Resin-bonded solid-film-lubricant coated hood latch mechanism and method of making
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsLuigi Mastrofrancesco, Jeff LaDuke, Ronald V. Lebeck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hood latch mechanism having interengaging pivot elements and pins for pivotally carrying the elements, first and second parts of a frame which are placed on opposite side of the pivot elements, the parts being held together tightly by pins pivotally carrying the pivot elements on the frame parts, springs biasing the pivoting elements to predetermine positions away from the hasp catched position, the pivotal elements and pins having a coating thereon of non-conductive resin and lubricious solid film with the frame and springs having a cathodic electropainted coating thereon, the coatings permitting manual override of the springs to facilitate release of the catched position.
Claims8
A method of making an automotive hood latch mechanism, the mechanism having parts comprising a frame, a plurality of interengaging pivotal elements to be secured to the frame and springs for biasing the pivot elements to certain positions, such springs when overcome allow the pivotal elements to assume a catching position, the method comprising:
- (a) cleansing said parts in an individual unassembled condition and phosphating the parts other than the pivotal elements;
- (b) coating said pivotal elements with a mixture of non-conductive resin and lubricious solid film material;
- (c) after removing excess mixture from the coated pivotal elements, curing the lubricious material in a heated oven;
- (d) assembling the coated cured pivotal elements with the remainder of the hood latch mechanism;
- and
- (e) electrically charging said assembly and subjecting it to a cathodic electrocoating process for applying a paint thereto, said electrocoated paint adhering to only said parts which have not been coated with said mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.