Manufacturing method of a locking device for a vehicle and a locking device for a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing a closure device for a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle lock, which comprises at least one metallic base element (1) and a closure element (2, 3, 4). The base element (1) and / or the closure element (2, 3, 4) are subsequently at least locally reinforced after the forming process or are equipped with such reinforcement from the beginning. According to the invention, the bearing components (7, 10) of the closure element (2, 3, 4) are connected to the base element (1) by laser welding.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing a locking device for a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle lock, having at least one metallic base element and a closing element, the base element and / or the closing element being subsequently reinforced at least locally after the forming process or reinforced from the outset.

[0002]

[0002] The above-mentioned vehicle closure device is generally a vehicle lock, in particular a vehicle door lock. It can be designed, for example, as a vehicle rear door lock, a vehicle side door lock, a vehicle hood lock, a vehicle fuel filler cap lock, etc. In principle, this also includes backrest locks associated with vehicle seats, vehicle locks for vehicle flaps, etc. The term vehicle closure device should therefore be interpreted broadly within the scope of the present invention.

[0003]

[0003] Motor vehicle door locks in particular are exposed to considerable forces in the event of an accident or collision. These must generally be absorbed by the vehicle closing device or, in this example, the vehicle door lock and introduced into the vehicle body. This is the only way to prevent the relevant vehicle door from being opened inadvertently in such cases. For this reason, safety-relevant components such as the metallic base element and the at least one metallic closing element are solid and often made of steel. This is because a breaking load equivalent to a weight or mass of substantially one or several tons must be accommodated at this point.

[0004]

[0004] For this reason, in such vehicle door locks and vehicle opening / closing devices, the lock case and lock plate as base members, the rotary latch and at least one claw as opening / closing members are generally made of solid steel, and additional components are often used to improve force transmission.

[0005] According to DE 10 2014 115 704 A1, a lock for a motor vehicle door is designed in such a way that the material thickness of the lock case varies over its base area as a function of the expected load, which requires a considerable technical effort.

[0006] In a method for producing a lock for a motor vehicle door having at least one lock case, as described in DE 10 2014 011 973 A1, the lock case is partially hardened during and / or after the punching process. This can be done by means of an induction coil or by means of a laser beam or an electron beam. Furthermore, the hardening process is carried out under a protective gas atmosphere, for example with nitrogen and / or noble gases.

[0007]

[0007] The general DE 10 2019 132 507 A1 also adopts a similar approach. In this case, the base element and / or the closing element are then at least locally reinforced after the forming process. For this purpose, the respective elements can be induction and / or laser and / or flame hardened. This allows the overall tensile strength and / or Vickers hardness to be increased compared to the untempered state.

[0008]

[0008] Although the prior art has proven itself in principle, there is still room for improvement. For example, in the known teachings, the tensile strength and / or the Vickers hardness can be increased in the region of the recess for mounting one or more closure elements. However, further improvements are possible at this point.

[0009]

[0009] Therefore, a technical object of the present invention is to further develop a method for producing an automobile closing device which further improves collision safety and can absorb a larger breaking load compared to conventional methods. Summary of the Invention

[0010]

[0010] In order to achieve this technical objective, a general method for producing a closure device for an automobile within the scope of the present invention is characterized in that the bearing components of the closure element are connected to the base element by laser welding.

[0011]

[0011] In order to further increase the strength, the present invention goes one step further compared to the prior art according to DE 10 2019 132,507 A1. In addition to the local reinforcement of the base element or the closure element, the present invention provides that the bearing components of each or each closure element are connected to the base element by laser welding. In this way, not only can synergistic effects be utilized, but at the same time a particularly homogeneous and strong connection is provided between the respective bearing components and the closure element and the base element.

[0012]

[0012] In practice, the procedure at this point can be, for example, such that firstly the base element is hardened in the region of the recess of the bearing component in question by means of a laser beam used in the region of the recess. Then the respective bearing components for the respective closure elements can be inserted into the respective recesses. The bearing components can be bearing pins and / or bearing bushes. Then one or both bearing components are connected to the base element by laser welding. In principle, the same laser source can be used as was previously used for tempering or strengthening the recess of the base element in this region. This results in a synergistic effect and allows the entire manufacturing process to be carried out particularly efficiently.

[0013]

[0013] In this connection, it is understood that both the laser treatment and the laser welding can be carried out in a protective gas atmosphere, as has already been explained in principle in the prior art. However, such a protective gas atmosphere is also not necessary in principle. In any case, the laser used at this point ensures that, on the one hand, the recess of the base element is strengthened by a tempering treatment, and, on the other hand, the bearing component received in the recess is completely joined to the base element by laser welding.

[0014]

[0014] In order to further increase the overall strength at this point, it is advantageous for the bearing components and / or the base element and / or the closure element to be made of tempered steel, such as is described in detail in standard DIN EN 10083-1 2006-10-00 on the subject of "Steels for quenching and tempering - Part 1: General technical delivery conditions; German version EN 10083-1:2006, pages 1 to 27" and which is already the subject of the general teaching according to DE 10 2019 132 507 A1.

[0015]

[0015] The joining process between the bearing component and the base element of each closure element by laser welding is advantageously carried out in such a way that the bearing component and the base element are joined together by a fillet weld. Such a fillet weld is, according to the invention, essentially a V-shaped recess which is filled with welding material during the joining or laser welding process. This welding material is either supplied from the outside or is provided by the base element or the bearing component itself. In any case, the implementation of a fillet weld in this area provides a particularly strong connection between the bearing component in question and the base element.

[0016] The same is true if the bearing component in question and the base element are joined by an I-shaped seam. Such an I-shaped seam is particularly recommended if the bearing pin is received in a corresponding recess in the base element. Between the bearing pin and the recess in the base element, a more or less large cylindrical gap is observed, which according to the invention is closed with the help of an I-shaped seam by laser welding, leading to the joint between the respective bearing component or bearing pin and the base element. In this case, not only is the cylindrical gap in question closed, but as a result of the I-shaped seam of the welded joint in the cross section, it is also joined by the respective I-shaped webs on the top and bottom sides, on the one hand to the bearing component or bearing pin and on the other hand to the base element.

[0017]

[0017] In order to realize at least a localized reinforcement of the base element or the closing element in detail, the respective element is hardened by induction and / or laser and / or flame within the scope of the present invention. Typically, induction hardening and laser hardening have proven to be particularly advantageous in this respect. Furthermore, the procedure is usually such that the base element is locally reinforced at least on the inside in the region of the respective bearing location of the closing element in question. Such a localized reinforcement of the base element can be achieved particularly easily, at least on the inside, by laser hardening the base element in the region of the bearing location in question. Of course, the base element can also be reinforced on both sides in the region of the bearing location. However, this requires laser hardening from both sides.

[0018]

[0018] If induction hardening is used at this point, it is not necessary to treat both sides of the base element separately. Rather, induction hardening provides a consistent increase in tensile strength and Vickers hardness throughout the thickness of the material.

[0019]

[0019] All elements, i.e. the base element and the closure element or elements, each have a strength of at least 1000 N / mm 2 , especially 1300N / mm 2 It has proven useful when bearing components are made from steels with a tensile strength of 900 N / mm or more. This usually results in a Vickers hardness of at least 400 HV. In contrast, bearing components are typically made from steels with a tensile strength of 900 N / mm 2 In addition, it is sufficient that the Vickers hardness is about 300HV or more.

[0020]

[0020] In any case, it turns out that the method for producing a closure device for a motor vehicle according to the invention allows the said closure device for a motor vehicle to absorb even higher breaking loads than the prior art. This can essentially be attributed to the fact that the base element and the closure element in question are at least locally reinforced. Furthermore, bearing components are used here which have a higher tensile strength and Vickers hardness compared to the prior art. Finally, the achievable breaking loads are positively influenced by the fact that, according to the invention, the bearing components for the individual or multiple closure elements are connected to the base element by laser welding. This is because such a laser welding process in this context, in particular the fillet welds or I-welds observed in this respect, results in a particularly uniform joining process which is able to absorb unusually high loads in this area. These are the main advantages. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021]

[0021] The invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of the drawings which show only one exemplary embodiment. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a closure device for a motor vehicle according to the invention in the form of a motor vehicle lock having a force that acts in the event of a collision. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows the object according to FIG. 1 partially in a section and in a partial cross section in the region of the bearing point of the closure element.

[0022] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0023]

[0024] In the drawings a locking device for a motor vehicle is shown. The locking device for a motor vehicle is, but is not limited to, a motor vehicle lock equipped with at least one metal base element 1 and metal closure elements 2, 3, 4. The base element 1 in this embodiment is a plate-shaped lock plate or lock case 1. In contrast, the closure elements 2, 3, 4 are designed as a rotating latch 2 and two claws 3, 4.

[0024]

[0025] The two claws 3, 4 are one comfort claw 3 and the other a blocking claw 4 which fixes the comfort claw 3. Instead of the two-claw locking mechanism shown in FIG. 1, it is of course also possible to use a single locking mechanism or a single-claw locking mechanism with only a single claw 3, 4. This is however not shown. In any case, FIG. 1 shows a force F acting on the lock holder 5, in particular in case of a collision, which accordingly results in a reaction force F-reaction acting on the associated hinge pin or bearing bolt or bearing pin 7 of the rotating latch 2 and the comfort claw 3, as outlined in FIG. 1. The force F may be due to a collision.

[0025]

[0026] The reaction force F-reaction leads to the locking plate 1 undergoing deformations, here represented in Fig. 2, in the exemplary case in the region of the recess 6 of the locking plate 1 shown in Fig. 2 for receiving the bearing bolt 7. In order to make these deformations as small as possible and to be able to absorb high breaking loads or crash forces F with the closing device of the motor vehicle, various measures are provided within the scope of the invention.

[0026]

[0027] Firstly, in one variant, the recess 6 is at least locally reinforced, for example by laser or induction hardening, to increase the tensile strength and, as mentioned above, also the Vickers hardness in the region of the recess 6. Also, the base element 1 or the locking plate 1 in this case has a tensile strength of 1000 N / mm 2 or higher steel and have a Vickers hardness of 400 HV or higher. The same applies to the closure element 2, which is mounted here with the aid of a bearing pin 7, which is, for example, in the view according to FIG.

[0027]

[0028] From Fig. 2 it can be seen that the bearing components, i.e. the bearing pins 7, are inserted or engaged in the recesses 6 of the base element or locking plate 1. The solution of the invention uses a special joining method, namely laser welding, to mount the respective bearing component 7 or bearing pin 7 on the locking plate 1. In addition, the procedure here is to join the bearing component 7 and the base element 1 by means of a fillet weld 8, as can be seen in Fig. 2. The fillet weld 8 is formed in a V-shaped cross section and can be closed by welding material supplied from the outside or by welding material provided from the head of the bearing pin 7 inside the recess 6.

[0028]

[0029] In addition, the bearing pin 7 can additionally be received or seated in a bearing bush 10, which is merely shown here. The bearing bush 10 can then be joined again to the base element or to the locking plate 1 by a laser welding process. For this purpose, in the exemplary embodiment also shown in FIG. 2, an I-joint 9 is used. In any case, the overall joining of the respective bearing components 7, 7, 10 of the respective closure element 2 to the base element or to the locking plate 1 by laser welding ensures that particularly high breaking loads can now be absorbed. This is because the material used for the bearing components 7, 10 must have a strength of at least 900 N / mm 2 This is further strengthened by the fact that the steel has a tensile strength of at least 1000 N / mm 2 It is recommended to use steel having a tensile strength of at least 400 HV and a Vickers hardness of at least 400 HV. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] Base element 1, Locking plate 1, Elements 1,2,3,4, Rotating latch 2, Comfort claw 3, Closure elements 2,3,4, Claws 3, 4, Block claw part 4, Lock holder 5, Recess 6, Bearing components 7,10, Bearing pin 7, Fillet weld 8, I-joint 9, Bearing bush 10, Collision force F, force F.

Claims

1. 1. A method for producing a locking device for a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle lock, having at least one metallic base element (1) and a closing element (2, 3, 4), in which the base element (1) and / or the closing element (2, 3, 4) are at least locally reinforced after the forming process or are reinforced from the outset, 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the bearing components (7, 10) of the closure element (2, 3, 4) are connected to the base element (1) by laser welding.

2. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the bearing components (7, 10) and / or the base element (1) and / or the closure elements (2, 3, 4) are made from tempered steel.

3. 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bearing component (7, 10) and the base element (1) are joined by a fillet weld (8).

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the bearing component (7, 10) and the base element (1) are joined by an I-joint (9).

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that as the bearing components (7, 10) bearing pins (7) and / or bearing bushes (10) are used.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the elements (1, 2, 3, 4) is induction and / or laser and / or flame hardened.

7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base element (1) is locally reinforced at least inside the area of ​​the respective bearing points of the closure elements (2, 3, 4).

8. The elements (1, 2, 3, 4) have a tensile strength (Rm) of 1000 N / mm ２ More than 1300N / mm ２ The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the steel is made from a steel having a Vickers hardness of 400 HV or more.

9. The bearing components (7, 10) have a tensile strength (Rm) of 900 N / mm ２ 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Vickers hardness is about 300 HV or more.

10. A closure device for a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle lock, preferably manufactured by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the closure device for a motor vehicle has at least one base element (1) and a closure element (2, 3, 4) made of metal, the base element (1) and / or the closure element (2, 3, 4) being at least locally reinforced after a forming process or reinforced from the outset, and the bearing components (7, 10) of the closure element (2, 3, 4) being connected to the base element (1) by laser welding.

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