# US 11,078,370 B2 · Motor vehicle structural component and corrosion protecting method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,370 B2 - Document ID: US11078370B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/455,895 - Filed: 2019-06-28 - Published: 2020-02-06 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-03 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Bernhard Kreuzer; Frank Timm - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078370B2 ## CPC - C09D 5/08: Anti-corrosive paints - B23K 11/11: Spot welding - B62D 27/023: {Assembly of structural joints} - B62D 29/007: {predominantly of special steel or specially treated steel, e.g. stainless steel or locally surface hardened steel} - B23K 2101/006: {Vehicles} - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - 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 - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A motor vehicle structural component includes a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet placed against the first metal sheet. The first and second metal sheets are joined together in some areas. A gap is provided between the first and second metal sheets in the regions between the areas where the first and second metal sheets are joined together. The gap is configured to receive a coating material. At least one of the first or the second metal sheets includes at least one hole. Each hole opens to the gap and is configured to convey an inflow of the coating material to the gap. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A motor vehicle structural component, comprising: a first metal sheet; and a second metal sheet placed against the first metal sheet, the first and second metal sheets joined directly together in some areas, wherein a gap is provided between the first and second metal sheets in the regions between the areas where the first and second metal sheets are joined together, the gap configured to receive a coating material, wherein at least one of the first or the second metal sheets includes at least one hole, each hole opening to the gap and configured to convey an inflow of the coating material to the gap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of spot welds that join the first and second metal sheets together, wherein at least one of the two metal sheets includes at least one elevation on a side of the metal sheet facing toward the opposite metal sheet, the at least one elevation a feature that is raised relative to areas of the side that are adjacent to the feature, the at least one elevation adjacent to the hole and spaced a distance from the plurality of spot welds. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 2, wherein each of the spot welds is spaced from 25 to 40 millimeters from an adjacent spot weld. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 1, wherein each hole is further configured to ventilate air from the gap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 1, wherein each hole is configured as a round circular bore. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 1, wherein each hole has a maximum width that is less than 8 millimeters. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 1, wherein each hole is situated in the metal sheet which is facing the inside of a vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 1, wherein the gap is filled up entirely with the coating material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 1, wherein the coating material is a corrosion resistant coating material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 1, wherein the coating material is a cathodic dip painting. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 1, wherein, adjacent the hole, at least one of the two metal sheets includes at least one elevation on a side of the metal sheet facing toward the opposite metal sheet, the at least one elevation a feature that is raised relative to adjacent areas of the side, the at least one elevation disposed between adjacent welds that join together the two metal sheets. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 11, wherein the at least one elevation is embossed in the metal sheet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 12, wherein the first and second metal sheets have an aluminum-silicon coating. ### Claim 14 A motor vehicle structural component, comprising: a first metal sheet that faces an interior of a vehicle; and a second metal sheet placed against the first metal sheet, the first and second metal sheets welded directly together in some areas, wherein a gap is provided between the first and second metal sheets in the regions between the areas where the first and second metal sheets are joined together, the gap configured to receive a corrosion resistant coating material, wherein the first metal sheet includes at least one hole, each hole opening to the gap and configured to convey an inflow of the corrosion resistant coating material to the gap, wherein, adjacent each hole, one of the first or second metal sheets includes at least one elevation projecting across the gap to the other of the first or second metal sheets, the at least one elevation raised relative to an adjacent area of the first or second metal sheet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 2, wherein the first sheet includes the at least one elevation, wherein each of the plurality of spot welds is spaced from the at least one elevation such that no portion of the at least one elevation is welded to the second sheet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 2, wherein at least the first metal sheet includes the hole, wherein the first metal sheet further includes indentations for the plurality of spot welds, the indentations spaced from the at least one elevation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The motor vehicle structural component of claim 15, wherein no portion of the plurality of spot welds overlaps with the at least one elevation such that no portion of the at least one elevation is welded. ### Claim 18 A motor vehicle structural component, comprising: a first metal sheet that faces an interior of a vehicle; a second metal sheet placed against the first metal sheet; a plurality of spot welds that secure the first metal sheet to the second metal sheet welded; and a plurality of indentations in the first sheet, the plurality of indentions aligned with the plurality of spot welds, wherein a gap is provided between the first and second metal sheets in the regions between the areas where the first and second metal sheets are joined together by the plurality of spot welds, the gap configured to receive a corrosion resistant coating material, wherein the first metal sheet includes at least one hole, each hole opening to the gap and configured to convey an inflow of the corrosion resistant coating material to the gap, wherein, within the gap, one of the first or second metal sheets includes at least one elevation projecting across the gap to the other of the first or second metal sheets, the at least one elevation raised relative to an adjacent area of the first or second metal sheet.