Component with elastic compensating element for motor vehicle headlight

A component (1) for a motor vehicle headlight, the component comprising:

• a carrier element (2);
• and
• a component part (3), wherein the carrier element (2) has a receiving opening (4) configured to receive the component part, wherein the receiving opening (4) is delimited by an edge surface (4a), wherein the component part (3) can be inserted into the receiving opening (4) along an insertion direction (x) and has a side surface (3a), wherein the component part (3), when inserted into the receiving opening (4), is arranged relative to the receiving opening (4) in an insertion position in which the side surface (3a) of the component part (3) faces the edge surface (4a) of the receiving opening (4), wherein, in the insertion position, a first side surface section (3a1) of the side surface (3a) contacts a first edge surface section (4a1) of the edge surface (4a) and a second side surface section (3a2) of the side surface (3a) has a predetermined minimum distance from a second edge surface section (4a2) of the edge surface (4a),
• wherein the carrier element (2) has a support element (5), on which the component part (3) rests at least in sections in the insertion position in order to be secured against displacement along the insertion direction (x) beyond the insertion position,
• wherein the component part (3) has a first temperature in an initial state and a second temperature higher than the first temperature in an operating state, wherein the component (1) is configured to keep the component part (3) in the insertion position in the initial state and in the operating state,
• wherein the component (1) has at least one elastic compensating element (6), which is arranged on a section of the second edge surface section (4a2) of the edge surface (4a) opposite the first edge surface section (4a1), wherein the at least one elastic compensating element (6) connects the second edge surface section (4a2) of the edge surface (4a) to the second side surface section (3a2) of the side surface (3a) of the component part (3), wherein the at least one elastic compensating element (6) comprises a foam material, which is configured to apply a compensating force (F), in response to a thermal deformation of the component part (3), to the component part (3), wherein the compensating force (F) acts along a direction opposite a thermal deformation direction (V) of the component part (3), wherein the foam material forming at least one elastic compensating element (6) is configured in such a way that its effective compensating force (F) holds the component part (3) substantially in the insertion position during a transition from the initial state to the operating state, and
• wherein the second edge surface section (4a2) of the edge surface (4a) has a further elastic compensating element (6) at each of two opposite further sections, wherein the two further sections of the second edge surface section (4a2) each have a recess (9) in which a further elastic compensating element (6) is accommodated at least in sections, or each have a further insertion opening (7), via which foam material can be fed to form the elastic compensating elements (6).

A method for producing a component (1), wherein the method has the following steps:

• a) providing a component (1), comprising a carrier element (2) and a component part (3) inserted therein, wherein the carrier element (2) has a receiving opening (4) configured to receive the component part, wherein the receiving opening (4) is delimited by an edge surface (4a), wherein the component part (3) has a side surface (3a) and can be inserted into the receiving opening (4) along an insertion direction (x), wherein the component part (3) has a first temperature in an initial state and a second temperature higher than the first temperature in an operating state, wherein the component (1) is configured to keep the component part (3) in the insertion position in the initial state and in the operating state;
• b) applying, by means of a feed device, at least one elastic compensating element (6) to a second edge surface section (4a2) of the edge surface (4a) of the receiving opening (4), wherein the at least one elastic compensating element (6) comprises a foam material, wherein the foam material is in a plastic state during application by means of the feed device and hardens after its application in order to form the at least one elastic compensating element (6);
• and
• c) inserting the component part (3) into the receiving opening (4), along the insertion direction (x), into an insertion position, wherein, in the insertion position, a first side surface section (3a1) of the side surface (3a) contacts a first edge surface section (4a1) of the edge surface (4a) opposite the second edge surface section (4a2) and a second side surface section (3a2) of the side surface (3a) has a predetermined minimum distance from the second edge surface section (4a2) of the edge surface (4a), wherein, in the inserted state, the at least one elastic compensating element (6) connects the second edge surface section (4a2) of the edge surface (4a) of the receiving opening (4) to the second side surface section (3a2) of the component part (3), wherein the carrier element (2) has a support element (5), on which the component part (3) rests at least in sections in the insertion position in order to be secured against displacement along the insertion direction (x) beyond the insertion position, wherein the hardened foam material is configured to apply a compensating force (F), in response to a thermal deformation of the component part (3), to the component part (3), wherein the compensating force (F) acts along a direction opposite a thermal deformation direction (V) of the component part (3), wherein the foam material forming the at least one elastic compensating element (6) is configured in such a way that its effective compensating force (F) holds the component part (3), in the insertion position during a transition from the initial state to the operating state,
• wherein the carrier element (2) has at least one insertion opening (7), which is arranged on an outer surface (8) of the carrier element (2) facing away from the edge surface (4a) of the receiving opening (4) and extends from the outer surface (8) to the edge surface (4a), wherein the feed device is configured, in order to form the at least one elastic compensating element (6) according to step b), to introduce the plastic foam material via the insertion opening (7) towards the component part (3).