CA2117438A1 - Method of joining metal plates together, and a device and tool for carrying out the method - Google Patents

Abstract

Described is a method of joining together abutting metal plates (21, 22), as well as a machine tool for carrying out the method in which a tenon (19) on the first plate (22) is inserted into an opening (41) in the second plate (21) and wedged in place by notching the tenon (19) from the end in order to produce the joint.

Description

CA21 17438 ;~ 3~

METHOD OF JOINING Pl,ATES TOGI~TH13R, AND A DEVICE
~ND TOOL FOR CARRYING Ott~ q~HI: METHOD

Baclcground of the Inve.ntion The invent~on ~8 baaed on a method ~or ~olnlng abu~tlng plates, a~ generlcally d~ined by ~he pream~l~
to alalm 1, and u mschlne tool ~or carrylng out the ~ethod, a~ generlaally ~flned by olalm 3, and ~ tool in ~acord~nce w~th claim 17.

~arlou~ method and tools are known for c~rrying out th~ ~tho~ of ~olnlng ~butting plate~S via th~ pla~e ~olnt, struatural components ~uch ae hous~ng parts ~nd the llke can be ~olne~ togeth~r. Pr~erably th~ pl~te~
ar~ ~hs~t-m tal pl~tee, whicb are ma~e in a stamplng proce~s, and in whioh not only th~ outer dimen~lons but 1~ al80 ~he tenon~ ana othe~ openlng~ ~r~ prod~ced in a p~ng operatlon. Typlcally, thQ pre~ped partB are ~ut to~eth~r Qlong an edge, whlch m~y pOBe~ bly be ne~ded, and thRn ~olned tog~ther.

Variou- m-thon~ for jolninq plate~ are known ~n on~ g-n~rla ~ethod, in w~ich the t~noh~ on the f~rst pl~te ar ~ub~tant~ally longor than the oeaond plate lé
thlck, ln~erted through tha through op~nlnq8, a~t~r whlch th~ part pro~aatin~ through ~- ~oqgle~ an~ ~h~ ~econd ¦~ plat~ thér~by~a-t n~ to~the fir~t ~n~tead o~
~1 25 ~oggling~ in ~nother~known E~hod th~ tenon aan ~erely b~
~ . ~
bQnt o~or~ eo a- to hol~ the ~econd pl~te f~r~ly ~n the tlr~ ~n th~ ~nner of A hook i Tho di-advant~e o~ thi~ ~olnln~ ~ethod 18 tha~ on :-~ th-:one~h~nd part~o~ th-~tenon protrud~ pa~t~th~ sur~ac~
- 30 o~ the~ eecon~ pl~ ~an~ thu~ ri~k aau~ing ln~ury, ~o tha~ ¦
-~ thl~ teahnlqu~ oan b ~mployed only on conceale~
~ c-- . Moreove~, ~ho prot~u~lon ~f pr rt ot the ~non, whoth r lt 18 ~oggled or b~nt over, i~ un~ttraa~lv~, !
,.
, . I
: !
, Cl~ 2 i 1 7438 2~i74~8 esp~a~lly when the ~econd plate iB ~n out~r wall of n struaturnl ao~ponen~. I

In ~nother known method ~or ~olnln~ abutt~ng plat~, n~mely TIG (tung~ten-lnert ga~) welding ~or bulldlng bou~lng~, the parts to be ~o~n~d ~orm wha~ 1~ known ~8 ~ '.
tab-~ot ~y~t~m, ~n which one of the parts has an openin~
~nto whiah a tenon of the other part fite, a~te~ whi~h thQoQ p~r~ are welded together. The d~dvant~g~ o~
thl~ known method ~8 th~t a weldlng d~via~ mu~t ~lw~y~ be avallabls ~or thQ ~oining, and that the ~ur~aae of tho part- ~- partly dQ~troyQ~ by th~ weld~ng, ox th~ pnrt~ ¦
can be ~l~torted by the 1OCA1 he~tlng.

Advantage~ o the Invention The m~tho~ aacording to th~ lnv~ntion ~ dQ~insd by th~ body of the ma~n clAi~, ~nd the mach~ne ~ool accor~ing to th~ inv~ntlon ~ defln~d by ths body oP
olai~ 3 have the advant*~ o ter thR prlor art th~t two plat-- aan bo ~oln~ tog~ther ln ~ si~pls w~y, wi~hout any ad~ltlonal ~olning ~lemont and without d~maglng the ~ur~ac-. vla th~ tool an~ workpl~c~ ho~asr, the ~bo~lng tool is ad~u-ted with re8pect to the workpiRce ~n~ then perforn~ the embo~lng work on the ~ae end o~ i th~ ~non by ~o~n- o~ thet drive ~echani~m.
A~v~ntag~Bou~ly~ no low~r and uppsr die sy~tem 1~ n~eded, 2~ ~o that th part~ to be ~olnea need to be accessibl~ only ~ro~ one id~, nam ly th out r ~ide of the ~eaond pl~te.
A~ ~ ro~ult, aon~lderable ai~pllfi~ti~n in a~e~blin~
hou~lng~ 1~ att~ln~blQ. The ~urfaae o~ tho stru~tur~l par~ to b- ~oin~d together aan be tr~ated ln iinal ~orm ~o b-,for~h~n~, ~lnce it i~ not ~tres~ed ln the a~sembly.
Not le~8t~ no ~harp contour~ that aould mean a risk o~
ln~ury remAln ~n the m~un~ed plat 8~ i A ~urther aavantag~ 1~ that ~ ~aohlne tool i~ ea~y ~ ~an~pu~ate, an~ bec~u~o o~ tbe wedging prinalpl~
relatlv-ly firm ~olnt 1~ cr~at~ wlt~ r~l~tively sllght ` ~ ~
` CA21 17438 ~mbo~Blng ~orc~, even though the ~oinin~ point each need to be accee~lble from only one ~lde. ~be prerequl~lte ~or the tenon m~t~rial i~ t~at lt be d~i~or~ble, ~o ~E~ to attaln the notching or embo~lng aatlon, w}llGh 1~ A charflc~riE~tlc par~iaulzlrly Wl~h plAte~ ~nad- of ~toel, al~lminum, copper or b~a~.

~ho method aaoordlng to the lmrentlc-n i. ~lmpllf 1~
~ub~tantially 1~ th~ ~lrm holdlng ~nd eng~ç~emen~ o~ the plat~ t~r th~y ar~ put toqether and ~or notchlng by m-an- of openlng~ prov~ ded in the plates ., In n.n ad~antagoous ~eature o~ the machlne tool acc:arding to the inven~ion, it~ the tool hol~er cooperate~ wl~h A holder p~rt t~lAt ~a~ two grlppQr~ for workpieae r~tention, whl~h ¢an each be in~erted through an opQnlng o~ the seoond pl~te And Elervo to center the ~lobosslng tool ~elative! to ~, the t~non ot the f i~-t pl.~te and A180 to hold ( eng~g~ ) t;he t~ r-t p~ate. ~ec~u~e bc~tb the tool hold~r and grlpp r devlce are dieposod on the machine tool, c--nt ring of the tool r~lative to th~ tenon 1~ achleved ~l~ultaneou~ly ~y the ongag~m~nt vi~ th~ aorre~pondin~
~ oponlngB.
, ~n ~ further fe~ture o~ the inventlon, th~ tool.
hol~er or workpiQae hold~ h~ ~n actuatlng dev~¢e for clo~ing ~Ind openlng the S~rippRr~, and tbe aatuatlng d v~o- ~or oloBlng the grlppers ~y h~ a dlsplacRment rlao, which ~- dl#plaaQabl- upon a di~plaaemQnt in th~
dlr atlon o~ the workpi-a~ via re~pectlve ~houlders d~ ed on the r~p~ativ~ g~ppers:~na thu~ e~feat~ R
, aloeuro o~ the grippe~ . q!he ~ae~ f acing one ~nother of ~lth r th~ ~atu~t~on device or th~ ~e~p~ct~ve ~houl~er h~ve ~ w~d~ellk cour~. The ~teeper the inallnsd pl~ne d i~ln-t~ thereby, th- f~ter ~re 1:h~ grlppers swiveled tcJw~r~ one another pQr ~trok~ Qxecute~ by t:he actu~tlng d~vlae .

~5 In anc~th~r Advantageou~ ~eatute of ~he lnvention, th~ ~atuatlng d~v~ae ~or openin~ ~tlQ gr~ pper~ h~6 pln~

di~po~d- croe~w~ se to th~ adjustlng ~lrecti.on, ~hi.ch are guid~d lr~ oblong ~lot~ provlded ln the grlppRrs, ~o that ln tho openlng motlon of th~ ~ctuatlnq d~vlce, 'Ch~ pln~
~nd oblong ~lote caus~ th~ gripper6~ ~o ~pread apart. To th4t end, the qrlpper~ are pivotably ~upported on the ~lde remote ~rom the workpiece. Na~urally A ~liding bloak Arr~ngement or ~ome other ~RVioe may b~ u~ed ln~te~ o~ an oblonq elot that oeu~e~ the grippers to w~ng o~n açla~n upon a reolpro¢Atlng mot~.on of the ~c~uAtlnq devlae.

In ~ rurt:her ~eature of ~h~ inventlon, ~n OpB~ing 1B.
llke~is~ prosent ln the f ~r~t pl~lte, and the end~ of t~e gr~ppere enqage 'che workplece lik~ tongs through thi~ ;
oponlng nnd ln the proce~s at le~t p~rtit~lly pen~:rAte lS th~ e openinq aftor th~ clo~lng oper~tion o~ the grlpper~ .
Thi~ ti~htone the ~saQ end of the f ir~t plate ~galh~t the w~ whlch 1- croe~wl~ to it, of the eecond pla~o, llnd th~ grlppor n~a are ~upported ln the wall of ~h~.
openlng J that ~s, 1:h~ grippers hook $nto the f lr~t pl~te, ~o t:hat the ~bo~ing tool can act counter to thie hook r~si~tanaQ UpO~ the f ac~ end of ~h~ ten~m to Clef orm lt .

In an ~lternative ~ature ot the ln~ntion, t:he end~
~aaing on~ Anoth-r of ~he ~wo grlpper8 ~ft~r in~e~tion through th openlng in the 8~aon~ plat~ and af~er clo~ur~
:~5 O~ th~ grlpper~ gage ~h- f lr8t pla~ between t:he~n ~nd pr v n~: lt~ longltud~nal ~1BP1aCement. The ~wo gripp~rs ac~t ~o cla~p~ng ~ and c~n ~dvantagQou~ly be rough~n~d on t~ ~a~lng en~- ~or the ~akQ of I bette~ grlp~

A proxlmlty ~wltoh i~ providQa~ which when a cs~rt4in p~lnt l~-r~aah d during th~ op~r~ting motlon ~utput~ a lgnai to aontrol the ~Irive meahan~, in ~uc!h ~ way th~t tho d~<~rma~lon o~ the tenon by the embosslng tool dO~B
no~ beg~n untll centering or ad~u~tlng o~ the embo~ing t;c~ol relAtlv~ to th~ tenon ha~ taken plac~. Not unt~l tt~lo ~d~u-t~-nt n~ been a~aertalned vla the p~oximlty CA 2 i 1 7438 r) swl~ah doeo the drlve meahAnl~m begin to dlsp~ce the embe~lng tool in t~e direction o~ t}l~ t~non.

In another ~dvan~ageous feature o~ the lnventlo~, a hold~n~-down deviae that i~ under the ln~].uence of a epring i8 provlded, wh~ch upon eng~gement of the f 1 r~t ~tru¢tural part pree~ the ~e~n~ oomponen~ on lt~ ~ace end through the grlpper~. As a re~ult, the tenon i8 prevent-d ~rom ~llpping partway or all the w~y out o~ the thro~gh opening at tbe on~et of d~ormatt.on Or t~e tenon by t~e e~bos~ing tool.

I In another advAntngeou~ teatu~e o~ the lnventien the I dri~e m-chanl~m and/or the actuatlng devlce ~unctlon~
wlth pneu~tlc-~ydraullc or electrlcal means. For pnQu~t~c or hydraulla me~ns, sultnPle work cylinders ~e then provlded, wh~le for the et ectrlc~al mean6~, an oloctrlo ~otor o~ ol~ctromagnet le u~e~. Acaording t~
the ~nv-nt~on, the Aotuatlng dev~ae And the drlve ~eohanl~--~ay be ombod~ed a- a foll~wup control, ~o tha~ I
only ~ter the workploce has be~n engag~d by th~
~tuatlng ~vla- aoQ~ the dr~ve me¢hani~m diE~place the e~ ng tool.
~:
Tn ~ further ~oature of the invention, an additlonal c nt rlng devia~ for c~nterlng the eD bo~sing tool or tool holder relatl~ to the tenon 18 provide~, having at l~aet two: c--nterlng pln~ that cooperAte ~lth center.tng marks pr-~-nt ln ~he ~eaond plate. Th~e c~nterlng marks m~y b- :elth~r bor ~, into whlch th aent~rlng plns am plunge ~r lnd n~tlone or olevatlons into which the f aae QndB Or , ~h~ ~ a~nterlng pln~ can loalc in detent fa~hion. A
oent-rlng ~e~la~ of thl- kind iB ~sp~c~ally advantageDu~
hin- ~ool works without gripper~, ~r ln o~h~r ~ word- if~t~ qui~lte re~lstanaQ ~ox ~Jbo~ing 1 pr~s~n~ at t~Q flrst plat- via oth~r ~ean~. Tbe ~le~atlon maQ aompri~ bump~ that aooperate with the ~ent~rlng plns. Th- bump~ may be ~mbodled elther ~8 A
protrus~ on or an lndentatlon . ~n the ~lr~t ca~e ~ the aenterlng pln8, on thelr end that come~ into aon~a~t with the bump, have a concave ~hape ~nd ln the second casQ a aonvox ~hape. If bumps ~e u~ed then the advant~ge 18 ~tt~in~d ~mong othsr~ t~t after e~bo~ng, the bump~ o~n S b- ground o~f ~o thAt a ~mooth ~ur~ac~ l8 produae~.

In ~noth~r Qdv~ntageou~ fea~ure o~ the inventlon~ I
tho ~mbo~-lng tool 1~ mbo~lod a~ ~lAt ~te~l o~ ¦
r-atangular aro-e ~eatlon wlth a chisel-like working end, an~ th~ worklng end m~y oompr~e ~ plurallty of longltuainally an~ tranever~ly diepoeod wedgellke or pyra~ldlike ~egm nts ~tralght toothing or vQr~lon with plk-~). Th- quality of the ma~Qr~l of the tenon ~nd it~ dl~en~lons are de~nit~ve ~or how thl~ faae-end working ~nd i~ embodiea.

1~ F~rther ~dv~nt~ge~ and advAnt~gQou~ feat~res o~ th~ 1, lnvontlon ~ay b- ~ound in ths en~uln~ ~e~erlption, the : drawing and the cla Vrawlng Three exeDIplary e~od1m nts of the #ub~Q~'c of the 2~: invontlon ar ~hown i.n the ar~wlng ~nd a~cribea in ~urth~r detail below, : , :
~hown Ar~ s ;
: ; Fig-. la~ two sheet-~etal part~ in a per~pecti.v~
vlow, whlah ha~ b~en ~olne~ by a ~achine tool ln ~ccord~nae W1th the f irot exomplary embodiment~
! : I
: ~ Flg. ~b, ~: aro~e ~ection through the ~olne~ sheet-~et~l part~ o~ Fig. la ta~-n along th~ llne A-A;
~ -F~g. ~c, a detall of Fi~. lb on a l~rger ~ca~e - Fig. 2~ A ~ea~lon through a machin~ tool in ~h~
~ 30 opene~ ~tnte ln ~ccordance with a flrst exemplary CA2i 1 7438 ~mbo~ment:

Flg . 3~, the ~-~me ~aahln~ tool ln ~he c.~oeed ~t~ 7 F~g. 3b, a ;ide vlsw wlttl ~ fr~qmQn~ary Rectlon o2 thi~ ~ir~t exemplary embodlm~nt;

S ~lg. 4, v~rlo~ embofllment~ o~ A notchlng tool for thl~ mach~ne tool Flg. 5a, a port~on of ~ mA~hinR tool in the. opened ~t~to ln Aacord~nce w~th A è~aon~ ox~mplary e~ lme~nt:

Flg. 5b, tho ea~e maahln~ to~l in the close~d ~tl~te F~g. ¢, a thlr~l ~x-mplnry ~mbodl~Rnt of a mnahine tool ln ~ectlon;

Fig. 7, two ~he~t-~t~l plate~ ~n ~ perspe¢tivQ
vlew, whlah ha~ b~ n ~o~n--d by t~ n~Aahlne tool of Fig.
6 ~ ana F~B. 8~ and 8b, two~ a~t~rnatlv~ c~nte~ing lbllltles bQew~-~ t~ maahine tool ~md th~ workpleae.

: DO-CrIPt10n of th- EXempla~ry~E~bo~lment8 In FIg. l~,~two ~h~-t-~Qtal pArts 21 ~nd ~2 ar~
ho~n, o~whioh ~h ~ ~ al part:22 :~8 dl~po~d ~^~ 20 ~abuttlnq ~nd at ~r1ght~ngle~to ~h ~m-t~l plat~ 21, ~nd ln,wh1ch th- t~o~Qtal plat~;21~ 22~h~ b~en ~oln~
tognthBr by a~maahlno~tool~aording to the lnv~ntion ~y : thB~-thD~o~ nv~nt~on~n~ly~by ~R ~xe~plAry ent o~ thi~ ~ahln~ ~ol ~n ln- ~Flg. 2. On one ,25 ~ a~' ~, th ~eh~t-~Rt~ pa*~ 2~ ha- ~ tenon lg, wh~¢h lntro~uo~d~or~ ln--rt~ lnt:o~a oorr~-pondinq tbrough o~nlng 41 (Fig. la) ln the:~tal part 21~. Thi~ 6h~Qt~
~t~1 p~rt 21 aoaordlngly r~ta on ~h~ ~nd edge of ~h~
eh ot-~etel1 p~rt 2Z. In the ~olnoa ~tat~ o~ the two : :

(, A 2 i ~ 7 4 ~ ~

she~t-metal part~, the tenon 19 i~ ~mbo~e~d wlth ~he sheet-met~l part 21. Thls em~o~lng will be de~cr~bea ln further deta~l in con~unatlon wlth F~g~. lb an~ lc. In add~tlon, the opening~ 23 and 24 ~o pr~sent in the ~heot-metal part 21, and an op~nin~ 25 iB p~e~ent ln th~
ahee~-metal p~rt lgs like the t~non 1~, ~hese opening~
I ~r~ mhde in partioular by ~t~mplng o~ the sheet-~tal ¦ p~rt~, and are u-ed ~or aC~R~ by the m~ahin~ ~ool durlngI th~ ~o~ n~ng proco~

1 10 In the ¢ro~ e~ct~on ~hown in Flg. lb throuqh the ¦ two ~heet-m~tal part~ 21 and aa ~ ~h~ ~lready completed ~olnt aan bo ~n, i.n w~lch tho t~non ~9 i.s alroady ~ e~bo~e~ thi~ portlon 40 1~ shown on a ~.Arq~ sa~le ~n 3 Fig, lc.

A~ ~hown ln ~ig. lo, th~ tonon l.g 1~ introduced ln~
tho through op~nlng 41 and ombosse~ on lt~ top with tho ~ho--t--~otal p~-rt 21. To thAt en~, wlth A tool (Fig. 4) aaaordlng to tho ~nv~ntlon, ~ notc~ 42 1~ hAm~ered or ~t4~p~d lnto th~ upp~r ~ac~ ~nd o~ the t~non 19S the ~ide reglon~ 43 an~ 44 of th~ f~o~ end o~ the tenon ar~ !
pr~ outward ln th~ proc -~ in th~ m~nner shown ~nd thu~ aau#o w dglnq ot th~ t~non 19 ln th~ through op~ning~ 41 qh ~olnlng toahnlque lllu~trated in Flg~. la-lc l~
e~ploy~a ~pealally tor a--embllng hou~lng~, in this t~ploally a nu~b~r o~ ~h -t-~Qt~l par~ff, whiah can als~
b~ po~ n ~ plur~ y o~ plan-s, mu~t be ~olned together.

me ~in~ tool ~hown ln Fig. Z ha~ two qripper~ la - 30 an~ lb, whlah ~re ~upp~r~d pivotably on ~hafts 14 and a~e int n~ ~ into thQ openlng Z3 ~nd 24 in the ~h~t-~t~l par~ Zl ln or~er to Q~tabllsh the ~oin~ 8etween th~ twc~ grlpper~ la an~ lb i~ a no~ahing tool 5 (notching ~1~), wit~ whlch wnen th~ grlpper~ ar~ clo~ed embo~l~g o~ the tenon ~1 ~nd hen¢e ~olnlng or the ~heet-m~al p~r~

CA 2 i 1 743~

22 to the ~;heet-met~l part 2~ 1~ P~ought out. The notahlng tool 5 1~ ~e¢ur d to ~ tool holO.~r 2 by m~an~ of a ayllndrla~l pin la, nnd tho tool hol~r ln turn aoopor~tes with A hy~raulic aylind~r 8. ~rhe hydraullo cyllnder 8 iB ~upp~ed by ~ hydraulla unl~, not ~hown, and ~t~ pieton 1~ aa~u~table ~long the axi~ 27 ln~lcp~e~ i, by dot-d~he~ l~nes. During it~ aompre~lon ~tro~e, th~
notohing t~ol S 1B pr~-ent lnto the face end of th~ tenon 19 ot th~ ~h~ot-metal part 22.

8troke li~itation is provl~e~ by the ~act that the notahing tool 5 ~lw~ys tr~ver~e~ ~ pre~l~Qly ~Q~l stro~e . Thls tro~e ll~l~ing lnaludo~ ~ ~troke lim~ting olo~nt 7, which i- ~ecure~ ~o a pl~ton rod ~ t~at in turn belongs through th~ hy~raullc aylinder 8.
Aaoordlngly, tho stroke llmltlng element 7 movos ~n ~ynahroni~m with th- notc~lng tool 5. A stop oloment 2~ 1 fir~ly ~oln~d to a hou~g aap 6 o~ the mach~ne tool ~ ¦
al-o pro~vlclQd ~ whlch ha~ a bore f or the pa~s~g~ through lt o~ the pi~ton ro~ 28. The Btat~onary ~top element ~at~ ~ a ~top for thQ low r part o~ the etrok~ llmlt~ng ~l-~nt 7. ~hen th~ notchlng tool 5 mo~eo domwara, the ~rokQ lllDlting ol-~n~ 7 llkQwl~- mo~ d~wnward unt~l it ~ th~ ~top Ql~m~nt a9. Th~ maxIlnum ~trok~
(r~p~-nt~d ln F~g. Z by th~ tanae 30) and thu6~ the 2~ bo--ing dep~h o~ th notch~ng 'cool 5 are tbu~
~: ~u~tabl- by a~u~tlnq the ~ro~c~ ll~ltlng ~lem~nt 7 u~lng a oar~* 17 on t:h~ pl~on rc~ 2~.

~:: An lnducti~re proxir~lty switch ~8 ~ o~aure~ to the nou~ing c~p 6 and r sponss :to the motlon o~ th~ E~troke ll~ltlng ~l~nt~ 7 . If thQ lement 7 ~ov~3B downwara, an l~otrlaal slgnal 1- trlpp d upon lt~ pas~ag-- pA8t the wlt~h po~nt 31. Thi~ ~ignal 1~ used to c:ontrol the hydraulla ~y~t:o~. Not untll thls lgnal ha~ been g nor~ted 1~ the entlr- op-ra~ing ~orae ~e ~Ivailabl~
~or ae~or~lng tho t non 19. Control o~ the hydraullc ~y~te~ i~ don~ wlth the ~la o~ a ~emory-programmable control.

~A2 i 1743 ~he hy~r~ulla cylln~er 8 i6 retalned in a h~l~Qr p~rt s ~erv$ng ~ n tool holder. ~n~ hol~er pa~t 3 ~ B
prov~dod w~th ~ ~heet-mQtal guard ~ on ~hQ ou~lde, ~or ~n~tanc~ ~n ord~r to prevent a human op~ra~o~ ~rom putting hle hand~ ~nto the ln~erl~r of ~he machine tool, ~n whloh thQ movlng psrt~ are loast~. Al~e a~nn~oted to the holder pArt 3 are the grlppers la an~ lb. The gr~ppera are ~wlv~lably ~upported on th~ sha~ 14 Oblong-~Lot-llk- roa~ 32a and 32b (shown i11 daeh~d line~), whloh t~per towar~ the top, ar~ prR~n~ in the lnt-rior or each gripp~r la and lb. Upon a motlon of th~ j dlo hold-r 2, plns 33a and 33b ar~ di~placed ln the reae~e~ 32a ~nd 3~b, re-pectlvely, and up~n an upwar~
motlon of th~ tool hol~er 2 a8 a con~equena~ of tb~
~S tap-rlng ~hap~ o~ th~ rece~e~, t~ey aau~e th~ grlpp~re la and lb to ~pre~d apart~ Thls will b~ desaribed ln ~urth~r ~ot411 ln aon~unctlon wlth ~ig. 3a P~low.

Th- tool holder 2 haB a ~lsplaae~n~ ~evlce 2~ th~t al-o ~i-plaa-- th hydraul~c aylind r 8. Th~ gripper~ la ~0 ~n~ ~b hav- ~ r ~p-atlv- ~houl~er roglon 34A ~n~ 34b with ~n Inallne~ pl~n~, ao that upon a ~ownw~rd ~otion o~ the ~ool hol~ r Z, tho two grlpp r~ nd lb ~re 8W~ veled tow~rd onQ ~nothor wlth th~lr ~nds ~ppro~a)~lng one ~noth~r.

2~ A~ ~hown in Fig. ~, the notchlng tool 5 iB conne¢~ed to tho too~ holder a by A ayllndrlaal pin 1~. The notahlng tool 5 1~ ~urroun~e~ by a ~ol~lng-aown ~Rv~ae 4, by ~ ah th~ oro~ o-ly~ng ~he-t-~l p~rt 21 ~
pr~ ag~inst ~h~ sh~t~ al part 22 ~ d abutting lt. ~h- ~orc~ ~or thi~ 1~ g ner~tod by aup spring~ 11.
Th~ low~r ~aoe o~ ~h~ holding-do~m d~la~ t ~ e~odi~d ~
~l~t ~n~ rest~ on the ah~et-met~l part 2~. The hol~lng-; down ~via~ aonneat~d to the notahlng tool 5 via A
pln 35. ~low thl~ pln 35, th~ hol~lng-down device haB A
rec~ that ~ter the lowor eage ot th~ holding-down ~ vla~ h~ b-~n ~-at ~ on the ~he~t-~etal part ~1, tbe auttlng ~la~ o~ the notahing tool s can be pre~e~

~ ;

(,A 2 i 1 7438 `. 11 beyond the holdlng-flown ~evice lnto thR sheet-metal p~rt 22. The bl~de o~ the notahing tool~ 5, in the exemplAry embod~mQnt shown, h~s A we~gell~Q cro~e sectlon W~th ~n angle nt the tip o~ 60', a helght of itB tr~ngl~ o~ 4 mm, ~nd a ~ngth o~ the bl~d~ of ~ m~. The bl~d~
m~nu~actured rom hardened tool Bt~ for ln~tana~; ;

In Fig. 3a, the machine tool desorl~e~ o~ the ~ir~t ox-mpl~ry embodim~nt is ~hown ln the alo~e~ ~t~te. .' Compared wlth th- vl-w of ~lg. ~, the embo~lng tool 5 lo ha~ moved ~o fAr downwar~ th~t the AtroXe llmi~lng ~lement 7 re~te on thR ~top ~lement 29. At the ~e ~me, by the mot;on of the tool holder a, the dl~plACement ~evlce 2A ~A~ ~lipped past the ~he~lld~rs 34 and 34b o~ the gripper~ nd 1~, respectlvely~ ~o thAt th- two end~ o~ the gr~pper- ~re pre~ed toge~her. ~he j holdlng-down d~ulce 4 re~t~ on the ~heet-m~Al pnrt 21, ana the ~ a0 of th~ notchlng toOl 5 touch~ the upper faa~ ~n~ o~ th~ ~enon 1~ o~ thQ ~h~e~-metal part 22.

In the B~CIQ vl~w of thl~ machln~ tool ~hown ln P`ls~, 3b, wlth a ~rag~ent~ry ~ction ~n the l.ower p~rt, p~rtl~ularly through the one grlpp~r la, ~h~ pln 33 dl~ d ln th ~ plao-ment d~vlae 2a can be ~een: thl~
pln runa in thR obleng-alot rQce~:s 3~fl of the grlpper la.

The ~olnt hown ~n F~g~ lc ~ m~de l~y the maah~n~ tool ~sarlbed, a~ $0110w8:

Th ! ~he-t-~ t~l part 21, provided ~ith the op~nlng~
23 And 24 And th~ through opening 41, i~ onto ~h~ s~eet-t~ll part 22 provlded wlth bo~h thQ openlng ~5 and the ~non 19, o that the t non lg protrude~ into ~he through : 30 openlng 41. A~t r th~t, th- two gripper~ 1~ and lb of the ~ch~ne tool are ~n~rodu¢ed ~nto the openlng~ 23 and 24/ ~n~ th- hynrAullc cylln~-r 8 1~ put under pre~ure.
A- ~ aon~equena~, th~ tool ho;~r a 1~ mo~fl downw~a, untll th~ low~r edg~ of the holdin~-down devioe 4 r~sts 3~ on the ~he~t-~t~l p~rt ~1. Whll~ th~ tool holder 2 ~A2 i 1743~
lZ
moves downward, the dl~plAcement d~vi~ 2a aonnecte~ to lt al~o move~ downwnrd ~nd ~lld~ o~r the shoulders 34a ana 3~b of t~e grlpper~, ~O ~h~t th~y are Bwlyeled inw~rd lnto the po~ltlon ~oW~ Flg. 3a. In the ~losed ~te, the end~ of the grlppere ~re loaate~ in the openinq 25 o~
th- sh-et-~etal part ~2. ~hQ pre~ure regu~red for this ~otlon O~ the t~ol ~older 2 i~ ~ubst~ntlally 1~ thAn the Actual op~rating pres~ur~ o~ the mach~ne tOol.

Whon tho ~dge 36 of the ~trok~ l~m~t~ng elem~nt 7, 1~ th~ downward motlo~ or th~ tool holde~ 2~ paB~es the ~witch po~nt 31 o~ the proxlmlty swltall 1~, A ~qnal 1 tripp~d that aots upon the oontrol of t~e ~y~r~Ulla ~Btom, an~ lt~ oon~egu~nae le that the entl~ op~r~tlng p~e~sure Or ~he h~drAullo ~y~tem ~ made avallable. A~ A
~5 r-~ult, th notching tool 5 i~ pres~ed ~ome ~l~tanae into the tenon 19 or th- h -t-m~tal part Z~ until 'C~l~ lower eage o~ the Btrok~t li~itlng element 7 mee~ th~ stop etle~tnt 2~ r~eult, the tonon 19 ~e w~tdged pr~cl~ly centrally ~ n thet through opening 410f the ~h~et-~etAl part 21.

~rh u~ of tho proxlmity ~wltch 18 ~eures t~t the no~hlng tool 5 wlll ~ pr~ d lnto the tenon ~9 only onco the ~ahlnQ tool has bQen properl~ pUt lnto poe~tlon. I~ lt ~ ante~ ln-t~ad, the proximlty switoh ~5 18 ~ili not r ,~pon~ lna- th~ tool holder ~ wlll not h~ve ve~ ~ar e~ough aO~mwara for 'che ~op par~ o~ th~
~trok~ ~i~iting ol~t~nt 7 tc~ trlp the ~witah 18. In this way lt~i~ a~-ur~ that breakag~ o~ tong- or daa~ge to the ~ahln~, tool or to thet tool ~ill not o¢cur.
, .
Ona~, the ~heet-met~l part 22 ha~ be~n w~,~ge,d to thet - ~h ot-lMtt~l part al~ th t hydrauli~ cylinder 18 ~ever~e~, ~o that the ~ool hol~er 2 wlth th~ rlot:ohlng tool 5 i~
r~trac~d. Ih~ p~n- 33a and 33b ar~ pul~d along with th~ ~ool hold~r Z, ~n~ as a r~ult, ~aau~ o~ the ~hape 3~ o~ t~ oblong-~lo~ r-aes~ 32a an~ 32~ ln th~ gripp~r~ I
1~ and lb, rQ~peatlvely, the grlppexa 1~ an~ lb can be ~ A ~ i i 74 3 ~eled ap~rt. As a result, the machlne tool i~ ~ree for ~ new oper~tlng ~y~l.e.

In the ~xemplHry ~mbodim~nt ~orlbed nbov~, the notahlng tool ha~ A wedgellk~ proflle on lt~ f~c~ Qnd.
~ ahown ln Pig. 4, howev~r, other ~mbo~i.ng pro~il~s m~y be u~ea. A~lde ~rom th~ w~dgelike notching ~ool 5, ~tralght-tooth~d dle 50 with ~ plurA11ty of téeth 51, o~
a ~1~ 52 wlth eplke~ 53 ~ also poee~ble.
!
In th~ ~oond exempl~ry ~mbodiment of ~h~ m~ahlne ~ool acaording to the invention, hown ln Figs. 5a and ~b, the gr~pp~rs 60 and 61 ar~ ~hown ln Fig. 5a ln the opene~ ~tA~e and ln Fig. ~b ~ ~ the alosea stat~. On the ~nd seg~nt~ ~Acing onR Anoth~r, the grlppQrs 60 ~nd 61 havo ~lamplng ~aw~ 62 and 63, betw~en whlch th~ ehe~t-~ tal part 22, whioh h-r~ doe~ not hav~ any openlng 25, i~ f~tene~ whQn the alamplng ~aw~ ~r~ clo~ ( Flg . 5b ) .
a~t-r in--rtion or th- grlppsr~ 60 and 61 through the op~nlng! Z3 and 24, th~y are ~wivele~ ~owar~ one ~nother a~ d~crib~ for th~ flr-t exempl~ry ~bodlment, And in o dolng al~mp th~ h~-t-mQtal part 22 ~w~en thslr ola~plng ~w~ 6Z an~ 63, A~tQr whlch th~ notchlng tool. 5 v-~ downwnr~ And notah~ the t non 19 o~ the ~he~t-m~t~l p~rt z2, ~n ord r to ma~e the ~o~nt b~tw~ th~
h~-t-~eal p~rt~ 21 ~n~ 22. ~o~ th~ ~h~ o~ A bett~r grlp, th ~ur~Ac~ o~ tho faalng ~d~ o~ th ol~mplng 6~ ~n~ 63 i~ r~ughQnsa,~or ln~tanae Xnurle~. The rw~inlng paclng b-tw~-n th alamplng ~w~ 62 ~na 6~ 1B
-q~lv~l-nt to the thl~kno~o of th~ tal plat . For ad~ptation to di~-r nt m-t~l pl~t~ tblakn~oQs, olth~r the grlpparoi60 ana 61 oan be replao-d oompl-t-ly, or only~the:~la~plng ~aw~ 62 and 63 oan b~ rQplaa-d an~ ma~e ~ int~dh~nge~blQ for that~purpo~e.

-- In Flg~ 6, a thlrd ex mplary;embo~iment o~ ~he ~oh~no tool aaaording to th~ lnv~n~lon 1~ ~hown, ~n whlah th~ ~mbo~ln~ ~or~Q 1~ gen~r~t~
~l-atromagne~lo~lly. The maoh~ ne ~ool ha~ a handle 70 :

GA2 i 1 7 43~
,........................................................................ ~

and ~ ewit¢h 71, by whoae aatu~tlon ~h~ ~mboB~lng or notch~ng ~trok~ l~ tr~pped. A~ in the oxemplary embo~ment- ~scrl~a aPove, ~he embos~ing i~
~ocompll-he~ vi~ A notahlng ~ool 72. A~ter ~atu~tlon of th~ ~wltah 71, the notahing tool 72 ~ 8 move~ downw~rd towarA thQ ~h~et-m~tAl part to bo de~ormed, through ~ ¦
gul~ 7~, un~or the ln~lu nae ot tho ~le~trom~gnet 73.
On lt~ upp-r n~, t~o notahlng tool 72 le ~oined to ~n ~ron cor- 74, whlch 1~ pulled downward ~ter the ~leotromagnet 1~ turn~d on~ A re~torlng ~prlng 79 a~ureo th~ once ombo-~lng h~e be-n done, the notchlng tool 72 ~ re~urned to ~t~ outset po~ition ~he drive oi th~ notahlng ~ool 7~ ~e ~imilar to th~t of ~lectria nall~, ln which a ha~mering motlon ~l~o occur~ For lS centerlng thQ maahlne tool or the notchlng tool 72 ~bove th~ ntir- mbo~ing polnt, the tool hea~ 76 h~ two contorlng pln~ 77, only on~ ~f whlch c~n bo ~een - tho ~-oond 1~ hld~en b~ lt. The two c~ntorlng p~n~ 77 ~ngAge oorr~pon~ing c~nt~ring hol-- 80 ~nd 81 of ~he ~heet-~ t~l part al~ a~ ~own ln Flg. 7, an~ a~ ~ r~ult goo~
~d~u~t~nt of t~e not~nlng ~ool 72 rolativ~ to the ~enon 19 1~ n¢hle~ed In Fig~. 8a an~ 8b, two alterna~lve c~ntering po~lblll~ for tnQ thi~d ex~mpl~ry embodiment of the ~5 ~nohin~ ~ool ~r- ~hown. In the ver~lon o$ Flg. 8a, two bu~pH 91-~re lmpr~se~ ln the she~-me~al part 21, only on~ o~ whlch bump~ hown - whlch cooperate~ wl~h ~
~ona~ve ~b~al~n~ o~ th lower end of the cente~lng pin 90, ~o that wh~n t~Q aentQrlng pln 90 1~ placed agaln~t ,~ 30 the bu~p 91 a gul~lng ~orm lock 1~ crented. In th~
v~r~ant ~hown ln Flg. 8b of thi~ type o~ c~nter~.n~, a bump 93:protrud~- lnw~rd in th~ ~heet-met~l par~ 21, BO
that t~e a~ooi~ed a~nt~ring pin 92 i8 corre~ponding ~wbodled ~e oonv~x on ~t~ lower end.

Th~ U~Q o~ ~uah bump~ ~or cent~rlng, in~t~ad o~
~t~p~ hol~ e~p~clally re~ommen~e~ lf th~ m~t~l plat~ mu~t not be allowea to have relatively larg~

" CA21 1743~
., open~ng~, such a~ in vontllator con~ruatlon. Moreo~Qr, the u~e o~ bump~ ~e compa~ea wlth ¢~ntor~ng hol~ h~ th~
advant~g- that no ~e~trua~lon o~ materlal ocaure, ~nd the curfaae o~ the met~ll pl~toff ie aomp~ratlvely 61~ooth. It the bump~ p~otrude out~rd ae ln Flg. 8a, thoy can ~l~o 1l bQ groun~ off ~rter the embooelng o~ tho ~etal pl~tes~ !
The bump- ~1 and 93 embo---d into the m~tal p~ate~ 21 and 22 b ~ore the p~a~e~ ~e ~olned togoth~r~

AB ~hown ~or th~ thlr~ exomplary e~boalment in ~iq.
6, the oentering pln~ 77 aro rs~lllently support~d, or in other word~ loadod by ~ ~pr~ng 78 dl~po~ea ln ~h~ ~chln~ !
tool, ~o th~t when th~ machine tool i- mount~ on th~
~heet-~etal part, the centerlng pin 77, 9o or ~2 aan y~-ld ~o~ewhat, ~o that th- ~aahino tool c~n be pr~ssod lS ~lat again-t the sho~t-m-tal part.

All the charActerlst~a~ repro~entod in the d--crlptlon, th ~ollow~ng clalms, ~nd in the ~rawlng may : b~ e~entlal to the invention elther lndi~l~nlly or ln any arb1trnry ~o~bln~tlon ~, ,~
i I

l I
~ ,

Claims (18)

Claims:

1. A method of joining plates (structural parts) together that abut one another, in particular metal plates (21, 22), of which the face end of a first plate (22) abuts the wall face of a second plate (21) at a certain angle (for instance, a right angle), characterized by the following steps:
- disposition of at least one tenon (19) on the face end of the first plate (22), whose length is equal to or slightly longer than the thickness of the second plate (21);
- disposition of a through opening (41) in the second plate (21), whose width is equivalent to the thickness of the tenon (19);
- inserting the tenon (19) into the through opening (41) until contact between the face end of the first plate (22) and the wall face of the second plate (21);
and - notching the face end of the tenon (19) and hence wedging the tenon (19) in place in the through opening (41).

2. The method of claim 1, characterized by the retention and engaging of the plates (21, 22) after they have been put together and for the notching process by means of openings (23, 24, 25) provided in the plates (21, 22).

3. A machine tool for carrying out the method of claim 1 or 2, namely for joining two plates (structural parts) (21, 22), abutting one another at a certain angle, having a first plate (22) that has a tenon (19) (extension, tab) protruding via one face end of the plate (22) and which comprises deformable material and is insertable into a through opening (41) provided in the second plate (21), the width of which opening is equivalent to the thickness of the tenon (19), characterized by the following characteristics:

- an embossing tool (notching tool 5, 64, 72) guided displaceably along an axis (27) extending transversely to the plate (21);
- a tool holder (2, 3) for receiving the embossing tool (5, 64, 72) and guiding it into the working position for embossing the face end of the tenon (19) oriented toward the embossing tool;
- a drive mechanism (8, 28, 73, 74) for displacing the embossing tool (6, 64, 72) toward the tenon (19) along an axis (27);
so that when the embossing tool meets the free face end of the tenon the tenon is deformed, thereby causing wedging of the tenon (19) in the through opening (41) and hence a connection between the first plate (22) and the second plate (21).

4. The machine tool of claim 3, characterized in that the tool holder (2, 3) cooperates with a holder part (3) that has two grippers (1a, 1b) for chucking a workpiece which can each be inserted through an opening (23, 24) of the second plate (21) and which serve to center the embossing tool (5) relative to the tenon (19) of the first plate (22) and also to hold (engage) the first plate.

5. The machine tool of claim 4, characterized in that the tool holder (2) has an actuating device for closing and opening the grippers (1a, 1b).

6. The machine tool of claim 5, characterized in that the actuating device for closing the gripper (1a, 1b) has a displacement device (2a, 8), which is displaceable upon a displacement in the direction of the workpiece via respective shoulders (34a, 34b) (wedgelike course) disposed on the respective grippers (1a, 1b) and thus effects a closure of the grippers.

7. The machine tool of claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the actuating device for opening the grippers (1a, 1b) has pins (33a, 33b) disposed transversely to the adjusting direction and guided in oblong-slot recesses (32a, 32b) of the grippers (1a, 1b), so that upon the return motion of the actuating device the pins (33a, 33b) swivel the grippers (1a, 1b) toward one another.

8. The machine tool of one of claims 4-7, characterized in that an opening (25) is provided in the first plate (22), and that the ends of the grippers (1a, 1b) penetrate this opening (25) at least partially after their closing swiveling operation and thus engage the first plate (22).

9. The machine tool of one of claims 4-7, characterized in that the ends facing one another of the two grippers (60, 61), after their closing swiveling motion, fasten the first plate (22) between them, as a chuck for the workpiece for the embossing operation.

10. The machine tool of claim 9, characterized in that the ends facing one another of the grippers (60, 61) are roughened (knurled) to give them a better grip, or are provided with clamping jaws (62, 63) correspondingly provided with a good grip.

11. The machine tool of one of claims 3-10, characterized in that a proximity switch (18) is present, which when a certain point (31) is reached during the operating motion outputs a signal to control the drive mechanism (8, 73, 74), in such a way that the deformation of the tenon (19) by the embossing tool does not begin until the adjusting of the embossing tool relative to the tenon (19) has taken place.

12. The machine tool of one of claims 3-10, characterized in that a holding-down device (4) that is under the influence of a spring (11) is provided, which pon engagement of the first structural part (22) presses the second component (21) on its face end through the grippers.

13. The machine tool of one of claim 3-12, characterized in that the drive mechanism (2, 8, 73, 74) and/or the actuating device (2, 8) functions with pneumatic-hydraulic (hydraulic cylinder 8) or electrical (electromagnet 73) means.

14. The machine tool of claim 13, characterized in that the drive mechanism has both an electromagnet (73) and a body (74) that is connected to the embossing tool (71).

15. The machine tool of one of claims 3-14, characterized in that centering with at least two centering pins (77, 90, 92) is present, which cooperate with centering marks (80, 81, 91, 93) in the second plate.

16. The machine tool of claim 15, characterized in that the centering devices are formed on the first plate as indentations (bore 80, bump 93) or protrusion (bump 91).

17. The machine tool of one of claims 3-16, characterized in that it is embodied as flat steel of rectangular cross section (55, 52) with a chisel-like working end (51, 53).

18. The machine tool of claim 17, characterized in that the working end comprises a plurality of longitudinally and transversely disposed wedgelike or pyramidlike segments (straight toothing 50 or version with spikes 53).