Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Patent
1998-04-06
2000-08-29
Dayoan, D. Glenn
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Door or window with specified vehicle feature
2961465, 298972, 21912163, B60J 1008
Patent
active
061096822
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a motor vehicle door or hatch with an outer sheet and an inner sheet which are mutually supported and secured together at an edge region.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Motor vehicle doors or hatches are expected to not only possess sufficient strength but the interior space created between outer sheet and inner sheet is also expected to be sealed against moisture. The approach pursued to this effect in practice is that the outer sheet is bent around the inner sheet, using one bordering tool or more so that the edge of the inner sheet is bordered by the outer sheet. An adhesive is brought into the bordering to achieve sufficient strength. A sealing adhesive is applied over the seam in the area of the free edge of the outer sheet in order to seal the bordering against moisture. Both adhesives have to be warmed-up at the restrained edge of the motor vehicle door or hatch to achieve sufficient strength and tightness.
It is known practice to connect edges of overlapping sheet metal plates by way of laser welding. One application of this method a laser beam is pointed into the gap created between these two sheets in such a manner that this laser beam is reflected several times and that the material of both sheets smelts in the area of the gap (vide EP 0511 746). If required, an additional material may also be brought into the gap (vide DE 434 1255).
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of this invention to specify a motor vehicle door or hatch of the species described herein above which is simple to produce while possessing sufficient strength and sealing qualities.
This object is solved in that an edge strip of the inner sheet is angularly spaced, and connected to, a main portion of the inner sheet by a bend. This type of bent connection between a main portion and an edge strip will furthermore be described as "bent off". This bent off connection is in a direction of an inside of the door to form a bead. That bead is connected with an edge strip of the outer sheet which is also bent off in the direction of the inside of the door. A laser weld seam fills the gap between the two edge strips to establish the connection of the two edge strips.
The edge strips which may be bent at an angle of <90.degree. or equal to 90.degree. or even >90.degree. versus the plane of the outer sheet and/or plane of the door will enhance the moment of resistance substantially. A bead thus formed can be utilized for a sealing. The linkage between the two edge strips by way of a laser weld seam meets all requirements for sufficient strength and sealing so that special measures for sealing, particularly an application of sealing adhesives, can be omitted. A laser weld connection also allows for the use of sheet metal plates in minium thickness so that savings on material can be achieved.
In one embodiment of this invention, the edge strip of the inner sheet has a holding bead for a sealing, with the bead extending out from the area of connection. To this effect a holding strip may be bent from the plane of the connection area backward and into a direction substantially orthogonal to the door plane.
In another embodiment of this invention, the edge strip of the inner plate is of a U-channel type shape, forming a hollow profile together with an allocated section of the outer sheet to serve as holding bead for sealing. It is recommend in this embodiment for the edge strips of the outer and inner sheet to be connected to each other.
The connection of the edge regions of the outer sheet and inner sheet of a motor vehicle door or hatch includes bending one edge strip each from the outer sheet and inner sheet. The sheets are laid on each other and are restrained in a supporting range or area between a support and a hold-down device. The edge strip of the outer sheet has a clamping slide pressed against the edge strip of the inner sheet, and the edge strips are welded together by way of a laser beam pointed into the gap between both edge strips.
Advantages of this
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patent: 5115115 (1992-05-01), Alborante
patent: 5147105 (1992-09-01), Ono et al.
patent: 5591358 (1997-01-01), Quagline
patent: 5941590 (1999-08-01), Reynolds et al.
Dayoan D. Glenn
Engle Patricia
Thyssen Krupp Industrie AG
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