Method for connecting components

• US 9,597,755 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Niekerk, Johann Van, Herzinger, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Afzali, Sarang
• Assistant Examiner(s): HIDALGO-HERNANDEZ, RUTH G
• Application Number:
  US13/840,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20130212858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/00 Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation connecting metal parts or objects by metal-working procedures B21J, B23K; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes hand tools in general B25
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0642 the plates being arranged one on top of the other and in full close contact with each other
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0664 at least one of the sheets or plates having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A method for connecting components includes the acts of providing a first component, fixing the first component in a space, where the exact position of the first component in a space does not have to be known or is unknown, determining the exact position of the first component in a space by a position recognition device, which generates the position data that correspond to the position of the first component, attaching or producing at least one first fixing element on the first component by an electronically controlled device, which attaches or produces the at least one first fixing element in a specified position relative to the first component using the determined position data, and fixing a second component on the first component, where a second fixing element, which is provided on the second component, forms a detachable connection with the first fixing element.

Claims

1. A method for connecting components, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a first component;

placing the first component in a space, where an exact position of the first component in the space need not be known or is unknown;

determining the exact position of the first component in the space via a position recognition device that generates position data corresponding to a position of the first component;

using the determined position data, attaching or producing a first fixing element as part of the first component in a specified position relative to the first component via an electronically controlled device; and

fixing a second component on the first component, where a second fixing element provided as part of the second component forms a detachable connection with the first fixing element.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of the first fixing element and the second fixing element is a male fixing element;

and

wherein another of the first fixing element and the second fixing element interacting with the male fixing element is a female fixing element, the first and second components being clamped together by fitting together the male and female fixing elements.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the act of producing the female fixing element by forming a passage hole in one of the first and second components.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein, during the forming of the passage hole, an edge of the passage hole is bent such that the edge forms a flexible clamping element projecting from the component, the flexible clamping element being configured to exert a clamping force transverse to an insertion direction on an outer surface of the male fixing element.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein after the fixing of the second component on the first component, the flexible clamping element extends behind the male fixing element.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the flexibly clamping element is a clamping collar extending along an entire periphery of the passage hole.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the flexible clamping element comprises a plurality of clamping collars spaced apart from one another about a circumference along an edge of the passage hole, the clamping collars contacting an outer peripheral section of the male fixing element.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein the passage hole has a non-circular shape.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the forming of the passage hole is carried out by punching the passage hole out of the second component.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein the male fixing element has an excessive dimension in relation to the female fixing element transverse to an insertion direction such that the first and second components are clamped together at the male and female fixing elements.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein the male fixing element has a spherical shape.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of:

after forming the detachable connection of the first and second components, connecting the first and second components to one another in a non-detachable manner.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the act of connecting the first and second components in the non-detachable manner is carried out by welding the first and second components together.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first and second components are held relative to one another exclusively via the first and second fixing elements forming the detachable connection before or during the act of welding the first and second components together.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of fixing the second component on the first component is carried out by an electronically controlled device, the electronically controlled device being fed the position data or is fed position data that relate to the first fixing element and are generated by the position recognition device.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the act of:

determining a position of the first fixing element via the position recognition device; and

aligning the second component with the second fixing element that is assigned to the first fixing element.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the first and second components are fixed on each other in a detachable manner, and

the first fixing element is inserted into the second fixing element, along an insertion direction, and is securely clamped to the second fixing element.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, upon connecting the first and second components in the detachable manner, the first and second components are fixed in directions transverse to the insertion direction so as not to be displaced relative to one another.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of determining the exact position of the first component is carried out with a camera system and an electronic evaluation unit.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second component is fixed manually on the first component.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second fixing elements form a clip or snap connection, one of the fixing element being clipped or snapped locked on the other of the fixing elements.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second components are clamped together in a non-positive locking manner at the first and second fixing elements.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second components are clamped together in both a non-positive locking manner and in a positive locking manner.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of attaching or producing a first fixing element is carried out by welding the first fixing element to the first component.

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first fixing element comprises a functional head having a spherical shape and a foot section connected to the functional head, the method further comprising the act of connecting the foot section to the first component in a positive locking manner via a cold joining procedure.

26. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of attaching or producing an additional first fixing element on the first component and an additional second fixing element on the second component, wherein the detachable connection is formed with all of the fixing elements.