Multilayer component assembly for automobiles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9828040-B2
Application number	US-201414318994-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Jun 30, 2014
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

An automotive aluminum alloy component assembly includes a first vehicle component defining a first joint region and a first cutout. The assembly also includes a second vehicle component defining a second joint region. The assembly also includes a third vehicle component defining a third joint region. Portions of the first and third joint region sandwich the second joint region. A first self-piercing rivet is disposed within the second and third components and aligned with the first cutout.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automotive component assembly comprising:
a first vehicle component defining preformed cutout;
second and third vehicle components defining second and third joint regions, wherein the first and third components sandwich the second component; and
a self-piercing rivet (SPR) embedded within the second and third joint regions at a location aligned with the cutout, the SPR being recessed into the cutout with a top surface of the SPR below a midpoint of the first component.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the SPR is not in contact with first vehicle component.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the top surface of the SPR is substantially flush with a top surface of the second component.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cutout is a first cutout and the third vehicle component defines a second cutout, and further comprising a second SPR is embedded within the first and second components at a location aligned with the second cutout.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the second component further includes a button formed by the second SPR and wherein the button is disposed within the second cutout.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein each of the SPR and the second SPRs includes a head, and the heads of each SPR are facing in a same direction.

7. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second SPR disposed within the first, second and third aluminum alloy vehicle components.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the SPR is not in contact with the first layer.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the SPR includes legs, and the legs are not disposed in the first layer.

10. A multiple aluminum component assembly for an automobile comprising:
a stack of first, second, and third components;
a first self-piercing rivet (SPR) embedded within the first and second components and not in the third component; and
a second SPR embedded within the second and third components and not in the first component, wherein the first and second SPRs cooperate to form a joint between the first, second and third components.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the first vehicle component defines a first preformed cutout and the second SPR is aligned within a periphery of the first cut-out.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the third vehicle component defines a second preformed cutout and the first SPR is aligned within a periphery of the first cutout.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the first and second cutouts are offset from each other.

14. The assembly of claim 12 wherein second SPR is recessed into the first cutout with a top surface of the second SPR being closer to the second component than the first component.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein second component includes a button formed by the first SPR, and wherein the button is disposed within the second cutout.

16. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising:
a fourth component; and
a third SPR disposed within the second component, the third component and the fourth component, wherein the first, second and third SPRs cooperating to form a joint between the first, second, third and fourth components.

17. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the second SPR defines a head having a top surface, and the top surface is substantially flush with a top surface of the second component.

18. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the first SPR is only disposed in the first and second components.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the second SPR is only disposed in the second and third components.

20. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the first, second, and third components are formed of aluminum alloy.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Campbell Aindrea Mckelvey
• Freis Amanda Kay
• Wagner Darrin Neil
• Vijayakumar Srinath

Classifications

• F16B19/086

  Self-piercing rivets · CPC title

• B62D27/02 Primary

  rigid · CPC title

• F16B5/04

  by means of riveting (rivets F16B19/04) · CPC title

• F16B19/04

  Rivets; Spigots or the like fastened by riveting (lead seals G09F3/00) · CPC title

• B62D25/00

  Superstructure {or monocoque structure} sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for {(having impact absorbing means B62D21/15; running-boards, steps, or the like as superstructure sub-unit B60R3/00)} · CPC title