Hybrid welding of thermoplastics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11975495-B2
Application number	US-202117525480-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2021
Priority date	May 20, 2015
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

Abstract

A process for welding of at least two separate vehicle panels (12, 14) to form an integral part (16) for a vehicle. There is provided at least one first panel (12) including a first weld line area (18) and at least one second panel (14) including a corresponding second weld line area (19), the second weld line area (19) abutting in a weldable relationship to the first weld line area (18). The first and second weld line areas (18, 19) have at least one first weldable portion (22) and at least one second portion (24) at which welding is substantially hindered during welding attachment of the first and second panels (12, 14). The process includes applying a curable adhesive at each second portion (24), placing in a welding fixture and welding the panels (12, 14) at each first weldable portion (22) such that the panels (12, 14) are held together during curing of the adhesive.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process for welding of two separate vehicle panels to form an integral part for a vehicle, comprising:
providing a first panel including a first weld line area;
providing a second panel including a corresponding second weld line area, said second weld line area for abutting in a weldable relationship to the first weld line area wherein said first and second weld line areas have a first weldable portion and second portion at which welding is substantially hindered by abrupt angle changes during welding attachment of the first and second panels;
applying a curable adhesive at said second portion and placing said first and second panels in welding position; and,
welding said panels at said first weldable portion such that said panels are held together during curing of said adhesive.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of first weldable portions and second portions.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein said adhesive is a urethane adhesive.

4. The process of claim 3 , wherein the adhesive is water cured.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is not curable, cured by or otherwise heat sensitive.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the second portion is at an area of changed geometry.

7. The process of claim 1 , further comprising flame treating the second portion prior to applying the adhesive for enhancing adhesiveness of the panel material.

8. The process of claim 1 , further comprising applying primer to the second portion prior to applying the adhesive for enhancing adhesiveness of the panel material.

9. The process of claim 1 , further comprising painting at least the first panel prior to applying the adhesive.

10. The process of claim 1 , further comprising loading the first and second panels into a welding fixture prior to welding said panels.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the panels form a rear liftgate.

12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the welding process is a resistive implant welding process.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the welding process is a laser welding process.

14. The process of claim 1 , wherein the welding process is an infrared welding process.

15. The process of claim 1 , wherein the welding process is an ultrasonic welding process.

16. The process of claim 1 , wherein the welding process is a vibratory welding process.

Assignees

• Magna Exteriors Inc

Inventors

• Huotari Keijo

Classifications

• B29C65/72 Primary

  by combined operations {or combined techniques}, e.g. welding and stitching · CPC title

• B29C65/02 Primary

  by heating, with or without pressure · CPC title

• B29C65/483

  Reactive adhesives, e.g. chemically curing adhesives · CPC title

• B29C65/484

  Moisture curing adhesives · CPC title

• B29C66/026

  Chemical pre-treatments (B29C66/028 takes precedence) · CPC title