Method of manufacturing a vehicle frame assembly including an integrated hitch having a coating

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a vehicle frame assembly including an integrated hitch having a coating of a material provided thereon includes the initial step of providing a vehicle frame assembly including an integrated hitch. A coating of a first material is provided on the integrated hitch. The coating of the first material provided on the integrated hitch is dehydrated, and a coating of a second material is provided over the coating of the first material provided on the integrated hitch. Lastly, the coating of the first material and the coating of the second material provided on the integrated hitch are cured.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates in general to methods for manufacturing vehicle frame assemblies. In particular, this invention relates to an improved method of manufacturing a vehicle frame assembly that includes an integrated hitch having a coating of a material provided thereon.[0002]Many land vehicles in common use, such as automobiles, vans, and trucks, include a frame assembly that is supported upon a plurality of ground-engaging wheels by a resilient suspension system. The structures of most vehicle frame assemblies can be divided into two general categories, namely, separate and unitized. In a typical separate frame assembly, the structural components of the body portion and the frame portion of the vehicle are separate and independent from one another. When assembled, the frame portion of the assembly is resiliently supported upon the vehicle wheels by the suspension system and serves as a platform upon which the body portion of the assembly and othe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]This invention relates to an improved method of manufacturing a vehicle frame assembly including an integrated hitch having a coating of a material provided thereon. that is relatively quick and inexpensive to perform. Initially, a vehicle frame assembly including an integrated hitch is provided. A coating of a first material is provided on the integrated hitch. The coating of the first material provided on the integrated hitch is dehydrated, and a coating of a second material is provided over the coating of the first material provided on the integrated hitch. Lastly, the coatings of the first and second material provided on the integrated hitch are cured.

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, during operation of the vehicle, such structural components of the vehicle frame assembly are frequently exposed to environmental conditions that promote the occurrence and accelerate the rate of corrosion, including moisture (from rain, snow, and humidity), heat, and corrosive chemicals (such as salt used for melting snow and ice).

Obviously, the corrosion of any portion of the vehicle frame assembly is undesirable.

It has been found that the coating of the corrosion-resistant material provided on the exposed portion of the integrated hitch can develop an undesirable white or chalky appearance as a result of sustained exposure to the ultraviolet radiation contained in the sunlight.

However, as a practical matter, this masking or other non-coating process has been found to be quite difficult to accomplish.

However, known manufacturing methods for applying this second coating on the exposed portion of the integrated hitch have been found to be relatively time-consuming and expensive.

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