VEHICLE BODY CAVITY FILLER
The instant invention is in the field of vehicle construction. More specifically, the instant invention relates to a means for filling or blocking the cavity of an automotive body pillar or similar member.
The body of a light truck, sedan, station wagon, mini-van, sport utility vehicle or the like is generally made by welding together stamped sheet metal sections. Such a body comprises a number of tubular hollow spaces or cavities defined by, for example, the pillars or channels that surround the passenger compartment of the vehicle. As disclosed, for example, in United States Patents 4,874,650; 4,898,630;
5,266,133; 5,373,027; 5,506,025; 5,725,272; 6,062,624; 6,146,565; and 6,150,428; if such hollow spaces or cavities are filled or blocked with, for example, a foamed polymer section or a baffle of some kind, then the noise level in the passenger compartment can be significantly reduced. For example, the above referenced United States Patents 6,146,565 and 6,150,428 disclose baffles that incorporate foaming material.
The technology disclosed, for example, in the above referenced United States Patents 4,874,650; 4,898,630; 5,266,133; 5,373,027; 5,506,025; 5,725,272; 6,062,624; 6,146,565; and 6,150,428 was an important advance in the art. However, it would be a further advance in the art if a less complex foaming filler system were discovered that did not require complicated attachment systems or complex part tooling.
The instant invention provides a solution to the above-mentioned problems. More specifically, the instant invention is a process for filling a cavity of a vehicle body, the cavity defined by vertical walls, characterized by the steps of: (a) attaching a mass of a foamable material to one of the vertical walls, the foamable material capable of expanding when heated; (b) heating the foamable material so that the foamable material expands to bridge the vertical walls of the cavity. An important benefit of the instant invention is that the mass of foamable material can be applied by hand. Another important benefit of the instant invention is that the mass of foamable material can be easily and inexpensively shaped because no complex part tooling is required.
Fig. 1 (a) and (b) show a cross-sectional side view of a process embodiment of the instant invention wherein a mass of a foamable material is attached to a vertical sheet steel wall of a vehicle body cavity by way of a magnet and then heated to foam the foamable material to bridge the cavity; Fig. 2 (a) and (b) show a cross-sectional side view of another process embodiment of the instant invention wherein a mass of a foamable material is attached to a vertical wall of a vehicle body cavity by way of a tacky surface on the foamable material and then heated to foam the foamable material to bridge the cavity;
Fig. 3 (a) and (b) show a cross-sectional side view of another process embodiment of the instant invention wherein a mass of a foamable material is attached to a vertical wall of a vehicle body cavity by way of adhesive tape and then heated to foam the foamable material to bridge the cavity; and
Fig. 4 (a) and (b) show a cross-sectional side view of yet another process embodiment of the instant invention wherein a mass of a foamable material is attached to a vertical wall of a vehicle body cavity by way of a clip and then heated to foam the foamable material to bridge the cavity.
The instant invention is a process for filling a cavity of a vehicle body, the cavity defined by vertical walls, comprising the steps of: (a) attaching a mass of a foamable material to one of the vertical walls, the foamable material capable of expanding when heated; (b) heating the foamable material so that the foamable material expands to bridge the vertical walls of the cavity. The term "vertical walls" means that the walls are between 45 and 135 degrees of angle from the horizontal plane of the normal orientation of the vehicle body. Ordinarily, the mass of a foamable material is attached to one of the vertical walls in the stamping plant or body shop before the body parts are welded together to form the cavity.
Referring now to Fig. 1(a), a more specific embodiment of the instant invention will be disclosed. A vehicle body cavity 12 is defined by sheet steel panels 10 and 11. A mass of a foamable material 13 is attached to the panel 10 by way of a magnet 14. Referring now to Fig. 1(b), when the mass of a foamable material 13 is heated by, for example, passage of the vehicle body through an e-coat, powder coat or paint cure oven,
then the mass of a foamable material 13 expands to form a foamed material 15 that bridges the panel 10 and the panel 11.
Referring now to Fig. 2(a), another specific embodiment of the instant invention will be disclosed. A vehicle body cavity 16 is defined by sheet steel panels 17 and 18. A mass of a foamable material 19 is attached to the panel 10 by way of a tacky surface on the foamable material 19. Referring now to Fig. 2(b), when the mass of a foamable material 19 is heated by, for example, passage of the vehicle body through an e- coat, powder coat or paint cure oven, then the mass of foamable material 19 expands to form a foamed material 20 that bridges the panel 17 and the panel 18. Referring now to Fig. 3(a), a yet another specific embodiment of the instant invention will be disclosed. A vehicle body cavity 21 is defined by sheet steel panels 22 and 23. A mass of a foamable material 24 is attached to the panel 22 by way of adhesive tape 25. If the mass of a foamable material 24 is not inherently tacky so that it sticks to the adhesive tape 25, then double-sided adhesive tape can be used for the adhesive tape 25. Referring now to Fig. 3(b), when the mass of a foamable material 24 is heated by, for example, passage of the vehicle body through a paint cure oven, then the mass of foamable material 24 expands to form a foamed material 26 that bridges the panel 22 and the panel 23.
Referring now to Fig. 4(a), yet another specific embodiment of the instant invention will be disclosed. A vehicle body cavity 27 is defined by sheet steel panels 28 and 29. A mass of a foamable material 30 is attached to the panel 28 by way of a clip 31 inserted through aperture 32 in the panel 28. The clip 31 can be made of any suitable material, such as plastic or steel, but steel is a preferred material. Referring now to Fig. 4(b), when the mass of a foamable material 30 is heated by, for example, passage of the vehicle body through a paint cure oven, then the mass of foamable material 30 expands to form a foamed material 33 that bridges the panel 28 and the panel 29.
The properties of the foamable material used in the instant invention are important. For example, referring again to Fig. 2(a) and (b), as the mass of foamable material 19 expands to form the foamed material 20, it must not slip off or run down the panel 17 so that it fails to bridge the panel 17 and the panel 18.
Thermoset polymers (including vulcanizing rubbers, polyisobutylenes and thermoplastic vulcanizates) containing foaming agents can be used in the foamable material of the instant invention as long as the above-mentioned properties are obtained. For example, the foamable material of the instant invention can comprise a thermoplastic elastomer such as an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer thermoplastic elastomer. Thermoplastic polymers containing foaming agents can also be used in the foamable material of the instant invention as long as the above-mentioned properties are obtained. For example, the foamable material of the instant invention can comprise a thermoplastic polymer such as ethylene-vinyl-acetate polymer. Additional teachings regarding suitable foamable materials are readily available in the art, see, for example, the teachings of United States Patent 5,496,868.
If the density of the expanded foamable material is greater than one tenth of a gram per cubic centimeter, then the expanded foamable material can contribute increased structural strength to the body. For example, filling the pillars and rails of a body with such an expanded foamable material of the instant invention can significantly increase the stiffness and strength of the body as well as reduce road noise. However, if the density of the expanded foamable material is less than one tenth of a gram per cubic centimeter, then the expanded foamable material is, of course, still effective as a sound deadener but generally less effective as a structural reinforcement. Preferably, the foamable material of the instant invention is inherently tacky so that a mass of the foamable material can be attached to an interior surface of the cavity and remain in place (even if such surface is oily) until the vehicle body is passed through an e-coat, powder coat or paint cure oven. If the foamable material is not inherently tacky, then a tackifier can be added to the foamable material to provide this function. An important benefit of the instant invention is that the mass of foamable material can be applied by hand. Another important benefit of the instant invention is that the mass of foamable material can be easily and inexpensively shaped because no complex part tooling is required to form the mass of foamable material.
It should be understood that many other embodiments of the instant invention can be readily attained in addition to the above described specific embodiments.
EXAMPLE
One side of an "A" pillar automotive body stamping is removed from the stamping die. A mass of ND-300 thermoplastic elastomer based (ethylene-vinyl-acetate polymer based) foamable material (an inherently tacky foamable material available from ND Industries, 1000 North Crooks Road, Clawson, Michigan) is attached to the inside surface of the "A" pillar in the manner shown in Fig. 2(a). The other side of the "A" pillar automotive body stamping is removed from its stamping die and spot welded to the first side to complete an automotive vehicle body. The automotive vehicle body is passed through an e- coat oven, which heats the foamable material in the "A" pillar cavity so that the foamable material expands to bridge the vertical walls of the "A" pillar in the manner shown in Fig. 2(b).