Sealing interface for corrosion protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10302198-B2
Application number	US-201615346325-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2016
Priority date	Nov 8, 2016
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

A sealing interface configured to prevent galvanic corrosion of a container having parts made of dissimilar materials includes a first part, a second part, and a sealant. The first part has a first sealing surface and a first exterior surface substantially perpendicular to the first sealing surface. The second part has a second sealing surface and a second exterior surface substantially perpendicular to the second sealing surface. One of the parts includes an external sealing chamfer on the respective sealing surface extending to the respective exterior surface. The sealant at least fills a space formed between the external sealing chamfer and the sealing surface of the other of the parts when the parts are connected, forming a barrier between the parts such that the exterior surfaces of the parts are not in contact and are separated by the sealant. The exterior surfaces may be flush when the parts are connected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sealing interface configured to prevent galvanic corrosion of a container configured to retain a fluid in an interior cavity formed by the container, having parts made of dissimilar materials connected at the sealing interface, and subjectable to drops of an electrolyte on an exterior surface of the container, the sealing interface comprising:
a first part, having:
a first sealing surface; and
a first exterior surface substantially perpendicular to the first sealing surface;

a second part connectable to the first part, having:
a second sealing surface; and
a second exterior surface substantially perpendicular to the second sealing surface; and

a sealant;
wherein the first sealing surface, the second sealing surface, and the sealant are configured to cooperate to form together a sealed connection to retain the fluid in the interior cavity of the container when the first and second parts are connected;
wherein one of the first and second parts includes an external sealing chamfer on the respective sealing surface extending to the respective exterior surface; and
wherein the sealant at least fills a first space formed between the external sealing chamfer and the sealing surface of the other of the first and second parts when the first and second parts are connected, forming a barrier between the first and second parts such that the exterior surfaces of the first and second parts are not in contact and are separated by the sealant.

2. The sealing interface of claim 1 , wherein the second exterior surface is configured to be flush with the first exterior surface at the sealing interface when the first and second parts are connected such that the drops of the electrolyte are not trapped at the sealing interface and are prevented from extending from the first exterior surface to the second exterior surface.

3. The sealing interface of claim 1 , wherein the first part is made of a first material having a first electrode potential;
wherein the first sealing surface includes a first contact surface;
wherein the second part is made of a second material having a second electrode potential different from the first electrode potential;
wherein the second sealing surface includes a second contact surface configured to conform to and contact the first contact surface when the first and second parts are connected; and
wherein the external sealing chamfer extends from the respective contact surface to the respective exterior surface.

4. The sealing interface of claim 1 , wherein the sealant extends outward of the exterior surfaces of the first and second parts to form an exterior sealant bead such that the drops of the electrolyte are prevented from extending from the first exterior surface to the second exterior surface.

5. The sealing interface of claim 4 , wherein the sealant extends outward of the exterior surfaces of the first and second parts by an extension of at least 1 mm.

6. The sealing interface of claim 4 , wherein the sealant extends outward of the exterior surfaces of the first and second parts by an extension of at least 3 mm.

7. The sealing interface of claim 3 , wherein the external sealing chamfer includes a shelf portion proximate to the contact surface.

8. The sealing interface of claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second parts is a block and the other of the first and second parts is a block extension.

9. The sealing interface of claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second materials is an aluminum alloy; and
wherein the other of the first and second materials is a carbon fiber reinforced plastic material.

10. The sealing interface of claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second parts is an engine block made of an aluminum alloy and the other of the first and second parts is an engine block extension made of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic material or a magnesium alloy.

11. The sealing interface of claim 3 , wherein the sealing interface further comprises a fastener extending through the sealing surfaces and configured to connect the first part to the second part;
wherein the first part has a first interior surface substantially perpendicular to the first sealing surface;
wherein the second part has a second interior surface substantially perpendicular to the second sealing surface;
wherein the one of the first and second sealing surfaces that includes the external sealing chamfer further includes an internal sealing chamfer extending from the respective contact surface to the respective interior surface; and
wherein the sealant at least fills a second space formed between internal sealing chamfer and the other of the first and second sealing surfaces when the first and second parts are connected.

12. The sealing interface of claim 11 , wherein the internal sealing chamfer further extends to the external sealing chamfer such that the external and internal sealing chamfers together circumferentially surround the fastener when the first and second parts are connected; and
wherein the sealant circumferentially surrounds the fastener when the first and second parts are connected.

13. The sealing interface of claim 11 , wherein the internal sealing chamfer includes a shelf portion proximate to the contact surface.

14. The sealing interface of claim 3 , wherein the sealing interface further comprises a fastener extending through the sealing surfaces and configured to connect the first part to the second part;
wherein the one of the first and second sealing surfaces that includes the external sealing chamfer further includes an inner sealing chamfer within the respective contact surface;
wherein the inner sealing chamfer extends to the external sealing chamfer such that the external and inner sealing chamfers together circumferentially surround the fastener when the first and second parts are connected; and
wherein the sealant fills a third space formed between inner sealing chamfer and the other of the first and second sealing surfaces when the first and second parts are connected; and
wherein the sealant circumferentially surrounds the fastener when the first and second parts are connected.

15. The sealing interface of claim 14 , wherein the inner sealing chamfer includes a shelf portion proximate to the contact surface.

16. A vehicle component, comprising:
a container configured to retain a fluid in an interior cavity formed by the container and subjectable to drops of an electrolyte on an exterior surface of the container, the container including:
a first part made of a first material having a first electrode potential, the first part having:
a first sealing surface including a first contact surface; and
a first exterior surface substantially perpendicular to the first sealing surface;

a second part connected to the first part and made of a second material having a second electrode potential different from the first electrode potential, the second part having:
a second sealing surface including a second contact surface configured to conform to and contact the first contact surface; and
a second exterior surface substantially perpendicular to the second sealing surface; and

a sealant;

wherein the first sealing surface, the second sealing surface, and the sealant are configured to cooperate to form together a sealed connection to retain the fluid in the interior of the container;
wherein one of the first and second parts includes an external sealing chamfer on the respective sealing surface extending from the respective contact surface to the respective exterior surface; and
wherein the sealant at least fills a first

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Jones Marie-Christine G
• Rodgers William R
• Staley David R

Classifications

• B60K2015/03059

  Fuel tanks with double shells or more · CPC title

• B60K2015/03039

  made of a combination of non metallic and metallic materials · CPC title

• B65D15/24

  Connections between walls · CPC title

• F16J15/022 Primary

  characterised by structure or material · CPC title

• B60K2015/03486

  characterised by the materials the tank or parts thereof are essentially made from · CPC title