# US 2019/0314933 A1 · Method for joining an element of metal material to an element of plastic material, and a hybrid component obtained by this method

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- Number: US 2019/0314933 A1
- Document ID: US20190314933A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/382,279
- Filed: 2019-04-12
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-17
- Assignees: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
- Applicants: C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni
- Inventors: Adriano LATEANA; Piergiorgio ROMANIN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190314933A1

## CPC

- B23K 26/26: of rectilinear seams
- B23K 26/354: by melting
- B23K 26/323: involving parts made of dissimilar metallic material
- B23K 26/324: involving non-metallic parts
- B23K 26/60: Preliminary treatment
- B29C 65/16: Laser beams
- B29C 65/44: Joining a heated non plastics element to a plastics element
- B29C 65/606: {the rivets being integral with one of the parts to be joined, i.e. staking}
- B29C 65/64: Joining a non-plastics element to a plastics element, e.g. by force (B29C65/44 takes precedence)
- B29C 66/112: {Single lapped joints}
- B29C 66/114: {Single butt joints}
- B29C 66/21: {said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding}
- B29C 66/41: {Joining substantially flat articles (B29C66/47 and subgroups take precedence); Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles (B29C66/51 and subgroups take precedence)}
- B29C 66/43441: {with two right angles, e.g. for making T-shaped pieces, H-shaped pieces}
- B29C 66/53: {Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars}
- B29C 66/5346: {said single elements being substantially flat}
- B29C 66/721: {Fibre-reinforced materials (B29C66/729 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/742: {to metals or their alloys}
- B29C 66/7422: {Aluminium or alloys of aluminium}
- B29C 66/74283: {Iron or alloys of iron, e.g. steel}
- F16B 5/045: {without the use of separate rivets}
- F16B 17/008: {of sheets or plates mutually (joining sheets by riveting without the use of separate rivets F16B5/045)}
- B23K 2101/006: {Vehicles}
- B23K 2101/18: Sheet panels
- B23K 2103/04: Steel {or steel} alloys
- B23K 2103/10: Aluminium or alloys thereof
- B23K 2103/172: {wherein at least one of the layers is non-metallic}
- B23K 2103/18: Dissimilar materials
- B23K 2103/42: {Plastics other than composite materials}
- B29C 66/7212: {characterised by the composition of the fibres}
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)

## Abstract

A method for joining a metal material element to a plastic material element, in particular a composite material including a plastic matrix reinforced with fibers for use in the construction of motor-vehicle components. The method involves providing one or more slots in a portion of the plastic material element. For each slot, a corresponding tab is provided in the metal material element, having a shorter width and length than a width and length of the slot. The metal material and plastic material elements are arranged in a position of mutual coupling where each tab is inserted through the corresponding slot and has an end portion protruding beyond said portion of the plastic material element. A laser beam is directed above the protruding end portion, so as to locally melt the metal material of each tab and create an enlarged head on each tab that is welded above the plastic material element.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for joining an element of metal material to an element of plastic material, the method comprising:
providing one or more slots in a portion of said element of plastic material,
for each slot of the one or more slots, providing a corresponding tab in the element of metal material, said tab having a cross-section with shorter width and a shorter length than a width and a length of each slot,
arranging the element of metal material and the element of plastic material in a position of mutual coupling wherein each tab of the element of metal material is inserted through a corresponding slot in the element of plastic material and has an end portion protruding beyond said portion of the element of plastic material,
performing laser welding by directing a laser beam above the end portion of each tab protruding beyond said portion of the element of plastic material, so as to locally melt the metal material of each tab and create an enlarged head on each tab, which is welded above said element of plastic material, so as to rigidly connect the element of metal material and the element of plastic material to each other.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein:
the portion of the element of plastic material in which each slot is formed is substantially flat,
each of said tabs provided on the element of metal material protrudes from an edge of the element of metal material,
in said position of mutual coupling, before performing the laser welding, said edge of the element of metal material abuts against a first surface of said substantially flat portion of the element of plastic material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the element of metal material and the element of plastic material are arranged and configured in such a way so that in a coupled condition they define a component with a closed cross-section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the element of metal material and the element of plastic material are arranged and configured in such a way so that in a coupled condition they define a component with an open cross-section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more slots formed in the element of plastic material have an angled configuration, with two inclined sides, and the element of metal material has the tab with a corresponding shaped cross-section, or two separate tabs designed to engage two different sides of the same angled slot.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein:
the element of metal material has a C-shaped configuration, with a central wall and two parallel side walls, extending from the central wall,
each of the side walls has an end edge from which more tabs protrude, and
in the coupling condition of the elements of metal material and of plastic material, each tab is received through a corresponding slot of the element of plastic material, and
there is a panel in the element of plastic material that defines a fourth side of a closed cross-section of the component.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A structural component of a motor-vehicle, comprising at least one element of plastic material and at least one element of metal material connected by a joint obtained with the method according to claim 1.