Press component for the formation of a press combination with a counter-press component

Abstract

Press component (10) for forming a press connection (100) with a counter-press component (200), comprising a base body (20) with a press section (30) for plastic deformation during the formation of the press connection (100), wherein the press section (30) has a press groove (32) and a press web (34), and wherein the press web (34) has, on a web outer side (36) facing away from the press groove (32), a mechanical weakening section (38) for reducing the mechanical stability of the press web (34) during the formation of the press connection (100), characterized in that the mechanical weakening section (38) has a first section end (A1) and a second section end (A2) along a body axis (KA) of the base body (20), wherein the first section end (A1) corresponds, with respect to the body axis (KA), to the position of a groove bottom (33) of the Press groove (32).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressed component for forming a press connection with a counter-pressed component, a press connection formed in this way and a pressing method for producing such a press connection.

[0002] It is known that, in the manufacture of vehicle components in particular from individual metal components, so-called press-fitting processes are used to connect individual components. In order to create a press-fit connection between two components, a press-fit component and a counter-press-fit component are required. The connection between these two components, i.e. the press-fit component on the one hand and the counter-press-fit component on the other, is achieved by a relative movement of the two components with the plastic deformation of a press-fit section of the press-fit component. The plastic deformation results in a force-transmitting connection between the press-fit component and the counter-press-fit component providing the press-fit connection.

[0003] A disadvantage of the known solutions is that a relatively high pressing force is required to achieve a sufficiently high release force, i.e., to prevent the pressed component from accidentally detaching from the mating component. In the known solutions for press-fitted joints, the pressing force thus correlates with the securing force that secures the pressed component and the mating component against accidental detachment.

[0004] DE 10 2013 201 183 A1 discloses a pressed component according to the preamble of claim 1. US 2006 / 0 218 769 A1 and DE 199 35 402 A1 disclose further prior art.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to at least partially remedy the disadvantages described above. In particular, the object of the present invention is to reduce the pressing force required to produce the press fit in a cost-effective and simple manner, while preferably maintaining the same or similar securing force to prevent the two components from accidentally detaching from one another.

[0006] The above object is achieved by a pressed component having the features of claim 1, a press-fitted assembly having the features of claim 7 and a pressing method having the features of claim 9.

[0007] Further features and details of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the description and drawings. Features and details described in connection with the pressed component according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the press-fit composite according to the invention and the method according to the invention, and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is always made to each other.

[0008] According to the invention, a pressed component is provided for forming a press fit with a counter-pressed component. For this purpose, the pressed component has a base body with a press section for plastic deformation during the formation of the press fit. The press section itself is equipped with a press groove and a press web. The press web has a mechanically weakened section on a web outer side facing away from the press groove to reduce the mechanical stability of the press web during the formation of the press fit.

[0009] In the context of the present invention, a press-fit joint is understood to be a joint consisting of two components, which is created by plastic deformation of at least one of these components. This plastic deformation occurs at least in the press section of the base body. In addition to conventional pressing processes, other manufacturing processes are also conceivable. For example, the plastic deformation can be achieved by flanging and / or rolling with the counter-pressed component. Such flanging processes and / or rolling processes are also understood within the context of the present invention as pressing processes for producing the plastic deformation.

[0010] The aim of the present invention is to reduce the corresponding force only in one section of the press fit. This section concerns the formation of the press fit. Once the press fit is formed, the same or at least a similarly high securing force should preferably be available as in known solutions to secure the two components, i.e., the press fit component and the counter-press fit component, against unintentional release.

[0011] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, a portion of the pressing section of the press-fitted joint has now been further developed in accordance with the invention. While in known solutions, for the deformation of the pressing section, a pressing web usually simply formed the lateral closure of an associated pressing groove, according to the invention this pressing web has been further developed. In order to be able to provide a reduced pressing force for the production and formation of the press-fitted joint, the pressing web was provided with a mechanically weakened section on its outer side, i.e. the web outer side facing away from the pressing groove. Such a mechanically weakened section serves to reduce the mechanical stability of the pressing web.The reduction of this mechanical stability is particularly and preferably exclusively aimed at a reduction of the mechanical stability in the pressing direction, i.e. in the direction of the relative movement of the pressed component and the counter-pressed component during the pressing process. In other words, this means that during the relative movement of the counter-pressed component and the pressed component during the formation of the press connection, the desired plastic deformation of the pressing section and in particular of the pressing web must still be provided. In order to deform the pressing web, the material in the pressing web must be subjected to an associated pressing force. The force must be large enough to bring the material into a plasticized state, i.e. to make a flowing material available for plastic deformation. The mechanical weakening section now serves, in particular in the form of a material weakening ora reduction in material means that this state of plasticization can be achieved much earlier or with a lower pressing force. In other words, the press connection can now be formed in the same and known way by carrying out a relative movement between the pressed component and the counter-pressed component. As soon as the counter-pressed component touches the press web during the pressing process, the pressing force can be introduced onto the press web. This is achieved by the further relative movement of the two components to one another. The pressing force is increased until the plasticization limit for plastic deformation on the press web is exceeded. By providing the mechanical weakening section, this plasticization limit, i.e. the transition from elastic deformation of the press web to plastic or at least partially plastic deformation of the press web, can be achieved much earlier orachievable with a lower pressing force.

[0012] As soon as the press fit has been completed, the press web is plastically deformed and the desired press fit and thus the secure and firm connection of the pressed component to the counter-pressed component is completed. In this version, the press fit, i.e. the assembled state between the pressed component and the counter-pressed component, is installed or used for further assembly on a vehicle. The press fit now ensures that a corresponding securing force must be overcome in order to detach the pressed component from the counter-pressed component. However, this securing force is now independent of the mechanical weakening section of the press web that was originally present in the pressed component. This is based on the fact that the mechanical weakening section is completely or essentially completely dissolved or eliminated by the plastic deformation of the press web during the pressing process, i.e. during the formation of the press fit.has shifted. In other words, the effect of the mechanical weakening section is limited to the formation and thus the pressing process for the press fit itself. Because the positioning of the mechanical weakening section on the outer side of the press fit web means that once the press fit has been formed, this press fit web is no longer present due to plastic deformation, the same applies to the mechanical weakening section. As soon as the press fit has been completed, neither the press fit web nor the associated outer side of the web with the mechanical weakening section is present. For the corresponding securing force, i.e. the force threshold that must be overcome for the press fit component to be accidentally released from the counter-press fit component and the press fit to be broken, the mechanical weakening section therefore has no or essentially no effect.

[0013] In summary, the introduction and provision of a mechanical weakening section in the area of the outer side of the press web can have a positive effect on reducing the pressing force required to form the press fit. However, this advantage for the formation of the press fit has no, or essentially no, negative impact on the securing force to be achieved, which could prevent the press component from accidentally detaching from the mating press component.

[0014] According to the invention, the mechanical weakening section has a first section end and a second section end along a body axis of the base body. The first section end is arranged, relative to the body axis, in a manner corresponding to the position of a groove bottom of the press groove or arranged substantially correspondingly. A mechanical weakening section is provided with a corresponding extension in the axial direction along this body axis. This applies, for example, to the intersection points of a radial recess of the mechanical weakening section with the otherwise cylindrical outer surfaces of the base body. Here, a first section end can be defined as a circumferential ring and a second section end as a second circumferential ring.By correlating the first section end with a corresponding position of the groove bottom of the press groove, it can be ensured that when the press connection is formed by the pressing process, the mechanical weakening section and thus the recess groove formed in this way dissolve completely or essentially completely due to the associated and previously explained plastic deformation. The effects of mechanical destabilization caused by the mechanical weakening section are thus limited in a geometrically and structurally simple manner to the formation step of the press connection and thus to the pressing process.

[0015] It can be advantageous if, in a pressed component according to the invention, the mechanical weakening section is designed at least in sections as a recess, in particular as a circumferential or substantially circumferential recess. Such a recess can be introduced particularly advantageously, in particular in base bodies in the form of rotationally symmetrical cross-sections or components. A recess makes it possible, for example, to provide the recess and thus the mechanical weakening of the weakening section within the framework of a turning process with mechanical machining. A recess as a mechanical weakening section preferably has a mechanically destabilizing effect with regard to its geometry and / or through the reduction in material.

[0016] It is also advantageous if, in a pressed component according to the invention, the mechanical weakening section forms a recess with a constant or substantially constant recess radius. A constant or substantially constant recess radius results in the mechanical weakening section being able to be produced, preferably with a single recessing tool with an outer radius or a corresponding outer geometry that correlates with the recess radius, in a quick, simple, and cost-effective process. The circumferential mechanical destabilization, which thus has the same effect in the circumferential direction, can be achieved even more easily and in a more predictable manner.

[0017] A further advantage can be achieved if, in a pressed component according to the invention, the base body has at least one functional section for providing a component function. Typically, the press fit is intended to be made available for further assembly in a vehicle or on other machine components. In order to be able to develop or perform this further assembly functionality or also storage functionality or further other functions, it is advantageous to equip the base body with a functional section. This functional section is preferably provided separately and in particular at a distance from the press section. The spacing design means that any influence on the functional section by the plastic deformation of the press section can be essentially excluded.

[0018] It is also advantageous if, in a pressed component according to the invention, the press groove has a V-shaped groove section at least in sections. The formation of a V-shaped groove likewise allows for particularly cost-effective and simple production, preferably when the base body is a rotationally symmetrical component. Furthermore, a defined destabilization behavior can thus also occur on the inside of the press web, in particular in interaction with the mechanical weakening section on the outside. Preferably, such a V-shaped groove or such a V-shaped groove section is equipped with a flat or essentially flat groove base for a clean stop of the counter-pressed component. Last but not least, a V-shaped groove section can be produced particularly easily and cost-effectively, for example by a machining process using turning.

[0019] It is further advantageous if the base body of a pressed component according to the invention is rotationally symmetrical or substantially rotationally symmetrical. This rotational symmetry allows for particularly simple and cost-effective manufacturing processes, such as machining, to be used. Such a machining process can be, for example, a turning process. The pressed component and the associated counter-pressed component can thus be designed as cylindrical, sleeve-shaped, and / or bush-shaped components. Individual sections can, of course, deviate from rotational symmetry, for example, to form anti-twist devices.

[0020] The present invention also provides a press fit assembly comprising a press fit component according to the invention with a counter-press fit component, which is pressed with a counter-press fit section to the press fit section of the press fit component. Thus, a press fit assembly according to the invention provides the same advantages as those explained in detail with reference to a press fit component according to the invention.

[0021] It can be advantageous if, in a press connection according to the invention, the counter-pressing section of the counter-pressing component has two adjacent chamfers with different chamfer angles in the circumferential direction. Different chamfer angles make it possible to provide different deformation speeds and thus different force build-up for the pressing force with uniform or essentially uniform relative movement of the counter-pressing component to the pressing component. Two different chamfers arranged adjacent to one another thus allow a two-stage force definition with two different pressing forces with constant or essentially constant relative movement. The individual chamfers with the different chamfer angles advantageously do not deform, or only deform to a small extent, during the pressing process.It is preferred if the first chamfer angle of the first chamfer is smaller than the second chamfer angle of the second phase. Thus, a lower pressing force is exerted in the initial phase of the pressing process than is the case in the further course of the pressing process after reaching the chamfer with the larger chamfer angle.

[0022] The present invention also relates to a pressing process for producing a press-fit composite according to the invention, comprising the following steps: - Inserting the pressing component into a starting position relative to the counter-pressing component, - Relative movement of the pressed component to the counter-pressed component with plastic deformation of the pressing section.

[0023] By forming a press fit according to the invention, the same advantages are achieved as have been explained in detail with reference to a press fit according to the invention and with reference to a pressed component according to the invention. Preferably, the force and displacement are monitored at least during the relative movement, so that the clear progress in the formation of the press fit and, in particular, the reaching of the plasticization limit of the press web can be monitored and verified via a correlation with a force-displacement diagram. The pressing process and thus the relative movement is terminated in particular as soon as a part or a corresponding counter-section of the counter-press component reaches or has essentially reached the groove bottom of the press groove.

[0024] In a pressing method according to the invention, it is possible to monitor the force-displacement characteristic curve during the relative movement of the pressed component to the counter-pressed component, in particular in comparison with a process corridor with an upper process limit and / or a lower process limit. During this monitoring, three phases in particular can be distinguished. At the beginning of the relative movement, the materials involved undergo elastic deformation. The force-displacement characteristic curve will therefore rise linearly or essentially linearly with an initial gradient. As soon as the plastic deformation of the materials begins, this can be recognized by a kink in the force-displacement characteristic curve to a flatter second gradient. Once the plastic deformation is complete and the press bond is thus finalized, further deformation occurs elastically again as the force is increased.This can be detected in a third section by a further bend to a third, steeper gradient. In particular, in addition to the qualitative detection of the three sections, monitoring is also carried out at least partially quantitatively by comparison with an upper process limit and / or a lower process limit. The two limits together can specify a process corridor. If one of the two limits is exceeded and / or if the process corridor is left, a warning can be issued or the component can be marked for additional quality control. Marking the component as scrap when it leaves the process corridor is also conceivable within the scope of the present invention.

[0025] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which describes exemplary embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. They show schematically: Fig. 1 an embodiment of a pressed component according to the invention in plan view, Fig. 2 the embodiment of the Fig. 1 in schematic cross-section, Fig. 3 a partial view of the cross section of the Fig. 2, Fig. 4 the embodiments of the Fig. 1 to 3 in isometric view, Fig. 5 an embodiment of a counter-press component according to the invention in cross section, Fig. 6 the embodiment of the Fig. 5 in perspective view, Fig. 7 an embodiment of a press composite according to the invention during the execution of a pressing process, and Fig. 8 a representation of a force-displacement characteristic curve when monitoring a pressing process.

[0026] The Fig. 1 to 4 schematically show how a pressed component 10 can be designed. This is a rotationally symmetrical design of a substantially metallic base body 20. The base body 20 is particularly Fig. 2 and has a rotational symmetry around the body axis KA.

[0027] In order to provide functionality for the base body 20 on the pressed component 10, a functional section 40 is provided here as a circumferential stop surface or contact surface. The illustrated geometry can be easily and cost-effectively manufactured around the body axis KA using a machining turning process.

[0028] Objected to by functional section 40 is the design of the Fig. 1 to 4, a pressing section 30 is provided. The details of the pressing section 30 are shown in particular in the Fig. 3 and are explained with reference to this figure. The pressing section 30 serves to be at least partially plastically deformed during a pressing process. The plastic deformation is preferably limited to the pressing web 34, which delimits a pressing groove 32 adjacent to the groove bottom 33. In order to now, during a relative movement of a counter-pressing component 200 to the pressing component 10, as will be explained later with reference to Fig. To ensure a mechanically and plastically distinct deformation of the press web 34, as explained in Figure 7, a weakened section 38 is provided on the web's outer side 36. This weakened section 38 has a recess, which is provided with a constant recess radius and is also circumferentially formed. The recess and thus also the weakened section 38 serve to provide a defined destabilization of the press web 34 by reducing the material, so that a reduced pressing force can be achieved during the pressing process.

[0029] The Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 schematically show how, during a pressing process, the pressing section 33 can be influenced by means of a counter-pressing component 200. For this purpose, the counter-pressing component 200 is provided with a counter-pressing section 230, which is provided with two separate chamfers F1 and F2, as shown in Fig. 7 shows in more detail.

[0030] Based on Fig. 7 explains in more detail how the counter-pressing component 200 functions during a pressing process. The counter-pressing component 200 is moved relative to the pressing component 10 in the direction of the arrow, so that at a certain first point in time, contact between the pressing web 34 and the first bevel F1 occurs. At this point in time, the counter-pressing component 200 begins to apply a corresponding pressing force to the material of the pressing web 34 due to the further relative movement. As soon as this pressing force exceeds the stabilizing effect of the pressing web 34, which is reduced by the destabilizing effect of the weakened section 38, an elastic and subsequently a plastic deformation of the pressing web 34 occurs. This plastic deformation leads to a sliding of the material of the pressing web 34 and a plastic deformation.Thus, at a second point in time, the second chamfer F2 is achieved with a larger chamfer angle of the counter-press component 200. At the end of the formation of the press connection, after completion of the pressing process, the press web 34 is in a plastically deformed position in which preferably the entire press web 34 has been deformed, so that the weakened section 38 has also been completely removed.

[0031] For the correlation between the weakened section 38 and the associated press groove 32, the two section ends A1 and A2 of the weakened section 38 must also be considered, which correlate with the groove bottom 33 of the press groove 32 in the axial direction along the body axis KA.

[0032] The Fig.Figure 8 shows a possible course of a force-displacement characteristic curve KWK in a force-displacement diagram. The three phases I, II and III already explained can be clearly seen here. In the first phase I, the elastic deformation of the materials takes place. The press fit is produced by plastic and / or partially plastic deformation in phase II with a correspondingly flatter slope of the force-displacement characteristic curve KWK. After the plastic deformation is completed, there is a return to elastic deformation. This can be seen in phase III by the steeper slope of the force-displacement characteristic curve KWK. For monitoring and / or controlling the process or the quality of the press fit, a comparison can be made here with a process corridor PK, which in this example is defined by an upper process limit PO and a lower process limit PU.

[0033] The above explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention exclusively within the scope of examples. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided they are technically feasible, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

[1] Press component (10) for forming a press connection (100) with a counter-press component (200), comprising a base body (20) with a press section (30) for plastic deformation during the formation of the press connection (100), wherein the press section (30) has a press groove (32) and a press web (34), and wherein the press web (34) has a mechanical weakening section (38) on a web outer side (36) facing away from the press groove (32) for reducing the mechanical stability of the press web (34) during the formation of the press connection (100), characterized by in that the mechanical weakening section (38) has a first section end (A1) and a second section end (A2) along a body axis (KA) of the base body (20), wherein the first section end (A1) corresponds to the position of a groove bottom (33) of the press groove (32) with respect to the body axis (KA). [2] Press component (10) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the mechanical weakening section (38) is formed at least in sections as a recess. [3] Press component (10) according to claim 2, characterized by that the puncture is designed as a circumferential puncture. [4] Press component (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the mechanical weakening section (38) has a recess with a constant recess radius. [5] Press component (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the press groove (32) has at least in sections a V-shaped groove section. [6] Press component (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the base body (20) is rotationally symmetrical. [7] Press composite (100) comprising a pressed component (10) having the features of one of claims 1 to 6 and a counter-pressed component (200) which is pressed with a counter-pressed section (230) with the pressing section (30) of the pressed component (10). [8] Press composite (100) according to claim 7, characterized by that the counter-pressing section (230) of the counter-pressing component (200) has two adjacent chamfers (F1, F2) with different chamfer angles in the circumferential direction. [9] Pressing method for producing a press-fit composite (100) having the features of one of claims 7 or 8, comprising the following steps: - Inserting the pressing component (10) into a starting position relative to the counter-pressing component (200), - Relative movement of the pressing component (10) to the counter-pressing component (200) with plastic deformation of the pressing section (30). [10] Pressing method according to claim 9, characterized bythat the force-displacement characteristic curve (KWK) is monitored during the relative movement of the pressing component (10) to the counter-pressing component (200). [11] Pressing method according to claim 10, characterized by that the monitoring of the force-displacement characteristic curve (KWK) is carried out in comparison with a process corridor (PK) with a process upper limit (PO) and / or a process lower limit (PU).

Images