Method of enhancing in-service structural performance of a sheet metal component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016339965-A1
Application number	US-201514716003-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 19, 2015
Priority date	May 19, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method is provided for enhancing in-service structural performance of a sheet metal component incorporating a discontinuity. The method comprises heat-treating a zone of the sheet metal component a predetermined distance from the discontinuity thereby changing the strength and ductility of the zone and shifting the deformation induced in the sheet metal component by a subsequent deformation event away from the discontinuity to the zone.

First claim

1 . A method of enhancing in-service structural performance of a sheet metal component incorporating a discontinuity, comprising:
heat-treating a zone of said sheet metal component a predetermined distance from said discontinuity thereby reducing strength by 15% to 25% of said zone and increasing ductility of said zone; and shifting deformation induced in said sheet metal component by a subsequent deformation event away from said discontinuity to said zone.

2 . (canceled)

3 . (canceled)

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said sheet metal component is a 6XXX aluminum alloy, said method further including heating said zone of said sheet metal component to a temperature of between 426° C. and 482° C., or between 315° C. and 371° C.

5 . The method of claim 1 including controlling heat input into said zone during heat-treating using a combination of laser power, laser beam size and configuration, and laser travel speed.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said discontinuity is a weld seam, said method further including shifting deformation mode thereby allowing said weld seam to be loaded in shear instead of peel.

7 . A method of enhancing in-service structural performance of a metal motor vehicle roof panel incorporating a discontinuity, comprising:
heat-treating a zone of said metal motor vehicle roof panel a predetermined distance from said discontinuity thereby reducing strength by 15% to 25% of said zone and increasing ductility of said zone; and shifting deformation induced in said metal motor vehicle roof panel by a subsequent deformation event away from said discontinuity to said zone.

8 . (canceled)

9 . (canceled)

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein said metal motor vehicle roof panel is a 6XXX aluminum alloy, said method further including heating said zone of said metal motor vehicle roof panel to a temperature of between 426° C. and 482° C. or between 315° C. and 371° C.

11 . The method of claim 7 including controlling heat input into said zone during heat-treating using a combination of laser power, laser beam size and configuration, and laser travel speed.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein said discontinuity is a weld seam, said method further including shifting deformation mode thereby allowing said weld seam to be loaded in shear instead of peel.

13 . A roof panel for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a sheet metal component including a discontinuity and a heat-treated zone a predetermined distance from said discontinuity, said heat-treated zone having a strength and a ductility differing from a remaining untreated portion of said sheet metal component whereby deformation induced in said sheet metal component by a subsequent deformation event is shifted away from said discontinuity to said zone, wherein said zone runs a full length of said discontinuity.

14 . The roof panel of claim 13 , wherein said zone has between 15% and 25% less strength than said remaining untreated portion of said sheet metal component.

15 . The roof panel of claim 13 , wherein said discontinuity is selected from a group of discontinuities consisting of a weld, a weld heat-affected zone, a feature line, a feature bend, a mechanical fastener joint, a gauge change and a deep draw area that underwent mechanical deformation during manufacture.

16 . The roof panel of claim 13 , wherein said discontinuity is a weld seam between said roof panel and a door opening panel running along a margin of said sheet metal component.

17 . The roof panel of claim 16 , wherein said zone runs parallel to said weld seam.

18 . The roof panel of claim 17 , wherein said zone is spaced from said weld seam a distance of between 1 cm and 30 cm.

19 . The roof panel of claim 14 , wherein said zone has a width of between 2 mm and 100 mm.

20 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Caliskan Ari Garo
• Clarke Jo Ann

Classifications

• C22F1/05

  of alloys of the Al-Si-Mg type, i.e. containing silicon and magnesium in approximately equal proportions · CPC title

• B62D25/06

  Fixed roofs (non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08) · CPC title

• B62D29/008 Primary

  predominantly of light alloys, e.g. extruded · CPC title

• C22F1/04 Primary

  of aluminium or alloys based thereon · CPC title