Damped sheet metal components, methods of forming and vehicles including the same
OwnerEdward Miyoshi, Bill Roach +4inventors
InventorsEdward Miyoshi, Bill Roach, Tim Whalen, Alex Papadopulos, Ryan G. Sarkisian, Dan T. Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary damped sheet metal motor vehicle component formed from a single stamping operation includes a base layer, a viscoelastic polymer layer, and a constraining layer. The base layer is a sheet metal motor vehicle component. The viscoelastic polymer layer is in an expanded condition. The constraining layer is welded to the base layer through the viscoelastic polymer layer prior to the single stamping operation.
Claims24
1-15. (canceled)
A method of manufacturing a damped sheet metal component for a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a sheet metal blank comprising a base layer, a constraining layer, and a viscoelastic polymer layer, wherein the viscoelastic polymer layer is in an unexpanded condition and wherein the constraining layer is welded to the base layer through the viscoelastic polymer layer to form a plurality of gaps between the constraining layer and the viscoelastic polymer layer;
- shaping the sheet metal blank into a sheet metal component via a single stamping operation;
- and
- heating the sheet metal component to cause the viscoelastic polymer layer to expand into an expanded condition to fill the plurality of gaps and to form the damped sheet metal component.
21-22. (canceled)
A method of manufacturing a sheet metal blank for a damped sheet metal motor vehicle component, the method comprising:
- providing a sheet metal blank comprising a base layer, wherein the base layer is a sheet metal motor vehicle component;
- applying a viscoelastic polymer layer to the base layer of the sheet metal blank, wherein the viscoelastic polymer layer is in an unexpanded condition;
- and
- welding a constraining layer to the base layer, wherein the constraining layer is welded to the base layer through the viscoelastic polymer layer to form a plurality of gaps between the constraining layer and the viscoelastic polymer layer.
A method of manufacturing a sheet metal motor vehicle component, the method comprising:
- providing a sheet metal blank comprising a base layer, wherein the base layer has a thickness of about 0.010 inches to about 0.050 inches;
- applying a viscoelastic polymer layer to the base layer of the sheet metal blank, wherein the viscoelastic polymer layer is in an unexpanded condition, and wherein the viscoelastic polymer layer has a thickness of about 0.010 inches to about 0.080 inches in the unexpanded condition;
- welding a constraining layer to the base layer through the viscoelastic polymer layer to form a plurality of gaps between the constraining layer and the viscoelastic polymer layer, wherein the constraining layer has a thickness of about 0.010 inches to about 0.050 inches;
- shaping the sheet metal blank into a sheet metal component via a single stamping operation;
- and
- heating the sheet metal component to cause the viscoelastic polymer layer to expand into an expanded condition to fill the plurality of gaps and to form the damped sheet metal component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.