Torsional vibration damper and method for manufacturing a torsional vibration damper

Abstract

The present invention relates to a torsional vibration damper for a motor vehicle drive train and a method for manufacturing a torsional vibration damper. The torsional vibration damper (1) has a support element (3) which is rotatably arranged about a rotational axis (2) and is formed from metal, wherein the support element (3) is provided with a surface coating (6) at a first surface region (4) of its metal substrate (5), and in a second surface region (7) which is intended to bear against another component, the metal of the substrate (5) is exposed to the surroundings, wherein the second surface region (7) has a laser structure (8).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a torsional vibration damper for a motor vehicle drive train, i.e., a torsional vibration damper for the drive train of a motor vehicle configured as a car, truck, bus or other commercial vehicle, the torsional vibration damper having a support element rotatably arranged about a rotation axis and formed from metal. The support element is used for further mounting and connecting a sleeve body / sleeve in a conventional manner. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a torsional vibration damper. Background Art

[0002] This type of torsional vibration damper is known, for example, from WO 2017 / 174070 A1. The drive wheel device disclosed therein is implemented as a pulley decoupler, and the fixing of the damper flange of the torsional vibration damper at the sleeve is described.

[0003] Furthermore, it is generally known to coat / paint a support element for direct abutment against another component so as to be as corrosion-resistant as possible, wherein other areas of the support element are deliberately left uncoated in order to achieve the required connection force during installation.

[0004] However, a disadvantage of the embodiments known from the prior art is that, in order to achieve sufficient fixing force, the areas of the support element for direct abutment against another component usually have insufficient surface properties. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages known from the prior art and in particular to implement a torsional vibration damper in which the support elements abut against each other with increased fixing force.

[0006] According to the present invention, this is solved in that the support element is provided with a surface coating at a first surface area of its metal substrate, and the metal of the substrate is deliberately exposed to the surroundings at a second surface area intended to abut against another component, wherein the second surface area simultaneously has a laser structure.

[0007] Due to the introduction of the laser structure at the second surface area, the surface for abutment against another component is deliberately designed to generate as high a fixing force as possible.

[0008] Therefore, it is also advantageous if the surface coating is implemented as paint. The surface coating can thus be applied particularly simply.

[0009] In this context, for the durability of the surface coating, it is advantageous if the surface coating is implemented as powder paint or cathodic dip paint.

[0010] Also advantageously, the second surface region completely circumferentially surrounds and / or has a plurality of receiving holes (preferably implemented as through-holes) for receiving fastening elements, such as screws or rivets. Thereby, the section of the support element having the second surface region is cleverly implemented as a flange region and is suitable for being fixed to other components.

[0011] It is also advantageous that the torsional vibration damper has a viscoelastic damping unit or an elastomeric damping unit.

[0012] If the support element simultaneously forms a housing region of the housing encapsulating the damper mass, the functionality of the support element is further improved.

[0013] Preferably, the torsional vibration damper is implemented as a pulley decoupler, wherein the support element is preferably mounted at the central sleeve of the pulley decoupler.

[0014] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a torsional vibration damper, wherein in step a), a support element of the torsional vibration damper formed by metal shaping is provided; in step b), a surface coating is provided on the first surface region of the support element; and in step c), the second surface region of the support element is cleaned by means of a laser and a laser structure is provided on the second surface region. Thereby, the torsional vibration damper is manufactured particularly effectively.

[0015] Particularly advantageously, the sub-step c1) regarding cleaning the second surface region performed in step c) is implemented temporally before the sub-step c2) regarding introducing the laser structure. According to another embodiment, the sub-step c1) and the sub-step c2) are also performed simultaneously.

[0016] Herein, it is also advantageous that only one laser is used in step c), and the laser has different power parameters. Therefore, preferably, the same laser is used in step c) to clean the second surface region and to introduce the laser structure. However, compared to cleaning the second surface region, the laser operates at a higher power when introducing the laser structure. Thereby, the method is further simplified.

[0017] Also advantageously, in step c) or immediately following step c), a marking (such as a top dead center marking, German OT-Markierung) and / or a text description is applied to the support element by means of a laser. Thereby, other method steps can be effectively implemented by a tool.

[0018] In other words, the method according to the invention enables the cleaning and structuring of the connection area of the torsional vibration damper by means of a laser. The laser cleans the uncoated surfaces and structures them in a second cycle with an increased power setting. The cycle time of the laser cleaning is significantly less than the time required to apply and remove the rubber mask to date. At the same time, legends or markings (such as top dead center markings) can also be applied to the torsional vibration damper by means of the cleaning step if required. Description of the Drawings

[0019] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0020] Shown therein are:

[0021] Figure 1 A partial longitudinal sectional view of a torsional vibration damper according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, in which the torsional vibration damper can be clearly seen in the region of the damper and the support element of the damper is provided with a laser structure, and

[0022] Figure 2 Shows for displaying according to the invention Figure 1 A flow chart of the manufacturing method of the torsional vibration damper in

[0023] The drawings are only schematic and are only used to understand the present invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0024] Referring to Figure 1 , a torsional vibration damper 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention can be clearly seen. For the sake of clarity, only the damper 12 of the torsional vibration damper 1 is shown in Figure 1 . In this embodiment, the damper 12 is implemented as a so-called viscous damper, i.e., a viscoelastic damper. However, in principle, the damper 12 according to other embodiments of the invention can also be constructed in other ways, for example, as an elastomeric damper.

[0025] Regarding other construction methods of the torsional vibration damper 1 that are not directly involved in Figure 1 , reference is made to the embodiments of WO 2017 / 174070A1, which comprehensively applies to other construction methods. Therefore, the torsional vibration damper 1 has other elements for forming a pulley decoupler. The torsional vibration damper 1 configured as a pulley decoupler particularly has a sleeve, which is also supported around the central axis of rotation 2 and is directly connected to the damper 12. The torsional vibration damper 1 is typically installed in the motor vehicle drive train of a motor vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine.

[0026] In addition, from Figure 1It can be seen that the damper 12 in this embodiment directly has a support element 3, and the support element is used for fixing on the sleeve. For this purpose, the support element 3 has an inwardly protruding flange region 13 on its radially inner side (observed with respect to the central rotation axis 2). The substantially disc-shaped flange region 13 transitions radially outwardly into a housing region 9 of the housing 11 of the damper 12. The housing region 9 and another cover member 14 form the housing 11, which is sealed relative to the surrounding environment and houses a damper mass 10 therein. In addition to the damper mass 10, the space inside the housing 11 is filled with a viscoelastic liquid, such as oil or grease, thereby realizing a viscoelastic shock absorber. The damper mass 10 is supported rotatably relative to the housing 11 in the housing 11.

[0027] The bowl-shaped housing region 9 is coated with a surface coating 6 in the form of paint. The housing region 9 is provided with this surface coating 6 at its first surface region 4 facing the surrounding environment. Therefore, the substrate 5 forming the support element 3, which is formed of a metal, preferably a steel material, is additionally provided with the surface coating 6 in the first surface region 4.

[0028] The support element 3 / substrate 5 is uncoated / has no surface coating 6 in the second surface region 7. The second surface region 7 is provided on the flange region 13. In this embodiment, the axial end side of the flange region 13 for directly abutting against the sleeve or against a component fixed to the sleeve is provided with the second surface region 7. Therefore, the second surface region 7 is a surface region that has no surface coating 6 and is directly formed by the metal of the substrate 5.

[0029] According to the present invention, the second surface region 7 is provided with a laser structure 8. The laser structure 8 is a surface structure introduced by laser, such as a groove structure or a corrugation structure. However, the pattern generated by the laser structure 8 at the second surface region 7 can be implemented in any way.

[0030] In addition, in principle, it should be noted that the flange region 13 having the second surface region 7 is provided with a plurality of receiving holes 15 schematically shown in Figure 1 , and the receiving holes are in the form of through holes here. The receiving holes 15 are arranged circumferentially and are used to receive fixing members, preferably bolts, alternatively rivets, in a conventional manner, and the fixing members are in turn connected to the sleeve. Therefore, the second surface region 7 is realized integrally circumferentially and annularly.

[0031] Combined with Figure 2 , reference is made to the method for manufacturing the torsional vibration damper 1 according to the present invention. The method according to the present invention is described below in connection with the support element 3, wherein other components of the torsional vibration damper 1 for abutting against another component and being positively connected to this component can be manufactured in this way.

[0032] In step a) (the first step) of this method, a support element 3 of the torsional vibration damper 1 formed by metal forming is provided. In this step a), the support element 3 directly forming the base body 5 is preferably manufactured by cold deformation technology.

[0033] In another (second) step b), a surface coating 6 in the form of paint is provided on the first surface region 4 of the support element 3. Step b) is carried out in such a way that the second surface region 7 remains Figure 1 free of the surface coating 6.

[0034] In (the third) step c), the second surface region 7 of the support element is cleaned by means of a laser. Thereby, the particles / slag previously deposited at the second surface region 7 in step b) are removed. In step c), the laser is operated at a specific first power value. At the same time, in step c), a laser structure 8 is introduced in a targeted manner at the second surface region 7. For this purpose, the same laser as used for cleaning the second surface region 7 is used, wherein the laser is operated at a second power value higher than the first power value to form the laser structure 8.

[0035] According to another embodiment, the second surface region 7 is cleaned in a first sub-step c1), and the laser structure 8 is applied in a second sub-step c2), wherein the first sub-step c1) is carried out temporally before the second sub-step c2).

[0036] It is also advantageous to apply a mark and / or a caption on the support element 3 by means of a laser in step c) or immediately after step c).

[0037] It should be noted that steps a), b), c) are carried out successively in time in the conventional alphabetical order.

[0038] In other embodiments, in addition to or instead of the support element 3, the sleeve of the torsional vibration damper 1 is manufactured in this way.

[0039] In other words, the technology of the laser is fully utilized according to the present invention, so that a variety of requirements are achieved in parallel, that is, the laser structure 8 is set in the second cycle at a higher power after cleaning. According to the scheme and requirements, the structure 8 and the caption can even be introduced during cleaning if necessary. In principle, this relates to coated components that require marking and, if necessary, additionally require measures to increase the friction value. Usually, this relates to torsional vibration dampers (components of pulley decouplers). It can also relate to a central sleeve (sleeve).

[0040] List of reference numerals

[0041] 1 Torsional vibration damper

[0042] 2 Axis of rotation

[0043] 3 support elements

[0044] 4 first surface area

[0045] 5 substrate

[0046] 6 surface coating

[0047] 7 second surface area

[0048] 8 laser structure

[0049] 9 housing area

[0050] 10 damper mass

[0051] 11 housing

[0052] 12 damper

[0053] 13 flange area

[0054] 14 cover

[0055] 15 receiving hole

Claims

1. A torsional vibration damper (1) for a motor vehicle drive train, the torsional vibration damper having a support element (3) which is rotatably arranged about a rotational axis (2) and is formed from metal, characterized in that, The support element (3) is provided with a surface coating (6) at a first surface region (4) of its metallic substrate (5); and in a second surface region (7) intended to bear against another component, the metal of the substrate (5) is exposed relative to the surroundings, wherein the second surface region (7) has a laser structure (8) which is a surface structure introduced by laser and which imparts sufficient fixing force to the second surface region (7).

2. The torsional vibration damper (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surface coating (6) is embodied as a paint coating.

3. The torsional vibration damper (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The surface coating (6) is embodied as a powder paint coating or a cathodic dip paint coating.

4. The torsional vibration damper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The second surface region (7) completely circumferentially surrounds and / or has a plurality of receiving holes (15) for receiving fixing elements.

5. The torsional vibration damper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The torsional vibration damper (1) has a viscoelastic damping unit or an elastomeric damping unit.

6. The torsional vibration damper (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The support element (3) simultaneously forms a housing region (9) of a housing (11) enclosing a damper mass (10).

7. The torsional vibration damper (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The torsional vibration damper (1) is embodied as a pulley decoupler.

8. A method for manufacturing a torsional vibration damper (1), wherein, In step a), a support element (3) of the torsional vibration damper (1) formed from metal is provided; in step b), a surface coating (6) is provided on the first surface region (4) of the support element (3); and in step c), the second surface region (7) of the support element (3) intended to bear against another component is cleaned by means of a laser and a laser structure (8) is provided in the second surface region (7), the laser structure (8) being a surface structure introduced by laser and which imparts sufficient fixing force to the second surface region (7).

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein In step c), the same laser with different power parameters is used to clean the second surface region (7) and to introduce the laser structure (8).

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, In step c) or immediately following step c), a marking and / or a legend are applied to the support element (3) by means of a laser.

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