Method and apparatus for connecting components made of different materials

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018147652-A1
Application number	US-201715827109-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 30, 2017
Priority date	Nov 30, 2016
Publication date	May 31, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method connects at least two components made of different materials by thermal joining. The two components include a first component made of a material that is suitable for thermal joining and a second component made of a material that cannot be processed using the thermal joining method of the first component. The method includes introducing an auxiliary joining part into the second component forming a form-locking connection and/or a force locking connection. The auxiliary joining part of is made of a material that can be thermally joined to the first component. The first component is thermally joined to the auxiliary joining part in the second component so as to produce a connection between the first component and the second component. The thermal joining is carried out by a beam welding method.

First claim

1 . A method for connecting at least two components made of different materials by thermal joining, the two components including a first component made of a material that is suitable for thermal joining and a second component made of a material that cannot be joined directly to the material of the first component by thermal joining methods, which comprises the following method steps of:
introducing an auxiliary joining part into the second component via at least one of a form-locking connection or a force-locking connection, wherein the auxiliary joining part being made of a material that can be thermally joined to the first component; and thermally joining the first component to the auxiliary joining part in the second component so as to produce a connection between the first component and the second component, the thermally joining being carried out by means of a beam welding method.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises selecting the beam welding method from the group consisting of a laser beam welding method, a plasma beam welding method and a tungsten inert gas welding method.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprising using a steel material for forming the first component and a not directly weldable material consisting of a light metal is used for the second component.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises forming the auxiliary joining part from a same class of materials as the first component.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises disposing an intermediate adhesive layer between the first component and the second component.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises carry out the beam welding method using a weld depth control device.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises carrying out the method steps in a common apparatus and in a single clamping period.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises stamping the auxiliary joining part into the second component, and plastically deforming the auxiliary joining part to form an overhang.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises providing multiple layers of second components that are connected to one another by means of the auxiliary joining part.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprising using a steel material for forming the first component and a not directly weldable material consisting of aluminum is used for the second component.

11 . An apparatus for connecting at least two components made of different materials by thermal joining, the two components including a first component made of a material that is suitable for thermal joining and a second component made of a material that cannot be joined directly to the material of the first component by thermal joining methods, the apparatus comprising:
a stamping apparatus having a brace and an anvil as separate assemblies, said stamping apparatus introducing an auxiliary joining part into the second component via at least one of a form-locking connection or a force-locking connection, the auxiliary joining part being made of a material that can be thermally joined to the first component, the auxiliary joining part being plastically deformed for forming an overhang; and said stamping apparatus thermally joining the first component to the auxiliary joining part in the second component so as to produce a connection between the first component and the second component, the thermally joining being carried out by beam welding.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said stamping apparatus has a beam welding apparatus for performing the beam welding.

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Krevet Andreas
• Schuebeler Christian

Classifications

• B23K11/20 Primary

  of different metals · CPC title

• B23K13/01

  by induction heating · CPC title

• F16B5/04 Primary

  by means of riveting (rivets F16B19/04) · CPC title

• B23K28/02

  Combined welding or cutting procedures or apparatus · CPC title

• B23K11/115

  by means of two electrodes placed opposite one another on both sides of the welded parts · CPC title