Arrangement for attaching a plastic vehicle body to a metal frame and related method
AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorDelbert D DeRees
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plastic vehicle body attachment system for a motor vehicle. The attachment system includes a metal support, a plastic panel having an aperture, and a fastener. The fastener is disposed in the aperture and detachably couples the plastic panel to the metal support. The fastener is smaller than the aperture by an amount that varies in relation to the distance between the fastener and a fixed point on the composite panel such that the size of the aperture increases as the distance between the fastener and the fixed point increases.
Claims20
A composite plastic vehicle body attachment system in combination with a motor vehicle having a metal support, the composite vehicle body attachment system comprising:
- a composite plastic panel having a panel aperture;
- and
- a fastener disposed in said aperture detachably coupling said composite plastic panel to said metal support wherein a clearance exists between said fastener and said aperture, said clearance varying in relation to a distance between said fastener and a fixed composite plastic panel to metal support interconnection such that said clearance increases as said distance between said fastener and said fixed interconnection increases.
An attachment system for interconnecting dissimilar materials in a vehicle, the attachment system comprising:
- a first panel constructed from a first material, said first panel having an aperture extending therethrough;
- a second panel constructed from a second material;
- a first fastener fixing said first panel to said second panel at a first location;
- a second fastener slidably interconnecting said first panel and said second panel at a second location, said second fastener positioned within said aperture to define a clearance between said fastener and said aperture, said clearance increasing as a distance between said first location and said second location increases.
A method of securing a first panel to a second panel, the method comprising:
- determining a first coefficient of thermal expansion of said first panel;
- determining a second coefficient of thermal expansion of said second panel;
- measuring a distance from a reference point to an attachment point;
- providing a fastener having a fastener diameter;
- providing an aperture in said first panel;
- determining a clearance between said fastener and said aperture which varies according to said distance;
- and
- passing said fastener through said aperture to secure said first panel to said second panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.