Prestressing fixture to eliminate automotive P.S.I.R. door-chute vibration weld visibility
AssigneeIntertec Systems
InventorGregg S. Evans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of manufacturing an automotive instrument panel for eliminating distortion in an area of vibration welded air bags comprises: providing a weld fixture including at least one pre-stressor protrusion; placing the at least one pre-stressor protrusion against an instrument panel; generating a force to press the weld fixture against the instrument panel to create compression in a first surface of the instrument panel where the weld fixture contacts the instrument panel and to create tension in a second surface of the instrument panel, the second surface opposite to the first surface; and vibration welding an air bag chute to the instrument panel such that a weld bar of the air bag chute is welded to the second surface of the instrument panel.
Claims19
A method of manufacturing an automotive instrument panel for eliminating distortion in an area of vibration welded air bags, said method comprising:
- providing a weld fixture including at least one pre-stressor protrusion;
- placing the at least one pre-stressor protrusion against an instrument panel;
- generating a force to press the weld fixture against the instrument panel to create compression in a first surface of the instrument panel where the weld fixture contacts the instrument panel and to create tension in a second surface of the instrument panel, the second surface opposite to the first surface;
- and
- vibration welding an air bag chute to the instrument panel such that a weld bar of the air bag chute is welded to the second surface of the instrument panel.
A method of manufacturing an automotive instrument panel, said method comprising:
- providing a weld fixture including a plurality of pre-stressor protrusions;
- placing at least one of the plurality of pre-stressor protrusions against a first surface of an instrument panel;
- pressing the weld fixture against the instrument panel, thereby creating compression in the first surface of the instrument panel and creating tension in a second surface of the instrument panel, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface;
- vibration welding a weld bar to the second surface of the instrument panel;
- and
- cooling the instrument panel.
A method of manufacturing an automotive instrument panel, said method comprising:
- providing a weld fixture including a plurality of pre-stressor protrusions;
- providing an instrument panel including:
- a first layer;
- and
- a second layer;
- placing at least one of the plurality of pre-stressor protrusions against the first layer of the instrument panel;
- pressing the weld fixture against the instrument panel, thereby creating compression in the first layer of the instrument panel and creating tension in the second layer of the instrument panel;
- vibration welding a weld bar to the second layer of the instrument panel;
- and
- cooling the instrument panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.