Adhesively bonded engine intake manifold assembly

An automotive vehicle engine intake manifold assembly, comprising:

• a) a first plastic component molded of a plastic selected from the group consisting of filled polyamide and filled polyamide/polystyrenic plastics, and having an associated first mating surface and an integrally formed first member;
• b) a second plastic component molded of a plastic selected from the group consisting of filled polyamide and filled polyamide/polystyrenic plastics, and having an associated second mating surface and an integrally formed second member for coacting with said first member to form a snap-fit joint between said first plastic component and said second plastic component;
• and
• c) an adhesive in contact with said first mating surface and said second mating surface for joining said first molded thermoplastic component and said second molded thermoplastic component to define an automotive vehicle engine intake manifold.

An engine intake manifold assembly, comprising:

• a) a first filled or reinforced plastic component having an associated first mating surface;
• b) a second filled or reinforced plastic component having an associated second mating surface;
• c) an interface between the first component and the second component at which the first component and the second component are joined to define an engine intake manifold;
• and
• d) means for mechanically attaching said first component with said second component,
• wherein the space between the first and second mating surfaces at the interface consists essentially of a structural adhesive,
• wherein the resulting joint has a strength greater than the strength of at least one of said first or second molded plastic components.

An engine intake manifold assembly, comprising:

• a) a first component having an associated first mating surface;
• b) a second molded plastic component having an associated second mating surface;
• and
• c) a high temperature mineral filled catalyzed adhesive that includes an epoxy component, a curing agent and a thixotropic agent, which is in contact with said first mating surface and said second mating surface for joining said first component and said second component to define an engine intake manifold, wherein the resulting joint has a strength greater than the strength of said second molded plastic component, wherein the cure on demand adhesive is cured by removal of a protective coating to expose the adhesive to ambient conditions.

An engine intake manifold assembly, comprising:

• a) a first component having an associated first mating surface;
• b) a second molded plastic component having an associated second mating surface;
• c) a mechanical fastener for joining the first and second components;
• and
• d) a high temperature mineral filled catalyzed adhesive that includes an epoxy component, a curing agent and a thixotropic agent, which is in contact with said first mating surface and said second mating surface for joining said first component and said second component to define an engine intake manifold, wherein the resulting joint has a strength greater than the strength of said second molded plastic component.

An automotive vehicle engine intake manifold assembly, comprising:

• a) a first molded thermoplastic component having an associated first mating surface and an integrally formed first member, said first member including a groove;
• b) a second molded thermoplastic component having an associated second mating surface and an integrally formed second member, said second member including a detent for engaging said groove of said first member to form a snap fit mechanical joint between said first molded thermoplastic component and said second molded thermoplastic component;
• c) a mechanical fastener for joining the first and second components;
• and
• d) a high temperature epoxy resin adhesive in contact with said first mating surface and said second mating surface for joining said first molded thermoplastic component and said second molded thermoplastic component to define an automotive vehicle engine intake manifold, wherein said resulting joint has a strength greater than the strength of each of said first molded thermoplastic component and said second molded thermoplastic component.

An automotive vehicle engine intake manifold assembly, comprising:

• a) a first plastic component molded of a plastic selected from the group consisting of filled polyamide and filled polyamide/polystyrenic plastics, and having an associated first mating surface and an integrally formed first member;
• b) a second plastic component molded of a plastic selected from the group consisting of filled polyamide and filled polyamide/polystyrenic plastics, and having an associated second mating surface and an integrally formed second member for coacting with said first member to form a snap-fit joint between said first plastic component and said second plastic component;
• c) a mechanical fastener for joining the first and second components;
• and
• d) an adhesive in contact with said first mating surface and said second mating surface for joining said first molded thermoplastic component and said second molded thermoplastic component to define an automotive vehicle engine intake manifold.