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Method for joining a first component formed of a plastic material to a second component, and joining element and deviceMethod for joining a first component formed of a plastic material to a second component, and joining element and device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080206012, Method for joining a first component formed of a plastic material to a second component, and joining element and device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of German Patent Application No. 10 2005 025 096.3 filed Jun. 1, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a method for joining a first component formed of a plastic material, in particular of a thermoplastic and/or thermosetting plastic material, to a second component by applying a joining element on the first component, wherein the joining element has a supporting plate formed of a thermoplastic and/or thermosetting plastic material and comprising a connecting means and a supporting plate bore. In addition, the invention relates to a joining element for creating a junction in accordance with the method, with a supporting plate that can be fastened to a first component and comprises a supporting plate bore, and a connecting means that can be received in the supporting plate and is realized for incorporating a joining means arranged on a second component in order to establish a junction with the second component, wherein the first component is formed of a plastic material, in particular of a thermoplastic and/or thermosetting plastic material. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device, in particular for performing the method for creating a junction between a first component formed of a plastic material, in particular a thermoplastic and/or thermosetting plastic material, and a second component by means of a joining element. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUNDJoining plate-shaped components, which only have low material thickness with respect to superficial extent, to other components or components also realized in plate-shape proves to be costly, because on many occasions, due to the low material thickness, joining screws, rivets, or the like, cannot be inserted directly into the components. To provide such junctions, e.g. so called plate nuts are implemented in the aircraft or automotive industry. Known embodiments of plate nuts have a base plate with a substantially rectangular basis, which tapers at both end regions. The base plate has a center bore, arranged approximately in the middle. In both end regions of the base plate, respectively one fastening bore is incorporated. The longitudinal edges of the base plate are flanged in the region of the center bore for receiving a fastening nut. Herein, the fastening nut is received in the base plate so that an equalization of tolerances is possible in two spatial directions, in parallel to the base plate. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide a fastening spring for connecting the fastening nut to the base plate. The fastening spring is then e.g. held by retaining cams with recesses, arranged on both sides in parallel to the longitudinal sides of the base plate. For replacing the fastening nut, the fastening spring can be taken out of the recesses. In this variant as well, an equalization of tolerances is possible due to the fastening nut received by means of the fastening spring to be movable in two spatial directions in parallel to the base plate. For producing a junction between a first and second component, the plate nut is initially fastened on the first component. For this purpose, initially two holes are incorporated into the first component, substantially coincidently with the fastening bores in the base plate. Afterwards, the base plate with the first component is joined to the second component by two rivets inserted into the fastening bore. Afterwards, in the region of the center bore of the plate nut another bore is incorporated into the first component, which bore is e.g. for passing a stud. This bore can be incorporated before fastening the plate nut on the first component. Finally, e.g. a stud or the like is guided through a bore in the second component, the stud being screwed down with the fastening nut for the effective junction of the first component with the second component. Other methods or joining means for producing such junctions can get by with one center bore in the first component. Fastening of the plate nut is herein performed by expanding a sleeve surrounding the center bore of the plate nut inside the bore of the first component, similarly to fastening a so called “pop rivet”. Expanding the sleeve can then be performed e.g. by a disposable drift pin, which is drawn through the sleeve by means of a tool. During the production process of the joining element, this drift pin can be inserted into the sleeve. Alternatively, expanding can also be performed by a separate pin, which is inserted into the sleeve only when the joining element is mounted, and which is removed at the end of the expanding operation and can be reused. As a result of the central fastening of the plate nut in the first component, it is not necessary in either variant to join the plate nut to the first component by two separate rivets. Due to a plurality of steps, the above mentioned methods or joining means require relatively intensive installation work. Furthermore, in particular in components with fiber reinforced plastic materials, there is the risk of delaminations in the region of the junctions. Such delaminations can occur e.g. in regions wherein a mechanical load of the material is produced in parallel to the preferred fiber orientation, as is the case in particular in rivet joints, screw joints, or when expanding sleeves in bores in fiber reinforced plastic materials. Both the rivets for fastening the plate nut and the expansible sleeve for central fastening of the plate nut moreover imply the risk of corrosion processes because components made of different materials are adjacent. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAmongst other things, it may be an object of the invention to provide a method, a joining element, and a device for simple and fast production of junctions between in particular plate-shaped components, wherein at least one component may be formed in particular of a thermoplastic plastic material. Moreover, it may be an object of the invention to reduce delaminations as well as corrosion processes in the region of the junctions produced. The object of the invention may initially be achieved by a method in accordance with patent claim 1. The inventive method for joining a first component, formed of a plastic material, in particular a thermoplastic and/or thermosetting plastic material, to a second component by applying a joining element on the first component, wherein the joining element has a supporting plate formed of a thermoplastic and/or thermosetting plastic material and comprising a connecting means and a supporting plate bore, comprises the steps of:
incorporating a bore into the first component,
welding the supporting plate to the first component, and
joining the first component and the second component by incorporating a joining means arranged on the second component into the connecting means.
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