.
[0006] Furthermore, a joining force between the joining parts and
the joining element is applied by two electrodes, between which the
joining parts are clamped. A disadvantage of this known joining
method is that the connection to the second joining part is not
very stable and, in particular, only small shearing forces, if any
at all, from the second joining part can be absorbed. Furthermore,
only a small pressure can be exerted on the joining element by the
tool used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a
tool and a method for joining at least two material layers, which
tool and method are enhanced in this respect and in particular
permit simple and secure joining of the material layers.
[0008] The object is achieved by a tool for joining at least two
material layers, of which at least one material layer is in the
form of a metal material layer, by a pin, comprising a driving-in
device and a welding device, wherein the driving-in device is
designed to drive the pin through the at least two material layers
to be joined, and the welding device is designed so as, after the
driving-in of the pin, to weld at least one first section of the
pin to a metal material layer.
[0009] The object is also achieved by a method for joining at least
two material layers, of which at least one material layer is in the
form of a metal material layer, by a pin, wherein, with a tool in
accordance with the invention, the pin is driven through the at
least two material layers to be joined and, after the driving-in of
the pin, at least one first section of the pin is welded to a metal
material layer.
[0010] In accordance with embodiments, a tool is configured to join
at least two material layers, of which at least one material layer
is composed of a metal, the tool including at least one of: a
driving-in device configured to drive a pin through the at least
two material layers to be joined; and a welding device configured
such that, after the driving-in of the pin, to weld at least one
first section of the pin to the at least one material layer
composed of the metal.
[0011] In accordance with embodiments, provided is a method for
joining at least two material layers, of which at least one
material layer is composed of a metal, the method including at
least one of the following: providing a tool including a driving-in
device and a welding device; providing a fastener; driving the
fastener using the drive-in device through the surface of the at
least two material layers; and then welding the fastener using the
welding device to the at least one metal material layer after
driving the fastener.
[0012] In accordance with embodiments, provided is a method for
joining at least two material layers, of which at least one
material layer is composed of a metal, the method including at
least one of the following: pre-stressing the material layers;
driving a fastener into the material layers; and then creating a
welded connection at at least one contact point between the
fastener and the metal material layer after driving the fastener by
conducting a welding current through the fastener.
[0013] The driving-in device of a tool in accordance with the
invention is therefore designed to drive a pin through at least two
material layers, in particular through all of the material layers,
which are intended to be connected to one another. In this case,
the driving through the material layers is understood as meaning
that the tip of the pin penetrates the second material layer at
least to an extent such that the tip comes to lie in the region of
emergence from the second material layer. At least the tip of the
pin, therefore, displaces the material of the second material layer
as far as the region of emergence from said material layer. Owing
to the fact that the pin is also driven into the second material
layer, shearing forces from said material layer can be absorbed,
and therefore a secure connection is ensured even under the action
of lateral forces. For this purpose, the pin can penetrate the
second material layer such that the tip of the pin already
protrudes from the second material layer.
[0014] The pin may also end shortly before emerging from the second
material layer, and therefore the tip of the pin does not protrude
out of the material layer. For this purpose, the driving-in device
has, at least temporarily, to apply a correspondingly high force in
order to drive the pin through both material layers. In addition,
the tool in accordance with the invention has a welding device
which, after the driving-in of the pin via the driving-in device,
is capable of welding at least a first section of the pin to a
metal material layer. The welding is generally achieved by way of
resistance welding, but other methods, for example welding by way
of inductive heating, are also conceivable.
[0015] Developments of the invention are indicated in the dependent
claims, the description and the attached drawings.
[0016] A tool in accordance with the invention is advantageously
designed in such a manner that the welding device welds the at
least first section of the pin, wherein the at least first section
of the pin lies at a front end of the pin in the driving-in
direction. As a result, irrespective of the type of connection of
the rear pin end, the frequently pointed front part of the pin,
which is driven through the material layers, is in any case welded
to a metal material layer and thereby securely fixed.
[0017] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the tool is designed in such a manner that the welding device
conducts a welding current through the pin. The welding current may
thereby cross non-metallic material layers by being guided along
the pin which is in any case driven in.
[0018] In a further embodiment, the tool is designed in such a
manner that the welding device welds both ends of the pin to one
metal material layer each. Material layers which are weldable to
both ends of the pin are thereby welded by the driven-in pin such
that reliable support is achieved at both ends of the pin.
[0019] It is particularly advantageous for a tool in accordance
with the invention if the driving-in device is designed in such a
manner that the pin can be driven in pneumatically through the at
least two material layers. In this manner, the required force is
achieved by comparatively simple means in order to drive the pin
through the at least two material layers. The driving-in device
part of the tool in accordance with the invention may be designed
in this case in a similar manner to a known compressed-air nail
driver. As an alternative to the pneumatic design of the driving-in
device, the latter, for example, may also be designed
electromechanically.
[0020] A tool in accordance with the invention can advantageously
be configured in such a manner that the material layers are
prestressed against one another before the pin is driven in. The
tool, therefore, serves to execute the following steps:
pre-stressing the material layers, driving in the pin and then
welding the pin to the material layers. This is advantageous since
the frictional connection between the material layers is enhanced
by the step of pre-stressing.
[0021] It is also advantageous if the tool is designed in such a
manner that a pin which has a head at the rear and thereof in the
driving-in direction is driven in by the driving-in device in such
a manner that, after being driven in, the head bears against a
first material layer in the driving-in direction. In this
embodiment, the tool can therefore drive in a pin which is designed
as a nail, with a head. The head enhances the support of the pin or
of the nail against a first penetrated material layer such that
this end of the pin is readily fixed even without welding.
[0022] The invention also relates to a method for connecting at
least two material layers, of which at least one material layer is
in the form of a metal material layer, by a pin, wherein, with a
tool in accordance with the invention, the pin is driven through
the at least two material layers to be connected and, after the
driving-in of the pin, at least one first section of the pin is
welded to a metal material layer.
[0023] For example, at least one of the material layers which is
joined in a method in accordance with the invention to at least one
further material layer consists of a plastic or a fibre-plastic
composite, such as, for example, glass-fibre-reinforced plastic
(GFRP). The method in accordance with the invention is particularly
advantageous, for example, in the fastening of GFRP material to
body components.
[0024] In one embodiment of the method, at least one metal material
layer is formed by a metal auxiliary element. This is advantageous
in particular whenever an otherwise outer material layer cannot be
welded. In this case, a sheet-metal disc, or else a sheet-metal
strip, can be used as an auxiliary element in order to permit
welding of the pin to said auxiliary element and, by means of this
welded connection, to securely fix the further material layers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The invention is described below by way of example with
reference to the drawings, in which:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a tool in accordance
with the invention.
[0027] FIGS. 2a-2f illustrate the tool of FIG. 1 in various method
steps and a sequence of a method in accordance with the
invention.
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates material layers connected to one another
in accordance with the invention.
[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates material layers connected to one another
in accordance with the invention.
[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates material layers connected to one another
in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates a tool in accordance with the invention
which is used to join a plurality of material layers 1, 2, 3 and 4
to one another, the layers include a first, outermost layer 1,
second and third inner layers 2, 3 and a fourth, outermost layer 4.
In FIG. 1, the first outermost layer 1 and the fourth, outermost
layer 4 are each composed of weldable material. The layer 1 is
formed by the metal body, and the layer 4 which is arranged on the
opposite side of the material layers corresponds to a metal add-on
part, for example, a sheet-metal strip. The intermediary layers 2,
3 are glass-fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP) or plastics parts
arranged between the weldable layers 1, 4.
[0032] All of the material layers 1, 2, 3 and 4 are intended to be
permanently connected to one another by a pin 5 and are not yet
connected in FIG. 1. A tool in accordance with the invention
includes the driving-in device 6 and a welding device 7 having an
upper electrode and lower electrode are schematically illustrated.
An essential element of the illustrated driving-in device 6 is the
driving-in piston 6. By pressurization, such as, for example,
pneumatically, of the driving-in piston 6 using a sufficient force,
in a direction towards the pin 5, causes the pin 5 to be driven
through the surface of all of the material layers 1, 2, 3 and 4 in
the position illustrated. Of the welding device 7, the electrodes 7
are illustrated as an essential element.
[0033] After the pin 5 is driven into the material layers 1, 2, 3
and 4, the electrodes 7 are placed against the outer material
layers 1 and 4 and the welding current is conducted via the
electrodes of the welding device 7 through the pin 5 such that a
high temperature is formed at the contact points between the pin 5
and the weldable layers 1 and 4, and therefore, the components 1
and 4 are melted and welded to the pin 5.
[0034] The tool illustrated, therefore, has a driving-in device 6
which functions, for example, in a similar manner to a known
compressed-air nail driver, and a welding device 7 which functions,
for example, in a similar manner to known welding tongs.
[0035] FIGS. 2a-2f illustrate the sequence of a joining method in
accordance with the invention using the described tool of FIG.
1.
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 2a, the tool, illustrated above the
welding device 7 and the driving-in device 6, and the pin 5 are
still in a starting position such that the pin 5 is held spatially
above the material layers 1, 2, 3 and 4 to be connected. The tool
is placed onto the material layers 1, 2, 3 and 4.
[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 2b, the material layers 1, 2, 3 and 4
are then prestressed by closing the electrodes of the welding
device 7, which is designed, for example, in the manner of
tongs.
[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 2c, the pin 5 is then driven
pneumatically into the material layers 1, 2, 3 and 4 by the
driving-in piston of the driving-in device 6. The state in which
the pin 5 is already driven in through all four material layers 1,
2, 3 and 4 is such that a portion of the pin 5 protrudes from the
surface of the outermost material layer 1 and the outermost
material layer 4.
[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 2d, the driving-in piston 6 is then
manipulated in a rearward direction away from the material layers
1, 2, 3 and 4, and a welding current conducted by the welding
device 7 through the electrodes and the pin 5 such that a current
flux 11 is conducted from one tong half of the outermost electrode
via the pin 5 to the other tong half of the outermost electrode
corresponding to the arrows illustrated in FIG. 2d. This results in
the welds at the contact points between the material layers 1 and 4
and the pin 5, the welds being illustrated in FIGS. 2e and 2f by
the welded connections 12.
[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 2e, the tool is manipulated rearward
again and can then be advanced to the next joining point.
[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 2f, the material layers 1, 2, 3 and 4
are joined after the treatment, in which the welded connections 12
are formed between the pin 5 and the material layers 1 and 4, has
ended.
[0042] FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate further use possibilities of the
tool in accordance with the invention for joining components. In
FIG. 3, instead of a headless pin as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, a
pin 5 having a head 10, i.e., a nail, is used. As illustrated and
described in FIGS. 2a-2f, the nail is driven into the material
layers 1, 2 and 3 by the tool and welded by the welding device (not
illustrated in FIG. 3). Since, in this exemplary embodiment, only
the layer 1 is composed of a weldable material, a welded connection
(not illustrated) is formed only between the outermost layer 1 and
the pin 5. The outermost plastics layer 3 is fixed via the nail
head 10.
[0043] In a similar manner, a nail with a head 10 is also used in
FIG. 4 as the pin 5 for producing the connection between the
material layers 2 and 3. In this embodiment, the flat components 2
and 3 to be joined are not weldable. For the welding, an auxiliary
element 9 composed of, for example, a weldable metal material such
as a sheet-metal disc, is therefore placed onto the joining point.
The further connection is undertaken in the manner described above
with reference to FIGS. 2a-2f using the tool in accordance with the
invention. The connection is, therefore, produced at a first end by
a welded connection between the pin 5 and auxiliary element 9 and
at a second end of the pin 5 by the frictional connection between
the head 10 and the outermost material layer 3.
[0044] In another alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, a
pin 5 is used without a head. For this purpose, two auxiliary
elements 9 composed of, for example, a weldable metal material such
as a sheet-metal disc, are used as weldable material layers. By use
of the tool in accordance with the invention, two welded
connections are formed, namely a welded connection in each case
between the pin 5 and each of the two auxiliary elements 9.
[0045] The tool and method in accordance with embodiments of the
invention is therefore advantageous in permitting a secure
connection between at least two material layers, using the tool
with a driving-in device and a welding device, whereby a pin is
driven in through at least two material layers and is subsequently
welded to at least one metal material layer.
[0046] Although embodiments have been described herein, it should
be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can
be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the
spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More
particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in
the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination
arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and
the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in
the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also
be apparent to those skilled in the art.
* * * * *