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US 12,030,257 B2Granted
Method of joining two objects
AssigneesWoodwelding AG, Inter IKEA Systems B.V.
InventorsJörg Mayer, Mario Lehmann, Laurent Torriani
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for joining two objects by anchoring an insert portion provided on one of the objects in an opening provided on the other one of the objects. The anchorage is achieved by liquefaction of a thermoplastic material and interpenetration of the liquefied material and a penetrable material, the two materials being arranged on opposite surfaces of the insert portion and the wall of the opening. Before such liquefaction and interpenetration, an interference fit is established in which such opposite surfaces are pressed against each other, and, for the anchoring, mechanical vibration energy and possibly a shearing force are applied, wherein the shearing force puts a shear stress on the interference fit.
Claims24
A method of joining a first and a second object, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the first object comprising a first material and the second object comprising a second material, wherein the first material is solid and comprises thermoplastic properties and wherein the second material is solid and is penetrable by the first material when in a liquefied state, the second object further comprising an opening having a depth and the first object further comprising an insert portion having a length, wherein the opening and the insert portion are adapted to each other for the insert portion to be positioned in the opening with an interference fit, and wherein said first and second materials constitute at least part of opposite surface areas of insert portion and opening pressed against each other in the interference fit,
- establishing the interference fit by forcing the insert portion into the opening, the opening being undersized with respect to the insert portion, wherein during the step of forcing the insert portion into the opening no vibration energy is transferred to either the first or second object,
- after establishing the interference fit, anchoring the insert portion in the opening by transferring energy suitable for liquefaction of the first material to the vicinity of said opposite surface areas in an amount and for a time sufficient, for liquefaction of a flow portion of the first material, the flow portion of the first material being material of the insert portion, and interpenetration of the second material by the flow portion in a vicinity of said opposite surface areas;
- stopping the transfer of energy for a time sufficient for the first material liquefied during the step of anchoring to re-solidify and thereby establish anchoring of the insert portion in the opening.
1 more element
A method of joining a first and a second object, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the first object comprising a first material and the second object comprising a second material, wherein the first material is solid and comprises thermoplastic properties and wherein the second material is solid and is penetrable by the first material when in a liquefied state, the second object further comprising an opening having a depth and the first object further comprising an insert portion having a length, wherein said first and second materials constitute at least part of opposite surface areas of insert portion and opening pressed against each other in an interference fit,
- establishing the interference fit by positioning the insert portion between wall parts of the opening and clamping the wall parts against the insert portion,
- after establishing the interference fit, anchoring the insert portion in the opening by transferring energy suitable for liquefaction of the first material to the vicinity of said opposite surface areas in an amount and for a time sufficient, for liquefaction of a flow portion of the first material, the flow portion of the first material being material of the insert portion, and interpenetration of the second material by the flow portion in a vicinity of said opposite surface areas;
- stopping the transfer of energy for a time sufficient for the first material liquefied during the step of anchoring to re-solidify and thereby establish anchoring of the insert portion in the opening.
1 more element
A method of joining a second and a third object using a first object, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the first object comprising a first material, the second object comprising a second material and the third object comprising a third material, wherein the first material is solid and comprises thermoplastic properties and wherein the second and third materials are solid and is penetrable by the first material when in a liquefied state, the second object further comprising a second object opening, the third object further comprising a third object opening, and the first object further comprising an distal portion and a proximal portion,
- establishing a first interference fit by forcing the distal portion into the second object opening, the second object opening being undersized with respect to the distal portion, and establishing a second interference fit by forcing the proximal portion into the third object opening, the third object opening being undersized with respect to the proximal portion,
- after establishing the first interference fit and the second interference fit, anchoring the first object in the second object opening and in the third object opening by transferring energy suitable for liquefaction of the first material in an amount and for a time sufficient, for liquefaction of a flow portion of the first material, and interpenetration of the second material and of the third material by the flow portion;
- stopping the transfer of energy for a time sufficient for the first material liquefied during the step of anchoring to re-solidify and thereby establish anchoring of the first object in the second object opening and in the third object opening to join the second object to the third object.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.