Plastic rivet element for fixing a vehicle outer skin during assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a permanent connection between a paneling element (1) for an outer skin structure of a vehicle and a body element (3) of a body shell for the vehicle, wherein the body element (3) is bonded to the paneling element (1) with adhesive (5) and, to hold the body element (3) together with the paneling element (1) during the curing of the adhesive (5), a form-fitting plastic connection between the body element (3) and the paneling element (1) is used, which is produced by holding a plastic element (7) on the body element (3), guiding it through a hole in a paneling element (1) and deforming it by thermal action and pressure.that the plastic element (7) seamlessly fills the hole of the paneling element (1) and, to form a positive fit, at least partially covers a side of the paneling element (1) facing away from the body element (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing a permanent connection between a paneling element for an outer skin structure of a vehicle and a body element of a body shell for the vehicle, as well as an outer skin structure for a vehicle.

[0002] Applying a pre-painted panel to a body panel presents a challenge in vehicle construction if the paintwork of the panel is to be avoided. In most vehicles, such a panel, also called an outer skin (e.g., a side panel), is an integral part of the body shell and is usually attached by screwing, welding, or gluing.

[0003] In this context, DE 10 2008 028 382 A1 relates to a fastening element for fastening a first component to a second component, comprising a clamping body which, during assembly of the first component to the second component, penetrates a recess in the first component and penetrates into a corresponding recess in the second component, which clamping body is provided with an axial through-opening into which an expanding mandrel can be inserted for axially fixing the clamping body within the recess of the second component by radially expanding the clamping body, wherein said expanding mandrel has a collar to limit the insertion depth, by means of which the expanding mandrel is supported axially on the first component, securing the same to the second component, and wherein a means for decoupling the first component from the second component is provided between the clamping body and the collar of the expanding mandrel,which can be positioned between the first and the second component during assembly, in that the recess of the first component and the means for decoupling are designed in such a way that said means for decoupling can be guided at least partially axially through the recess of the first component in a first assembly step and can be axially fixed between the first and the second component in a second assembly step.

[0004] From DE 10 2013 001 671 A1 a method for producing a permanent connection between a paneling element for an outer skin structure of a vehicle and a body element of a body shell for the vehicle is known, wherein the body element is glued to the paneling element with adhesive and, for holding them together during the curing of the adhesive, a positive connection between the body element and the paneling element is used, which is produced by holding an element on the body element, guiding it through a hole in a paneling element, the element seamlessly filling the hole in the paneling element and, to form a positive connection, at least partially covering a side of the paneling element facing away from the body element.

[0005] DE 37 372 10 C2 discloses a method for joining body parts of a vehicle body. In this method, one body part is bonded to a corresponding adhesive edge of another body part with an adhesive edge. To secure the body part until the adhesive hardens, blind rivets are inserted into holes extending through the overlapping adhesive edges. The blind rivets are made of a plastic that bonds firmly with the adhesive used. Their external locking heads form external projections that are removed after the adhesive hardens.

[0006] DE 10 2018 131 912 A1 describes a multi-part trim component arranged on a motor vehicle and comprising a structural component connected to a body of the motor vehicle, as well as an upper shell arranged on the structural component, facing away from the body and at least partially covering the structural component. A material-to-material connection and an additional positive-locking connection are formed between the upper shell and the structural component. Furthermore, the positive-locking connection is realized by the engagement of at least one flat, plate-like connecting element formed on the upper shell into a receptacle formed in the structural component.

[0007] DE 20 2015 105 593 U1 discloses an assembly of vehicle components comprising: first and second components abutting one another, the first and / or second component comprising a non-metallic material, the first and second components each comprising first and second openings covering the first and second components; and a connecting component extending through the first and second openings, the connecting component comprising a support body and an outer body at least partially surrounding the support body, the outer body comprising a polymer material, the connecting component clamping the first and second components between first and second flanges of the outer body, and the support body extending into the first and / or second opening.

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide a connection system with which a panel element of an outer skin can be attached to a body element of a vehicle only during assembly.

[0009] The invention is based on the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments and refinements are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0010] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing a permanent connection between a paneling element for an outer skin structure of a vehicle and a body element of a bodyshell for the vehicle, wherein the body element is glued to the paneling element with adhesive and, to hold the body element together with the paneling element while the adhesive hardens, a positive-locking plastic connection is used between the body element and the paneling element, which is produced by holding a plastic element on the body element, guiding it through a hole in a paneling element and deforming it by thermal action and pressure such that the plastic element seamlessly fills the hole in the paneling element and, to form a positive connection, at least partially covers a side of the paneling element facing away from the body element.

[0011] The paneling element for the outer skin structure of the vehicle can be painted or otherwise coated (e.g. anodized, powder-coated, ...) or bare (e.g. made of stainless steel).

[0012] It must be ensured that the paneling element can be adjusted during assembly in as three translational degrees of freedom as possible in a Cartesian system, without damaging an already painted surface of the paneling element. For this purpose, a special plastic element is used which bonds the body element to the paneling element through thermal deformation. The low temperature required for this has no effect on the painted surface. The aim is to permanently fix the paneling element connection by means of a positive fit until the adhesive used has reached its strength. By creating an enlarged opening in the paneling element (e.g. designed as a slotted hole, round hole), tolerance compensation in one plane (and thus already in two of the three desired directions) can be ensured.

[0013] The step of forming the plastic element, particularly by compressing it under thermal influence, can be carried out using different variants. This makes it possible to fix the plastic element to the body element using one- or two-sided access. If the plastic element is inserted from the body element towards the paneling element, there is a risk that the plastic element will be pushed out of the body element again during forming. In return, a very good form fit is achieved afterwards. If the plastic element is attached to the side on which the paneling element is subsequently to be attached, the advantages and disadvantages are exactly the opposite. However, this also has the advantage that the distance between the body element and the paneling element can be precisely adjusted using a shoulder in the plastic element.If the plastic element is inserted in the opposite direction and a counterholder is used, a plastic washer can also be used. A predefined shoulder can be integrated into all variants. This shoulder sets a predefined distance between the body element and the paneling element.

[0014] Any remaining protruding portion of the plastic element is melted into a dough using a tool (thermo- / heating element) and pressed into an undercut using vertical pressure, e.g., into a recess in the paneling element or as a rivet head. The size of the plastic element is designed to fill the recess. This fills the recess with watertight plastic from the melted plastic element, and the paneling element is fixed to the body element. The heat input can also melt the previously described shoulder and deform it vertically. This also allows for tolerance compensation in the distance between the two joining partners.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, the hole of the paneling element and a through-opening of the body element are placed one above the other and the plastic element is inserted into the hole of the paneling element and into the through-opening of the body element in order to be subsequently formed.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the plastic element is radially expanded beyond a diameter of the through-opening at a first end, which protrudes from the body element after the plastic element has been introduced into the through-opening of the body element and into the hole in the paneling element, wherein the thermal action and the pressure action take place at a second end of the plastic element, which protrudes from the paneling element after the plastic element has been introduced into the through-opening of the body element and into the hole in the paneling element.

[0017] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the plastic element is held on the body element by a counterholder for applying a counterforce against the pressure effect.

[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the plastic element is held on the body element by fastening the plastic element to the body element to apply a counterforce against the pressure effect, wherein the fastening of the plastic element to the body element is carried out by pressing the plastic element into the through-opening and / or by gluing the plastic element to the body element and / or by welding the plastic element to the body element and / or by thermally stamping or clinching or clipping clip elements, which are arranged on a radial extension of the plastic element extending beyond the through-opening, to the body element.

[0019] According to a further advantageous embodiment, a disc which locally radially expands the plastic element is placed on the plastic element and is arranged between the paneling element and the body element.

[0020] In this case, a disc with an embossed finish is attached to the body element (e.g., by welding, clinching, etc.). The paneling element, which also has an embossed finish, can then be placed on top and aligned. Both undercuts can then be filled with a liquid plastic. The cured plastic bonds the paneling element and the body element together. This joining technique can be used advantageously in non-visible areas.

[0021] According to a further advantageous embodiment, in order to compensate for tolerances, the hole in the paneling element has a larger diameter before the plastic element is formed than the diameter inserted into the hole, so that when the plastic element is subjected to thermal action, the hole in the paneling element is filled by the plastic element.

[0022] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the paneling element has a concave embossing on its side facing away from the body element, which is completely filled during the thermal action and the pressure action on the plastic element in order to obtain a flat and seamless surface on the paneling element in the area of ​​the hole.

[0023] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the body element has an undercut embossing, wherein the plastic element is preheated plastic which is injected through the hole of the paneling element and into the undercut embossing.

[0024] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the plastic element and a side of the paneling element facing away from the body element have the same color.

[0025] A further aspect of the invention relates to an outer skin structure for a vehicle, comprising a paneling element which is fastened to a body element for the vehicle by means of remelted plastic elements and an adhesive layer of adhesive, wherein the plastic elements are seamlessly fused to the paneling element on the side of the paneling element facing away from the body element.

[0026] Advantages and preferred developments of the proposed outer skin structure result from an analogous and analogous transfer of the statements made above in connection with the proposed method.

[0027] Further advantages, features and details emerge from the following description, in which - if necessary with reference to the drawing - at least one embodiment is described in detail.

[0028] They show: Fig. 1-6: Connections between a paneling element and a body element according to embodiments of the invention.

[0029] The representations in the figures are schematic and not to scale.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary structure for producing a permanent connection between a paneling element 1 and a body element 3. Here, the paneling element 1 and the body element 3 are placed on top of each other and on top of each other in such a way that a hole in the paneling element 1 comes to lie above a through-opening in the body element 3. A plastic element 7 is guided through the jointly formed opening, which is radially expanded on its bottom side and thus abuts in a form-fitting manner on the side of the body element 3 facing away from the paneling element 1. The paneling element 1 has a concave embossment which bears against the body element 3. Adhesive 5 is introduced outside of this abutting area, and thus in a gap between the paneling element 1 and the body element 3.In order to hold the paneling element 1 and the body element 3 together, at least until the adhesive 5 has cured, a positive connection is created using the plastic element 7. For this purpose, the radial extension of the plastic element 7 is held on the body element 3 in order to apply a counterforce to the pressure applied under thermal influence to the plastic element 7. The pressure is exerted by a downwardly moving, heated punch. This presses the upper side of the plastic element 7 in the direction of the concave deformation of the paneling element 1. The plastic of the plastic element 7, which is partially melted in this way, completely and seamlessly fills the concave embossment and also the hole in the paneling element 1, which offers radial play to the still undeformed plastic element 7 in order to create tolerance compensation.The gap between plastic element 7 and panel element 1 is thus filled with the melted plastic. The result is shown in . Fig. 2: Here, the plastic element 7 is pressed on its upper side into the concave shell of the planking element 1 in order to form a flat surface with the remaining planking element 1.

[0031] Fig. Figure 3 shows an alternative design in which the plastic element 7 is pre-formed to fit into the concave embossing of the paneling element 1. The plastic element 7 is therefore first inserted from the paneling element 1 through its hole and then guided through the through-hole of the body element 3. The part of the plastic element 7 protruding from the body element 3 is compressed by a thermocouple in order to create a positive connection by melting the protruding plastic of the plastic element 7. A counterholder 9 is used as counterpressure against the punch, and the plastic element 7 is compressed between the counterholder 9 and the punch with the thermocouple. The result is shown in Fig. 4. Functionally, this is almost equivalent to the result from Fig. 2. In manufacturing, however, the procedures differ at least in the direction of insertion of the still undeformed plastic element 7.

[0032] Fig. Figure 5 shows another option for producing a positive connection. This uses a symmetrical plastic element 7, designed as a plastic rivet. This element is pressed from its top and bottom sides using a counterholder 9 and a punch. Both are preferably heated to melt the plastic of the plastic element 7. The result is similar to that of Fig. 4.

[0033] Fig. 6 shows an alternative to the approach of Fig. 5. While in the solution of the Fig. 5 a counterholder 9 is necessary, it is in the solution of the Fig. 6 is not necessary, since the radial widening of the plastic element 7 is arranged adhesively to the body element 3. The arrangement can be made by gluing, welding, or similar. A detailed solution is shown in Fig. 7 shown.

[0034] Fig. Figure 7 shows a possible arrangement of the plastic element 7 on the body element 3. Clip elements 11 are provided, which allow the plastic element 7 to be inserted into the underside of the body element 3. The head shown on the side of the body element 3 facing the paneling element 1 can optionally be added by welding to form-fit the plastic element 7 to the body element 3. The heads can be provided as an alternative to or in addition to clipping. A purely force-fitting connection can also be provided by press-fitting.

[0035] Fig. Figure 8 shows another possible embodiment of the positive connection. Here, a disk 13 is placed on the plastic element 7, which acts as a spacer between the body element 3 and the paneling element 1. If the disk is made of plastic, in particular thermoplastic plastic, especially the same as that of the plastic element 7, its thickness can be reduced by the heat applied during the forming of the plastic element 7. Again, a counterholder 9 is used as an alternative to the adhesive connection of the plastic element 7 to the body element 3 in order to compensate for the counterforce of the heated die.

[0036] Fig. Figure 9 shows a further alternative embodiment of the plastic element 7, in which a counterholder 9 can be omitted. The shoulder in the plastic element 7 between the body element 3 and the paneling element 1 again enables a distance between the body element 3 and the paneling element 1. Again, the hole in the paneling element 1 has play to allow for tolerance compensation. The part of the plastic element 7 compressed from above by the heated punch fills, as in the other embodiments, with the exception of the Fig. 3 to Fig. 4 shows the concave shell of the planking element 1 during the forming by melting and upsetting.

[0037] Fig. Figure 10 shows an alternative procedure that also eliminates the need for a counterholder 9. Here, the plastic element 7 is glued to the body element 3 with its preferably radially expanded lower end face, while the paneling element 1 again has a hole with tolerances. After compressing the protruding part of the plastic element 7, a mushroom-shaped head is created, which forms a positive fit around the paneling element 1. The result is shown in Fig. 11 shown.

[0038] Fig. Figure 12 shows a further alternative embodiment of creating a form-fit connection using a plastic element 7. Here, a paneling element 1 is provided, which in turn has a concave embossing with a hole in its center. The body element 3 also has an embossing, but unlike the paneling element 1, it has a base. It is thus possible to inject heated and thus dough-like plastic wire from above through the hole in the paneling element 1 under the embossing of the body element 3 until the embossing and the through-hole of the body element 3, the hole in the paneling element 1, and the concave shell are filled by the embossing of the paneling element 1. The result is shown in Fig. 12. The base and the embossed portion of the body element 3 are preferably firmly connected to one another by welding.

Claims

[1] Method for producing a permanent connection between a paneling element (1) for an outer skin structure of a vehicle and a body element (3) of a bodyshell for the vehicle, wherein the body element (3) is glued to the paneling element (1) with adhesive (5) and, to hold the body element (3) together with the paneling element (1) while the adhesive (5) cures, a positive-locking plastic connection between the body element (3) and the paneling element (1) is used, which is produced by holding a plastic element (7) on the body element (3), guiding it through a hole in a paneling element (1) and deforming it by thermal action and pressure such that the plastic element (7) seamlessly fills the hole in the paneling element (1) and, to form a positive connection, at least partially covers a side of the paneling element (1) facing away from the body element (3). [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the hole of the paneling element (1) and a through-opening of the body element (3) are placed one above the other and the plastic element (7) is introduced into the hole of the paneling element (1) and into the through-opening of the body element (3) in order to be subsequently formed. [3] Method according to claim 2, wherein the plastic element (7) is radially expanded beyond a diameter of the through-opening at a first end, which protrudes from the body element (3) after the plastic element (7) has been introduced into the through-opening of the body element (3) and into the hole in the paneling element (1), and wherein the thermal action and the pressure action take place at a second end of the plastic element (7), which protrudes from the paneling element (1) after the plastic element (7) has been introduced into the through-opening of the body element (3) and into the hole in the paneling element (1). [4] Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plastic element (7) is held on the body element (3) by a counter-holder (9) for applying a counterforce against the pressure effect. [5] Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plastic element (7) is held on the body element (3) by fastening the plastic element (7) to the body element (3) to apply a counterforce against the pressure effect, wherein the fastening of the plastic element (7) to the body element (3) is carried out by pressing the plastic element (7) into the through-opening and / or by gluing the plastic element (7) to the body element (3) and / or by welding the plastic element (7) to the body element (3) and / or by thermally stamping or clinching or clipping clip elements (11), which are arranged on a radial extension of the plastic element (7) extending beyond the through-opening, to the body element (3). [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a disc (13) which locally radially expands the plastic element (7) is placed onto the plastic element (7) and is arranged between the paneling element (1) and the body element (3). [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, in order to compensate for tolerances, the hole in the planking element (1) has a larger diameter before the plastic element (7) is formed than the plastic element (7) inserted into the hole, so that during the thermal action on the plastic element (7), the hole in the planking element (1) is filled by the plastic element (7). [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the panelling element (1) has a concave embossing on its side facing away from the body element (3), which is completely filled during the thermal action and the pressure action on the plastic element (7) in order to obtain a flat and seamless surface on the panelling element (1) in the region of the hole. [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the body element (3) has an undercut embossing, wherein the plastic element (7) is preheated plastic which is injected through the hole of the paneling element (1) and into the undercut embossing. [10] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic element (7) and a side of the paneling element (1) facing away from the body element (3) have the same color. [11] Outer skin structure for a vehicle, comprising a paneling element (1) which is fastened to a body element (3) for the vehicle by means of remelted plastic elements (7) and an adhesive layer of adhesive (5), wherein the plastic elements (7) are seamlessly fused to the paneling element (1) on the side of the paneling element (1) facing away from the body element (3).

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