AT508130B1 - GUIDING ELEMENT, SWITCHING ELEMENT FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE GEARBOX AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A JOINT CONNECTION - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a guide element (11) for a switching element (3) of a switching device of a motor vehicle transmission, which forms a basic body produced in one piece by prototyping. The main body comprises, an insertion opening bounding side walls, wherein the side walls at their insertion opening facing the inside guide surfaces form. The guide element (11) is fastened to a receiving region (26) of the switching element (3). The invention further relates to a method for producing a joint connection between a prefabricated guide element (11) and a switching element (3). The guide element (11) is pushed with its insertion opening in a longitudinal direction parallel to its joining direction under the action of force on the receiving area. During the relative movement between the guide element (11) and the switching element (3), the guide element (11) is joined to the switching element (3) in the joining direction.

Description

Austrian Patent Office AT 508 130 B1 2010-11-15

Description: The invention relates to a guide element, a switching element for a switching device of a motor vehicle transmission and a method for producing a joint connection, as described in the preambles of claims 1, 8 and 13.

A guide element for a switching element of a switching device is known from DE 10 2007 009 120 A1, which forms a piece of plastic integrally formed by prototyping and having on a base vertically projecting legs and between the legs a first plug-in element. The outer contour of the first plug-in element corresponds in a form-fitting manner to an inner contour of a slot provided in a receiving area for the guide element. On the legs project in each case second plug-in elements, which are designed rod-shaped. The receiving area also has funnel-shaped through holes into which the second plug-in elements can be inserted. The guide element is attached to the receiving area of the switching element, in which this plugged into the slot and the through holes via the plug-in elements and then the free end of the second plug-in elements are deformed by heat input by means of ultrasound, so that the through hole filled with the material of the supernatant and the sheet metal section is engaged behind in the receiving area in the through hole.

From DE 10 2006 032 782 A1 and DE 199 01 674 A1 guide elements are known which consist of two guide element parts, which are welded together on a receiving area on the switching element by ultrasound.

The present invention has for its object to provide a guide element and a switching element that can be produced with high manufacturing accuracy, lower manufacturing costs, allow reliable operation of a switching device, and to provide a joining method by which a reliable (permanent) joint connection can be produced inexpensively between the guide element and the switching element.

The object of the invention is solved by the features of claim 1. It is advantageous that the basic body can be produced as a mass product by known from the prior art forming techniques, such as injection molding, and solely on the guide walls provided on the side walls of the guide element on a receiving area of a switching element in the for its application in. A switching device required positioning accuracy is recorded. The guide element has a base body, which forms a closed frame and is therefore particularly dimensionally stable. As a result, the guide element can transmit or absorb high switching forces on gear parts and will not damage the base body even with improper switching movements.

The dimensional stability of the guide element can be additionally increased by the features proposed in claim 2.

Another advantage is the embodiment of claim 3, since the positioning accuracy of the guide element is taken on a receiving area of a switching element of narrow guide ribs.

Are also advantageous embodiments according to claims 4 and 5, since during the manufacture of the joint connection, the trapped by the Aufschiebebewegung the guide element on a receiving area of the switching element in the formed as a blind hole insertion air can escape via the flow channel. If the guide element and the switching element are connected to one another by welding, then the welding steam that results can also be discharged via the flow channel. In addition, due to production-related shape and / or dimensional deviations of the guide element and / or the switching element in the receiving area, the material volume which is melted at certain material areas by heat input, and the material distribution on Recording range vary. Through the flow channel, it is now possible that a varying volume of material has no effect on the quality of the joint connection. When welding material areas are selectively melted to produce the joint connection between the guide element and the switching element. If the volume of material melted off at these material areas is greater than the receiving volume of the filling spaces arranged in the receiving area, the excess, molten material can flow off into the flow channel and solidify there.

According to an embodiment according to claim 6, a material region is provided within the insertion opening on the base body, which melts by heat input, wherein the resulting melt flows into provided in the receiving area of the switching element filling and after the solidification of the melt in the receiving area a positive connection between the guide element and the switching element is formed.

The embodiment according to claim 7 allows a targeted as well as concentrated energy input to the space provided within the insertion material area, the material area melts very quickly when it is subjected to heat and thereby the welding time can be kept low.

The object of the invention is also achieved by the features of claim 8. The switching element is equipped at a receiving area with the, manufactured with high manufacturing accuracy and particularly dimensionally stable guide element and can be transmitted from the switching element high switching forces.

According to claim 9, the guide element is realized in the embodiment described above.

Another advantage is the development and the measure according to claims 10 and 14, as arranged on the switching element in the receiving area recess groove (filling space) on the extension forms an undercut, which is filled with the, by the heat input to the material melting material , wherein the solidified material engages behind the extension in a form-fitting manner and thus the guide element is permanently securely fastened to the switching element.

Advantageous embodiments of the switching element are described in claim 11. The receiving area is provided at the ends of the switching arm or on a shift finger. Thereby, the switching element can be easily manufactured in mass production.

A particularly economical production of the switching element is achieved when the switching arm and the shift finger are produced in the punching and forming process without cutting and connected to each other by beam welding, as described in claim 12.

However, the object of the invention is also achieved by the measures in claim 13. It is advantageous that the guide element and the switching element are still joined together during their relative movement, so that the production time required to produce the joint connection between the guide element and the switching element, significantly reduced and thereby the manufacturing costs can be reduced. The guide element and the switching element can be joined together in the direction of only one axis of movement, which allows a reliable (robust) joining process and the use of simple joining and positioning devices.

For a better understanding of the invention, this will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.

In a highly simplified schematic representation: [0019] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a switching device in a perspective view; FIG. 2 shows a switching element according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view; FIG. 2/25

Austrian Patent Office AT 508 130 B1 2010-11-15 [0021] FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of a guide element in perspective view; Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a guide element in perspective

View; 5a, 5b show a partial section of the switching element with the receiving area for the guide element according to FIG. 3, in different views; 6a, 6b show a partial section of the switching element with the receiving area for the guide element according to FIG. 4, in different views; Fig. 7 shows a second embodiment of a switching device in perspective on view; Fig. 8a-8d, the successive process steps for producing a joint connection between a guide member and a switching element according to the first embodiment; 9a-9d, the successive process steps for producing a joint connection between a guide element and a switching element according to the second embodiment; 10 shows a third embodiment of a guide element in plan view; 11a-11d show the successive method steps for producing a joint connection between a guide element and a switching element according to the third embodiment.

By way of introduction, it should be noted that in the differently described embodiments, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals or the same component names, wherein the disclosures contained in the entire description can be mutatis mutandis transferred to like parts with the same reference numerals or identical component names. Also, the location information chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc. related to the immediately described and illustrated figure and are to be transferred to the new situation mutatis mutandis when a change in position.

In Fig. 1, a first embodiment of a switching device 1 for a manual transmission, not shown, of a motor vehicle is shown in a perspective view. The switching device 1 comprises a not shown gear housing fixedly arranged switching axis 2 (guide) and slidably disposed on the switching axis 2 switching elements 3,4,5.

The switching device 1 shown in the present embodiment is shown for a 5-speed transmission, which can be changed by shifting the switching elements 3, 4, 5 in the longitudinal direction of the switching axis 2 between the gear stages. In the starting position, the switching elements 3,4, 5 are in a neutral position, from which the desired gear can be selected by shifting the switching elements 3, 4, 5. With the switching element 3 can be changed between the first and second gear. The switching element 4 is used to select the third and fourth gear. The switching element 5 allows switching between the fifth gear and the reverse gear. The number of switching elements 3, 4, 5 varies depending on the number of gears to be switched. In the simplest embodiment, the switching device 1 exclusively a switching element 3.

The switching elements 3, 4, 5 each comprise a switching arm 6, 7, 8, shift finger 9, 10, on the shift fingers 9, 10 fixed guide elements 11, 12, a guide 13 and an actuator 14. Die Führungselemente 11, 12 are designed according to this embodiment as so-called sliding shoes.

In the following description - according to FIGS. 2 to 7 - reference is exclusively made to the switching element 3, since the switching elements 3, 4, 5 only by the formation of the switching arm 6, 7, 8, as shown in FIG clearly distinguish. The switching arms 6, 7, 8 are each made of at least one sheet metal blank by forming, in particular cold deformation, such as bending, pressing and the like., Manufactured. The sheet metal blank is preferably produced by punching already with the finished size.

The switching element 3 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2. The switching arm 6 has a front arm portion 15, a rear arm portion 16 and a middle arm portion 17 disposed therebetween. The front arm portion 15 is plate-shaped and has on a first side by a forming, in particular cold forming, prepared guide receptacle 18, on which the guide 13 is mounted. The guide 13 is formed according to this embodiment by a guide tube, at the ends in each case a sliding bush 19 is pressed.

The guide receptacle 18 has in the direction of a longitudinal axis 20 of the guide 13 at a distance from each other arranged support portions which each comprise in the direction of the longitudinal axis 20 at a distance parallel cams 21, 22 and an arc extending therebetween 23 extending valley. According to the embodiment shown, a window-like recess 24 is formed between the support sections.

The guide 13 and the switching arm 6 are connected to each other by soldering, gluing or beam welding, such as laser or electron beam welding, produced joining joints (joining seams).

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the approximately L-shaped shift finger 9, 10 are arranged on the front portion 15 of the support arm 6 on a guide 13 opposite the second side. The shift fingers 9, 10 are each made of at least one sheet metal blank by forming, in particular cold forming, such as bending, bending, pressing and the like., Produced. The sheet metal blank is preferably produced by punching already with the finished size. The shift fingers 9, 10 are arranged symmetrically in a transverse to the longitudinal axis 20 transverse plane extending on both sides to the guide 13 and with respect to a longitudinal axis 20 extending in the guide plane, wherein between the switching arm 6 projecting ends of the shift finger 9, 10 a shift jaw 25th is trained.

The shift finger 9 have a mounting leg and an angled from this actuating leg. The actuating legs each form a multiple angled cross-sectional profile and expand with increasing distance from the mounting leg to a parallel to the management plane extending end portion of the shift finger. 9

Each shift finger 9 has a, on the switching arm 6 projecting end adjacent receiving portion 26, where the still closer to be described guide member 11 and der Gleitschuh befestigt ist. The shoe is attached.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the shift fingers 9 have a mounting leg tapering with increasing distance in the direction of the actuating leg width.

The switching arm 6 is further provided in the front portion 15 between the two shift fingers 9 with a third shift finger 10 which is L-shaped and carries at its on the switching arm 6 projecting end in a receiving area 26, a guide member 12 and a shoe , The shift finger 10 is not necessarily necessary, but may occur in case of improper operation of the switching device 1, the case that the switching forces are much higher than in normal operation. Then the "high " Shifting forces are mainly absorbed by the shift finger 10 and guide member 12.

The shift finger 9,10 protrude with their guide elements 11,12 in an annular channel, not shown, a shift sleeve of the transmission. With the switching movement, the switching element 3 is adjusted depending on the gear stage relative to the shift axis 2 axially to the left or right and thereby spent at least the guide elements 11 with the shift sleeve in engagement.

The shift fingers 9, 10 and the switching arm 6 are connected to each other by soldering, gluing or beam welding, such as laser or electron beam welding, produced joining joints (joining seams).

The front arm portion 15 and middle arm portion 17 are made of a single Austrian patent office AT 508 130 B1 2010-11-15

Sheet metal blank by forming, in particular cold forming, made in one piece, the middle arm portion 17 in the switching element 3 shown in Fig. 2 and in the switching element 5 shown in Fig. 1 is arcuate, while the arm portion 17 of the central switching element 4 in extension to the front Arm section 15 is rectilinear. To save weight, the switching arms 6, 7, 8 are provided in the region of the central arm portion 17 with a recess 27.

The shift fingers 9, 10 and the front and middle arm portion 15, 17 of the switching arm 6 are formed with the same wall thickness 28, 29, which is preferably between 3 mm and 5 mm, in particular 4 mm.

The switching arm 6 has in the rear arm portion 16, the actuator 14. The rear arm portion 16 is plate-shaped and has a base body 30 and arranged in this recess 31, the contours of which form shift gates 32, the latter interact with a shift claw, not shown. By means of the switching claw, the switching element 3 is axially displaced according to the desired gear stage on the switching axis 2.

The main body 30 of the actuator 14 is made of a sheet metal blank by forming, in particular cold forming, such as bending, pressing and the like., Prepared and made by soldering, gluing or beam welding, such as laser or electron beam welding, jointing (joining seams) with the Switch arm 6 connected. The sheet metal blank is preferably produced by punching already with the finished size. The rear arm portion 16 has opposite the middle and front arm portion 15, 17, a greater wall thickness 33, which is preferably between 5 mm and 7 mm, in particular 6 mm.

In Fig. 3, a first embodiment of a guide element 11 according to the invention is shown in a perspective view, which has a primitive, in particular by injection molding of plastic, integrally manufactured base body. The main body forms a dimensionally stable, box-like hollow body. The guide element 11 or the base body comprises a first side wall 35, a second side wall 36 arranged at a distance therefrom, and third and fourth side walls 37, 38 connecting them to one another and spaced from one another. In the base body, a further through the side walls 35 to 38 formed and extending over part of a height 39 of the body extending insertion opening 40, which is designed approximately rectangular in cross section. The insertion opening 40 is closed on a side opposite the open end side by a bottom 41 and has a corresponding depth. The main body is provided on the side walls 36 to 38 at their the insertion opening 40 facing inner sides in each case in parallel to its (not shown) longitudinal axis guide ribs 42 which form guide surfaces 43 at their projecting ends. The bottom 41 forms on a side facing away from the insertion opening 40 outside a support surface 54.

Between adjacent guide ribs 42 a parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body extending flow channel 44 is formed. About this flow channels 44 can during the manufacture of the joint connection between the guide member 11 and the shift finger 9, 10, which escape between the end to be joined of the shift finger 9, 10 and the bottom 41 of the guide member 11 air cushion. Furthermore, via the flow channels 44, the welding steam generated by the ultrasonic welding to be described later can be derived. In addition, that volume of material which is melted by the heat input during ultrasonic welding, vary slightly and deviate the material distribution, if production-related shape and / or dimensional deviations of the prefabricated guide element 11 and shift finger 9, 10 occur. The flow channels 44 now make it possible, if necessary, for excess, melted material to flow off into the groove-like flow channels 44 and thus to ensure that the guide element 11 does not "float" on the liquid material bath during the joining process. and a relative movement between the guide member 11 and the shift finger 9, 10 triggers when the sonotrode is lifted after the completion of the welding process of the guide element 11.

The guide elements 11,12 are produced by the shift fingers 9, 10 separately by injection molding and the prefabricated guide elements 11, 12 subsequently attached to the shift fingers 9, 10, in particular by ultrasonic welding on the specially designed receiving areas 26 with the shift finger 9, 10 connected.

In ultrasonic welding, the heat required for plasticizing is generated by the conversion of ultrasonic vibrations into mechanical vibrations and fed with a certain contact pressure via the sonotrode to the guide element 11, 12 to be welded. The guide element 11, 12 made of plastic acts here as an energy source. The mechanical vibrations impinging on the guide element 11, 12 are absorbed and reflected at the interface. Due to the molecular friction, heat is generated which causes the plastic to melt.

In order to keep the welding time as low as possible, so-called energy directors 45 are provided, by means of which a targeted as well as concentrated energy input to within the insertion opening 40 and provided by heat input fusible material regions 46 (melting areas) is achieved.

The main body has, according to this embodiment, on its opposite side walls 35, 36 also over a portion of the height 39 of the body differently far extending and protruding into the insertion hole 40 webs 47, on its the open end of the insertion opening 40 side facing are provided with the heat-fusible material region 46. The material regions 46 form the energy directors 45. In this embodiment, the energy director 45 is defined by tapered contiguous boundary surfaces 48, 49 (Figure 8c), with the boundary surfaces 48, 49 terminating in a body edge.

The ultrasonic welding offers the advantage that three-dimensional joint seams can be realized in short welding cycles, post-processing of the weld seams is not necessary and requires only a fraction of the energy in comparison to the known from the prior art, other thermal welding processes.

The material web 47 is in turn provided on one of the insertion opening 40 facing inside with the longitudinal axis of the guide element 11, 12 parallel guide ribs 50 which form guide surfaces 51 at their projecting ends. Between adjacent guide ribs 50, a groove-like flow channel 52 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main body is formed, wherein the flow channels 52 lying opposite each other with respect to the longitudinal axis converge and each extend from the boundary surfaces 49 into the bottom 41.

The guide member 11 has at its opposite side walls 35, 36 on an outer side parallel to each other Eingriffflächen 53, which is alternately applied depending on the gear to be engaged on the relevant side wall of the shift sleeve.

Even if two guide ribs 42 are provided for each side wall 36 to 38, it is just as possible for only one guide rib 42 to be arranged on each side wall 36 to 38. Likewise, the material webs 47 can be provided only with a guide ribs 50 each.

4, a second embodiment of the guide element according to the invention 60 is shown in a perspective view, which has a primitive, in particular by injection molding of plastic, integrally manufactured body. The main body forms a dimensionally stable, box-like hollow body. The guide element 60 or the base body comprises a first side wall 61, a second side wall 62 spaced therefrom and the third and fourth side walls 63, 64 connected to each other and spaced from each other 64 bounded and extending over part of a height 65 of the body 6/25 Austrian Patent AT 508 130 B1 2010-11-15

Insertion opening 66 is formed, which is designed approximately rectangular in cross section. The insertion opening 66 is closed on a side opposite the open end by a bottom 67 and has a corresponding depth. The bottom 67 forms on a side facing away from the insertion opening 66 outside a support surface 55. The main body is provided on the side walls 61 to 64 at their inner sides facing the insertion opening 66 each with guide ribs 68 running parallel to its longitudinal axis (not shown), which form guide surfaces 69 at their projecting ends.

Between adjacent guide ribs 68, a parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body extending flow channel 70 is formed, which fulfills the functions described above.

The main body according to this embodiment, at its opposite side walls 61, 62 also extending over part of the height 65 and projecting into the insertion hole 66 webs 71, which in turn on an inner side with the longitudinal axis of the guide element 60 parallel guide ribs 72nd are provided, which form guide surfaces 73 at their projecting ends. In addition, the base body is provided on the material webs 71 each with at least one groove-like flow channel 74 running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main body, wherein the flow channels 74 lying opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis converge and each extend into the bottom 67. The flow channel 74 adjoins the guide ribs 72.

The embodiment of the guide element 60 shown in FIG. 4 differs essentially from the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in that the material regions 75 which can be melted by heat input are laterally adjacent to the material webs 71 in the corner region of the mutually tapered side walls 61 to 64 are arranged and extend from the bottom 67 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide member 60 tower-shaped. The end facing away from the bottom 67 of the material regions 75 is pyramid-shaped according to this embodiment and has inclined to each other tapered boundary surfaces 76, 77, the edges converge to a point. These material regions 75 form the so-called energy directors 78.

In FIGS. 5a and 5b, a partial section of the shift finger 9 in a first embodiment is shown in different views. The shift finger 9 has at its free end on the receiving portion 26 to which the guide member 11 is fixed permanently.

The receiving region 26 comprises an extension 79 produced by forming, in particular cold forming, in one piece with the shift finger 9, whose maximum width 80 is limited by guide surfaces 81 extending parallel to one another. The front edge of the shift finger 9 forms a stop surface 82. The width 80 of the extension 79 is less than a limited by mutually parallel guide surfaces 83 width 84 of the projection 79 subsequent shift finger section. The shift finger 9 has over its entire length on a constant wall thickness 28, which is bounded by the extension 79 and the subsequent thereto Schaltfingerabschnitt by guide surfaces 85, 86.

The receiving region 26 further comprises between the extension 79 and the adjoining this switching finger portion by forming, in particular cold forming, recessed grooves 87 which extend over the entire wall thickness 28. The recessed grooves 87 are offset in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the shift finger 9 and each have a groove bottom that is convexly curved between the joining surfaces 81, 83. The recessed grooves 87 extend from the opposed guide surfaces 81, 83 in the direction of a longitudinal axis 88 of the shift finger 9, the depth of which extends over part of the width 84 of the shift finger 9. The recessed grooves 87 serve as a receiving chamber and are completely filled with material melted from the material regions 46 during ultrasonic welding.

In the jointly described Fig. 6a and 6b, a portion of the shift finger 9 7/25 Austrian Patent Office AT 508 130 B1 2010-11-15 is shown in a second embodiment in different views. The shift finger 9 has at its free end on the receiving portion 26 to which the guide member 11 is fixed permanently.

The receiving region 26 comprises an extension 89 produced by forming, in particular cold forming, in one piece with the shift finger 9, the maximum width 90 of which is delimited by guide surfaces 91 extending parallel to one another.

The width 90 of the extension 89 is smaller than a limited by mutually parallel guide surfaces 92 width 93 of the extension 89 subsequent shift finger section. The shift finger 9 has over its entire length on a constant wall thickness 28, which is bounded by the extension 89 and the adjoining this switching finger portion by guide surfaces 94, 95.

The receiving portion 26 further includes between the extension 89 and the adjoining this Schaltfingerabschnitt by forming, in particular cold forming, recessed grooves 96 which run symmetrically in pairs about a longitudinal axis 88 of opposing guide surfaces 91, 92 and each have a between the joining surfaces 91, 92 convexly curved groove bottom. A depth of the recessed grooves 96 extends over a portion of the width 93 of the shift finger 9. The recessed grooves 87 serve as a receiving chamber and are completely filled with material melted from the material regions 75 during ultrasonic welding.

In Fig. 7 second embodiment of a switching device 100 is shown for a manual transmission, not shown, of a motor vehicle in a perspective view. The shifting device 100 comprises at least one shifting element 101, which is movable in the gearbox, not shown, according to the double arrow, and which is acted upon by shifting forces for generating shifting movements.

The switching element 101 has a switching arm 102 (shift rail), shift finger 103 (shift fork), attached to the shift fingers 103, first guide elements 104, mounted on the switching arm 102, second guide elements 105 and an actuator, not shown. The first guide elements 104 are designed as so-called sliding shoes and the second guide elements 105 as a bearing. The shift fingers 103 transmit the shift movement to the shift sleeve (not shown) described above.

The switching arm 102 is made of a sheet metal blank by forming, in particular cold forming, such as bending, pressing and the like., And has an elongated basic shape with two free ends, which each form a receiving portion 106 to which the second guide member 105 fixed inextricably becomes. The switching element 101 is guided over the second guide elements 105 in a gear housing, not shown in the longitudinal direction. The sheet metal blank is preferably produced by punching already with the finished size.

The shift fingers 103 are each made of a sheet metal blank by forming, in particular cold forming, such as bending, pressing and the like., Produced. The sheet metal blank is preferably produced by punching already with the finished size. The first shift finger 103 is directly connected to the shift arm 102, while the second shift finger 103 is connected via a bracket 107 to the shift arm 102. The console 107 is connected to the switching arm 102.

The shift finger 103 and the switching arm 102 or the console 107 or switching arm 102 and the console 107 are connected to each other by means of soldering, gluing or beam welding, such as laser or electron beam welding, produced joining joints (joining seams).

Each shift finger 103 has a receiving area 108 which adjoins the end projecting on the shift arm 102, where the guide element 104 or the slide shoe is fastened. The receiving area 108 and the receiving area 26 and the guide element 104 and guide element 11 are identical. FIGS. 8a to 8d show the method for producing a joint connection between a prefabricated guide element 11 shown in FIG. 3 and one in FIGS. 5a, 5b shown, prefabricated shift finger 9 in successive steps. The joint connection is made in a fully automated or semi-automated (not shown) manufacturing plant, which has at least two workstations. The first workstation comprises a first joining stage and the second workstation comprises a second joining stage. In a preferred embodiment, these workstations are connected via an automated transport system.

The joint connection is made in two stages, wherein in the first workstation from the first joining stage, the prefabricated guide member 11 on the end of the shift finger 9 (Fig. 8b) and in the second workstation of the second joining stage, the guide member 11 by welding is permanently attached to the end of the shift finger 9, in which in the receiving area 26 between the guide member 11 and the shift finger 9 a positive connection is made (Fig. 8d).

According to the inventive method, the shift finger 9 and the guide member 11 is prefabricated to the final dimensions and provided as individual components in the first joining stage. Even before the shift finger 9 and the guide member 11 are joined in the first joining stage, they must be aligned in their position to each other so that a longitudinal axis 88 of the shift finger 9 and a longitudinal axis 110 of the guide member 11 are aligned.

For this purpose, the shift finger 9 and the guide element 11 in the first joining stage (first workstation) are transferred to schematically registered positioning devices 111, 112 in each case in a joining position required for prefixing (FIG. 8a). Thereafter, by a relative movement of the shift finger 9 and the guide member 11 are pre-joined together (Fig. 8b) and thereby produced a friction-based connector.

If both the shift finger 9 and the guide member 11 in their joining position, their longitudinal axes are aligned, 110 and can be prefixed by the shift finger 9 and the guide member 11 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes 88, 110 joining direction 113 toward each other moves while the guide member 11 is pushed under the action of force on the end of the shift finger 9.

According to the embodiment shown, the shift finger 9 is held on the positioning device 111 in its joining position, while the guide element 11 is pressed by a schematically illustrated joining tool 114, in particular a press ram, under the action of force on the end of the shift finger 9. During the joining process, the respective opposite guide surfaces 43, 83 touch; 51, 81; 43, 85, 86, so that the shift finger 9 and the guide member 11 are vorged essentially free of play. The guide element 11 is pressed by the joining tool 114 with a joining force on the end of the shift finger 9, which is due to the friction between the mutually contacting guide surfaces 43, 83; 51.81; 43, 85, 86 sets.

The joining tool 114 is moved by a (not shown) continuously controllable, electric drive, such as a servo drive, which is connected to an electronic evaluation unit (not shown) for detecting the clamping force and / or the travel of the joining tool 114th is executed. The clamping force is determined from the force exerted by the joining tool 114 on the guide member 11 torque or motor current of the drive. The travel of the joining tool 114 is determined via a (not shown) Wegmesssystem. In the evaluation unit, a desired-actual comparison of the clamping force and / or the travel is performed.

By evaluating the clamping force and / or the travel, a quality control can be carried out, in particular the dimensional accuracy of the guide element 11 and / or the shift finger 9 can be determined. Thus, when pushing the guide element 11 on the end of the shift finger 9, between the guide surfaces 43, 83; 51, 81; 43, 85, 86 9/25 austrian patentaint AT 508 130 B1 2010-11-15 generated frictional force or joining force. If, for example, deviations in dimensions are present on the guide surfaces 43, 83; 51, 81; 43, 85, 86 of the shift finger 9 and / or guide element 11 before, these are detected by determining the clamping force and / or the travel and performed in the evaluation unit target-actual-value comparison of the clamping force and / or the travel and the shift finger 9 and / or the guide element 11 discharged from the production process by a controlled by the evaluation unit discharge device as a reject part (e). This makes it possible to determine immediately whether, in the preassembled state, the shift finger 9 and the guide element 11 are guided essentially free of play relative to one another and an optimum welded connection can be produced in the subsequent joining stage (second workstation).

About the travel of the joining tool 114, the Aufstecktiefe the guide member 11 can be monitored for the end of the shift finger 9. The guide element 11 can be pushed in the joining direction 113 as far as far on the shift finger 9 until the melted by heat input material regions 46 abut the groove bottom of the recessed grooves 87. As can be seen in FIG. 8 b, the guide element 11 in the joining direction 113 is preferably pushed onto the end of the shift finger 9 only to the extent that the material regions 46 are still positioned at a distance from the groove bottom of the recess grooves 87. The guide element 11 is located in a pre-assembled on the shift finger 9 mounting position.

The second joining stage (second workstation) will be described with reference to FIGS. 8c and 8d. According to the inventive method, the shift finger 9 and the guide member 11 is provided in the pre-assembled state in the second joining stage. Preferably, the shift finger 9 is transported with the plugged onto the end guide member 11 by the transport system from the first workstation to the second workstation, in which the guide member 11 is permanently connected by ultrasonic welding to the shift finger 9.

The shift finger 9 completed with the guide element 11 is moved in the second joining stage (second workstation) to a schematically registered positioning device 115 in a joining position required for the end joining relative to a welding device (FIGS. 8c, 8d).

In the joining position can now be made by a welding operation, in particular ultrasonic welding, between the shift finger 9 and the end pushed onto this guide member 11 a material connection.

For this purpose, the shift finger 9 with the guide member 11 and a welding tool 116 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes 88, 110 joining direction 117 is adjusted relative to each other while the guide member 11 from its pre-mounted mounting position (Fig. 8b) on the end of the shift finger 9 moved. At the same time, heat is supplied by the welding device during this joining operation so that the plastic material of the material regions 46 begins to melt (FIG. 8c). Heat is supplied and plastic material is melted until the filling spaces in the recessed grooves 87 are completely filled with the melt and optionally the melt flows into the flow channels 44 adjoining the open end of the insertion opening 40 and / or an end edge of the switching finger 9 at one Stop 118 hits (Fig. 8d). Due to the continuous relative movement between the shift finger 9 and the guide element 11, the melted material is pressed into the filling spaces.

If the guide element 11 is in its final mounting position relative to the joining direction 117, the heat input is terminated and the liquid (doughy) plastic material solidifies in the filling spaces. The shift finger 9 and the guide element 11 are held in position relative to the joining direction 113 in their joining positions and cools the molten material under the action of force by the welding tool 116.

According to the embodiment shown, the shift finger 9 is held on the positioning device 115 in its joining position, while the guide member 11 via the schematically illustrated welding tool 116 (sonotrode) under force and heat to the end of the Austrian Patent Office AT 508 130 B1 2010-11-15

Shift finger 9 is pushed. During the joining and welding process, the respective opposing guide surfaces 43, 83 touch; 51, 81; 43, 85, 86, so that the shift finger 9 and the guide member 11 are guided substantially backlash to each other. The guide member 11 is pressed by the welding tool 116 with a joining force on the end of the shift finger 9, which is due to the friction between the mutually contacting guide surfaces 43, 83; 51, 81; 43, 85, 86 and adjusts the molten bath on the guide member 11 against the joining direction 117 counterforce.

The welding tool 116 is moved by a (not shown) continuously controllable, electric drive, such as a servo drive, which is connected to an electronic evaluation unit (not shown) for detecting the clamping force and / or the travel of the welding tool 116 is executed. The clamping force is determined from the torque or motor current of the drive exerted by the welding tool 116 on the guide element 11. The travel of the welding tool 116 is determined via a (not shown) Wegmesssystem. In the evaluation unit, a desired-actual comparison of the clamping force and / or the travel is performed.

By evaluating the clamping force and / or the travel, a quality control can be carried out, in particular the dimensional accuracy of the guide element 11 and / or the shift finger 9 detected and the welding process, such as the melting of a material region 46 or the end of the welding process to be monitored. Thus, when pushing the guide element 11 on the end of the shift finger 9, between the guide surfaces 43, 83; 51, 81; 43, 85, 86 monitored joining force monitored.

If, for example, a material region 46 is not properly sealed off, this is detected by determining the clamping force and the setpoint-actual-value comparison of the clamping force performed in the evaluation unit, and the shift finger 9 with the guide element 11 from the production process by one of the evaluation unit triggered discharge device discharged as a reject part (e).

About the travel of the joining tool 114, the end position of the guide member 11 can be monitored when pushed onto the end of the shift finger 9. The guide member 11 is pushed so far in the joining direction 117 on the shift finger 9 until the actual value reaches a desired value.

By evaluating the clamping force and the travel both the proper welding process and the end position of the guide member 11 can be monitored when pushed onto the end of the shift finger 9. As can be seen in Fig. 8d, the Aufstecktiefe the guide member 11 is limited to the end of the shift finger 9 by a stop 118, therefore, the actual value has reached the target value of the travel.

In a preferred embodiment, the welding is carried out by ultrasonic welding, in which a so-called sonotrode placed on the flat support surface 54 and the shift finger 9 with the guide member 11 and the sonotrode are moved relative to each other. As described above, the molecules are vibrated by the sonotrode in the guide member 11 and generated by the internal friction heat and the material regions 46 melted. Through the targeted introduction of energy into the energy directors 45, the plastic material melts there very quickly.

In the same way, the prefabricated shift finger 10 and the prefabricated guide element 12 are joined together.

FIGS. 9a to 9d show the method for producing a joint connection between a prefabricated guide element 60 shown in FIG. 4 and a prefabricated shift finger 9 shown in FIGS. 6a, 6b in successive method steps. The Vorfügen and welding takes place again in two joining stages, as described above in FIGS. 8a to 8d, wherein during the joining process in the first joining stage and the joining and welding process in the second joining stage, the respective opposing guide surfaces 69, 92nd ; 73, 91; 69, 94, 95 touch, so that the shift finger 9 and the guide element 60 are guided and joined essentially free of play to each other. In order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the different process characteristics according to FIGS. 8a to 8d.

In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 8a to 8d, the filling spaces in the recessed grooves 96 have a circular section with a certain depth, which are completely filled with the plastic material melted off from the material areas 75. It is supplied as long as heat and plastic material is melted until the filling spaces are completely filled in the recess grooves 87 with the melt and optionally the melt flows into the adjacent to the open end of the insertion opening 66 flow channels 70 and an end edge of the shift finger 9 at a stop 119th impinges (Fig. 9d). Due to the continuous relative movement between the shift finger 9 and the guide element 60, the melted material is pressed into the filling spaces.

In Fig. 10, the guide member 105 of Fig. 7 is shown in plan view, which has an integrally formed by primary molding, in particular by injection molding of plastic body. The main body forms a dimensionally stable, box-like Flohlkörper. The guide element 105 or the base body comprises a first side wall 120, a second side wall 121 arranged at a distance therefrom and third and fourth side walls 122, 123 connected to one another and spaced from one another 123 bounded and arranged over a portion of a height of the body extending insertion opening 124 which is formed approximately in a cross shape. The insertion opening 124 is closed on a side opposite the open end by a bottom 125 and has a corresponding depth.

The main body forms on the side walls 120 to 123 at their the insertion opening 124 facing inner sides parallel guide surface 126 from. The bottom 125 forms on a side facing away from the insertion opening 124 a support surface 127 (FIG. 11c).

The base body has at its opposite side walls 120, 121 also over a portion of the height of the body differently far extending and projecting into the insertion hole 124 material webs 128 on their the open end of the insertion opening 124 side facing the heat input fusible material portion 129 are provided. The material regions 129 form energy directors 130. According to this embodiment, the energy directing device 130 is defined by acute-angle converging boundary surfaces 131, 132, wherein the boundary surfaces 131, 132 terminate in a body edge.

The material web 128 in turn has on one of the insertion opening 124 facing inside on the opposite side walls 120, 121 integrally formed and provided to the longitudinal axis of the guide member 105 parallel guide ribs 133 which form guide surfaces 134 at their projecting ends. The main body has on both sides of the guide rib 133 and adjacent to this, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body extending, groove-like flow channels 135. The flow channels 135 extend over the entire height of the material web 128 to the open end of the insertion 124th

As entered in the figure, the base body is provided with a stop 136. This is preferably arranged on the bottom 125.

7 and 11a to 11d, the rail-like switching arm 101 is shown, which forms at its opposite ends in each case the receiving area 106, to which the guide member 105 is fixed inextricably.

The receiving region 106 comprises an extension 137 produced by forming, in particular cold forming, in one piece with the switching arm 101, whose maximum width is limited by guide surfaces 138 extending parallel to one another. The front edge of the switching arm 101 forms a stop surface 139. The width of the extension 137 is less than a limited by mutually parallel guide surfaces 140 width of the adjoining the extension Schaltarmabschnittes. The switching arm 101 has a constant wall thickness, which is bounded on the extension 130 and on the adjoining switching arm section by guide surfaces 141, 142.

The receiving region 106 corresponds to the receiving region 26 described in FIGS. 5a, 5b and comprises recessed grooves 143 produced between the extension 137 and the adjoining switching arm section by forming, in particular cold forming.

FIGS. 11a to 11d describe the method for producing a joint connection between a prefabricated guide element 105 shown in FIG. 10 and a prefabricated switching arm 101 in successive method steps.

According to the inventive method, the switching arm 101 and the guide member 105 is prefabricated to the final dimensions and provided as individual components in the first joining stage. Even before the switching arm 101 and the guide member 105 are joined in the first joining stage, they must be aligned in their position to each other so that a longitudinal axis 144 of the switching arm 101 and a longitudinal axis 145 of the guide member 105 are aligned.

The pre-welding and joining takes place in turn in two joining stages, as described above in FIGS. 8a to 8d, wherein during the joining process in the first joining stage and the joining and welding process in the second joining stage, the respectively opposite guide surfaces 126, 140; 134, 138; 126, 141, 142, so that the switching arm 101 and the guide member 105 are guided and joined to each other substantially free of play. In order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the different process characteristics according to FIGS. 8a to 8d.

Even if according to the embodiments described above, the joint connection between the guide element 11,12; 104, 105 and the shift finger 9, 10; 103 or switching arm 102 is made by ultrasound, the joint connection can also be made by other thermally-acting joining processes that work with laser light, electron beam or sound waves with a frequency less than 20 KHz, or high-frequency welding or vibration welding.

Finally, it should be noted that the switching arm 6, 7, 8, 102 and the shift fingers 9, 10, 103 made of a metallic material and the guide elements 9, 11, 104, 105 made of a plastic, in particular thermoplastic, for example a polyamide with glass fiber components, are produced without cutting, so that there is a very cost-effective assembly.

The embodiments show possible embodiments of the switching devices or switching elements, which should be noted at this point that the invention is not limited to the specifically illustrated embodiments thereof, but also various combinations of the individual embodiments are mutually possible and this variation possibility due to Teaching for technical action by objective invention in the skill of those working in this technical field is the expert. So are all conceivable embodiments, which are possible by combinations of individual details of the illustrated and described embodiment variant, includes the scope of protection.

For the sake of order, it should finally be pointed out that in order to better understand the structure of the switching elements, these or their components have been shown partially unevenly and / or enlarged and / or reduced in size. 13/25 Austrian Patent Office AT 508 130 B1 2010-11-15

REFERENCE MARKET DESCRIPTION 1 switching device 2 switching axis 3 switching element 4 switching element 5 switching element 6 switching arm 7 switching arm 8 switching arm 9 shift finger 10 shift finger 11 guide element 12 guide element 13 guide 14 actuator 15 front arm section 16 rear arm section 17 middle arm section 18 guide receptacle 19 slide bushing 20 longitudinal axis 21 cam 22 cam 23 sink 24 recess 25 shift mouth 26 receiving area 27 recess 28 wall thickness 29 wall thickness 30 base body 31 recess 32 shift gate 33 wall thickness 34 35 side wall 36 side wall 37 side wall 38 side wall 39 height 40 insertion opening 41 bottom 42 guide rib 43 guide surface 44 flow channel 45 energy director 46 material area 47 material web 48 boundary surface 49 Boundary surface 50 Guide rib 51 Guide surface 52 Flow channel 53 Intervention surface 54 Support surface 55 Support surface 56 57 58 59 60 Guide element 61 Sidewall 62 Sidewall 63 Sidew and 64 side wall 65 height 66 insertion opening 67 bottom 68 guide rib 69 guide surface 70 flow channel 71 material web 72 guide rib 73 guide surface 74 flow channel 75 material region 76 boundary surface 77 boundary surface 78 energy director 79 extension 80 width 81 guide surface 82 stop surface 83 guide surface 84 width 85 guide surface 86 guide surface 87 recess groove 88 Longitudinal axis 89 extension 90 width 14/25

Claims (14)

91 Guide surface 121 Sidewall 92 Guide surface 122 Sidewall 93 Width 123 Sidewall 94 Guide surface 124 Insertion opening 95 Guide surface 125 Bottom 96 Recess groove 126 Guide surface 97 127 Support surface 98 128 Material web 99 129 Material region 100 Switching device 130 Energy directing device 101 Switching element 131 Limiting surface 102 Switching arm 132 Limiting surface 103 Shifting finger 133 Guiding rib 104 Guiding element 134 Guiding surface 105 Guiding element 135 Flow channel 106 Receiving area 136 Stop 107 Console 137 Extension 108 Receiving area 138 Guide surface 109 139 Stop surface 110 Longitudinal axis 140 Guide surface 111 Positioning device 141 Guide surface 112 Positioning device 142 Guide surface 113 Joining direction 143 Recess groove 114 Joining tool 144 Longitudinal axis 115 Positioning device 145 Longitudinal axis 116 Welding tool 117 Fügeri 118 stop 119 stop 120 side wall Patent claims 1. Guide element (11; 60; 105) for a switching element (3, 4, 5, 101) of a switching device (1, 100) which forms a basic body produced in one piece by primary molding, characterized in that the main body, an insertion opening (40; 66; 61 to 64, 120 to 123), wherein the side walls (35 to 38, 61 to 64, 120 to 123) at their the insertion (40; 66; 124) facing inner side guide surfaces (43, 51; 69 , 73, 126, 134). 2. Guide element according to claim 1, characterized in that the base body additionally comprises a, the insertion opening (40; 66; 124) in their depth limiting bottom (41; 67; 125). 3. Guide element according to claim 1, characterized in that the base body on its side walls (35 to 38, 61 to 64, 120 to 123) with in the insertion opening (40; 66; 124) projecting guide ribs (42, 50, 68, 72nd 133) forming the guide surfaces (43, 51; 69, 73; 126, 134). 15/25 Austrian Patent Office AT 508 130 B1 2010-11-15 4. Guide element according to claim 1, characterized in that the base body has at least one extending in the direction of its longitudinal axis and up to an open end of the insertion opening (40; 66; 124) extending flow channel (44, 52; 70, 74, 135) , 5. Guide element according to claim 4, characterized in that the guide ribs (42, 50; 68, 72) run parallel in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the base body, wherein between adjacent guide ribs (42, 50, 68, 72, 133) in each case a flow channel (44, 52, 70, 74) is formed. 6. Guide element according to claim 1, characterized in that the base body additionally comprises at least one within the insertion opening (40; 66; 124) arranged and fusible by heat input material region (46; 75; 129). 7. Guide element according to claim 6, characterized in that the material region (46, 75, 129) forms mutually inclined boundary surfaces (48, 49, 76, 77, 131, 132). 8. Switching element (3, 4, 5, 101) for a switching device (1, 100) of a motor vehicle transmission, which is provided on a receiving region (26, 106, 108) with a guide element (11, 60, 105), which guide element (11). 11; 60; 105) forming a basic body produced in one piece by primary molds, characterized in that the main body, an insertion opening (40; 66; 124) comprises bounding side walls (35 to 38; 61 to 64; 120 to 123), the side walls (35 to 38, 61 to 64, 120 to 123) at their the insertion opening (40; 66; 124) facing the inside guide surfaces (43, 51, 69, 73, 126, 134) form. 9. Switching element according to claim 8, characterized in that the guide element (11; 60; 105) according to one of claims 2 to 7 is formed. 10. Switching element according to claim 8, characterized in that the switching element (3, 4, 5, 101) has an extension (79; 89; 137) and at least one recessed groove (87; 96; 143) arranged therein, the extension (79; 89; 137) and the recessed groove (87; 96; 143) form the receiving region (26; 106; 108) on which the guide element (11; 60; 105) is fastened by means of a joint connection. 11. Switching element according to claim 8, characterized in that the switching element (3, 4, 5, 101) has a switching arm (7, 8, 9, 102) and at least one switching finger (9, 10, 103) protruding thereon, wherein the switching arm (102) at its mutually remote ends receiving areas (106) and / or the shift finger (9, 10, 103) at its from the switching arm (7, 8, 9, 102) projecting end of the receiving area (26; 12. Switching element according to claim 8, characterized in that the switching element (3, 4, 5, 101) has a switching arm (7, 8, 9, 102) and at least one switching finger (9, 10, 103) projecting thereon, wherein the switching arm (7, 8, 9, 102) and the shift fingers (9, 10, 103) are produced in the stamping and forming process and joined together by beam welding, in particular laser or electron beam welding. 13. A method for producing a joint connection between a prefabricated guide element (11, 60, 105) and a switching element (3, 4, 5, 101) of a switching device (1, 100), characterized in that the guide element (11, 60, 105 with its insertion opening (40; 66; 124) in a joining direction (113, 117) running parallel to its longitudinal extension, with the action of force on a receiving region (26; 106; 108) on the switching element (3, 4, 5; during the relative movement in the joining direction (113, 117) between the guide element (11; 60; 105) and the switching element (3, 4, 5; 101), the guide element (11; 60; 105) is connected to the switching element (3, 4, 5 ; 101). 16/25 Austrian Patent Office AT 508 130 B1 2010-11-15 14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the switching element (3, 4, 5, 101) has at least one recessed groove (87; 96; 143) arranged therein, the contour of which delimits a filling space, and in that the guide element (11; 60; 105) within the insertion opening (40; 66; 124) has at least one material region (46; 75; 129) which is partly or completely melted during the relative movement in the joining direction (113, 117) by the introduction of heat, whereby the melted material distributed at least on the filling space and solidifies in this. For this 8 sheets drawings 17/25