Lightweight vehicle flooring assembly

Details Lightweight vehicle flooring assembly Lightweight vehicle flooring assembly

2003-02-11

2004-01-13

Patel, Kiran (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Bodies

Structural detail

C428S317900, C052S403100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06676199

ABSTRACT:

The present invention concerns an assembly for a lightweight vehicle flooring according to the preamble of claim 1.
It is known to equip vehicle floor panels with an acoustically effective, i.e. sound insulating and/or sound absorbing lining. As a rule these linings comprise a sound insulating damping layer which is applied directly on to the floor panel. In high-comfort vehicles, an additional sound absorbing foam or nonwoven layer and a heavy and airtight carpet layer is added on to this vibration damping and sound absorbing layer on the passenger compartment side. These additional layers are acoustically designed in such a manner, that they can interact with each other as an acoustic spring-mass-system.
It is also known to apply a protective layer to the outer side of the floor panels with the aim of mechanically and/or chemically protecting it from, for example, the impact of stones or the effects of salt in winter. Such an underbody protection usually comprises spraying on an approximately 1 mm thick and relatively expensive layer of PVC
It has been shown that the application of a number of layers and coatings having differing functions undesirably increases the total weight of the vehicle and also undesirably reduces the available space in the passenger compartment, in particular the foot space. However, it is the general aim of the modern vehicle industry to design lighter, roomier and more cost efficient vehicles.
It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide a vehicle flooring which is lighter and less expensive than previous vehicle flooring configurations, whilst at the same time meeting the given mechanical, thermal and acoustical requirements
This is achieved with a lightweight vehicle flooring assembly having the features of claim 1, and in particular with a lightweight vehicle flooring assembly in which the conventional floor panel is replaced with a carrier layer comprising a honeycomb-like core layer which is connection on both sides with a stiffening layer. In a first preferred embodiment, the inner side of the stiffening layer is made of an SMC-material, the honeycomb-like core layer is made of an impregnated cardboard material, and the outer side of the stiffening layer is made of a needled nonwoven or felt. This felt is preferably made of glass and PET fibers which are bonded with 25% Resol, and has a weight of 1.3 kg/m
2
, for example. It is essential for the vehicle flooring according to the invention that at least this outer-side stiffening layer is open pored. In order to improve the acoustic efficiency, a double felt having two differently compressed sheets can additionally be applied. In this embodiment the inner lining consists of an acoustic spring-mass-system which preferably comprises a spring layer made of PU-foam and a mass layer made of rubber or latex.
In a further embodiment of the lightweight vehicle flooring according to the invention the carrier layer is provided with an outer coating which comprises two differently compressed felts. These open pored, i.e. porous and air pervious fiber layers can additionally be protected against humidity and dirt by a thin rubber or latex layer. On its inner side the carrier layer comprises a sound insulating rubber or latex layer. In its stead, an SMC-layer or an impregnated Renfort-layer can also be used.
Further preferred embodiments show the features of the dependent claims.
In this way, an acoustically and thermically highly efficient lightweight vehicle flooring is provided which is substantially lighter than conventional systems. The assembly according to the invention can be easily manufactured and formed, preferably in a one-step process, and in particular the vehicle flooring can be partially shaped into a &OHgr;-form in order to achieve the required stiffness. The lightweight vehicle flooring according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in the cabin flooring of trucks. It is understood that this flooring assembly can also be used for other vehicle parts, in particular for cabin side elements or other floor elements.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1736548 (1929-11-01), Pye
patent: 1776510 (1930-09-01), Keys et al.
patent: 3816234 (1974-06-01), Winfield
patent: 4384020 (1983-05-01), Beggs et al.
patent: 4502234 (1985-03-01), Schaefer et al.
patent: 4547245 (1985-10-01), Colyer
patent: 4698253 (1987-10-01), Osawa
patent: 4709781 (1987-12-01), Scherzer
patent: 4839397 (1989-06-01), Lohmar et al.
patent: 4966799 (1990-10-01), Lucca et al.
patent: 5013597 (1991-05-01), Kracke
patent: 5016413 (1991-05-01), Counihan
patent: 5187905 (1993-02-01), Pourtau et al.
patent: 5350619 (1994-09-01), Rasmussen
patent: 5395673 (1995-03-01), Hunt
patent: 5460865 (1995-10-01), Tsotsis
patent: 5497590 (1996-03-01), Counihan
patent: 5518796 (1996-05-01), Tsotsis
patent: 5567497 (1996-10-01), Zegler et al.
patent: 5863091 (1999-01-01), Shepherd et al.
patent: 5867957 (1999-02-01), Holtrop
patent: 5906082 (1999-05-01), Counihan
patent: 6127021 (2000-10-01), Kelman
patent: 3002082 (1981-07-01), None
patent: 35010722 (1986-09-01), None
patent: 37 12882 (1988-11-01), None
patent: 42 32 953 (1993-10-01), None
patent: 0 248 199 (1987-12-01), None
patent: 4 86261 (1992-03-01), None
patent: 05050951 (1993-03-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Lightweight vehicle flooring assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Lightweight vehicle flooring assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Lightweight vehicle flooring assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3205148