Material-optimized connection node

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020406984-A1
Application number	US-201816645182-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 10, 2018
Priority date	Sep 8, 2017
Publication date	Dec 31, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system consisting of a connection node and at least one first connection body, wherein: the connection node comprises a connection node central body, a first connection element for joining with the connection body, and at least one second connection element for joining with a second connection body; the first connection element and the second connection element are connected or may be connected to the connection node central body; and at least one portion of the connection node central body and/or of the first connection element and/or of the second connection element is manufactured by means of an additive process, for example 3D printing, or by means of a casting process.

First claim

1 - 15 . (canceled)

16 . A system, comprising:
a first connection body, which is formed as a multi-chamber hollow profile, at least one second connection body; and a connection node comprising a connection node central body, which is at least partly manufactured by means of an additive process, or by means of a casting process, a first connection element connected to the connection node central body for joining to the connection body and at least one second connection element connected to the connection node central body for joining to a second connection body; wherein the first connection element on an end face facing the first connection body comprises a plurality of engagement elements which are configured to engage in chambers of the first connection body formed as a multi-chamber hollow profile, wherein each of the engagement elements has a pocket at least on one of the sides facing an inner side of an outer wall of the connection node central body or the connection body, and wherein the pockets can be filled with adhesive for bonding the first connection body and the first connection element.

17 . The system according to claim 16 , wherein the additive process includes 3D printing.

18 . The system according to claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first connection element and the second connection element are at least partly manufactured by means of an additive process or by means of a casting process.

19 . The system according to claim 16 , wherein the first connection element comprises a frame and a honeycomb-like stiffening structure which extends into the connection node central body, wherein the frame comprises slot-like grooves which are arranged to receive a profile inner wall of the first connection body.

20 . The system according to claim 19 , wherein the connection node central body or the first connection body have, near at least one of the peripheral outer walls of an end face facing the connection node central body, at least one opening through which the adhesive can be inserted into the respective pocket.

21 . The system according to claim 16 , wherein the connection node connects parts of a vehicle frame to one another, and the second connection element or a third connection element forms a suspension strut mount or can be connected to a suspension strut mount.

22 . The system according to claim 16 , wherein the second connection body is formed as a multi-chamber hollow profile, wherein the second connection element comprises a plurality of engagement elements at an end face facing the first connection body, which engagement elements are configured to be inserted in chambers of the second connection body formed as a multi-chamber hollow profile, wherein each of the engagement elements has a pocket at least on one of the sides facing an inner side of an outer wall of the connection node central body or the connection body, and wherein the pockets can be filled with adhesive for bonding the second connection body and the first connection element.

23 . A connection node for connecting to a first connection body and at least one second connection body, wherein the connection node comprises:
a connection central body, which is at least partly manufactured by means at least one of an additive process and by means of a casting process, a first connection element for connecting to the first connection body; and at least one second connection element for connecting to the at least one second connection body; wherein the first connection element comprises at an end face a plurality of engagement elements which are configured to engage in chambers of a first connection body formed as a multi-chamber hollow profile, wherein each of the engagement members comprises a pocket at least on one of the sides facing an inner side of an outer wall of the connection node central body or the connection body, and wherein the pockets can be filled with adhesive for bonding the first connection body and the first connection element.

24 . The connection node according to claim 23 , wherein the connection node central body is connected, connectable or formed in one piece with the first connection element and the at least one second connection element.

25 . The connection node according to claim 23 , wherein the connection node central body and the first connection element are at least partly manufactured by means of the additive process.

26 . The connection node according to claim 25 , wherein the at least one second connection element are at least partly manufactured by means of the additive process.

27 . The connection node according to claim 23 , wherein at least the connection node central body is manufactured in a skeleton shape.

28 . The connection node according to claim 27 , wherein the skeleton shape includes local stiffeners and wall thicknesses which are adapted to a local force flow.

29 . The connection node according to claim 23 , wherein the connection node central body and the connection elements comprise hollow structures.

30 . The connection node according to claim 29 , wherein the hollow structures comprise stiffening structures adapted to the local direction of force flow.

31 . The connection node according to claim 30 , wherein stiffening structures include a strut, lattice or honeycomb structure.

32 . The connection node according to claim 23 , wherein the connection node comprises an at least substantially closed outer skin in order to prevent soiling.

33 . The connection node according to claim 23 , wherein the second connection element comprises a plurality of engagement elements on an end face facing the first connection body, which are configured to engage in chambers of the second connection body formed as a multi-chamber hollow profile, wherein each of the engagement elements has a pocket at least on one of the sides facing an inner side of an outer wall of the connection node central body or the connection body, and wherein the pockets can be filled with adhesive for bonding the second connection body and the first connection element.

34 . The connection node according to claim 23 , wherein the connection node central body and the connection elements are jointly primary formed in one piece by means of the additive process.

35 . A method for assembling a system comprising a first connection body, which is formed as a multi-chamber hollow profile, at least one second connection body, and a connection node comprising a connection node central body, which is at least partly manufactured by means of an additive process or by means of a casting process, a first connection element connected to the connection node central body for joining to the connection body and at least one second connection element connected to the connection node central body for joining to a second connection body, wherein the first connection element on an end face facing the first connection body comprises a plurality of engagement elements which are configured to engage in chambers of the first connection body formed as a multi-chamber hollow profile, wherein each of the engagement elements has a pocket at least on one of the sides facing an inner side of an outer wall of the connection node central body or the connection body, and wherein the pockets can be filled with adhesive for bonding the first connection body and the first connection element, the method comprising:
sliding the connection bodies onto the connection elements of the connection node; and producing an adhesive c

Assignees

• Edag Eng Gmbh
• Fraunhofer Ges Forschung
• Constellium Singen Gmbh
• Concept Laser Gmbh
• Blm Spa

Inventors

• Hasenauer Thomas
• Orloff Sven
• Hillebrecht Martin
• Emmelmann Claus
• Beckmann Frank

Classifications

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B29L2031/30

  Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof {(vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027)} · CPC title

• B29C65/48

  using adhesives {, i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding} · CPC title

• B62D27/023 Primary

  Assembly of structural joints · CPC title

• B29C66/52441

  with two right angles, e.g. for making T-shaped pieces · CPC title