Prestressing fixture to eliminate automotive p.s.i.r. door-chute vibration weld visibility
a technology for automotive door-chutes and prefabricated fixtures, which is applied in the direction of vehicular safety arrangements, manufacturing tools, and pedestrian/occupant safety arrangements, etc., can solve the problems of shrinkage/deformation of materials, visible deformation of instrument panels at the connection points between components, etc., and achieve the effect of reducing deformation
Inactive Publication Date: 2008-09-04
INTERTEC SYST
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AI Technical Summary
Benefits of technology
"The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for attaching a PSIR chute to an automotive interior panel. The invention solves the problem of distortion in the area where the airbag chute is welded to the panel. The invention involves using a pre-stressed instrument panel with a substrate layer that bonds to the weld bar of the airbag chute using weld bars. A cover layer is optionally added to the substrate layer. The invention also includes an apparatus for pre-stressing the instrument panel to eliminate distortion in the area where the airbag chute is welded. The technical effects of the invention include reducing distortion in the instrument panel and improving the strength of the welded area."
Problems solved by technology
During the cooling process, there is known to be shrinkage / deformation of materials.
Namely, during the known vibration welding of an instrument panel and PSIR chute, there is a visible deflection of the instrument panel at the connection points between the components caused by uneven shrinkage during the cooling process.
Method used
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[0024]Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,FIGS. 1-2B are views illustrative of a related art instrument panel construction, FIGS. 3-5 are views illustrative of an instrument panel construction for eliminating distortion in the area of vibration welded PSIR chutes according to the present invention, and FIGS. 6A and 6B are views illustrative of a pre-stressed layered instrument panel according to the present invention.
[0025]Referring to FIG. 1, in “hard hidden” constructions, a PSIR Chute 10 is often vibration welded to the underside of prior art instrument panel 12. As briefly discussed above, the technique of vibration welding generally involves the physical movement PSIR Chute 10 having weld bars 14 relative to prior art instrument panel 12, with weld bars 14 being moved horizontally relative to instrument panel 12 under pressure. This physical movement creates heat which melts contact area 16 of ...
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Abstract
An automotive interior component including an airbag chute having at least one weld bar, and a pre-stressed instrument panel having a substrate layer for bonding to the weld bar. The pre-stressing provides tensile stress at weld bar bonding areas to reduce any deformation visible on an exposed surface of the instrument panel.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 873,274, filed Dec. 7, 2006, incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002]a. Field of Invention[0003]The invention relates generally to automotive instrument panels, an apparatus for and method of manufacture thereof, and, more particularly, to an apparatus for and method of manufacturing automotive instrument panels and other automotive components which eliminates distortion in the area of vibration welded Passenger Side Inflatable Restraint (PSIR) chutes and other vibration welded components.[0004]b. Description of Related Art[0005]Automobiles are commonly equipped with airbags for reducing driver and passenger injuries in the case of an accident. Automobile airbags are generally located in areas where a driver or passenger would potentially contact an automobile interior in the event of an accident. Airbags can reduce injuries by providing a s...
Claims
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IPC IPC(8): B60R21/215
CPCB32B38/0012B60R21/2165B29C65/08B23K20/10
Inventor EVANS, GREGG S.
Owner INTERTEC SYST