# US 9,751,571 B2 · Different materials panel structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,571 B2 - Document ID: US9751571B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/112,004 - Filed: 2015-01-19 - Published: 2016-11-24 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-07 - Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd. - Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.) - Inventors: Tetsu Iwase; Yoshihaya Imamura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751571B2 ## CPC - B62D 29/008: {predominantly of light alloys, e.g. extruded} - B21J 15/00: Riveting - B21J 15/025: {Setting self-piercing rivets} - B23K 11/115: {by means of two electrodes placed opposite one another on both sides of the welded parts} - B60J 5/0469: {for door panels, e.g. hemming (hemming equipment B21D39/00)} - B60J 5/0483: {lightweight metal, e.g. aluminum, magnesium} - B62D 25/105: {for motor cars} - B62D 25/12: Parts or details thereof (locks E05B, {E05B83/16; devices for holding open E05C17/00, e.g. while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042}; hinges E05D; counterbalancing means E05F; {checks, stops, buffers E05F5/00; } springs, {e.g. pneumatic springs} F16F) - B62D 27/023: {Assembly of structural joints} - B62D 27/026: {Connections by glue bonding (in general F16B11/00; processes C09J5/00)} - F16B 5/04: by means of riveting (rivets F16B19/04) - F16B 19/05: Bolts fastening by swaged-on collars (F16B19/08 takes precedence) - B23K 2101/006: {Vehicles} - B23K 2103/20: Ferrous alloys and aluminium or alloys thereof - F16B 5/0096: {by using permanent deformation} - F16B 5/08: by means of welds or the like (welding B23K) - F16B 11/006: {by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48)} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B21J: FORGING; HAMMERING; PRESSING METAL; RIVETING; FORGE FURNACES (rolling of metal B21B; making particular products by forging or pressing B21K; cladding or plating B23K; finishing surfaces by hammering B23P9/04; compacting surfaces by blasting with particulate material B24C1/10; general features of presses, presses for consolidating scrap B30B; furnaces in general F27) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract Provided is a different materials panel structure having reduced occurrence of displacement or warping of a joining section and having excellent external appearance of an outer panel (2). The different materials panel structure has: an outer panel comprising a first metal material; an inner panel (3) arranged on the lower surface side of the outer panel and comprising a second metal material having a higher fusion point than the first metal material; and a rivet (6) comprising the same material as the second metal material and comprising a head section and a shaft section. An outer panel comprises a hemmed section formed by folding a rim section and which supports the inner panel via an adhesive layer (9). The head section of the rivet remains on the outer panel surface. The shaft section of the rivet penetrates from the lower surface side of the hemmed section of the outer panel towards the inner panel. A tip of the shaft section is spot-welded to the inner panel and a protruding section (3a) is provided in the inner panel at a position corresponding to the rivet and protruding in the axial direction of the rivet. A heat insulation section (8) comprising the adhesive layer or the adhesive layer and a gap is formed between the protruding section after welding and the outer panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A panel structure, comprising: an outer panel that is made of a first metallic material; an inner panel that is disposed at a lower surface side of the outer panel and that is made of a second metallic material different from the first metallic material and having a melting point that is higher than that of the first metallic material; and a rivet that is made of the same material as the second metallic material and that includes a head section and a shaft section, wherein: the outer panel includes a hemmed section that is formed by bending a peripheral edge portion of the outer panel and that holds the inner panel via an adhesive layer; with the head section of the rivet remaining on a surface of the outer panel, the shaft section of the rivet penetrates towards the inner panel from a lower surface side of the hemmed section of the outer panel, and an end of the shaft section is spot-welded to the inner panel; the inner includes a protruding section at a location thereof that faces the rivet, the protruding section extending in an axial direction of the rivet; and a heat insulation section including the adhesive layer or the adhesive layer and a gap is formed between the outer panel and the protruding section of the inner panel after welding, wherein a portion of the rivet that contacts the outer panel includes a film having a resistivity that is higher than that of the inner panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the head section and the shaft section of the rivet is caulked to the outer panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the rivet is joined to a corner of the inner panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the first metallic material is aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and the second metallic material is iron or an iron alloy. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the film having a resistivity that is higher than that of the inner panel is made of zinc, lead, or aluminum. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the film having a resistivity that is higher than that of the inner panel is made of a synthetic resin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The panel structure according to claim 6, wherein the film having a resistivity that is higher than that of the inner panel is made of a polyester resin or a silicone resin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the film having a resistivity that is higher than that of the inner panel is made of an oxide of iron. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the film having a resistivity that is higher than that of the inner panel is made of an electroless Ni—P plated film. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the panel structure is a panel structure for an automobile body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The panel structure according to claim 10, wherein the panel structure for an automobile body is a hood, a door, or a trunk. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the protruding section has a conical shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the protruding section has a pyramidal shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the protruding section has a circular truncated conical shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the protruding section has a frustum shape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the protruding section has a rectangular column shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the protruding section has a dome shape. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the protruding section has a bead shape.