Component connected to at least one further component, method for connecting component to at least one further component, and assembly

Abstract

A component (10) for connection to at least one further component (30, 30 ') is disclosed. In a first aspect of the invention, the component (10) has at least two welds (11, 11 ') individually welded to at least one further component (30, 30') by means of vibration welding, more particularly preferably by means of torsional vibration ultrasonic welding, each weld (11, 11 ') having at least one welding surface (13, 13') for connecting to a corresponding further component (30, 30 '). Each weld (11, 11 ') is spatially separated from one another by at least one vibration decoupling zone (14, 14', 23, 26). In other aspects, the component (10) has a specific arrangement of welds (11, 11 ') with respect to the center of mass (S) or has a specific mass distribution with respect to welds (11, 11'). A method for connecting a component (10) to at least one further component (30, 30 ') and an assembly (90) comprising a component (10) and a further component (30, 30') are also disclosed.

Description

[0001] The present application is a divisional application of Chinese invention patent application No. 2018800201990, filed on February 22, 2018, entitled “Component connected to at least one other component, method for connecting a component to at least one other component, and assembly”. Technical Field

[0002] The invention relates to a component connected to at least one other component, a method for connecting a component to at least one other component and an assembly. Background Art

[0003] It is known to connect components by means of linear or torsional ultrasonic welding or by means of vibration welding. Thus, for example, DE 10 2014 226 955 A1 discloses connecting an accessory to a component by means of ultrasound. The accessory has a welding portion to be welded to the component, the welding portion having a contact surface for contacting a torsional sonotrode and an opposite welding surface connected to the component. In order to limit the application of ultrasonic vibrations to the welding portion as much as possible, the welding portion is at least partially surrounded by an outer vibration decoupling zone and at least partially delimited by an annular, inner vibration decoupling zone.

[0004] However, in the case of many components with a large mass and / or a symmetrical structure, there is a risk that other parts of the component will be damaged by introducing vibrations (especially in the case of ultrasonic vibrations) into the weld. In particular, this must be avoided if vibration-sensitive components such as electronic components are present. In addition, especially in the case of large components, a considerable proportion of the vibration energy can be transferred out of the weld and then no longer utilized for the actual weld. This can lead to insufficient weld strength. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the risk of damage to components caused by introduced vibrations is reduced or even completely eliminated. In addition, it is desirable to be able to connect components with relatively large masses and symmetrical components in a reliable manner.

[0006] In a first aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a component for connecting to at least one other component. The component has at least two welds, which are individually welded to at least one other component by means of vibration welding. Here and hereinafter, vibration welding is understood to mean a process in which welding acts by means of vibration. The vibration welding can also be ultrasonic welding, such as linear ultrasonic welding or torsional ultrasonic welding. Alternatively, the vibration welding can also be vibration friction welding. Each weld has a corresponding welding surface for connecting to a corresponding other component. This includes the possibility that each weld is connected to the same other component and that the first weld is connected to the first other component and the second weld is connected to the second other component. In addition, according to the present invention, each weld is spatially separated from each other by at least one vibration decoupling zone.

[0007] The vibration decoupling zone has the effect that the vibration energy introduced into one of the welded parts is only conducted to the other welded part to the minimum possible extent and is thus no longer used for the actual welding. According to the first aspect, there are therefore at least two parts to be welded independently, which significantly expands the range of applications. Thus, even large and heavy components can be connected to another component at multiple connection points. In the case of sequential welding, the risk of damaging the first connection that has already been made during welding of the second connection is reduced.

[0008] Preferably, each weld is not only spatially separated from each other by a vibration decoupling zone, but also spatially separated from all the rest of the component by at least one vibration decoupling zone. Ultimately, vibration energy is not only prevented from being transferred to other welds, but also to all the rest of the component.

[0009] In a second aspect of the invention, the component for connection to at least one other component similarly has at least one welded portion, which is to be welded to the other component by means of vibration welding. The welded portion has a welding surface for connection to the other component. The welded portion is spatially separated from the rest of the component by at least one vibration decoupling zone.

[0010] According to a second aspect, the center point of the weld, which is located in the protrusion perpendicular to the weld surface, is at a certain (positive) distance from the center of gravity of the component. The center point of the weld is understood in this example to mean specifically the center of gravity of the weld. This center of gravity does not necessarily lie within the weld - for example if the weld is realized in the form of a ring.

[0011] In other words, the center point of the weld, located in the protrusion perpendicular to the weld surface, coincides with the center of gravity of the component. Despite this symmetry, the vibration decoupling zone is able to effectively prevent the vibration energy from being transferred out of the weld, so that the advantages already mentioned above can be achieved. In particular, the situation of uncontrollable vibration conditions caused by the symmetry of the component, which may lead to damage of the component, is avoided.

[0012] The distance may be at least 1%, preferably at least 2%, and in particular at least 5% of the radius of the component measured with respect to the center point of the weld. The radius of the component measured with respect to the center point of the weld is understood to mean the maximum distance of all points on the component from the center point of the weld. Despite this symmetry, the vibration decoupling zone can effectively prevent the transfer of vibration energy out of the weld.

[0013] A third aspect of the invention similarly relates to a component for connection to at least one other component, wherein the component has at least one welded portion, the welded portion being welded to the other component by means of vibration welding, and the welded portion having a welding surface for connection to the other component. In an example of the third aspect, the welded portion is also spatially separated from the rest of the component by at least one vibration decoupling zone.

[0014] In a first variant of the third aspect, the moment of inertia of the region of the component surrounded by the vibration decoupling zone (the moment of inertia is determined about an axis extending through the center point of the weld and perpendicular to the weld surface) is at most 50%, preferably at most 40%, and particularly preferably at most 30% of the moment of inertia of the component as a whole measured about the axis. The vibration welding in this example is preferably torsional vibration welding.

[0015] In a second variant of the third aspect, the mass of the region of the component surrounded by the vibration decoupling zone is at most 50%, preferably at most 40%, particularly preferably at most 30% of the overall mass of the component. In this second variant, the vibration welding is particularly linear vibration welding.

[0016] In other words, the vibration decoupling region thus encloses only a relatively small proportion of the moment of inertia or mass. However, the vibration decoupling region ensures that an excessively large proportion of the vibration energy is not transferred out into the remaining larger and decoupled region of the component, so that a large proportion of the vibration energy is available for the actual welding and the mass decoupled by means of the vibration decoupling region is not or only slightly affected by the vibrations.

[0017] In many embodiments, the area surrounded by the vibration decoupling zone forms the inner area, and the area decoupled by means of the vibration decoupling zone forms the outer area - for example if the welding zone is circular and the vibration decoupling zone is arranged around it in the form of a ring. However, it is also conceivable within the scope of the invention that the welding zone is annular and the vibration decoupling zone is similarly annular and arranged within the welding zone; in this case, within the scope of the invention, the closed area forms the outer area and the decoupling area forms the inner area. Similarly, within the scope of the invention, as described in DE 10 2014 226 955 A1, the weld is at least partially surrounded by an outer vibration decoupling zone and at least partially delimited by an annular side vibration decoupling zone; the closed area is then annular and the decoupling area is composed of the inner area and the outer, annular area.

[0018] In a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a component for connection to at least one further component, wherein here too the component has at least one weld to be welded to the further component by means of vibration welding, the weld having a welding surface for connection to the further component.

[0019] In a fourth aspect, the weld is spatially separated from the rest of the component by at least one vibration decoupling zone in such a manner that, when the component is vibrationally excited within the weld, the ratio of the time-averaged vibration energy of the decoupling zone of the component outside the vibration decoupling zone to the time-averaged vibration energy of the component as a whole is reduced from greater than 50%, preferably greater than 60%, and particularly preferably greater than 70% to less than 30%, preferably less than 20%, and particularly preferably less than 10% due to the vibration decoupling zone.

[0020] In other words, a given component according to the invention is compared with a hypothetical comparative component, which corresponds substantially to the component according to the invention but does not have a vibration decoupling zone. When the comparative component is excited by vibration in the weld, vibrations occur in a closed area (which corresponds to a zone located inside the vibration decoupling zone of the component according to the invention) and a decoupling zone (which corresponds to a zone of the component according to the invention located outside the vibration decoupling zone), which vibrations have time-averaged closed and decoupled vibration energies, respectively. The component according to the invention with a vibration decoupling zone also has a time-averaged vibration energy in the decoupling zone under the condition of equal vibration excitation in the weld. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the example of the comparative component, the time-averaged vibration energy in the decoupling zone is greater than 50% (particularly preferably greater than 60%, and particularly preferably greater than 70%) of the time-averaged vibration energy of the component as a whole. In the example of the component according to the invention with a vibration decoupling zone, this ratio is reduced to less than 30% (preferably less than 20% and particularly preferably less than 10%) due to the vibration decoupling zone.

[0021] In this fourth aspect, the vibration decoupling zone also prevents vibration energy from being transferred out of the enclosed area.

[0022] The reduction in the ratio of the time-averaged vibration energy can occur in particular when the vibration excitation is at a frequency in the range of 10 kHz to 50 kHz, in particular in the range of 20 kHz to 40 kHz and particularly preferably close to 20 kHz; these are typically ultrasonic frequencies. Alternatively or additionally, the reduction can occur if the vibration excitation acts at a frequency in the range of 150 Hz to 250 Hz and preferably close to 200 Hz; these are customary frequencies in vibration welding.

[0023] The following disclosure of further preferred embodiments relates to all four aspects of the invention explained above.

[0024] The weld, in particular each weld, may have a corresponding weld surface for contact with a vibrating element. Vibrations may be introduced into the component via this contact surface. The vibrating element may be a sonotrode, such as, for example, a torsional sonotrode.

[0025] At least one of the vibration decoupling zones can include or be formed by a spring structure, by means of which vibrations introduced into the weld are at least partially prevented from propagating into the second part, in particular the second weld of the component. The vibrations can be introduced into the contact surface directly via the vibrator, thus for example via the sonotrode, or indirectly via another component.

[0026] The spring structure may comprise a geometric spring structure, which comprises or is formed, for example, by at least one bead. This geometric spring structure can be produced relatively simply. If there are a plurality of beadings, they may be realized, for example, in a linear manner and arranged parallel to one another, or they may be realized in a circular or elliptical shape and arranged concentrically. Alternatively, it is clear that many other forms and arrangements of the beadings are conceivable and within the scope of the invention as long as they can play a role in vibration decoupling.

[0027] Alternatively or additionally, at least one of the vibration decoupling zones can be formed by at least one decoupling opening and / or at least one material thinning zone. The decoupling opening extends completely through the component, while the material thinning zone does not extend completely through the component. Individual decoupling openings and material thinning zones can be, for example, circular, semicircular, oval, elliptical, crescent-shaped or triangular or polygonal with sharp or rounded corners, or can also be any other shape consisting of convex and / or concave curved shapes, which are without or in combination with straight sections. If there are multiple decoupling openings and / or material thinning zones, they can, for example, be arranged parallel to each other or concentrically with each other.

[0028] Similarly, it is conceivable within the scope of the invention that at least one of the vibration decoupling zones is made of a different material than the rest of at least one part of the component. For example, at least one of the vibration decoupling zones is made of a material having a lower elastic modulus than the material of the rest of at least one part of the component. This prevents or at least partially reduces the transfer of vibration energy out of the weld. The component whose vibration decoupling zone is made of a different material than the rest of at least one part of the component can be produced, for example, by multi-component injection molding, in particular bi-component injection molding, or multi-component extrusion, in particular bi-component extrusion.

[0029] As disclosed, for example, in DE102014226955A1, at least one weld may at least partially surround an internal vibration decoupling zone. The internal vibration decoupling zone may at least partially surround an internal component portion having a through hole. In addition, at least one weld may be at least partially surrounded by an external vibration decoupling zone. The welding surface of at least one of the welds may be formed by at least one ridge extending from the weld. With reference to these details, reference may be made to the patent application DE102014226955A1 mentioned above, the disclosure of which relating to this article is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application.

[0030] The weld, in particular each weld, may have a first welding surface on a first side of the component for connection to a first further component and a second welding surface on a second side of the component for connection to a second further component. In this way, a component comprising a vibration decoupling zone can be welded between two further components without the two further components themselves having vibration decoupling zones.

[0031] The component and / or the further component may consist, for example, of plastic or metal.

[0032] The welding surface may have a diameter in the range of 20 mm to 40 mm.

[0033] The center of gravity of the component may be located outside the weld surface, or even outside the weld including the weld surface. Even then, the vibration decoupling zone prevents excessive transfer of vibration energy out of the weld and prevents uncontrollable vibration conditions.

[0034] The component is preferably a component for a motor vehicle, in particular an interior or exterior component of a motor vehicle. It can be a bumper, a side panel, a deflector, a decorative part, a plug, a trim, a door sill, a brake cooling system, a headlight cleaning unit or a fastener for fastening functional components such as sensors, in particular distance sensors. It is also conceivable that the component is a fastener for fastening passive components, in particular decorative parts, plugs or trims.

[0035] Furthermore, the invention also comprises a method for connecting a component as described above to at least one further component, wherein the weld of the component, in particular each weld of the component and / or the weld zone of the further component, has a contact surface for connecting to a vibrating element. As already explained above, the vibrating element can be a sonotrode, such as a torsional sonotrode, for example. The contact surface can thus be present only on the component according to the invention having a vibration decoupling zone, or only on the further component without having a vibration decoupling zone, or both on the component and on the further component.

[0036] The method comprises the following steps:

[0037] a) bringing the welding surface of a component into contact with the welding area of ​​another component,

[0038] b) applying a force to the contact surfaces by means of a vibrating element, in particular a sonotrode, in particular a torsional sonotrode, so that the welding surface and the welding zone are pressed against one another, and

[0039] c) Inducing vibrations, in particular ultrasonic vibrations, by means of a vibrating element in order to weld the welding surface to the welding zone.

[0040] The advantages already described above thus result in carrying out this method.

[0041] The component may be a component according to the second aspect of the invention. In this case, it is particularly advantageous that in step c), torsional vibrations, in particular torsional ultrasound, are introduced about a torsional axis extending through the center point of the weld or at a distance of no more than 20 mm, preferably no more than 10 mm, and particularly preferably no more than 5 mm from the center point.

[0042] Alternatively, in the example of the component according to the second aspect of the invention, linear vibrations, in particular linear ultrasonic vibrations, are also introduced in step c), wherein the vertical protrusion of the center point of the weld on the contact surface is located at the center point of the welding surface of the vibrator or is not more than 20 mm, preferably not more than 10 mm, and particularly preferably not more than 5 mm away from the center point. The linear vibrations and torsional vibrations act in particular in a plane parallel to the welding surface.

[0043] The vibrator can have, for example, an axis of symmetry that coincides with the torsion axis of the torsional vibrator. The axis of symmetry can extend through the center point of the weld or at a distance of no more than 20 mm, preferably no more than 10 mm, particularly preferably no more than 5 mm from the center point.

[0044] The vibrating element introduces vibrations at a frequency at which the time-averaged vibration energy of the decoupling zone of the component located outside the vibration decoupling zone is reduced by the vibration decoupling zone from more than 50%, preferably more than 60%, particularly preferably more than 70% to less than 30%, preferably less than 20%, particularly preferably less than 10%. This also achieves the advantages already explained above.

[0045] The invention also comprises another separate method for connecting a component to at least one other component, in which example the component has a welded portion which is to be welded to the other component by means of vibration welding. The welded portion has a welding surface for connecting to the other component, and the welded portion of the component, in particular each welded portion of the component and / or the welding region of the other component, has a contact surface for contacting a vibrating element, which can be, for example, a sonotrode, such as, for example, a torsional sonotrode.

[0046] A second separate method according to the invention comprises the following steps:

[0047] a) bringing the welding surface of a component into contact with the welding area of ​​another component,

[0048] b) applying a force to the contact surfaces by means of a vibrating member so that the welding surface and the welding zone are pressed against each other, and

[0049] c) Inducing vibrations, in particular ultrasonic vibrations, by means of a vibrating element so that the welding surface is welded to the welding zone.

[0050] In this second method according to the invention, the vibration decoupling zone of the component is arranged at a distance from the contact surface in at least one direction, which distance is less than one eighth of the wavelength of the vibrator in the region of the welding surface. In this second method according to the invention, also due to the vibration decoupling zone, less vibration energy is transferred out of the weld. Wherein the direction extends, for example, perpendicularly with respect to the contact surface and / or the welding surface. Preferably, the wavelength of the vibrator lies in the range from 20 mm to 35 mm.

[0051] Another component, which does not need to have a vibration decoupling zone, or a component according to the invention having a vibration decoupling zone, may be a component for a motor vehicle, in particular an interior or exterior component of a motor vehicle, such as a bumper, a side panel, a deflector, a decorative part, a plugging plug, a trim, a door sill, a brake cooling device or a headlight cleaning unit. The component according to the invention having a vibration decoupling zone or another component not having to have a vibration decoupling zone may be a fastener for fastening a functional component, such as a sensor, in particular a distance sensor. The method according to the invention can therefore be used in particular for welding a support for a distance sensor to a bumper, for example, only via the support or only via the bumper or via both the support having a vibration decoupling zone and the bumper. However, the component according to the invention having a vibration decoupling zone or another component not having to have a vibration decoupling zone may also be a fastener for fastening a passive component, in particular a trim component, a plugging plug or a trim.

[0052] In a final aspect, the present invention also relates to an assembly comprising a component according to the present invention and another component. The welding surface of the component is welded to the welding zone of the other component, in particular by means of ultrasonic welding, preferably torsional ultrasonic welding. In particular, the assembly can be prepared by the method according to the present invention. For example, the other component or components may be components for motor vehicles, in particular interior or exterior parts of motor vehicles, such as bumpers, side panels, deflectors, decorative parts, plugging plugs, ornaments, door sills, brake cooling devices, headlight cleaning units, and / or the component or another component may be a fastener for fastening functional parts, such as sensors, in particular distance sensors or passive structural parts as described above. Assemblies connected by means of torsional ultrasonic welding can be identified because of the particularly smooth surface structure in the welding zone, and can be distinguished from assemblies connected by means of linear ultrasonic welding. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] The present invention is explained below based on a number of embodiments, and the accompanying drawings show

[0054] Figure 1a : A top view of a component according to the present invention, having two welding portions;

[0055] Figure 1b : A side view of a first component according to the present invention;

[0056] Figure 1c : A side view of a first member according to the present invention having two further members welded thereto;

[0057] Figure 2a : A side view of a second member according to the present invention, having a curled edge;

[0058] Figure 2b : A top view of a second component according to the present invention;

[0059] Figure 3a : A side sectional view of a third member according to the present invention, the third member being made of two materials having different elastic moduli;

[0060] Figure 3b : A top view of a third member according to the present invention;

[0061] Figure 4 : A side view of a fourth member according to the invention, which is welded to another member on both sides;

[0062] Figure 5 : A side view of a first method according to the invention, wherein the component according to the invention has a contact surface for a torsional sonotrode;

[0063] Figure 6 : A side view of a second method according to the invention, wherein the other component has a contact surface for a linear sonotrode;

[0064] Figure 7 : A side view of a fifth member according to the present invention;

[0065] Figure 8 : A side view of an assembly according to the present invention;

[0066] Fig. 9 : A side view of a sixth member according to the present invention;

[0067] Fig.10 : A side view of a seventh member according to the present invention;

[0068] Fig.11 : A side view of an eighth member according to the present invention;

[0069] Fig.12 : A side view of the ninth component according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0070] exist Figures 1a to 1c 1 is a first component 10 according to the invention for connection to two further components 30. The component 10 can consist of plastic or metal.

[0071] The component 10 comprises two welds 11, 11', which are to be welded to a corresponding other component 30, 30', for example by means of torsional ultrasonic welding. Each weld 11, 11' has a corresponding welding surface 13, 13' for connecting to a corresponding other component 30, 30'. The welding surface 13, 13' has a diameter D in the range of 20 mm to 40 mm.

[0072] Furthermore, the welds 11, 11' each have a corresponding contact surface 12, 12' for contact with a vibrating element, by means of which ultrasonic vibrations can be introduced. The vibrating element can be, for example, a torsional sonotrode.

[0073] Each weld 11, 11' is spatially separated from the rest of the component 10 and is thus separated in particular from the corresponding other welds 11, 11' by a corresponding vibration decoupling zone 14, 14'. Each weld 11, 11' has a center point M, M', which coincides with the corresponding center of gravity of the weld 11, 11'. The vibration decoupling zone 14, 14' is formed by a plurality of decoupling openings 19, 19' which extend completely through the component 10, are oval in shape and are arranged in a circle around the center point M of the weld 11. Instead of the decoupling openings 19, it is also possible to provide only a material thinning zone which does not extend completely through the component 10.

[0074] At a position perpendicular to the welding surface 13 (i.e. Figure 1a In the protrusion (within the plane of the accompanying drawings), the center points M and M' of the welds 11 and 11' are at corresponding distances d and d' from the mass point S of the component 10 as a whole. The distance d is greater than 5% of the radius r of the component 10 measured with reference to the center point M of the weld 11. Here, the above-mentioned radius r is understood to represent the maximum distance of all points on the component 10 from the center point M of the weld 11. Similarly, the distance dˊ is greater than 5% of the radius of the component 10 measured with reference to the center point Mˊ of the weld 11. In the embodiment shown herein, the center of gravity S of the component 10 is also located outside the two welds 11 and 11'.

[0075] The component 10 as a whole has a moment of inertia with reference to an axis A extending through the center point M of the weld 11 and perpendicular to the weld surface 13. With reference to the same axis A, the enclosed area 21 located within the vibration decoupling zone 14 also has a moment of inertia that is less than 30% of the moment of inertia of the component 10 as a whole. Similarly, with reference to the axis Aˊ, the enclosed area 21ˊ located within the vibration decoupling zone 14ˊ has a moment of inertia that is less than 30% of the moment of inertia of the component 10 as a whole.

[0076] In addition, the mass of the enclosed area 21 located in the vibration decoupling zone 14 is less than 30% of the overall mass of the component 10 , and the mass of the enclosed area 21 ″ located in the vibration decoupling zone 14 ″ is also less than 30% of the overall mass of the component 10 .

[0077] Due to the vibration decoupling zone 14, when the component 10 is vibrationally excited in the weld 11, the ratio of the time-averaged vibration energy of the decoupling zone 22 of the component 10 located outside the vibration decoupling zone 14 to the time-averaged vibration energy of the component 10 as a whole is reduced from more than 50% to less than 30%. Similarly, when the component 10 is vibrationally excited in the weld zone 11', the ratio of the time-averaged vibration energy of the decoupling zone 22' of the component 10 located outside the vibration decoupling zone 14' to the time-averaged vibration energy of the component 10 as a whole is reduced from more than 50% to less than 30%. This is applicable, for example, in the case of a typical ultrasonic frequency of 20 kHz. For vibration welding, this frequency can also be, for example, 200 Hz.

[0078] 2 has only one vibration decoupling region 23, which is implemented as a bead 23. The bead 23 forms a geometric spring structure and at least partially prevents vibrations in the weld 11 from propagating to the second part 25 of the component 10.

[0079] In accordance with Figure 3a and 3b In a third embodiment of the present invention, the component 10 includes a vibration decoupling zone 26, which is composed of a material different from the rest of the component. In particular, the elastic modulus of the vibration decoupling zone 26 is less than the elastic modulus of the rest of the component 10. The component 10 can be produced, for example, by two-component injection molding or by two-component extrusion.

[0080] Figure 4 Another component 10 according to the present invention is shown, which has a first welding surface 13 and a second welding surface 13', wherein the first welding surface is arranged on a first side 24 for connection to a first further component 30, and the second welding surface is arranged on a second side 24' of the component 10 for connection to a second further component 30', without explicitly showing the vibration decoupling zone.

[0081] Figure 5 The steps of the method according to the invention for connecting a component 10 to another component 30 are shown. Here, the component 10 comprises both a weld 11 and a vibration decoupling zone 14 and a contact surface 12 for contact with a sonotrode 70. In this example, this is a torsional sonotrode 70, which can perform torsional oscillations about a torsional axis T and has a welding surface 71. The welding surface 13 of the component 10 is in contact with the welding zone 31 of the other component 30. Subsequently, a force is applied to the contact surface 12 by means of the torsional sonotrode 70, so that the welding surface 13 and the welding zone 31 are pressed against each other. Subsequently, ultrasonic vibrations are introduced by means of the torsional sonotrode 70, so that the welding surface 13 is welded to the welding zone 31. The torsional axis T is in this case at a distance of no more than 20 millimeters from the center point M of the weld 11.

[0082] Figure 6 1 shows a variant in which it is not the component 10 according to the invention but another component 30 that comprises a contact surface 12 for a vibrating element 70. Another difference is that the vibrating element 70 here is a linear ultrasonic welding electrode 70, by means of which a linear ultrasonic vibration is introduced. The linear ultrasonic welding electrode 70 has a welding surface 71 with a center point P. The linear ultrasonic vibration can act parallel to or perpendicular to the contact surface 12. The vertical protrusion at the center point M of the weld 13 on the contact surface 12 is located within the center point P of this welding surface 71. However, it is also conceivable that the vertical protrusion is at a certain distance from the center point P, which distance is not greater than 20 mm.

[0083] The linear sonotrode 70 has an axis of symmetry B which extends through the center point of the welding surface 71. The component 10 and the sonotrode 70 are matched to one another in such a way that vibrations are introduced at a frequency at which the time-averaged vibration energy of the decoupling region 22 of the component 10 located outside the vibration decoupling region 14 is reduced by the vibration decoupling region 14 from more than 50% to less than 30%.

[0084] According to another method of the present invention, Figure 7 . In the direction R, which is perpendicular to the contact surface 12 and the welding surface 13 of the component 10, the vibration decoupling zone 26 made of a different material is arranged at a distance b from the contact surface 12, which is less than one eighth of the wavelength of the sonotrode 70 in the region of the welding surface 13. In this example, the wavelength can be in the range of 20 mm to 35 mm.

[0085] Another component 30 or component 10 can be an interior or exterior part of a motor vehicle, such as a bumper, a side panel, a deflector, a door sill, a brake cooling device or a headlamp cleaning unit. The component 10 or another component 30 can be a fastener for fastening a functional component (such as a distance sensor).

[0086] Figure 8 An example of an assembly 90 produced by means of the method according to the invention from a component 10 according to the invention and a further component 30 is shown.

[0087] Fig. 9 1 is another rectangular component 10 according to the invention, in which the central welded portion 11 is spatially separated from the two second portions 25, 25' by two vibration decoupling zones 14, 14'. Here, each of the vibration decoupling zones 14, 14' is formed by a series of decoupling openings 19. Linear ultrasonic vibrations can be introduced into the contact surface 12 along the direction indicated by the double arrow. The mass of the enclosed area between the vibration decoupling zones 14, 14' is less than 30% of the overall mass of the component 10.

[0088] exist Fig.10A similar rectangular component 10 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 has a weld 11, which is however not centered in this example. Linear ultrasonic vibrations can be introduced into the contact surface 12 in the direction indicated by the double arrow. The mass of the region to the right of the vibration decoupling zone 14 in the figure is less than 30% of the overall mass of the component 10.

[0089] exist Fig.11 In the example of the component 10 according to the present invention shown in FIG, the weld 11 is centered, but here the torsional ultrasonic vibration indicated by the curved double arrow is introduced. The moment of inertia of the closed area 21 located inside the vibration decoupling zone 14 about the axis extending through the center point M of the weld 11 is less than 30% of the moment of inertia of the component 10 as a whole about this axis.

[0090] exist Fig.12 In the figure, the component 10 has an annular weld 11, which surrounds the inner annular vibration decoupling zone 1 and is itself surrounded by the outer annular vibration decoupling zone 14'. Here, the area 21 surrounded by the vibration decoupling zones 14, 14' is annular. The decoupling zone is composed of an area 22 located inside the inner vibration decoupling zone 14 and an annular area 22' located outside the vibration decoupling zone 14'. The center point M of the weld (i.e., its center of gravity) itself is not located in the weld 11 but in the area 22. The moment of inertia of the area surrounded by the vibration decoupling zone 14 (the moment of inertia is determined relative to the axis A extending through the center point M and perpendicular to the weld surface 13) is less than 30% of the moment of inertia measured relative to the axis A of the component 10 as a whole.

[0091] The embodiments disclosed herein reduce the proportion of vibration energy that is transmitted out of the weld and therefore provide more efficient use of the vibration energy and reduce the risk of damage to the remainder of the component.

Claims

1. A component for connection to at least another component, wherein The component has at least two welded portions, which are to be individually welded to at least one of the other components by means of vibration welding, Each weld has a corresponding weld surface for connecting to a corresponding other member, and Each weld is spatially separated from the other welds by at least one vibration decoupling zone to reduce the transfer of vibration energy from one weld to the other welds. 2 . The component of claim 1 , wherein each weld is spatially separated from the remainder of the component by at least one vibration decoupling zone.

3. A component for connection to at least one other component, wherein The component has at least one welded portion to be welded to the other component by means of vibration welding, and The welding portion has a welding surface for connecting to the other member, The weld is spatially separated from the remainder of the component by at least one vibration structure area to reduce the transfer of vibration energy from one weld to the remainder of the component, The center point of the weld, which is located in a projection perpendicular to the weld surface, is at a distance from the center of gravity of the component.

4. The component of claim 3, wherein the distance is at least 1% of a radius of the component measured about the center point of the weld.

5. A component for connection to at least one other component, wherein The component has at least one welded portion to be welded to the other component by means of vibration welding, and The welding portion has a welding surface for connecting to the other member, wherein the weld is spatially separated from the remainder of the component by at least one vibration decoupling zone to reduce the transfer of vibration energy from the weld to the remainder of the component, and The moment of inertia of the component in a region surrounded by the vibration decoupling zone measured about an axis is at most 50% of the moment of inertia of the component as a whole measured about the axis, wherein the axis extends through the center point of the weld and is perpendicular to the weld surface, and / or The mass of the region of the component enclosed within the vibration decoupling zone is at most 1% of the entire mass of the component.

6. A component for connection to at least one other component, wherein The component has at least one welded portion to be welded to the other component by means of vibration welding, and The welding portion has a welding surface for connecting to the other member, The weld is spatially separated from the rest of the component by at least one vibration decoupling zone in such a manner that, when the component is vibrationally excited within the weld, the ratio of the time-averaged vibration energy of the decoupling zone of the component located outside the vibration decoupling zone to the time-averaged vibration energy of the component as a whole is reduced from greater than 50% to less than 30% due to the vibration decoupling zone, especially when the vibration is excited at the following frequency.

7. The member according to claim 1, wherein the weld portion has a corresponding contact surface for contacting a vibrating member. 8 . The component according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the vibration decoupling zones comprises or is formed by a spring structure, by means of which vibrations introduced into the weld are at least partially prevented from propagating into the second part of the component.

9. A member according to claim 8, wherein the spring structure is a geometric spring structure.

10. A component according to claim 9, wherein the geometric spring structure comprises or is formed by at least one bead. 11 . The component according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the vibration decoupling regions is formed by at least one decoupling opening and / or at least one material thinning region.

12. The component of claim 1, wherein at least one of the vibration decoupling regions is formed from a material that is different from the material of at least part of the remainder of the component.

13. The component of claim 12, wherein the elastic modulus of the material of at least one of the vibration decoupling zones is lower than the elastic modulus of the material of at least part of the remainder of the component. 14 . The component according to claim 12 , wherein the component is produced by multi-component injection molding or multi-component extrusion.

15. The component according to claim 1, wherein the weld has a first welding surface on a first side of the component for connection to a first further component, and has a second welding surface on a second side of the component for connection to a second further component.

16. The component of claim 1, wherein the welding surface has a diameter in the interval of 20 mm to 40 mm.

17. The component of claim 1, wherein the center of gravity of the component is located outside of the welding surface.

18. The component according to claim 1, wherein the component is a component for an automotive vehicle.

19. The component according to claim 18, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of: a bumper, a side fascia, a deflector, a trim component, a plug plug, a trim, a door sill, a brake cooling device, a headlamp cleaning unit, a fastener for fastening a functional component, and a fastener for fastening a passive component.

20. A combination comprising a component according to claim 1 and another component, wherein the welding surface is welded to a welding region of the other component.

21. An assembly according to claim 20, wherein the other component or the component is a component for a motor vehicle.

Images