Method for introducing a sealant into a cavity of an assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for introducing a sealant (7) into a cavity (5) of an assembly (1), wherein several components (3) are assembled to form an assembly (1) with at least one cavity (5) which has at least one area to be sealed, wherein during the assembly of the assembly (1) a container (10) is arranged and fastened in the at least one cavity (5) to be formed, in which the sealant (7) is received, wherein after completion of the assembly of the assembly (1) the container (10) is activated with the sealant (7), wherein the container (10) is designed and arranged in the at least one cavity (5) of the assembly (1) such that the activation of the container (10) releases the sealant (7) and causes it to flow at least over parts of the area to be sealed of the cavity (5).and a corresponding container (10) for introducing a sealing material (7) into a cavity (5) of an assembly (1) according to such a method.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for introducing a sealant into a cavity of an assembly. The invention further relates to a corresponding container for introducing a sealant into a cavity of an assembly according to such a method.

[0002] Methods for introducing a sealant into a cavity of a vehicle assembly are known in numerous variations. It is known from the prior art that car bodies are heated significantly before a flood waxing process so that all important areas can be covered during waxing. In such a flood waxing process, wax is poured, for example, via a rocker panel into corresponding cavities. A disadvantage of this method is that, to reach certain cavity areas, the wax level must be raised so that the wax can flow into the corresponding chambers. However, this also results in unnecessary areas being waxed. Furthermore, excess wax can remain in the body. This can lead to increased material consumption and a negative impact on the vehicle's weight.

[0003] From DE 60 017 663 T2, an expansion-temperature-tolerant, dry, initially non-sticky, expandable sealing and sound-dampening component for sealing a vehicle body cavity is known, which can withstand expansion at a temperature such as that generated by the body cavity during the oven curing of a coating material applied to the vehicle. The component comprises an amount of a graphite anhydride polymer, an amount of a polymer additive with a terminal epoxy group which reacts with at least a portion of the anhydride polymer when the component is heated to the temperature that influences its expansion; and a sufficient amount of a blowing agent which is capable of causing the expansion of the component composition when the component is heated to an elevated temperature.The component does not include a catalytic agent to catalyze the reaction of the terminal epoxide group polymer with the graphite anhydride polymer.

[0004] WO 01 / 19667 A1 discloses a sealing component for sealing a cavity in a vehicle whose cross-section has at least one sharp corner, such as those formed by crimp flanges. Such a cavity is extremely difficult to seal completely with a conventional foam sealant due to the high viscosity of the foam sealant. The sealing component comprises a heat-expandable primary sealant, a secondary sealant (such as a hot melt adhesive or wax) applied to a surface of the primary sealant, and a holder. When the sealing component is placed in the cavity, the holder positions the primary sealant so that the secondary sealant is opposite a sharp corner of the cavity.When heated to or above its foaming temperature, the primary sealant foams up and forces the secondary sealant into the sharp corner. Between the foaming of the primary sealant and the flow of the secondary sealant into the sharp corner, the cavity is completely and effectively sealed.

[0005] From DE 103 18 782 A1, a sealing material for gaskets and a flat gasket incorporating such a sealing material are known. The sealing material is applied to a sealing surface of a gasket and / or a machine component. Problems regarding portioning and handling of the sealing material are avoided because the sealing material has the form of a capsule filled with a liquid to pasty sealing material, with a capsule wall that bursts under pressure, and the sealing material can be solidified in situ under operating conditions.

[0006] The invention is based on the objective of providing a method and a container for introducing a sealant into a cavity of an assembly, which can reduce the amount of sealant required.

[0007] This problem is solved by a method for introducing a sealant into a cavity of an assembly with the features of claim 1 and by a container for introducing a sealant into a cavity of an assembly with the features of claim 7. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] To provide a method for introducing a sealant into a cavity of an assembly, which can reduce the amount of sealant required, several components are assembled into an assembly with at least one cavity, which has at least one area to be sealed. During assembly, a container holding the sealant is positioned within the at least one cavity to be formed. After assembly is complete, the container is activated. The container is designed and positioned within the at least one cavity of the assembly such that activation of the container releases the sealant, causing it to flow over at least part of the cavity to be sealed.

[0009] The assembly is at least a component of a vehicle's body shell. For example, the assembly can be configured as a longitudinal member, cross member, sill, vehicle pillar, etc. A propellant is located inside the container, which expands when the container is activated, increasing the internal pressure so that the sealant is expelled. The propellant can be either a propellant charge or an air reservoir.

[0010] Furthermore, a container for introducing a sealant into a cavity of an assembly according to such a method is proposed, comprising a shell that at least partially encloses a first receiving chamber and a lid that at least partially encloses a second receiving chamber and closes the shell at one end. A sealant is introduced into the first receiving chamber, and a propellant is introduced into the second receiving chamber, which expands upon activation of the container and forces the sealant out of the container.

[0011] Such a container can be attached to the cavity of the assembly during assembly, for example by means of a snap-fit ​​connection or a clip connection.

[0012] Embodiments of the invention offer an advantageous alternative to the conventional flood waxing method. By precisely positioning the container within the at least one cavity of the assembly, areas can be covered with the sealant that were previously inaccessible or difficult to cover with a high material input. Furthermore, by reducing the amount of wax required, embodiments of the invention also enable a reduction in vehicle weight and material costs.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the sealant can preferably be a sealing wax. This enables a cost-effective sealing of the area of ​​the cavity to be sealed. The sealant can be solid in its initial state and liquefied by thermal heating. This facilitates the activation and distribution of the sealant.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the container can have at least one opening through which the sealing material escapes after activation of the container. This opening can be located in the shell or in a base of the container, which closes off the shell at an end opposite the lid.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the container can be activated by thermal heating. The thermal heating causes the propellant or propellant charge, or the air reservoir, to expand and force the sealant through the at least one opening onto the area of ​​the cavity to be sealed. Thus, the container can be activated with the sealant, for example, during a cathodic dip coating process carried out in a temperature range of 150°C to 230°C, or during a drying process carried out at approximately 180°C.

[0016] The advantages and preferred embodiments described for the inventive method for introducing a sealing material into a cavity of an assembly also apply to the inventive container for introducing a sealing material into a cavity of an assembly.

[0017] The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those subsequently mentioned in the figure description and / or shown in the figures alone, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, embodiments that are not explicitly shown or explained in the figures, but which can be derived and generated from the explained embodiments by separate combinations of features, are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention.

[0018] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawings, identical reference numerals denote components or elements that perform the same or analogous functions. These show: Fig. 1 a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of a method according to the invention for introducing a sealant into a cavity of an assembly; and Fig. 2 a schematic sectional view of a section of an assembly with an embodiment of a container according to the invention, which is arranged and fastened in a cavity of the assembly.

[0019] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the illustrated embodiment comprises a method 100 according to the invention for introducing a sealant 7 into a cavity 5 of a Fig. In the assembly 1 shown in Figure 2, a step S100 is performed in which several components 3 are assembled into an assembly 1 with at least one cavity 5. The cavity 5 has at least one area to be sealed. In a step S110, during the assembly of the assembly 1, a container 10 is arranged in the at least one cavity 5 to be formed, in which the sealing material 7 is contained. In a step S120, after completion of the assembly 1, the container 10 is activated with the sealing material 7. Here, the container 10 is designed and arranged in the at least one cavity 5 of the assembly 1 such that, upon activation of the container 10 in a step S130, the sealing material 7 is released and flows at least over parts of the area to be sealed in the cavity 5.

[0020] As from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 2, assembly 1 is at least a component of a vehicle body shell. In the illustrated embodiment, assembly 1 is designed as a sill 1A, in whose cavity 5 the container 10 is arranged and fastened. The container 10 is snapped to assembly 1 by means of two fastening elements 19 designed as snap-fit ​​elements 19A. Of course, other suitable fastening techniques can also be used to secure the container 10 in the cavity 5 of assembly 1.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment of method 100, the container 10 is activated by thermal heating. This thermal heating can be activated, for example, during a cathodic dip painting process of the body shell, which is carried out in a temperature range of 150°C to 230°C, or during a drying process of the body shell, which is carried out at approximately 180°C.

[0022] As from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 2, the container 10 for introducing a sealing material 7 into a cavity 5 of an assembly 1 is designed as a cartridge 10A in the illustrated embodiment. The container 10, designed as a cartridge 10A, comprises a shell 12, which at least partially encloses a first receiving chamber 12A, and a lid 14, which at least partially encloses a second receiving chamber 14A and closes the shell 12 at one end. A sealing material 7 is introduced into the first receiving chamber 12A, and a propellant 9 is introduced into the second receiving chamber 14A. When the container 10 is activated, the propellant 9 expands and forces the sealing material 7 out of the container 10.

[0023] In the illustrated embodiment of the container 10, the propellant 9 is designed as a propellant charge 9A. This propellant charge 9A expands due to thermal heating upon activation of the container 10. In an alternative embodiment of the container 10 (not shown), the propellant 9 is designed as an air reservoir. Here, the air in the air reservoir expands due to thermal heating upon activation of the container 10. Furthermore, several openings 18 are provided in a base 16 of the container 10, which is designed as a conical tip 16A and closes off the shell 12 at an end opposite the lid 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the lid 14 is designed as a hemispherical cap.

[0024] In the illustrated embodiment, the sealant 7 is a sealing wax 7A. The sealant 7 is solid in its initial state and is liquefied by thermal heating. The blowing agent 9, located in the container 10, expands upon activation of the container 10 due to the thermal increase, thereby increasing the pressure inside the container 10. This causes the liquid sealant 7 to emerge from the container 10 after activation and cover the area of ​​the cavity 5 to be sealed.

[0025] In an alternative embodiment of the container 10 (not shown), at least one opening 18 is provided in the shell 12 of the container 10. Of course, openings 18 can also be provided in the shell 12 and in the base 16 of the container 10. Furthermore, in alternative embodiments (not shown), the base 16 can also be designed as a disc or, analogous to the lid 14, as a hemispherical cap. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1 assembly 1A sill 3 components 5 Cavity 7 Sealant 7A Sealing Wax 9 propellants 9A propellant charge 10 containers 10A cartridge 12 coat 12A first recording room 14 lids 14A second recording room 16 Floor 16A peak 18 Opening 19 Fasteners 19A Latching element 100 methods for sealing a cavity in an assembly S100 to S130 process step

Claims

Method (100) for introducing a sealant (7) into a cavity (5) of an assembly (1) which is at least part of a body-in-white of a vehicle, wherein several components (3) are assembled to form an assembly (1) with at least one cavity (5) which has at least one area to be sealed, wherein during the assembly of the assembly (1) a container (10) is arranged in the at least one cavity (5) to be formed, in which the sealant (7) is received, wherein after completion of the assembly of the assembly (1) the container (10) with the sealant (7) is activated, wherein the container (10) is designed and arranged in the at least one cavity (5) of the assembly (1) such that the activation of the container (10) releases the sealant (7) and it flows at least over parts of the area to be sealed of the cavity (5), wherein a propellant (9) is arranged in the container (10),which expands when the container (10) is activated and increases the pressure inside the container (10), causing the sealing material (7) to escape from the container (10). Method (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sealing material (7) is a sealing wax (7A). Method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealing agent (7) is solid in a basic state and is liquefied by thermal heating. Method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the propellant (9) is designed as a propellant charge (9A) or as an air reservoir. Method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the container (10) has at least one opening (18) through which the sealing material (7) escapes after activation of the container (10). Method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the container (10) is activated by thermal heating. Container (10) for introducing a sealing material (7) into a cavity (5) of an assembly (1) according to the method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a jacket (12) which at least partially encloses a first receiving space (12A), and a lid (14) which at least partially encloses a second receiving space (14A) and closes off the jacket (12) at one end, wherein a sealing material (7) is introduced into the first receiving space (12A), and a blowing agent (9) is introduced into the second receiving space (14A), which expands when the container (10) is activated and forces the sealing material (7) out of the container (10). Container (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one opening (18) is provided in the shell (12) or in a base (16) of the container (10), which closes off the shell (12) at an end opposite the lid (14).

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