MXPA97006749A - Performing bolt - Google Patents

Abstract

A functional element (10), comprising a stem part (12) and a head part (14), or a hollow body part (14), for the attachment of a part of sheet metal (52), in Particular for the liquid-tight and / or gas-tight connection to the metal sheet part (52), without penetrating or piercing this part of sheet metal, this functional element is characterized in that the head or body part ( 14) has at least one notch feature (20, 102), or in an open hollow cavity (18) at its end face (22) that faces the sheet metal part and / or at its outer periphery, and form in the regions, which come into contact with the sheet metal part with edges configured exclusively in a rounded shape (38, 42, 100), which, during the insertion of the element, cooperate with a configurator die button (60) , in order to provide a coupling engaged in an adapted manner in the form of the metal sheet material al, with a notch characteristic (20, 102) or with the notch characteristics (20, 102). A method for attaching a functional element to a part of the metal sheet (52), a component assembly and also at least one die button and a fitting head are also disclosed and claimed.

Description

BOLT THAT FORM PRESSURE The present invention relates to a method for the sealed connection, in particular for the connection, hermetic to the liquid and / or hermetic to the gas of a functional element, in particular of a functional element that has a part of head and a part of stem , to a part of metal sheet in which this functional element does not penetrate through the sheet material, however this part of the metal sheet is secured for the transmission of axial forces and preferably also of torsions. Also, the present invention relates to a functional element, to a component assembly comprising this functional element and to a metal sheet part and also to a die button and an adjusting head for use in the method of joining an element functional to the metal sheet part. In the construction of vehicle bodies, in particular, but not exclusively, there is frequently a need to provide an absolutely liquid-tight and, preferably, also gas-tight connection, between the sheet metal part and a function element having a part of stem and a part of head. By way of example, spikes can be provided in the floor region of a vehicle and represent functional elements to which the carpets are secured. Water, for example, the water entering from the road, in any case, must be prevented from ascending through the capillary holes, as a result of the perforation of the sheet metal floor during the union of the functional element and thus produce the corrosion of this sheet metal floor or functional element, or that the carpet suffers damage due to the existence of moisture. It is really possible, with a very exact process control, to make a hermetic connection to the liquid and / or gas tightness, with the bare parts of the metal sheet or the metal sheet parts with metal coatings, with the use of the Known bolts that penetrate and rivet. However, the mass production of products, at a reasonable cost, is not possible in this way, in particular when the tools wear out during long production runs and when the sheet metal parts are subject to certain tolerances. The gas-tight and / or gas-tight connection of fasteners to metal sheet portions, which are coated on one or both sides with plastic, with sheet and / or paint coatings, represents a particular difficulty due to that the coating is frequently damaged during the insertion process, and thus capillary gaps are created. Likewise, a loosening of the connection can be expected during the subsequent thermal treatments, for example during the application of paint in a heated chamber, and can also lead to unexpected capillary holes. A connection, which is absolutely hermetic to liquid and / or gas-tight, can now really only be secured with the so-called welded elements, which are butt-welded on the sheet metal surface. For this reason, the preambles of claim 1 and claim 9 take into account such prior art. The use of functional elements that can be welded is, however, not directly reconcilable with the modern methods during the processes in metal sheets, because they alter the course of the metal sheet process, which takes place widely in presses, that is, it represents an alien stage. The heat generated during the welding is also, in many cases, detrimental, because it can lead to a local reduction of the characteristics of the sheet metal part. With coated metal sheets, the use of a welding process is particularly difficult because the coating is locally damaged by the intense heat welding process. For sheet metal parts that are provided with plastic and / or sheet metal and / or paint coatingsIt is also difficult to always ensure a good electrical connection between the sheet metal part and the element during butt welding. When this is achieved, then the gases, which are also partially poisonous, are released as a result of process heat. In some cases, it is also important to connect functional elements in the form of hollow body elements, with a hollow body part, for example in the form of a nut element, to a part of metal sheet, without a gas or a liquid is able to pass through the metal sheet into the hollow element. For example, such requirements arise similarly during the construction of vehicle bodies or in the manufacture of injection molded parts with inserts in the form of sheet metal parts equipped with nut elements, where the injection molding composition is not allowed. penetrate through the metal sheet part inside the thread. The object of the invention is to make available a method and / or a functional element and a component assembly in which a connection, which is at least always substantially liquid-tight and, preferably, also gas-tight, is secured between the element functional and the part of the metal sheet with a process which involves little heat and in reality without any finally present coating of the sheet metal part being damaged, so that the functionality of the desired appearance of the component assembly no longer is present. Likewise, the method must be able to be achieved without special complexity during the mass production of sheet metal parts with the use of favorable price tools and by long production runs. In order to satisfy this object, provision is made for an element to be connected to the metal sheet part by a joining process that provides a configuration, and this method preferably being such that the metal sheet part is connected in a shape-fitting manner to the head part, or in the case of using a hollow element, to the body of this hollow element, without piercing the metal sheet by the action of the force between the adjusting head which guides the element functional and is disposed on one side of the sheet metal part and a die button disposed on the other side of the sheet metal part. Since the sheet metal part is not perforated during the joining of the functional element, the sheet metal part is preserved as a closed membrane so that no capillary gap can arise between the two sides of the sheet metal part. It is admitted that it is not possible to directly produce in this way a connection between the functional element and the part of the metal sheet, which has the same resistance to the extraction of the functional element as a connection in which the head part of the element it is arranged on the other side of the metal sheet from the stem part. However, one can certainly achieve adequate resistance of the connection, which is completely sufficient in many of the existing applications and where the maximum resistance of the connection is not required, for example for the joining of carpets in vehicles, for the assembly of roof linings in vehicles or during the installation of braking lines, cables, lamps and the like. The so-called joint and puncture-rivet processes are known that, as a rule, do not lead to the perforation of the part of the metal sheet. In the through-joint method, two metal sheets are secured to each other in a known manner, with the two metal sheet portions being deformed in such a way that they engage in mutual contact in a fashion adjusted to the shape. However, functional elements and auxiliary elements are not used here. During the punch-riveting, an auxiliary element in the shape of a punch-rivet is generally used for the connection of two parts of sheet metal, however, the punch-rivet does not represent a functional element and is not part of the stem. Also, modified versions of the punch-rivet are generally known, which are connected to a piece of stem and are attempted for insertion into only a part of the metal sheet. With these punch-rivet elements, a perforation of the metal sheet portion by means of the punch-rivet is not necessarily attempted, however, it occurs in some cases when considered statistically, so this known method also does not make it possible to achieve a Liquid tight and / or gas tight assembly, which is suitable for mass production. With the method of the invention, there are several possibilities of achieving the connection adjusted to the shape between the metal sheet part and the head part or body of the functional element. For example, to produce a locking connection, the head part or the body part is formed with a hollow cavity open on its end face facing the leaf blade part, with the body cavity, which has at least one notch feature, and the sheet material is engaged in contact with the notch feature by means of the die button.

The formation of such a notch in a hollow cavity is, for example, described in the European patent application, not yet published, No. 96 113 103.4, in relation to the nut elements. In the method described in the European application, the metal sheet part is perforated during the union of the nut element by a preceding punch hole, so that it is not possible to speak of a water-tight connection. However, the disclosed method can be used directly for the purpose of the present application for the formation of notch characteristics and for the formation of features that provide security against rotation, which is the reason why the content of the application European Patent Application or the corresponding German application No. 195 30 466.7 is made part of the description of the present application. Another possibility for the formation of the interlocking connection between the head part or the body part of the functional element and the sheet sheet part, which can be used as an alternative to the possibility mentioned above, or also in addition to that , lies in the provision of the head part in its outer periphery with at least one notch characteristic, with which the sheet material forms a hooked coupling. In this embodiment, it is particularly advantageous when the material of the head part or body of the functional elements is deformed by means of the adjusting head, in order to generate or improve the engaged coupling. The method according to the invention, or the corresponding functional element, is particularly well suited for use with metal sheet coated parts and, in particular, with metal sheet portions which are coated on one or both sides, for example with a metallic coating and / or a plastic coating and / or a sheet metal coating and / or a coating of paint and in which the method of configuration is carried out using edges of rounded shape, both in the element as well as in the die During the process of the galvanized metal sheet parts, or using parts of zinc-coated metal sheet, the coating is also deformed during deformation of the sheet metal part and is thus preserved even after the joining of the functional element to the metal sheet part. With plastic, sheet or sheet coatings, these can also be designed with modern techniques in such a way that they are not damaged by the joining method, or they are damaged only in regions that are in close contact with the head part of the element. functional and not, or at least substantially not, visible or accessible from the outside. There are several possibilities to achieve the required security against rotation. For example, features that provide security against rotation can be provided in the hollow cavity of the head or body part and / or in the ring wall and / or on the end face of the head or leather part it confronts. the sheet metal part and / or the outer periphery of the head or body part, optionally only in the lower region thereof. For this purpose, the outer periphery of the head or body part may have an oval, polygonal or grooved configuration. The requirements that are placed for safety against rotation are less critical with the functional elements discussed here because they are frequently attached to the complementary fastener elements not by rotation but rather by axially directed movement or by a connection to Pressure. For this reason, it is often possible to renounce, in the manner of cost savings, the die button that will lead to a closed engaged contact with the features of the functional element that provide security against rotation. For example, when using features that provide security against rotation, according to the European request, mentioned above, No. 96 113 103.4, the prominent parts corresponding to the button of the die can be omitted. Through the configuration of multiple corners of the sheet material, which deforms in the hollow cavity of the element, adequate security against rotation is achieved for the purpose of the present application without the use of these prominent protrusions. This also has the advantage that the coated surface of the metal sheet part is also not damaged by the prominent parts. In addition, special embodiments of the subject matter of the invention and also further details in the elementary object can be taken from the following description of the drawings. The following embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which they are shown: Figure 1 is a side view, partially in section, of a functional element; Figure 2 is a plan view on the end face of the functional element of Figure 1, seen in the direction of arrow II, Figure 3 is a representation similar to Figure 1, but of only half of a modality something modified; Figure 4 is a plan view, according to Figure 2, but as seen in the IV direction of the arrow of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a representation of only the right half of a subsequent functional element, which is very similar to the functional element of Figure 1; Figure 6 is the joining of the functional element of Figure 5 to a sheet metal part, which uses an adjusting head and a die button, with the illustration being only partially in section and shown only on one side of the shaft longitudinal of the functional element; Figure 7 is a representation similar to the Figure 6, but of a modified mode; Figure 8 is a representation, according to Figure 1, but of a further modified embodiment; Figure 9 is a plan view on the end face of the head part of the functional element of Figure 8, as viewed in the direction of arrow IX; Figure 10 is a first step of working during the joining of the functional element of Figure 8 to a metal sheet part using an adjusting head and a die button; Figure 11 is a further step of the joining method beginning in Figure 10; Figure 12 is the end phase of the joining method of Figures 10 and 11; Figure 13 is an enlarged representation of the region of Figure 13, characterized by XIII, with a possible modification being shown and Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17 are drawings corresponding to those of Figures 6, 7, 12 and 13, but using a functional element in the form of a hollow element. In all figures, the same reference numbers are used for some part (s) that have the same function. Likewise, in all the figures, in which only the right half of the respective modality is shown, it must be assumed that the left half is designed with a mirrored symmetry on the right half and is only omitted for purposes of a clearer illustration. Figures 1 and 2 show, first of all, a functional element 10 with a part-stem 12 and a head part 14. As can be seen from Figure 1, the stem part 12 is provided here with a thread 16. However, this is not absolutely necessary. As shown on the right side of Figure 1, the stem part 12 can, for example, be made simply as a cylindrical stem 17. The stem part can be in any desired way, depending on the element with which it is going to cooperate the functional element 10. The head part 14 of this element is of hollow configuration, that is to say it has a hollow cavity 18 and is formed in its lower region in Figure 1, according to the nut element of the patent application German 195 30 466.7 (which corresponds to the European application 95 113 103.4). That is, the sample characteristics 20 are formed by the wedge-type recesses, arranged on the end face 22 of the head portion 13, at regular intervals about the central longitudinal axis 24, with the wedge-type recesses being produced by an in-head training tool, configured accordingly. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, these wedge-shaped recesses 26, have their greatest depth at the entrance in the hollow cavity 18 and melt in the middle region of the circular end face 22 within this face of extreme. The functional element thus has a circular contact surface in the outer region of the end face 22. The material displaced by the wedge-shaped recesses forms the prominent parts 28, which define the narrowest part of the hollow cavity 18. In deviation of the nut element, according to the German patent application 195 30 466.7, the head part of the functional element of Figures 1 and 2, have, in the center of the base surface of the hollow cavity 18, k a wall 30 of the ring projecting from this base surface and going in the direction of the end face 22 of the head part, with the length of the ring wall, however, is selected so that it ends before it reaches the end wall. narrowest point of the hollow cavity 18, formed by the prominent parts 28. The ring wall 30 has its own flat end face 32. This flat end face 32 is fused by means of a bevel 34 in a rounded recess 36 in the center of l to ring wall 30. On the radially outer side, the flat end face 32 of the ring wall 30 is fused by means of a rounded edge 38, into the cylindrical outer wall 40 of the ring wall. As can be seen similarly from Figure 1, the head part has on its end face 22 a rounded peripheral edge 42 and similarly has a rounded edge 46 extending peripherally on the end face 44 adjacent to the stem part 12.

As will be explained subsequently in greater detail, the notch features 20 enable a shape-fit connection with the sheet metal part, so that the functional element can only be removed from the sheet metal part in the axial direction, exerting a high force. The recesses 26 and also the regions 48 between the projecting portions 28, form features that provide security against rotation, in which the sheet metal material is embedded. Figures 3 and 4 show an alternative design of the functional element of Figures 1 and 2, in which, in the deviation of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the prominent parts 28 are replaced by a prominent part 28, which extends peripherally, and the wedge-shaped recesses 26 are replaced by a conical recess 26, which extends peripherally. Because the prominent ring portion 28 and ring recess 26 are no longer capable of serving as features that provide security against rotation, longitudinal grooves 50 are provided in the lower region of the outer periphery of the head portion 14 for ensure security against rotation, as will be explained similarly in greater detail.

The functional element of Figures 3 and 4 is also formed as a cold head part, with the material being taken out of the conical recesses 26 being used to form the ring boss 28. Figures 5 and 6 now show the attachment of the functional element 10 to a metal sheet portion 52, similar to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. The sheet metal portion 52, which is already shown in Figure 6 in the form in which it is a lock-shaped connection, and the head part 14 of the functional element has, before the insertion of the functional element 10, the configuration of a flat sheet metal panel, however, this is not essential. For example, the metal sheet portion 52 may represent a region of a recess previously formed in the sheet metal portion. It can be seen from Figure 6 that the functional element 10 is guided by an adjusting part 54, which has a plunger 56, which can be moved in the axial direction 24 and a tubular housing 57 around the latter, which is oriented by springs 58. The functional element 10 is, as is now customary, during the process of the metal sheet, connected to the part of the metal sheet by means of a press and truly by the cooperation of the adjusting ring 54 with the button 60. of die In this aspect, the die button 60 is received in the lower tool of the press, while the adjusting head 54 is attached to the upper tool of the press or to an intermediate plate of the press. Other possibilities of union also exist. For example, the die button 60 can be attached to the intermediate plate of the press, and the adjusting head 54 can be attached to the upper tool of the press, or the reverse arrangements with also conceivable, in which the button 60 The die is mounted on the upper tool of the press and the adjusting head 54 on the lower tool of the press or on the intermediate plate. The use of a dam is not absolutely essential either. In the form of example, arrangements are known in which the die button and the adjustment head are carried by a robot, and the relative movement required between the adjustment head 54 and the die button 60 in the direction of the axis 24 is achieved either by the robot itself or by the action of a force from the outside. The arrangement is thus manufactured that at the beginning of the closing movement of the press, the housing part 57, resiliently oriented, first holds the metal sheet portion 52 between its end face 62 and the end face 64 of the die button . Part 52 of the metal sheet will now no longer slip into the tool. During the subsequent closing movement of the press, the end face 66 of the plunger 56 now contacts the end face 44 of the functional element 10 and presses the other side 22 of the head part 14 opposite the stem part., against the metal sheet portion 52, which is pressed by the force of the press in the recess 68 of the die button, and a recess of 70 of the pot type is formed in the portion 52 of metal sheet with tching simultaneous of it. In the central region, the die button 60 has a cylindrical projection 72, with an outer cylindrical wall 74 and a tapered end face 76, which is fused by means of a rounded ring recess 78 in the rounded ring projection 80. During the closing of the tool, the end face 76 of the die button 60 deforms the sheet metal material in the hollow cavity 18 of the head part 14 and pushes the material partially into the notches 20, formed by the projections 28. During the closing phase, the tapered end face 76, rounded upwardly, of the cylindrical projection 72 displaces the metal sheet in the radially outward direction and simultaneously deforms the ring wall 30 via the sheet material of such. The extension movement of the wall 30 of the ring, which takes place radially to the outside, similarly pushes the material inside the notches 20. Figure 6 shows the state of the after the completion of the adjustment process and it is directly evident that a shape adjustment connection has taken place between the part of the metal sheet and the functional element 10 in the region of the notches 20. As a result of the closing movement of the tool, the sheet metal material, however, has also been tched within the recesses 26, so that a hooked engagement also takes place here and the required security against rotation is also achieved. But the sheet material also presses on the regions 48 between the projections 28 - which can not be seen in this drawing - so safety against rotation also arises here. It is particularly important that the part 52 of the metal sheet is not perforated at some point by the head part of the functional element 10, that is, the metal sheet portion 52 forms a continuous membrane, which is required to have a seal absolute. It can be seen from Figure 6 that all the configuration edges of the die button, for example at the transition 82 between the flat end face 64 and here the cylindrical inner peripheral wall 84 of the recess 68 of the die button and in the transition 86 between the vertical wall 84 of the recess of the die button and the horizontal flat base surface 88 of the recess 68 and also in the region of the recess projection 80 of the recess 78 and the tip of the conical end face of the cylindrical projection 72 They are rounded. The transition between the base surface 88 of the recess 68 and the cylindrical side wall of the cylindrical projection 72 does not need to be rounded, however, it is usually rounded for reasons of ngth. It is noted that in the region of this transition, a free space 90, after the connection, has been carried out. An additional clearance 92 can be seen adjacent to the deformed ring wall. These free spaces are convenient because they can be filled to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the tolerances of the metal sheet and the flow capacity of the sheet metal material without damaging the tools, which would be feared with filling full of these spaces. The rounded transitions 42 of the lower end face of the functional element, in the region of the projections 28 and in the transition of the notches 20 in the base surface of the hollow cavity 18 and also in the edges of the ring wall 30, they are also formed as rounded surfaces. In this way one avoids damage to the metal sheet portion 52, which could eventually lead to the perforation of the latter. After the connection, according to Figure 6, has been completed, the metal sheet portion 52 not only has a recess 70 of the pot type, in which the head part 14 and the functional element 10 are partially received, without any more an inverse pot type configuration in the center of the base region of this pot, where the sheet metal material is pressed into the hollow cavity 18 of the head part. Figure 7 shows that the type of pot surrounding the head part of the functional element 10 of the sheet sheet part 55 is not necessary. In the embodiment of Figure 7, the die button does not have the recess 68, but rather the base surface 88 of the die button has extended upward to the radially outermost edge of the die button and thus forms the end face of this die button. The die button 60 of Figure 7, however, has cylindrical projections 72 in the central region, with the central projection having the same configuration as the cylindrical projection 72 of the embodiment of Figure 6. It is noted from Figure 7 that the metal sheet portion 52, which will similarly be understood as a flat sheet metal part before the joining of the functional element 10, is likewise fastened, at least in the region of the adjustment head, in the region of the head portion between the end face 62 of the resiliently oriented housing 57 and the end face 64 of the die button. In other aspects, the functional description and also the description of the apparatus design for the embodiment of Figure 7 is precisely the same as for the embodiment of Figure 6, whereby the description need not be repeated here. Figure 8 shows a modified embodiment of the functional element 10, in which the hollow cavity 18 is formed as a hollow space, at least substantially cylindrical, and the ring wall 30, which projects from the base surface of the hollow cavity 18 , the cylindrical external surface 40 is formed as a solid cylindrical projection from which it is melted by means of a rounded edge 38 on a flat end face 32. The transition from the cylindrical hollow cavity 18 to the end face 22 of the The head portion is also of rounded design, as indicated by the reference number 100. It is noted that in the embodiment of Figures 8 and 9, notch features are provided in the hollow cavity 18. Instead, a notch in the form of a ring-like recess 102 is formed in this embodiment at the outer periphery of the head portion 14. This ring-like recess 102 is located in the region of the periphery between the ring boss 104 in the region of the transition from the end face 44 to the outer periphery 101 of the head portion 14 and the lower region 106 of the outer periphery of the head portion 14 adjacent to the remote end face 22 of the stem portion 12. This lower region 106 of the outer periphery of the head portion 14 has a diameter greater than the deepest point of the ring-like recess 102 and is, in other aspects, provided with longitudinal grooves 50, in accordance with the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, which serve to provide security against rotation. In other aspects, it can be seen from Figure 8 that there is a ring strip 108 below the ring boss 104. This ring strip plays an important role during the adjustment movement, as will be explained later. In this modality, the design of the stem part 12 can also be selected as appropriate. The insertion of the functional element 10 of the embodiment of Figures 8 and 9 will now be explained in more detail with reference to Figures 10 and 13. In this embodiment, the union of the functional element 10 also takes place by means of an adjusting head 54. , which, in accordance with the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7, similarly has a tubular housing part 57, which is spring-oriented downwards and a plunger 56 can be moved coaxially to the housing part 57, with this plunger 56 pressing against the end face 44 of the functional element 10, adjacent to the stem part 12. In the deviation of the illustration of Figure 6, the end face of the cylindrical plunger 56 is here provided with an outer ring 110 of projection and a ring-like recess 112, which is positioned radially inside the outer ring, so that initially only the end face of the projection ring region 110 comes into contact with the outer face 114 of the head portion 14. Figure 10 shows how the sheet metal material 52 is held in the form of a flat sheet metal panel, between the end face 62 and the housing 57 and the flat end face 64 of the die button 60 at the start of the adjustment movement. The die button 60 is provided, according to the die button of Figure 6, with a ring-like recess 38, having a flat base surface 88 and similarly having a cylindrical projection 72 which, however, here only it has a flat end face 114 disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 24 in the upper part, and this end face is fused by means of a rim 116 of rounded configuration in the cylindrical wall of the projection 72. Similarly, in deviation from the design of Figure 6, the outer wall of the recess 68 is in this mode not vertically disposed, but rather diverges in the direction towards the end face 64 of the die button 60. The transition of the peripheral wall 84 from the recess on the end face 64 is similarly formed here as a rounded configurator edge 118. Figure 11 now shows an intermediate step of connecting the functional element 10 to the metal sheet portion 52. One notices that the flat end face 22 of the head part has pressed the sheet metal material 52 into the ring recess 68, with the sheet metal material starting, as a result of the peripheral wall 84 configured slightly conical, of the ring recess 68, to move within the grooves 50 in the lower region of the outer periphery of the head part 14. At the same time, the cylindrical projection 72 results in a deformation of the metal sheet material 52 in the cavity hollow 18. The final state can then be seen in Figure 12.

It can be seen initially from this drawing that the sheet metal material 52 has been fully pressed into the recess 68 of the die button 60, and the cylindrical projection 72 has clamped the sheet metal material between its end face 114 in the opposite end face 32 of the cylindrical projection in the hollow cavity 18 of the head part 14. It is also noted that, during the subsequent closing movement of the tool, the strip 108 of the ring has been pressed into the sheet material 52 of metal, in conjunction with the peripheral wall 116 diverging slightly conically from the button 60 of the die, has pushed the sheet metal material into the annular groove 102. This notch 102 or the corresponding ring recess is not filled completely in order to provide space to receive the sheet metal material, depending on the actual thickness of the metal sheet. However, in this embodiment, in addition to the aforementioned movement, the material of the head part of the functional element is also deformed during the closing of the tool and in fact in such a way that the ring collar 110 of the plunger 56 has formed a corresponding recess in the head part 14 of the functional element and the end face of the plunger 56 now completely contacts the deformed end face 44 of the head part. The material that is pressed away by this deformation has been pressed, on the one hand, on the material 52 of the metal sheet and, on the other hand, however, it also contributes to the movement of the sheet metal material in the notch 102. This special design of the end face of the plungers 56 is recognizes is not essential in this modality. However, it is very useful in order to produce adequate strength in the connection between the functional element 10 and the part 52 of the metal sheet. Here, it can also be seen directly that a connection conforming to the shape has been achieved in the region of the groove 102, to which the material 52 of the metal sheet must come into contact in the projections of part 14. of head, formed between the slots 50 and prevents the functional element from being removed. This security against rotation is achieved in this embodiment in which the sheet material is pressed into the slots 50. Figure 13 shows, on the one hand, a somewhat enlarged representation of the final configuration in the region of the notch 102. , but also shows that the hollow cavity 18 can additionally be provided with a ring projection 28, so that a notch 20 also exists in this embodiment and a hooked connection of the sheet metal material with this cut-out 20 can also take place here , which has the shape of a ring type notch. It is also seen from the representation of Figure 13 that the cylindrical projection 30 is similarly deformed by the adjusting movement and that the forming edge 38 has moved radially to the outside, as a result of this deformation and has thus pushed the metal material of sheet within the notch 20. The design here in the region of the hollow cavity 18 corresponds, at least substantially, to the design of the embodiment according to Figures 3 and 4. Here it is also seen that the sheet metal material It has the shape of a continuous membrane, so that an absolutely sealed connection occurs. All the forming edges are also here of rounded design, in order to avoid as much as possible damage to the sheet metal material, in the sense of a perforation of the latter or unwanted damage to any coating that might be present. . In this embodiment, the free spaces are also produced in the region of the head part and provide additional occupation spaces, depending on the thickness of the metal sheet and the material of the metal sheet. That is, an advantage of all the examples given here is that one can work with one and the same functional element with several different thicknesses of the metal sheet. It is only necessary to adapt the die button to the thickness of the metal sheet. The configuration of the die button for the insertion of the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 has not been shown separately. However, they have substantially the same configuration as the die button of the embodiment of Figure 6, but with the exception that the wall 84 of the outer ring of the recess 68 is made slightly divergent in order to ensure the connection adjusted to the shape of High quality with 50 slots, without damaging the metal sheet. This conical configuration, however, is not absolutely essential during the joining of a functional element according to Figures 3 and 4. The conical configuration of the die button has, however, the additional advantage that the part of Metal sheet is easily released from the die button during the opening of the tool. Finally, Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17 show that the invention can also be performed directly with functional elements in the form of hollow elements. In Figures 14 and 17 the same reference numbers were used as in the corresponding Figures 6, 7, 12 and 13. A separate description of these Figures 14 to 17 is not thus necessary. In these figures, the hollow part 14 takes the place of the head part. You should simply make sure that the hollow element does not deform in an inconvenient way during the union, although a deformation may, under some circumstances, be intentional, for example, in order to produce a narrow portion at the entrance to the hollow element. A narrow portion of this kind can, for example, be useful for making a snap connection with a correspondingly configured male part. As examples of the metal sheet materials that come into question, one should name ST12 to ST15, DIN 16 and ZStE the qualities 220 to 430. As regards functional elements, one could use materials according to the DIN norm 1654 (cold-type steels), as they are frequently considered for functional elements. All the examples have the additional advantage that an extensive protection is given against the turning and lack of leveling of the functional element. This applies in particular to the embodiments of Figures 6, 12 and 13, with the head part 14 being clamped between the two pot-type regions of the sheet metal part.

Claims (31)

1. CLAIMS 1. Method for the sealed connection, in particular the liquid-tight and / or gas-tight connection, of a functional element, in particular a functional element having a head part and a stem part, to a part of the plate metal, in which the functional element does not penetrate through the sheet material, but is secured to the part of the metal sheet for the transmission of axial forces and preferably also twists, this method is characterized in that the functional element is connected to the sheet metal part by a joining process based on mechanical deformation. Method, according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal sheet part is connected in a manner that adapts in shape to the head part, or, in the case of using a hollow element, to the body of the element hollow, without piercing the metal sheet part by the action of force between an adjusting head, which guides the functional element and is disposed on one side of the metal sheet part, and a die button, arranged in the other side of the sheet metal part. Method, according to claim 2, characterized in that a connection is locked in shape, the head part or the body part is formed with a hollow cavity open on its end face facing the part of the sheet of metal, and the hollow cavity has at least one notch feature and because the sheet material is engaged in contact with this notch feature, by means of the die button. Method, according to claim 3, characterized in that a projection ring wall is provided inside the hollow cavity in the region of its base surface and the ring wall is expanded radially to the outside by the die button by means of the sheet material and presses this sheet material against the inner wall of the hollow cavity above the notch feature. Method, according to claim 2, characterized in that the head part or body part has at least one notch characteristic at its outer periphery, with which a contact engaged with the sheet metal material is produced, with In order to generate an adapted connection in the form of the head part or the body part, with the part of the metal sheet. Method, according to claim 5, characterized in that the material of the head or body part of the functional element is deformed by means of the adjusting head, in order to produce the engaged contact. Method, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the part of the sheet metal is coated on one or both sides, for example with a metallic coating and / or a plastic coating and / or a sheet metal coating and / or a coating of paint, and because the method of configuration is carried out using edges of rounded configuration, both in the functional element as well as in the die. Method, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by features that provide security against rotation in the hollow cavity of the head or body part and / or wall ring and / or face at the end of the head or body part, confronting the part of the metal sheet and / or at the outer periphery of the head or body part, optionally only in the lower region thereof and in the material of The foils are embedded in a manner adapted in the manner in which they provide security against rotation. 9. A functional element, comprising a stem part and a head part, or a body part, for attachment to a part of sheet metal, in particular for liquid-tight and / or gas tight a the metal sheet part, without penetrating or piercing this part of sheet metal, this functional element is characterized in that the head part or body part has at least one notch characteristic, or in the hollow cavity open on its end face which confronts the part of the metal sheet and / or on its outer periphery and is formed in the regions that come in contact with the part of the metal sheet, with edges exclusively rounded configurators, which, during the insertion of the element, cooperate with a configurator die button, in order to provide a coupling engaged in a manner adapted in the shape of the sheet metal material, with a notch characteristic or with both notch characteristics. 10. Functional element, according to claim 9, characterized in that the head or body part has a hollow cavity open on its end face and because the notch feature is formed by a projection, extending peripherally, at the end. peripheral wall of the hollow cavity. 11. Functional element, according to claim 9, characterized in that the head or body part includes a hollow cavity open on an end face and a plurality of notch features, which are formed by projections projecting from the wall peripheral of the hollow cavity within the latter, and that optionally are formed by depressions pressed in corresponding positions on the end face of the head or body part, which serve simultaneously as features that provide security against rotation. 12. Functional element according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the notch characteristic or a subsequent notch characteristic is formed by a ring projection projecting outwards, in the region of the external periphery of the head or body part, adjacent to the free end face and by a recess provided between the ring projection and the other end face of the head or body part, in the region of the peripheral wall of the latter, in particular by a ring recess, in which a rounded ring strip is provided, which extends peripherally, preferably between the ring projection and the recess. 13. Functional element, according to claim 12, characterized in that a plurality of recesses, in each case located between the ring projection and the other end face of the head or body part at its outer periphery, which each form an additional notch feature. 14. Functional element, according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the wall of the projection ring is provided inside the hollow cavity on its base surface and projects in the direction of the end face facing the part of metal sheet and the projecting ring wall ends on its own end face, when it goes in the direction of this end face, before the narrowest position of the hollow cavity, formed by a notch characteristic or by the notch features. 15. Functional element, according to claim 14, characterized in that the end face of the ring wall is formed on the inner side by a bevel or by a rounded edge. 16. Functional element, according to claim 15, characterized in that the end face of the ring wall has a circular flat surface, extending at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the element. 17. Functional element, according to claim 15 or claim 16, characterized in that the flat surface is fused to the end face of the ring wall by means of a rounded edge inside its cylindrical or conical outer wall. 18. Functional element, according to one of claims 9 to 17, characterized in that security elements against rotation are provided, arranged on the internal peripheral wall of the hollow cavity and / or on the end face of the hollow cavity, which confronts with the sheet metal part and / or the end face of the ring wall and / or the outer periphery of the head or body part, for example in the region of the end face of the outer periphery of the head or body part, which confronts the sheet metal part and / or a polygonal or grooved configuration of the head or body part. 19. Functional element according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 18, characterized in that the stem part is equipped with a thread or with a configuration similar to a thread or with a peripheral groove or with a plurality of peripheral grooves, for example with a pine tree configuration, when seen in longitudinal cross-section, or with other configured features, and in that the selected configuration of the stem part may be connected to a corresponding element cooperating with the functional element. Component assembly, in particular manufactured according to one of claims 1 to 8 and consisting of a metal sheet part and a functional element, according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 19, characterized in that the material The film is connected in a manner adapted in shape or in a coupling engaged with the notch characteristic or with the notch characteristics. Component assembly, according to claim 20, characterized in that the sheet material is connected in a manner adapted in form or in a hooked coupling, with elements that provide security against rotation or transfer twists that act around the longitudinal axis of the functional element. 22. The component assembly according to claim 20 or claim 21, characterized in that the part of the metal sheet is not perforated or opened in any position in the region of the mechanical connection to the head or body part of the metal sheet. functional element. Component assembly, according to one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the part of the metal sheet is received in a pot-like manner, within the hollow cavity, and is preferably engaged in a manner adapted to shape in the base region of the pot, behind a notch characteristic or behind the notch features. Component assembly, according to one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that the head or body part is arranged, at least partially, within a pot-type recess of the sheet metal part. Component assembly according to one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that the part of the metal sheet is coated on one or both sides, for example with a metal coating and / or with a plastic coating and / or with a sheet metal coating and / or with a paint coating, and because the coating is not damaged by the joining method or is damaged only in positions which are clamped between the functional element and the metal sheet part . 26. Die button, in particular for use in a method according to one of claims 1 to 8, for the attachment of a functional element, according to one of claims 9 to 19, and for the formation of a component assembly, according to one of claims 20 to 25, this button is characterized in that it has an end face that confronts the part of the metal sheet, a recess with a peripheral wall, extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the die button or slightly diverging in the direction of the end face of the die button facing the sheet metal part, wherein the peripheral wall of the recess is of circular, oval or polygonal cross section or it may be provided with elongated projections and is fused by means of a rounded edge on the flat end face of the die button. 27. Die button according to claim 26, characterized in that it has, within its recess, a cylindrical projection projecting in the direction of the end face of the die button facing the sheet metal part and having an at least substantially flat end face, with the projection being melted by means of a rounded forming edge on its cylindrical side wall, wherein the end face of the projection is preferably smaller than the end face of the button die that surrounds the recess. 28. Die button, according to claim 26, characterized in that it has, within its recess, a cylindrical projection projecting in the direction of the end face of the die button facing the sheet part of the die. metal, the end face of the cylindrical projection being configured at least substantially conical, with the tip of the conical end face being preferably rounded. 29. Die button, in particular for use in a method according to one of claims 1 to 8, for the attachment of a functional element, according to one of claims 9 to 19, and for forming a component assembly, according to one of claims 20 to 25, this die button is characterized in that it has a cylindrical projection, which projects in the direction of the part of the metal sheet and surrounded by a flat end face, of ring type, with this end face of the projection being configured at least substantially conical. 30. Die button according to one of claims 28 or 29, characterized in that the conical end face of the cylindrical projection is fused by means of a rounded ring recess and a rounded ring projection, which surrounds the recess on the cylindrical side wall of the projection. 31. Adjusting head, for use with a functional element, according to one of claims 9 to 19, in particular for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 8, which uses a button of Die according to one of claims 26 to 30, for the formation of a component assembly, according to one of claims 20 to 25, characterized in that the plunger has a stepped end face, which projects more into the marginal region that in the central region, which surrounds the stem part and is positioned opposite the end face of the head part adjacent to the stem part, in which the external marginal region of the plunger has a diameter that corresponds, at least substantially, to the corresponding diameter of the head part of the functional element.