Method for protecting a vehicle body from corrosion
OwnerReinhard Listinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for providing corrosion protection in an assembly of two or more metal parts follows steps of (a) at a point in an assembly process for the assembly, placing at a juncture of any two of the two or more metal parts of the assembly, a corrosion-protection element comprising heat-expandable material, the corrosion-protection element shaped to conform to the juncture; and (b) expanding the corrosion-protection element at another point in the assembly process by application of heat.
Claims8
A method for providing corrosion protection in assembly of two or more metal parts, at least one of which is made of sheet metal, and which are joined in a fashion leaving a space between the parts, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a carrier having a groove therein for engaging an edge region of the at least one sheet metal part;
- (b) attaching to the carrier a thermally-foamable element, such that the thermally-foamable element, with the carrier engaging the edge region of the at least one sheet metal part, and the parts joined, is disposed in the space between the parts;
- and
- (c) exposing the assembly of the two metal parts in further processing to heat sufficient to foam the thermally-foamable element to fill the space between the parts.
A method for providing corrosion protection in assembly of a hood like sheet metal part having a circular opening with a turned-up edge, and an inner dome projecting through the opening for providing a strut support, the two parts spot-welded in a manner leaving an annular gap between the parts, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a carrier in a ring shape of a size to fit over the dome and cover the annular gap, and having extending processes outwardly from the ring to engage the turned-up edge of the sheet metal part;
- (b) attaching to the carrier ring a thermally-foamable element, such that the thermally-foamable element, with the carrier ring engaging the turned-up edge, is disposed in the annular gap;
- and
- (c) exposing the assembly of the two metal parts in further processing to a heat sufficient to foam the thermally-foamable element to fill the space between the parts.
A method for anchoring a plastic peg having a shaft of one diameter and a head of a larger diameter, the peg used to join first and second metal parts through aligned holes in automotive assembly, comprising steps of:
- (a) placing a ring of thermally-foamable material over the shaft against the head;
- (b) inserting the plastic peg with the thermally foamable ring through the aligned holes such that the thermally foamable ring bears against the first metal part;
- and
- (c) exposing the assembly of the peg and the two metal parts in further processing to heat sufficient to foam the thermally-foamable element to seal between the peg and the first metal part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.