Method and device for checking the actual state of a connection arrangement, as well as a method for monitoring the construction of a motor vehicle.

Abstract

Particularly during the construction of a motor vehicle, it can happen that optical sensors and / or other measuring devices cannot reach all locations. To check whether an additional component is attached to a base component or not, it can be provided that the additional component (2) is mounted to the base component (1) by means of a magnetic connecting element (3). The presence of such a connecting element (3) can then be checked using a magnetic sensor.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for checking the actual state of a connection arrangement. It also relates to a device designed for use in the method and to a method for monitoring the construction of a motor vehicle.

[0002] The current state of the connection arrangement can correspond to one of two states. In the first possible state, a predetermined additional component is mounted on a basic component, and in the second possible state, no such additional component is mounted on the basic component.

[0003] The inspection can be carried out to determine whether the additional component, which is always required, has actually been installed. Alternatively, it may be possible that the additional component can be optionally omitted from the connection arrangement; in this case, the inspection procedure serves to verify how the connection arrangement actually looks in a specific case.

[0004] Such testing methods are often performed optically. However, it may not be easy to place an optical sensor in the area where the predetermined additional component, if present, is mounted. Similarly, other mechanical testing methods are not always feasible due to limited access.

[0005] From DE 10 2014 217 076 A1, a system for monitoring a mechanical connection in vehicle construction is known, using a magnetic sensor configured to detect at least one instantaneous parameter and one instantaneous state of the mechanical connection. A rivet is used as the connection component.

[0006] In DE 10 2014 007 625 A1 a method for the non-destructive testing of a joining connection between a first component and a second component, which are connected to each other by means of, in particular, a rivet as a third component, is described.

[0007] A method for determining assembly quality when manufacturing a component arrangement in a vehicle is disclosed in DE 10 2023 200 690 A1.

[0008] The KR 10 2014 0 079 623 A1 shows a device for checking the welding quality of a vehicle with a magnetic sensor attached to a multi-jointed robot.

[0009] The object of the invention is to expand the possibilities for checking the actual state of a connection arrangement.

[0010] The problem is solved by a method according to claim 1 and the device according to claim 6 as well as the monitoring method according to claim 7.

[0011] According to the invention, it is therefore provided that the additional component is mounted on the base component by means of at least one magnetizable connecting element, and that the presence of such a connecting element is checked by means of a magnetic sensor.

[0012] A magnetic sensor can be compact and, in particular, easier to place in the area where the additional component is used. A magnetic sensor can also be superior to optical sensors that might otherwise be used, since the connecting elements will not necessarily be visible (under certain shadowing / darkness).

[0013] The method will be particularly efficient and therefore preferred when the base component and / or the additional component are not magnetizable. In this way, interference signals can be effectively suppressed, and the magnetic sensor can effectively detect a magnetizable connecting element.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the magnetic sensor outputs a first signal when the additional component is present and a second signal when no additional component is mounted on the base component. The presence of the connecting element is then checked by detecting whether the first or the second signal is output.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the magnetic sensor is moved to a sufficiently close position to a predetermined connecting element of at least one connecting element for detection. In this way, the presence of the connecting element, and thus the presence of the additional component, can be reliably checked even with a certain magnetic background or other magnetizable components.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one connecting element is such a connecting element which is made of a material comprising steel, wherein the connecting element is preferably a semi-tubular punch rivet.

[0017] The device provided according to the invention for checking the actual state of a connection arrangement, in which, in a first possible state, a predetermined additional component is mounted on a base component by means of at least one magnetizable connecting element, and in a second possible state, no such additional component is mounted on the base component, comprises a base body and an arm that carries a magnetic sensor and serves to guide this magnetic sensor to the area of ​​at least one target location for a respective connecting element. The testing device further comprises an evaluation unit for controlling a movement of the arm (in particular, a suitable motor of the device) and for controlling the magnetic sensor, as well as for receiving and evaluating signals from the magnetic sensor. The device according to the invention can be used in the above-mentioned method to check for the presence of the connecting element.

[0018] The method provided according to the invention for monitoring the construction of a motor vehicle comprises that, according to one option, an additional component is mounted on a basic component by means of a magnetizable connecting element and otherwise not, wherein the method according to the invention is used for testing as described above (also according to preferred embodiments) and preferably the device according to the invention is used as described above to check whether the option has been used or not.

[0019] This allows for reliable verification, particularly in car body construction, of whether a predetermined additional component is present or not.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, a sheet metal element made of aluminum is provided as the basic component.

[0021] According to another preferred embodiment, a sheet metal element made of aluminum is provided as an additional component.

[0022] According to another preferred embodiment, the additional component serves as a reinforcing part for the basic component.

[0023] According to a further preferred embodiment, the connecting element used is one made of a material comprising steel, and the connecting element is preferably designed as a semi-tubular punch rivet.

[0024] For use cases or application situations that may arise during the procedure and are not explicitly described here, it may be provided that, according to the procedure, an error message and / or a request for user feedback is issued and / or a default setting and / or a predetermined initial state is set.

[0025] As a further solution, the invention (for example, as part of the testing device) also includes a computer-readable storage medium comprising program code which, when executed by a computer or a computer network, causes it to execute an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The storage medium can be provided at least partially as a non-volatile data storage medium (e.g., as flash memory and / or as an SSD - solid state drive) and / or at least partially as a volatile data storage medium (e.g., as RAM - random access memory). The storage medium can be located within the computer or computer network. However, the storage medium can also be operated, for example, as an app store server and / or cloud server on the internet. The computer or computer network can provide a processor circuit with, for example, at least one microprocessor.The program code can be provided as binary code, assembly code, source code in a programming language (e.g., C), or a program script (e.g., Python). Alternatively, the computer-readable storage medium can be implemented as a signal containing computer-readable data, such as a time-varying voltage signal or a radio signal.

[0026] The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also includes realizations that each exhibit a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, provided that the embodiments have not been described as mutually exclusive.

[0027] The following are exemplary embodiments of the invention described. This is illustrated by: Fig. 1 a basic component, for example used in a coupé vehicle; Fig. 2 the basic component made of Fig. 1, to which an additional component, in this case an additional reinforcement part, is attached, for use, for example, in a "Spyder" vehicle; Fig. 3 an enlarged section from Fig. 2 according to Circle III; and Fig. 4 A schematic simplified representation of an embodiment of the device for testing with reference to a connecting element.

[0028] The exemplary embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In these exemplary embodiments, the described components each represent individual features of the invention, which can be considered independently of one another and each further develops the invention independently. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to include combinations of features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0029] In the figures, identical reference symbols denote functionally equivalent elements.

[0030] A in Fig. The basic component for a motor vehicle shown in Figure 1, and designated therein as a whole by Figure 1, is designed as a so-called "sheet metal panel," i.e., it comprises a plurality of sheet metal panels mounted together. This sheet metal panel is constructed as shown in Figure 1. Fig. 1 is shown, for example, to provide the tunnel (to accommodate the cardan shaft, the exhaust system, and, in newer vehicles, possibly a battery).

[0031] Fig. Figure 2 shows the situation for a so-called "spider" vehicle. Here, a reinforcement component 2 is attached as an additional component to the sheet metal panel 1, which serves as the basic component and provides the tunnel.

[0032] Fig. Figure 3 shows the situation according to Circle III in magnified form: The reinforcing component 2 (additional component) is attached to the sheet metal panel 1 (base component) by means of a plurality of rivets 3 serving as connecting elements. While the sheet metal panel 1 is a sheet metal panel made of aluminum sheet and the additional reinforcing component 2 is also made of aluminum sheet, the rivets 3 serving as connecting elements in this case are deliberately semi-tubular steel rivets.

[0033] On a conveyor belt used for vehicle assembly, the sheet metal panel 1 may always be present as a basic component, with the additional reinforcement part 2 present as a supplementary component depending on the intended vehicle. In this case, it may be necessary to check at a later time for which vehicle the connection arrangement, in this case the tunnel, is intended. A magnetic sensor is used for this purpose. The testing device, which is located in Fig. The device shown in Figure 4, and referred to therein as 4, comprises a base body 40 on which a motor 42 is mounted, capable of moving an arm 44. This is shown for illustrative purposes only. In some cases, an arm may be provided with multiple joints and their respective motors. A magnetic sensor 46 is attached to the arm 44, preferably at its distal end. The term "arm" here can also refer to something about the size of a finger. By moving the arm 44 by means of the motor 42, the magnetic sensor 46 (shown here enlarged in relation to the other components of the device 4) is brought into the vicinity of the intended location for a rivet 3. The proximity to the intended location should be such that the magnetic sensor 46 is able to detect whether a magnetizable element such as the rivet 3 is present or not.From the presence of at least one rivet and preferably a plurality of rivets 3 (in the case of the magnetic sensor 46 method at different target locations for different rivets 3, see . Fig. 3) It can therefore be concluded that the additional reinforcement structure, part 2, is present as an additional component. Thus, the procedure reliably records the current state of a connection arrangement.

[0034] In particular, the magnetic sensor 46 will output a first signal when a rivet 3 is present within its detection range and a second signal when no such rivet 3 is present. In this context, "signal" means that a specific signal shape and / or a signal with a specific digital signature is output.

[0035] The motor 42, and thus the arm 44, as well as the magnetic sensor 46, are controlled by a control unit 48, which is preferably located in or on the base body 40. The control unit 48 can also receive and evaluate the signals from the magnetic sensor 46 and, if necessary, provide an output signal at an output 50. This output can be, for example, a test light or an output that can be connected to a data processing device, such as a USB-C interface or the like.

[0036] Overall, the examples show how component querying can be provided using rivets.

Claims

[1] Method for checking the actual state of a connection arrangement in which, in a first possible state, a predetermined additional component (2) is mounted on a basic component (1) and in a second possible state, no such additional component (2) is mounted on the basic component (1), characterized by , that the additional component (2) is provided to be mounted on the basic component (1) by means of at least one magnetizable connecting element (3), and that the presence of such a connecting element (3) is checked by means of a magnetic sensor (46). [2] Method according to claim 1, which is used when the basic component (1) is not magnetizable and / or when the additional component (2) is not magnetizable. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the magnetic sensor (46) outputs a first signal when the additional component (2) is present and outputs a second signal when no additional component (2) is mounted on the basic component (1). [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic sensor (46) is guided to a position sufficient for detection to check for the presence of such a connecting element (3) of the at least one magnetizable connecting element (3). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one magnetizable connecting element (3) is a connecting element (3) made of a material comprising steel, wherein the connecting element (3) is preferably a semi-tubular punch rivet. [6] Device (4) for checking the actual state of a connection arrangement in which, in a first possible state, a predetermined additional component (2) is mounted on a basic component (1) by means of at least one magnetizable connecting element (3), and in a second possible state, no such additional component (2) is mounted on the basic component (1), characterized by a base body (40) and an arm (44) which carries a magnetic sensor (46) and serves to guide this magnetic sensor (46) into the area of ​​at least one desired location for a respective connecting element (3), as well as a control and evaluation unit (48) for controlling a motor (42) of the arm and for controlling the magnetic sensor as well as for receiving and evaluating signals from the magnetic sensor (46). [7] Method for monitoring the construction of a motor vehicle in which, according to an option, an additional component (2) is mounted on a basic component (1) by means of a magnetizable connecting element (3) and otherwise not, wherein the method for checking according to one of claims 1 to 5 is used and preferably the device (4) according to claim 6 is used to check whether the option has been used or not. [8] Method according to claim 7, wherein a sheet element made of aluminium is provided as the basic component (1). [9] Method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, in the context of using the option as an additional component (2), a sheet element made of aluminium is provided. [10] Method according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the additional component (2) serves as a reinforcing component for the basic component (1). [11] Method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the magnetizable connecting element (3) available in the context of using the option is made of a material comprising steel, wherein the magnetizable connecting element (3) is preferably a semi-tubular punch rivet.

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