Electric heating – Metal heating – For bonding with pressure
Patent
1990-04-05
1991-12-31
Lateef, Marvin M.
Electric heating
Metal heating
For bonding with pressure
219 7811, B23K 1100
Patent
active
050774590
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to composite metal panel construction useful for building or container panels, and more particularly to such panels for use in vehicular construction employing metal sheeting, such as railway rolling stock. The invention also relates to a method of fabricating such panels.
BACKGROUND ART
Modern railway passenger cars are usually fabricated from "angle" (L), "zed" (Z) or "top hat" ( ) metal stock welded together to constitute a frame which is subsequently clad with sheet metal, such as stainless steel sheeting, spot welded or otherwise affixed to the frame.
It is difficult, however, to maintain the sheet flat during the cladding process, so that the external appearance of a railcar so clad may present an uneven appearance, or what is termed an "oil can" effect; that is to say, a rippled or dimpled appearance. Moreover, spot weld markings and heat discolorations also tend to mar the external appearance.
While such surface imperfections have purely a visual impact and are of no structural significance, reflections from the metal surface tend to exaggerate the unevenness of such cladding sheets and are quite noticeable when the cars are in service. This may well be unacceptable to the purchaser who may equate such with fragility or insubstantial construction.
Several methods have been proposed to mitigate surface imperfections, including welding stiffening members to the rear face of the sheet, finely grooving the surface, and even employing deeply corrugated or fluted panels. In conventional present day cars, such corrugated panels are widely used to conceal spot weld marks and heat discolourations associated therewith. However, when the use of large flat panels are mandatory, it has been proposed to fabricate a composite panel comprised of a "honeycomb" aluminium core "sandwiched" between stainless steel sheet stock, ideally adhesively bonded thereto. Such a panel is described and claimed in the specification relating to Australian Patent Application No. 66401/88. While this is considered to be an acceptable solution to the abovementioned problems, further investigations have led to the improved composite metal panels of the invention.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages by the provision of a composite metal panel, comprising a sheet metal outer component resistance-welded, at spaced-apart locations, to the lands, or ridges, of an underlying corrugated metal component.
In a second aspect thereof, the present invention further provides a method of fabricating a composite metal panel, comprising laying a sheet metal outer component upon a copper bed which constitutes one electrode of a resistance-welding system; placing an underlying corrugated metal component upon the outer component; applying an electrode of a welding apparatus to the rear surface of the corrugated component at spaced-apart locations; and passing a welding current between the two electrodes to thereby resistance-weld the lands, or ridges, of the corrugated component to the outer component at the spaced-apart locations, to constitute a said composite metal panel. The copper bed is cooled by a through-flow of coolant fluid, preferably refrigerated water ideally containing an anti-freeze ingredient.
In yet a further aspect, the invention consists in a vehicle, such as a railroad passenger car, whenever it is constructed using the composite metal panels of the abovementioned first aspect of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
In order that the reader may gain a better understanding of the present invention, hereinafter will be described one or more preferred embodiments thereof, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of an inventive composite metal panel;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof; and
FIG. 3 is a section taken on line III--III of FIG. 2.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In the drawings, a composite metal panel in a
REFERENCES:
patent: 3598953 (1971-08-01), Campbell
patent: 3689730 (1972-09-01), Campbell
A. Goninan & Co. Limited
Lateef Marvin M.
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