Method for joining at least one component to a second component without preformed hole(s)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11426788-B2
Application number	US-201916364826-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2019
Priority date	Sep 26, 2016
Publication date	Aug 30, 2022
Grant date	Aug 30, 2022

Abstract

A joining method for connecting a first component to a second component without pre-punching. The first component and the second component are positioned relative to one another prior to the connection by an auxiliary joining element, which is joined via a joining device to the components positioned relative to one another. The auxiliary joining element firstly passes through the first component without pre-punching and is then connected to the second component without pre-punching. Before the components are connected by the auxiliary joining element, the first component is thermally pre-treated at the joining area via an electric arc formed between the first component and an electrode of the joining device. A heat-affected zone is formed on the first component in the joining area, and the first component in is weakened or melted in the heat-affected zone.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for joining at least one component ( 1 ) to a second component ( 2 ) without a pre-formed hole, the method comprising the steps of:
a. Providing a first and a second component ( 1 , 2 ), the first and the second components ( 1 , 2 ) being at least partly positioned one on top of the other, the first component being made in a high-strength material;
b. Providing a joining device and an auxiliary joining element ( 7 ), wherein the joining device includes an electrode and a joining punch that is movable along a joining axis;
c. Joining the first and second component together by means of the auxiliary joining element ( 7 ), wherein the auxiliary joining element ( 7 ) is driven by the joining punch of the joining device toward the first component ( 1 ) along the joining axis ( 4 ), the auxiliary joining element ( 7 ) firstly passing through the first component ( 1 ) in the region of a joining area without pre-formed hole and then reaching the second component ( 2 ) in the region of the joining area without pre-formed hole; and
wherein, prior to the joining, the first component ( 1 ) in the region of the joining area is heat-treated via a non-transferred electric arc ( 9 ) such that the first component is not part of the electric circuit, the non-transferred electric arc emanating from the electrode ( 3 ) provided on the joining device toward the first component in such a way that a heat-affected zone ( 10 ) is formed on the joining area of the first component ( 1 ), and in that the first component ( 1 ) is heated in such a way that a strength of the first component ( 1 ) in the heat-affected zone ( 10 ) is reduced.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heat-affected zone ( 10 ) of the first component ( 1 ) is melted by the non-transferred electric arc ( 9 ).

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the non-transferred electric arc ( 9 ) is formed annularly around the joining axis ( 4 ).

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the non-transferred electric arc ( 9 ) surrounds the auxiliary joining element ( 7 ) on an outer lateral side.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a protective gas is provided via a protective gas nozzle ( 6 ) arranged on the joining device during heat-treating of the first component, and wherein the protective gas nozzle ( 6 ) is annular or comprises openings facing the first component ( 1 ) at a distance.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary joining element ( 7 ) is moved by the joining punch ( 5 ) along the joining axis ( 4 ).

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary joining element ( 7 ) is rotated around the joining axis ( 4 ) during the joining.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a die ( 12 ) is pressed against the second component ( 2 ) in the region of the joining area during the joining, and the die ( 12 ) is located coaxially to the auxiliary joining element ( 7 ).

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode ( 3 ) is separated from the joining device and is held retained by the auxiliary joining element ( 7 ) against at least one of the first or the second component ( 1 , 2 ) upon moving the joining device away from the auxiliary joining element after completion of the joining.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary joining element ( 7 ) is driven by the joining punch completely through both the first component and the second component ( 2 ) such that a free distal end of the auxiliary joining element extends outwardly at the joining area from a side of the first component or the second component that is opposite the joining device.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the first component and the second component are completely joined together without requiring access at the joining area to the side of the second component from which the free distal end of the auxiliary joining element extends outwardly.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary joining element ( 7 ) is deformed in the second component ( 2 ) and is bent radially outwardly with regard to the joining axis ( 4 ).

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the region of the heat-affected zone ( 10 ) is cooled and an integral joining connection is produced between the auxiliary joining element ( 7 ) and at least one of the first component ( 1 ) or the second component ( 2 ).

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an outer lateral side of the auxiliary joining element ( 7 ) includes a pattern, such that a gripping is provided during the joining in the region of the heat-affected zone ( 10 ) of the first component ( 1 ) or the second component ( 2 ) in such a way that a friction or interlocking connection is produced between the first component ( 1 ) or the second component ( 2 ) on the one hand and the auxiliary joining element ( 7 ) on the other hand.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the non-transferred electric arc is formed as a plasma arc.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode is angularly offset relative to the joining axis.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the electrode is angularly offset relative to the joining axis at an angle that is between 10 degrees and 85 degrees.

18. A method for joining at least one component to a second component without a pre-formed hole, the method comprising the steps of:
a. Providing a first and a second component;
b. Providing a joining device and an auxiliary joining element, wherein the joining device includes an electrode, a joining punch, a guide, a protective gas nozzle, and defining a joining axis;
c. Joining the first and second component together by means of the auxiliary joining element, wherein the auxiliary joining element is driven by the joining device toward the first component along the joining axis, the auxiliary joining element firstly passing through the first component in the region of a joining area without pre-formed hole and then reaching the second component in the region of the joining area without pre-formed hole; and
wherein, prior to the joining, the first component in the region of the joining area is heat-treated via an electric arc emanating from the electrode provided on the joining device toward the first component in such a way that a heat-affected zone is formed on the joining area of the first component, and in that the first component is heated in such a way that a strength of the first component in the heat-affected zone is reduced; and
wherein the first component is made in a high-strength material and is at least partly positioned on top of the second component with the first component positioned closest to the joining device and the second component positioned furthest from the joining device while the joining area of the first component is heat treated prior to the joining and during the joining thereafter; and
wherein the joining causes the auxiliary joining element to pass completely through both the first component and the second component such that a free distal end of the auxiliary joining element extends outwardly at the joining area from a side of the second component that is opposite the first component; and
wherein the first component and the second component are completely joined together without requiring access at the joining area to the side of the second component from which the free distal end of the auxiliary joining element extends outwardly.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the electric arc is formed as a plasma

Assignees

• Newfrey Llc

Inventors

• Meschut Gerson
• Reis Christian

Classifications

• B21J15/12

  with tools or tool parts having a movement additional to the feed movement, e.g. spin {(B21J15/027 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B21J15/08

  Riveting by applying heat {, e.g.} to the end parts of the rivets to enable heads to be formed {(B21J15/027 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B21J15/048

  Setting self-drilling hollow rivets · CPC title

• B21J15/025 Primary

  Setting self-piercing rivets · CPC title

• H05B7/18

  Heating by arc discharge · CPC title