DE102004016854A1 - Process to make lightweight aluminium and plastic e.g. carbon fibre sandwich panels for e.g. automotive applications - Google Patents

Abstract

In a process to manufacture lightweight aluminium sandwich panels the panels are joined by staples inserted through pre-drilled holes. The sandwich may be further strengthened by bonding and insertion of a plastic layer.

Description

The The invention relates to a method as claimed in the first claim specified type.

Under The term "thin sheets" are both sheets from a single material / alloy as well as sandwich panels and / or Combinations thereof understood as well as components made therefrom, as used in particular in the automotive industry. Farther are under the term "thin sheets" also panels / plates made of plastic, CFRP and other materials and produced therefrom Components as well as mixed constructions and components made from them understood that need to be connected.

The known joining techniques, Such as clinching, screwing, riveting, gluing or welding for sandwich panels or mixed constructions of different materials only with restriction usable.

Very thin sheets can with the mentioned joining techniques difficult to connect. They do not guarantee sufficient Holding forces.

Especially Sandwich sheets, which consist of different layers, will be either by the o.g. joining technologies with very high pressures loaded, with their softer layers are compressed and the material will give way at these points or it will only the upper layer of the sandwich panel joined (gluing, welding), thereby there is a risk that the underlying layers of replace the upper one. Sandwich panels can be about it In addition, usually at all do not weld, because in this case the underlying plastic layer is destroyed by when welding occurring temperatures.

task It is the object of the present invention to connect thin sheets propose suitable method.

The Invention is solved by the features of the first claim. Surprisingly has turned out that thin sheets and of course also combinations of thin sheets with sandwich sheets to staple very well (staple) leave. in this connection can both sheet metal components with sheet metal components, especially if it is to components made of aluminum sheets, or even plastic components be easily clamped (stapled) with sheet metal components. Of the Advantage of tacking / stapling is that all layers and / or layers of the components to be joined together by the Clip are connected. Another advantage of the method exists in that two manufacturing steps, clamping and joining, too a step together. Also need the Metal clips significantly less area with the same holding forces the well-known classical joining methods like gluing, welding, screwing Etc.

The under claims describe advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Especially advantageous is the method according to claim 2. In the stapling / stapling Sandwich sheets ensure that neither the plastic layer pressed together is under a high joint pressure, nor that the sheet surfaces detach from the plastic layer can, because all layers are connected together by the clamp.

ever for strength and resistance of the material on the one hand and the hardness of the material used metal clips on the other side can the Sheets are to be stapled directly. But it is also possible, first the puncture holes to drill or punch and then staple (staple). The introduction the puncture holes This can be synchronized with parenthesis in a system.

By the development according to claim 4, to attach the metal ends of the clip, a simple securing of the metal brackets against loosening is achieved. Where stapling is not possible is, can the Ends of the metal brackets are bent in a conventional manner.

Especially Advantageously, the inventive method as a substitute for Stapling (points) of components are used, which glued together become. Thus, the components in a simple way to complete curing of the Adhesive fixed.

Generally has the brackets of thin sheets Advantages of material combinations that are not welded can or have sufficient compressive strength to riveted or to be screwed. Another application is multi-layered Material combinations that can not be glued because the layers would separate under load because only one surface wetting individual layers with adhesive takes place. Another application is given if more than two components / sheets with each other to connect.

There The necessities Drucklufttackergeräte much lighter than conventional ones Welding tongs or Clinching / riveting pliers, they are also very suitable for use with robots and thus for use in a far-reaching automated Shell of automobiles.

Claims (6)

Method for connecting at least two thin sheets, in particular sheets for the automotive industry, characterized in that the thin sheets are clamped together. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that the thin sheets are constructed as sandwich panels, where between the two Sheets a plastic layer was introduced. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized that before clinging to the for the Passage of the bracket provided points holes drilled or punched become. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the metal ends of the clamps to the thin sheet be stapled. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the thin sheets be glued together before stapling. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that components of different materials be stapled together.