Structural element for a security structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a structural element (11) for a security structure, having a hollow part (10) that has a receiving region (15) that is delimited, at least in some regions, by means of one or more wall elements (12, 13, 14) of the hollow part (10), wherein the receiving region (15) receives a composite material, wherein the composite material has hard material particles (16), wherein at least some adjacent hard material particles (16) are connected to one another by means of a solder material (16.1) in the region of connection portions (16.2), and wherein at least some adjacent hard material particles (16) are arranged, at least in some regions, in a manner spaced apart from one another, thereby forming spacing regions. For this structural element (11) there is a high degree of resistance to attack by drilling and severing tools and simultaneously a relatively low inherent weight if it is provided that at least some of the spacing regions are filled by means of a connection layer (16.2), wherein the connection layer (16.2) connects the adjacent hard material elements (16) to one another in an integral manner.

Description

[0001] Structural element for a security structure

[0002] The invention relates to a structural element for a safety structure, comprising a hollow part which has a receiving area which is at least partially delimited by means of at least one wall element, wherein the receiving area receives a composite material, wherein the composite material comprises hard material particles, wherein at least some of adjacent hard material particles are connected to one another by means of a solder material in the region of connecting sections, and wherein at least some of adjacent hard material articles are arranged at a distance from one another at least partially to form spacing areas.

[0003] DE 36 30 429 C2 discloses a wall element for a structural assembly. The wall element comprises two parallel plate elements connected by a reinforcement layer. The reinforcement layer comprises hard material elements, some of which are metallic and some of which are non-metallic. The hard material elements are connected by means of a brazing compound, for example, a copper brazing compound, a nickel brazing compound, or a mixture of these two brazing materials.

[0004] Such wall elements protect against attack and penetration by forming or separating tools, especially cutting or drilling tools. They also offer protection against thermal attack by cutting or melting tools. A problem with these wall elements is their relatively high weight, which makes them unsuitable for easily handled objects such as locks or chains.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a structural element which offers good protection, in particular against attack by means of cutting or drilling tools, while at the same time achieving a reduced dead weight compared to the prior art.

[0006] This problem is solved by filling at least some of the spacing areas with a bonding layer, at least in part, which connects adjacent hard material elements to one another in a materially bonded manner. The bonding layer can, for example, have a specific gravity that is lower than the specific gravity of the brazing material used. This allows for a significant weight reduction. At the same time, the protection against attack by cutting or drilling tools is not reduced. The hard material particles, which are bonded to one another via the brazing material, offer sufficient resistance to the attacking tools.

[0007] According to the invention, it can additionally or alternatively also be provided that at least some of the spacing areas are at least partially filled with a free-flowing substance. Any substance capable of causing sufficient damage to the impacting tool can be used as the free-flowing substance. For example, sand and / or ceramic powder can be filled into the spacing areas.

[0008] Additionally or alternatively, it can also be provided that the material forming the connecting layer is designed in such a way that it has greater wear resistance than the solder material that bonds the hard material particles together. Due to the improved wear resistance, the attacking drilling or cutting tool is subjected to greater wear resistance, so that protection against penetration is significantly improved. One conceivable variant of the invention is such that the hollow part is formed by a steel part in which the wall elements are connected to one another in one piece, wherein it is preferably provided that the steel part is formed completely or at least partially by a hollow profile section, or in which the wall elements are coupled to one another by means of a connection.

[0009] The steel material offers additional protection against attack, particularly when the hollow part is made of hardened steel or stainless steel. Advantageously, the hollow part is formed, at least in part, by a hollow profile section. This simplifies production. The hollow profile section can be filled with the hard material particles, which can be in the form of a granulate material, in particular a split material. The hard material particles can preferably already be coated with the solder material. The filled hollow profile can then be exposed to a temperature at which the solder material melts, so that the hard material particles bond together in the desired manner.

[0010] Within the scope of the invention, it can be the case that the hollow part surrounds the receiving space in a cross-sectional area all the way around and / or that the hollow part has a cross-sectional area in which the receiving area is introduced in the form of an outwardly open recess, in particular in the form of a groove. If the hollow profile surrounds the receiving space all the way around, this enables reproducible and simple production because the hard material particles are then simply filled into this receiving area and the fill is held in shape there. In addition, the area of ​​the hollow part that surrounds the receiving area protects against attack from all sides. This also achieves an attractive appearance of the structural element. However, it is also conceivable that the receiving space is not surrounded all the way around by the hollow part, but is provided in the form of an outwardly open recess. Even then, the fill of hard material particles can be easily introduced into the receiving space.It is conceivable that the receiving space is covered on its open side by a cover. This cover can be formed, for example, by a separate component. It is also conceivable that the cover is covered by an applied layer, for example, a casting compound, such as a plastic compound.

[0011] Additional protection against attack can be achieved if at least one of the wall elements surrounding the receiving area is made of a hardened steel material. Preferably, the entire hollow part is made of a hardened steel material.

[0012] A preferred variant of the invention is such that the hard material particles are metallic, wherein it can be provided in particular that the hard material particles comprise or consist of metal carbide, in particular tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, tantalum carbide and / or niobium carbide, and / or metal nitride, in particular boron nitride and / or polycrystalline diamond and / or ceramic, in particular silicon carbide.

[0013] Preferably, the hard material particles can be formed as fragments, preferably with non-parallel fracture surfaces, wherein the number of non-parallel fracture surfaces of a hard material particle is at least 5 and preferably a maximum of 20. With such geometries, sharp-edged areas form on the surface of the hard material particles. Surprisingly, it has been shown that these sharp-edged areas destroy the outer circumference of the cutting disc of a cutting machine. In particular, the binder layer of the cutting disc is destroyed as a result. This significantly increases the protection against attack.

[0014] The hard material particles can then be suitably bonded together and held in a matrix-like structural arrangement if the solder material is designed as a copper solder or as a nickel solder.

[0015] Particularly preferably, according to the invention, it can be provided that the connecting layer is covered by an adhesive, in particular a

[0016] Two-component adhesive is formed, preferably made of a graphite adhesive. The adhesive has a relatively low dead weight in comparison to the hard material particles, so that the overall weight of the structural element can advantageously be kept low. In addition, the adhesive can be modified so that it offers additional resistance to attack by attacking drilling tools or cutting tools. It has been shown that protection against attack can be improved if the adhesive is high temperature resistant. In the context of the invention, this can mean, for example, that the adhesive is temperature resistant up to at least 800 °C, preferably up to 900 °C, particularly preferably up to at least 1000 °C. If the structural element is exposed to attack by a drilling or cutting tool, high temperatures arise at the point of attack due to the friction that occurs.Because the adhesive is also temperature-resistant, these temperatures are reliably dissipated without significantly compromising the structural bond formed by the protective hard material particles and the adhesive. Abraded adhesive material also causes smearing of the cutting geometry of the tool being used, which reduces the cutting effect.

[0017] Resins, glues, polymers or other materials can also be used for the bonding layer, which are suitable for promoting the bonding of the cutting disc used to attack the structural element.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that, instead of or in addition to the material-to-material connection, a free-flowing substance is arranged in at least some of the spacing regions. Abrasive materials such as sand or ceramic can be used as free-flowing substances, for example. These materials promote the wear of the cutting wheel. In particular, the free-flowing substances can be at least partially incorporated into the material-to-material connection, e.g. as a filler. However, it can also be provided that the free-flowing substance does not form a material-to-material connection. Within the scope of the invention, it can be present in addition to or alternatively to the material-to-material connection. Preferably, in the boundary region between the hollow part and the adjacent hard material particles, at least some of the hard material particles are materially bonded to the hollow part.This improves attack protection even when attacking with impact tools and drilling or cutting tools. The bond can be achieved, for example, through the solder material and / or the bonding layer, resulting in fewer parts.

[0019] Particularly preferably, the average grain size of the hard material particles can be in the range between 1.7 mm and 2.4 mm. This results in a dense packing of the hard material particles, which surprisingly leads to a high level of attack protection.

[0020] A particularly suitable use of the structural element arises when it is designed as a shackle of a padlock, as a chain link of a chain, as a grille bar, as a safe component, as a mailbox component or as a door component.

[0021] A method according to the invention for producing a structural element can be characterized in that hard material particles coated with solder material are filled into the receiving area of ​​the hollow part, that the solder material is then converted into a liquid or pasty state under the influence of temperature, and that the temperature is subsequently reduced in order to bond at least some of the hard material particles to one another by means of the solder material in such a way that the spacing regions are formed at least between some of the hard material particles. The use of hard material particles already coated with solder material enables simple production. The hard material particles can thus be filled into the hollow part, for example in the form of a grit bed, resulting in good distribution in the hollow part.The brazing material can then be melted under the influence of heat, allowing the hard material particles to bond together, thereby creating a matrix that forms the spacing areas between the hard material particles. If necessary, the matrix can then be filled with a bonding material to form a bonding layer, as described above.

[0022] If it is intended that the process step of temperature reduction is carried out in the form of quenching, preferably in an oil bath or a water emulsion or a water bath, then the hollow part, if it consists of a steel material, can be hardened by quench hardening, wherein for this hardening process the energy of the soldering step is advantageously used for the hardening, without the need for a separate and renewed heating of the hollow part.

[0023] As already indicated above, the process can also be advantageously controlled in such a way that the hard material particles are bonded to one another by means of the solder material in such a way that a hollow matrix is ​​formed with the bonding sections, and that the bonding sections are at least partially filled by means of an adhesive, in particular with a two-component adhesive, in order to form the bonding layer(s), and that the adhesive is cured.

[0024] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. They show:

[0025] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a process for producing a structural element according to the invention,

[0026] Figure 2 shows the structural element manufactured according to the process sequence shown in Figure 1 in a test situation,

[0027] Figure 3 shows the representation according to Figure 2 in a representation rotated by 90°,

[0028] Figure 4 shows the representation according to Figure 3 in an advanced test situation, Figure 5 shows a detailed representation of a structural element in a schematic representation and

[0029] Figure 6 shows a side view of a structural element in the form of a shackle for a padlock.

[0030] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a process sequence for producing a structural element 11 according to the invention. To produce the structural element 11, a hollow part 10 is used which consists of a steel material. The hollow part 10 can, for example, be formed by a hollow profile which forms a receiving area 15. This receiving area 15 is delimited on the circumference by wall elements 12, 13 and 17. The delimitation of the receiving area in the cross-section of the hollow part 10 can be made circumferentially, as shown in Figures 1 to 4. However, it is also conceivable that no circumferential delimitation is provided, but that the receiving area 15 is only partially delimited in cross-section by the wall elements 12, 13, 17 and is open at the sides.

[0031] At one longitudinal end, the hollow part 10 can be closed laterally at the bottom by means of another wall element 14. Opposite the bottom wall element 14, an opening is provided that provides access to the receiving area 15.

[0032] It is conceivable that the hollow part 10 is cut to the desired length from a hollow profile section. For example, the cross-section of the hollow part 10 can be square, rectangular, round, or otherwise suitably shaped.

[0033] The bottom-side wall element 14 can, for example, be connected to the hollow part 10 in a suitable manner, for example welded or formed integrally with it. As Figure 1 illustrates, a fill consisting of hard material particles 16 can be introduced into the receiving area 15. The hard material particles 16 are formed from hard metal particles 16, in particular from tungsten carbide particles. It is also conceivable that, in addition to or alternatively to the tungsten carbide particles, other carbides or nitrides are present in particle form. For example, titanium carbide, tantalum carbides and / or boron nitrite, etc. can be used for the hard material particles 16. The hard material particles 16 preferably have an average particle size in the range between 1.7 mm and 2.4 mm. The hard material particles 16 are particularly preferably coated with a solder material 16.1, for example in copper form.The coated hard material particles 16 form a chip-like and pourable material.

[0034] The hard material particles 16 are introduced into the receiving area 15, which can be completely or partially filled. This is illustrated by the second illustration from the left in Figure 1.

[0035] The 3rd illustration from the left shows that the hard material particles

[0036] 16 filled hollow part 10 is heated until the solder material 16.1 surrounding the hard material particles 16 melts in order to produce a connection between adjacent hard material particles 16 in the form of connecting layers 16.2 of solder material 16.1, as also illustrated in Figure 5.

[0037] The fourth illustration from the left illustrates that in a subsequent process step, the hollow part 10 is cooled so that the solder material 16.1 solidifies and thus the solid connection between adjacent hard material particles 16 is established. This is illustrated in more detail in Figure 5. The solder material 16.1 clearly forms the connecting sections 16.2 between the individual hard material particles 16. Furthermore, it may be the case that the solder material 16.1 forms connecting sections 16.2 to adjacent wall elements 12, 13, 14 and / or

[0038] 17 to create a firm bond between the hollow part 10 and the hard material particles 16. Quench hardening is preferably integrated into this cooling step. The heated hollow part 10 is immersed in a water bath or an oil bath and cooled abruptly. This hardens the wall elements 12, 13, 14, and / or 17.

[0039] Due to the irregular outer contour of the hard material particles 16, spacing regions arise between adjacent hard material particles 16 that are filled neither by solder material 16.1 nor by the hard material particles 16. This results in a matrix-like structure that has these spacing regions as hollow chambers.

[0040] The last image in Figure 1 shows that a bonding layer 16.2 is filled into the receiving area 15 of the hollow part 10. This bonding layer 16.2 is formed by an adhesive that is poured into the receiving area 15 in liquid form via the open side of the hollow part 10. The bonding layer 16.2 at least partially fills the spacing areas between the hard material particles 16. This creates an additional material-to-material connection between adjacent hard material particles 16 and / or in the transition area between hard material particles 16 and at least some of the wall elements 12, 13, 14, and / or 17.

[0041] Finally, the bonding layer 16.2 is cured. This results in the structural assembly of the structural element 11 shown schematically in Figure 5.

[0042] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a test situation in which an attack on the structural element 11 manufactured according to Figure 1 is carried out by means of a cutting disc 20.

[0043] As this illustration illustrates, the attack occurs via the outer side of a wall element 13 of the structural element 11. If, as explained above, the wall element 13 is hardened, the wall element 13 already offers the cutting disc 20 a high level of attack resistance. However, hardening of a wall element is not absolutely necessary within the scope of the invention. Figure 3 illustrates that the penetration of the wall element 13 is already further advanced. In Figure 4, the cutting disc 20 then encounters the hard material particles 16 adjacent to the wall element 13. Due to the hardness of the hard material particles 16, the cutting disc 20 is damaged on its outer circumference. This damage is supported by the selected sharp edges of the hard material particles in chippings form. In particular, the binder layer of the cutting disc is destroyed, which consequently causes a rapid reduction in the diameter of the cutting disc 20.

[0044] The bonding layer 19 holds the hard material particles 16 in the structural composite in addition to the bond created by the solder material 16.1. The bonding layer 19 is preferably formed from an adhesive with high heat resistance.

[0045] It is conceivable that the adhesive is formed by a graphite adhesive. The bonding layer 19 dissipates the frictional heat generated during the separation process, so that softening of the bonding layer 19 caused by the solder material 16.1 cannot occur.

[0046] These measures result in the cutting disc 20 reaching its maximum wear level after a short period of time and requiring replacement. A newly installed cutting disc 20 will quickly suffer the same fate as the previously installed cutting disc 20.

[0047] Figure 6 shows a conceivable exemplary embodiment of a structural element 11 according to the invention. The structural element 11 forms the shackle of a U-lock. For this purpose, the shackle has two spaced-apart legs that are integrally connected to one another via an arcuate section to form the hollow part 10. The hollow part 10 is provided with a recess that extends continuously over the two legs and the arcuate section. This outwardly open recess is in the form of a groove and forms the receiving area 15. In Figure 6, the open side of the groove faces the viewer. The recess is at least partially filled with the hard material particles 16, the solder material 16.1 and the connecting layer 19 in the manner described above.

[0048] At the free ends of the legs, temple ends 18 are formed. These temple ends are suitably designed in a manner known from the prior art and serve to accommodate a closure piece connecting the two temple ends 18.

[0049] The above-described embodiments therefore show, according to the invention, structural elements 11 for a safety structure, comprising a hollow part 10 having a receiving area 15 which is at least partially delimited by one or more wall elements 12, 13, 14 of the hollow part 10. The receiving area

[0050] 15 accommodates a composite material, whereby the composite material contains hard material particles

[0051] 16, wherein at least some of the adjacent hard material particles 16 are connected to one another by means of a solder material 16.1 in the region of connecting sections 16.2. At least some of the adjacent hard material articles 16 are arranged at a distance from one another in certain regions, forming spacing regions. At least some of the spacing regions are filled with a connecting layer 16.2, wherein the connecting layer 16.2 firmly connects the adjacent hard material elements 16 to one another.

Claims

Claims 1. Structural element (11) for a safety structure, with a hollow part (10) which has a receiving area (15) which is at least partially delimited by means of one or more wall elements (12, 13, 14) of the hollow part (10), wherein the receiving area (15) receives a composite material, wherein the composite material has hard material particles (16), wherein at least some of adjacent hard material particles (16) are bonded by means of a solder material (16.1) in the area of ​​connecting sections (16.2) are connected to one another, and wherein at least some of the adjacent hard material articles (16) are arranged at a distance from one another at least in some areas to form spacing areas, characterized in that at least some of the spacing areas are filled at least in some areas by means of a connecting layer (19), wherein the connecting layer (19) connects the adjacent hard material elements (16) to one another in a material-to-material manner, and / or that at least some of the spacing areas are at least partially filled by means of a free-flowing substance.

2. Structural element (11) according to claim 1, characterized in that the hollow part (10) is formed by a steel part in which the wall elements are connected to one another in one piece, wherein it is preferably provided that the steel part is formed completely or at least partially by a hollow profile section, or in which the wall elements (13) are coupled to one another by means of a connection.

3. Structural element (11) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the hollow part (10) surrounds the receiving space (15) in a cross-sectional area and / or that the hollow part (10) has a cross-sectional area in which the receiving area (15) is introduced in the form of an outwardly open recess, in particular in the form of a groove.

4. Structural element (11) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one of the wall elements (12, 13, 14) surrounding the receiving area (15) is formed from a hardened steel material.

5. Structural element (11) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the hard material particles (16) are metallic, wherein it can be provided in particular that the hard material particles comprise or consist of metal carbide, in particular tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, tantalum carbide and / or niobium carbide, and / or of metal nitride, in particular boron nitride and / or of polycrystalline diamond and / or of ceramic, in particular silicon carbide, wherein it is preferably provided that the hard material particles (16) are designed as fragments, with fracture surfaces that are not parallel to one another, wherein the number of fracture surfaces that are not parallel to one another of a hard material particle (16) is at least 5 and preferably a maximum of 20.

6. Structural element (11) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the solder material (16.1) is designed as copper solder or as nickel solder.

7. Structural element (11) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connecting layer (16.2) is formed by an adhesive, in particular a two-component adhesive, preferably by a graphite adhesive.

8. Structural element (11) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connecting layer (19) connects at least some of the hard material particles (16) to the hollow part (10) in a material-to-material manner.

9. Structural element (11) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the average grain size of the hard material particles (16) is in the range between 1.7 mm and 2.4 mm.

10. Structural element (11) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is the shackle of a padlock, a chain link of a chain, a grille bar, a safe component, a mailbox component or a door component.

11. A method for producing a structural element (11) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that solder material (16.1) coated hard material particles (16) are filled into the receiving area (15) of the hollow part (10), that then under the influence of temperature the solder material (16.1) is converted into a liquid or pasty state and that the temperature is subsequently lowered in order to bond at least some of the hard material particles (16) to one another by means of the solder material (16.1) in such a way that the spacing areas are formed at least between some of the hard material particles (16).

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the process step of lowering the temperature is carried out in the form of a quenching, preferably in an oil bath or a water emulsion or a water bath.

13. Method according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the hard material particles (16) are connected to one another by means of the solder material (16.1) in such a way that a hollow matrix is ​​formed with the connecting sections (16.2), and that the connecting sections (16.2) are at least partially filled by means of an adhesive, in particular with a two-component adhesive, in order to form the / a connecting layer (19), and that the adhesive is cured.

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