Method and device for joining a composite sheet metal component to a functional element

{
  "publication_number": "US10384297B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Method and device for joining a composite sheet metal component to a functional element",
  "abstract": "In order to further improve a method for joining a multilayer component (10) to another component (11) in a way that allows the multilayer component (10) to be mechanically and electrically joined to other elements, it is provided that an intermediate layer (14) of the multilayer component (10) be displaced in the region of the joining site (32), and that the two outer structural elements (12, 13) of the multilayer component be joined to one another by applying an electric voltage; and that the other component (11) be joined as a fastening element to the multilayer component (10) in the region of the joining site (32).",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for joining a first component to a second component at a joining site of the first component, the first component comprising at least an essentially planar first structural element, an essentially planar second structural element, and a plastic-containing intermediate layer disposed at least in certain regions between the two structural elements, the method comprising: (a) displacing the intermediate layer in the region of the joining site between the first structural element and second structural element in a way that establishes a contact between the first structural element and the second structural element in the region of the joining site; (b) applying an electric voltage to the first structural element and the second structural element in the region of the joining site until the first structural element and the second structural element adhere to each other in the region of the joining site, or a material-to-material bond is produced between the two structural elements by the melting on of the first structural element and/or of the second structural element; and (c) joining the first component to the second component in the region of the joining site; the second component being in the form of a fastening element for connection to another component or element.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, wherein step a), further comprises detecting when the contact between the first structural element and the second structural element is made in the region of the joining site in order to apply the electric voltage in step b).",
    "3. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step a), to displace the intermediate layer in the region of the joining site, a compressive force is exerted on the first component and/or the second structural element in the region of the joining site, the compressive force being exerted on the first structural element in a way that allows a depression to form on a surface of the first structural element in the region of the joining site; and the compressive force being exerted on the second structural element in a way that allows an essentially plane surface to remain on a surface of the second structural element in the region of the joining site.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step c), the second component in the region of the joining site of the first component being joined to the first component by welding.",
    "5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second component is in the form of a nut or bolt.",
    "6. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step c), before the first component is joined to the second component, a hole is bored or punched through the first component in the region of the joining site.",
    "7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the second component is inserted into the hole and, in order to be joined to the first component, is locked in position therewith."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a method for joining a first component to a second component at a joining site of the first component, the first component having at least an essentially planar first structural element, an essentially planar second structural element, and a plastic-containing intermediate layer disposed at least in certain regions between the two structural elements.\n\nThe present invention also relates to a structural element composite including a first component and a second component that is joined to the first component at a joining site thereof.\n\nThe present invention also relates to a device for preparing a joining site on a first component to join the first component to a second component at the joining site of the first component.\n\nLightweight design concepts based on aluminum materials or composite sheet-metal components, for example, are known in automobile manufacturing. Combining high strength steels for crash-related components with multilayer composite panels for large-area components results in a lightweight design concept that is more economical than aluminum materials, particularly in body manufacturing. Composite panels are typically made of thin, for example, of 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm steel cover plates and of a plastic-containing intermediate layer made of thermoplastic plastic, for example, typically having a thickness of between 0.2 mm and 1.5 mm. The weight per unit area is thereby appreciably less than other known automotive body sheet metals. Another advantage of such composite sheet-metal components is the high flexural strength thereof.",
  "cpc": [
    "B23K 11/31",
    "B23K 11/0046",
    "B23K 11/0066",
    "B23K 11/163",
    "B23K 11/3018",
    "B23K 11/314",
    "B23K 2101/006",
    "B23K 2101/185",
    "B23K 2103/04",
    "B23K 2103/172",
    "B23K 9/201",
    "B32B 15/08",
    "B32B 2250/40",
    "B32B 2307/51",
    "B32B 2605/00",
    "B32B 27/32",
    "B32B 27/34",
    "B32B 7/05",
    "F16B 37/061"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B23K 101/00",
    "B23K 101/18",
    "B23K 103/04",
    "B23K 103/16",
    "B23K 11/00",
    "B23K 11/10",
    "B23K 11/11",
    "B23K 11/16",
    "B23K 11/30",
    "B23K 11/31",
    "B23K 9/20",
    "B32B 15/08",
    "B32B 27/32",
    "B32B 27/34",
    "B32B 7/05",
    "F16B 37/06"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Volkswagen AG"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Alexander Voigt"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-04-22",
  "publication_date": "2019-08-20",
  "grant_date": "2019-08-20",
  "priority_date": "2014-05-09",
  "application_number": "US-201515309765-A",
  "family_id": "52998144",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
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}