Bonding structure efficiently
AssigneeMagna Exteriors Inc.
InventorsChristopher J. Kuntze, Stanislav Tichy, Yao Wang, Mahesh Chakorkar, Tejaswi Vemuri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liftgate incorporating metallic reinforcements with predetermined flanges, openings, notches, slots, holes, steps, and/or adhesive gaps in predetermined strategic locations that allow extra adhesive applied to the outer panels or glass that will allow the adhesive to flow around and through the metallic reinforcements, and thus allowing them to be bonded to the mating panels. from multiple sides. The adhesive is also mechanically captured through the openings, holes, slots, and even into undercut pockets in the mating parts.
Claims19
A method for bonding structure adapted for vehicles, comprising:
- providing a plurality of parts to be bonded, including at least a first panel and a second panel, wherein one or both of the first panel and the second panel are plastic;
- providing an adhesive;
- providing a reinforcement that has multiple apertures, the reinforcement being formed of metal;
- applying adhesive to the first panel at a plurality of locations;
- aligning the reinforcement with the second panel;
- aligning the adhesive at each location on the first panel with the apertures of the reinforcement;
- bringing the first and second panels together, wherein said adhesive flows and allows the reinforcement to bond to the first and second panels, and to be captured through the apertures.
A method for bonding structure adapted for vehicles, comprising:
- providing at least an outer panel and an inner panel;
- providing an adhesive;
- providing a plurality of reinforcements each with a plurality of apertures and each formed of metal;
- applying adhesive to the outer or inner panel at a plurality of locations operable to align with said plurality of apertures;
- aligning the plurality of reinforcements with the outer or inner panel;
- aligning the adhesive at each location on the other of the outer or inner panel to the plurality of apertures;
- compressing the outer and inner panels together, wherein said adhesive flows and is captured through said plurality of apertures to bond the plurality of reinforcements to the outer and inner panels, without adding extra operations to connect the plurality of reinforcements to the outer panel to the inner panel.
A method for bonding structure adapted for vehicles, comprising:
- providing at least an outer panel and an inner panel;
- providing an adhesive;
- providing a metallic reinforcement including a plurality of apertures that are spaced from an edge of the metallic reinforcement;
- applying adhesive to said outer panel at locations;
- loading said outer panel, the metallic reinforcement, and said inner panel into a tool with said adhesive at locations aligned with said plurality of apertures, wherein said adhesive flows to allow the metallic reinforcement to bond to said outer and inner panels and said adhesive is mechanically captured through said plurality of apertures, thereby adding reinforcement structure to the outer and inner panels without adding extra operations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.