Vehicle electrical ground and process
AssigneeVolvo Trucks North America, Inc.
InventorFrank T. Baginski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An over the highway heavy duty vehicle in the form of a selected one of a truck and a tractor is disclosed. The vehicle has a frame rail having a through aperture. A conductive solder ring is bonded to the rail and surrounds the aperture. A fastener extends through the aperture to secure an electrical connector in electrically conductive engagement with the ring. A ground cable is connected to the connector. A process for forming the ring is also disclosed.
Claims26
A process for providing a ground location on a vehicle frame element comprising:
- a) applying a paste mixture including an electrically conductive material to a desired location on the frame element;
- b) positioning a mask over the applied paste;
- and
- c) heating the paste to form a conductive plated surface.
A process for treatment of an over the highway vehicle frame rail comprising:
- a) forming a hole in the rail;
- b) applying a paste of lead, tin and flux to a portion of a rail surface surrounding the hole;
- c) covering and shielding the applied paste with a mask by inserting a stem of the mask into the hole;
- d) applying a fusible material to the rail while the mask shields the applied paste and rail portion from the fusible material;
- e) fusing the material and the paste to form an electrical contact and a protective covering on the rail by heating the rail in a heated atmosphere of from about 400° F. to about 450° F. for about 45 minutes to about one hour.
- f) removing the mask;
- and
- g) connecting a ground cable to the contact.
In an over the highway heavy duty vehicle the improvement comprising:
- a) an apertured frame rail;
- b) a ring of solder adhered to a frame rail surface and surrounding an aperture;
- c) a protective coating substantially covering the surface other than the ring;
- and
- d) a ground cable secured to the rail in electrically conductive contact with the ring.
In an over the highway heavy duty vehicle in the form of a selected one of a truck and a tractor the improved combination comprising:
- a) a frame rail having a through aperture;
- b) a conductive ring bonded to the rail and surrounding the aperture;
- c) a fastener extending through the aperture;
- and,
- d) an electrical connector having a portion interposed between the fastener and the ring and maintained in electrically conductive engagement with the ring by the fastener.
A process for treatment of vehicle frame rail comprising:
- a) forming a hole in the rail;
- b) applying a solder paste to a portion of the rail surface around the hole;
- c) covering the applied paste with a mask;
- d) applying a fusible material to the rail while the mask shields the applied paste and rail portion from the fusible material;
- e) fusing the material and the paste to form an electrical contact and a protective covering bonded to the rail by heating he rail in a heated atmosphere until the material is fused and an electrically conductive contact is formed;
- f) removing the mask;
- and,
- g) connecting a ground cable to the contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.