Structure and method for assembling different types of metal sheets

Abstract

An exemplary structure for assembling different types of metal plates includes: a steel plate; a non-iron plate assembled to the steel plate; a spacer joined to the steel plate and spacing the steel plate from the non-iron plate; and a flange bolt passing through the non-iron plate and fastening the steel plate to the non-iron plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a structure and method for assembling different types of metal panels. Background Art

[0002] The vehicle body is generally made of steel. Various plates made of steel are processed into predetermined shapes to manufacture structures or outer panels for the vehicle, and these structures and outer panels are joined by welding. At the same time, parts that are extremely fragile, such as fenders, are assembled to the vehicle body by bolting so that they can be easily replaced with new parts when damaged.

[0003] Therefore, non-ferrous materials such as aluminum alloys are applied to the fenders to reduce weight.

[0004] like Figure 1 As shown in the related art in FIG. 1 , a steel plate 111 and a fender 112 made of a non-ferrous material, which generally constitute a vehicle body, are arranged to overlap each other, and the steel plate 111 and the fender 112 are assembled by using bolts 121 and nuts 123 .

[0005] However, the steel plate 111 and the fender 112 are made of different types of metal materials, which causes a problem of galvanic corrosion between the steel plate and the fender due to a potential difference. If moisture penetrates into a portion where the steel plate 111 and the fender 112 are joined, galvanic corrosion occurs on the joint surface between the steel plate 111 and the fender 112 due to a potential difference on the joint surface.

[0006] In order to prevent electrochemical corrosion, a cap 131 made of plastic or rubber is assembled together with the bolt 121 to prevent moisture from penetrating.

[0007] Alternatively, if Figure 2 As shown in the related art in FIG. 1 , a portion between the steel plate 111 and the fender 112 is coated with wax 132 to prevent the steel plate 111 and the fender 112 from directly contacting each other.

[0008] Since these related arts require fitting the cap 131 or applying the wax 132 , there is a problem in that the number of assembling processes of the steel plate 111 and the fender 112 increases, which increases the cost.

[0009] In addition, when the cap 131 is separated from the bolt 121 or the fixing force of the cap 131 is reduced as the use time passes, the infiltration of moisture occurs on the joint surface, which causes electrochemical corrosion on the joint surface. Even when the wax 132 is applied between the steel plate 111 and the fender 112, the wax 132 deteriorates or disappears over time. Therefore, the steel plate 111 and the fender 112 may directly contact each other, which promotes electrochemical corrosion between the steel plate and the fender 112. Summary of the invention

[0010] The present disclosure relates to a structure and method for assembling different types of metal plates.Detailed Description of the Invention The present disclosure relates to a structure and method for assembling different types of metal plates of a vehicle body, which can prevent a joint portion from being corroded.

[0011] Thus, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a structure and method for assembling different types of metal sheets that can facilitate the assembly process while spacing the different types of metal sheets apart so that the metal sheets are not permanently in direct contact with each other.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment, a structure for assembling different types of metal plates may include: a steel plate; a non-ferrous plate assembled to the steel plate; a spacer joined to the steel plate and configured to space the steel plate from the non-ferrous plate; and a flange bolt configured to pass through the non-ferrous plate and fasten the steel plate and the non-ferrous plate.

[0013] Threads may be formed on an inner surface of the through hole of the spacer and an outer peripheral surface of the flange bolt, respectively, and the flange bolt and the spacer may be threadably coupled to each other and configured to fasten the non-iron plate to the steel plate.

[0014] The surface of the flange bolt and the surface of the spacer may be plated with a zinc component.

[0015] The flange bolts may be treated with a coating having zinc and an inorganic binder.

[0016] The spacers may be treated by zinc-nickel electroplating.

[0017] A plurality of welding protrusions may be formed on a bottom surface of the spacer, and the spacer may be joined to the steel plate by welding.

[0018] A weld seat may be formed on the spacer and abuts the welding tool during the welding process.

[0019] The soldering seat may be formed around the through hole provided in the spacer and inclined downward from the upper surface of the spacer toward the through hole.

[0020] The soldering seat may have a predetermined height and be formed around a through hole provided in the spacer.

[0021] The diameter of the through hole formed in the non-ferrous plate may be larger than the outer diameter of the welding seat of the spacer.

[0022] The diameter of the flange portion of the flange bolt may be larger than the diameter of the through hole formed in the non-iron plate.

[0023] The spacer may have a coating hole formed around the through hole formed in the spacer so that the coating material flows through the coating hole.

[0024] The weld nut may be coupled to the bottom surface of the steel plate by welding, and the flange bolt may pass through the non-ferrous plate, the spacer, and the steel plate and be fastened to the weld nut, so that the non-ferrous plate is assembled to the steel plate.

[0025] As another preferred embodiment, a method for assembling different types of metal plates may include: a spacer placing step of placing the spacer on the upper surface of the steel plate so that the through holes of the spacer match the through holes of the steel plate; a welding step of joining the bottom surface of the spacer and the upper surface of the steel plate by pressing the spacer downward from above the spacer using a welding tool while the bottom surface of the steel plate is supported by a welding fixture; a plate placing step of placing a non-iron plate on the upper surface of the spacer so that the through holes of the non-iron plate match the through holes of the spacer; and a bolt tightening step of assembling the non-iron plate and the steel plate by tightening the flange bolts.

[0026] In the bolt tightening step, the flange bolts may be tightened to the non-ferrous plate, the spacer, and the steel plate and to the weld nut.

[0027] According to the structure and method for assembling different types of metal plates of an embodiment of the present disclosure configured as described above, the steel plates constituting the vehicle body may not be in direct contact with non-iron plates such as fenders, which makes it possible to prevent electrochemical corrosion from occurring at the portions where the different types of metal plates are joined.

[0028] In addition, a process of fitting a cap to a bolt or applying wax to a joint surface between a steel plate and a fender to prevent electrochemical corrosion may not be required, which makes it possible to simplify the assembly process and reduce the cost required to manufacture a vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of applying a cap to a bolt in an assembly structure of different types of metal plates in the related art.

[0030] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an example in which joining surfaces in an assembly structure of different types of metal plates in the related art are coated with wax.

[0031] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an assembly structure of different types of metal plates according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view showing spacers in an assembly structure of different types of metal plates according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 5is a perspective view showing a state in which a spacer is placed on a steel plate in an assembly structure of different types of metal plates according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a process of joining a steel plate and a spacer by welding in an assembly structure of different types of metal plates according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a steel plate and a spacer are joined by welding in an assembly structure of different types of metal plates according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembly structure of different types of metal plates according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Fig. 9 It shows Figure 8 An enlarged cross-sectional view of the main parts.

[0038] Fig.10 is a perspective view showing a spacer in an assembly structure of different types of metal plates according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Fig.11 is a perspective view showing a spacer in an assembly structure of different types of metal plates according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Fig.12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembly structure of different types of metal plates according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Fig.13 is a flow chart illustrating a method of assembling different types of metal panels according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings, and since these embodiments, as examples, can be implemented in various forms by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs, they are not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0043] Hereinafter, a structure and method for assembling different types of metal plates according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] like Figure 3As shown, the structure for assembling different types of metal plates according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a steel plate 11; a non-iron plate 12, assembled to the steel plate 11; a spacer 22, joined to the steel plate 11 and configured to space the steel plate 11 from the non-iron plate 12; and a flange bolt 21, configured to pass through the non-iron plate 12 and fix the steel plate 11 to the non-iron plate 12.

[0045] The steel plate 11 may define a vehicle body or an outer panel of the vehicle. Preferably, a through hole 11a may be formed at the center of the steel plate 11, and a flange bolt 21 to be described below may pass through the through hole 11a.

[0046] The steel plate 11 may be further joined to another adjacent steel plate (not shown) by welding or the like.

[0047] A non-ferrous plate 12 such as for a fender can be assembled to the steel plate 11 and can define an outer panel of the vehicle. A portion of the outer panel of the vehicle that is extremely vulnerable can be made of a non-ferrous plate 12 made of a non-ferrous metal. A portion that is less likely to be damaged can be made of a steel plate 11.

[0048] The non-iron plate 12 can be easily replaced with a new non-iron plate, but may not be easily welded to the steel plate 11. Therefore, the non-iron plate 12 may be assembled to the steel plate 11 by bolting, etc. To this end, the non-iron plate 12 may have a through hole 12a to be passed and fastened by the flange bolt 21.

[0049] The spacer 22 may be located between the steel plate 11 and the non-iron plate 12 and may space the steel plate 11 from the non-iron plate 12 .

[0050] The spacer 22 may have a predetermined height and may be joined to the steel plate 11 by welding or the like so that the steel plate 11 and the non-iron plate 12 may be spaced apart from each other by the height of the spacer 22 .

[0051] The spacer 22 may be made of steel. A plurality of welding protrusions 22 b may be formed on a bottom surface of the spacer 22 and used to weld the spacer 22 to the steel plate 11 .

[0052] Preferably, a through hole 22 a through which the flange bolt 21 passes may also be formed at the center of the spacer 22 .

[0053] The flange bolt 21 may pass through the non-iron plate 12 and may be threadedly coupled to the spacer 22. Threads may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the flange bolt 21, and threads may also be formed on the inner surface of the through hole 22a of the spacer 22, so that the flange bolt 21 is fastened to the spacer 22, and the steel plate 11 and the non-iron plate 12 are assembled together.

[0054] like Figure 8As shown, a flange portion 21a may be formed on the head of the flange bolt 21 so that when the flange bolt 21 is fully fastened to the steel plate 11, the flange portion 21a presses the upper surface of the non-iron plate 12. A diameter D2 of the flange portion 21a of the flange bolt 21 may be greater than a diameter D1 of the through hole 12a formed in the non-iron plate 12.

[0055] The surfaces of the flange bolts 21 and the surfaces of the spacers 22 may be plated with a zinc component so that the corrosion resistance of the flange bolts 21 and the spacers 22 is improved.

[0056] That is, the surface of the flange bolt 21 may be treated by a coating having zinc and an inorganic binder, as is well known in the art, so that a plating layer 21b is formed on the surface of the flange bolt 21. The coating may use an electroplating solution that does not include harmful heavy metals such as chromium, and the coating may provide excellent corrosion resistance. Therefore, the coating may be applied to the flange bolt 21, thereby preventing corrosion between the flange bolt 21 and another member adjacent to the flange bolt 21. An example of such a coating is Xymet®. A coating consisting of zinc and aluminum flakes passivated in a binder infused with a lubricant. The X-MET coating is water-based, chromium-free and nonylphenol-free.

[0057] In addition, the surface of the spacer 22 may be plated by zinc-nickel plating so that a plating layer 22d is formed on the surface of the spacer 22. Zinc-nickel plating may provide excellent weldability so that the spacer 22 may be easily joined to the steel plate 11 when the spacer 22 is joined to the steel plate 11 by welding.

[0058] Meanwhile, the spacer 22 may have a welding seat 22 c which abuts against the welding tool 32 when the spacer 22 is joined to the steel plate 11 by welding.

[0059] The welding seat 22c may be formed around the through hole 22a of the spacer 22 and may be inclined downward from the upper surface of the spacer 22 toward the center of the through hole 22a. During the welding process, the spacer 22 may be pressed by the welding tool 32, and the plating layer 22d on the surface of the spacer 22 may be partially separated. Therefore, the welding seat 22c may be formed in a concave shape so that the portion of the spacer 22 not provided with the plating layer 22d (see Figure 7 The portion A) in the embodiment may not be adjacent to the bottom surface of the non-iron plate 12.

[0060] In addition, the diameter D1 of the through hole 12a of the non-iron plate 12 can be larger than the outer diameter D3 of the welding seat 22c of the spacer 22. Since the through hole 12a of the non-iron plate 12 is formed larger than the welding seat 22c, even if the plated portion of the welding seat 22c is separated, the portion where the plating layer 22d is not provided can be prevented (see Figure 7Part A) in the middle is in direct contact with the non-iron plate 12.

[0061] Fig.10 Another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, in which a coating hole 22e can be formed in the through hole 22a of the spacer 22. The coating hole 22e can be formed in the through hole 22a of the spacer 22 and arranged along the through hole 22a, so that during a coating process (such as electrocoating), the coating material can easily flow through the coating hole 22e. Therefore, the coating performance can be improved.

[0062] Fig.11 2 shows another embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the welding seat 22c formed on the spacer 22 can protrude upward from the spacer 22 by a predetermined height. That is, Fig.11 The welding seat 22c' in the spacer 22 may have a predetermined height and may be formed around the through hole 22a formed in the spacer 22. Since the diameter of the welding seat 22c' is smaller than the diameter D1 of the through hole 12a of the non-iron plate 12, the welding seat 22c' may not contact the non-iron plate 12 even if the welding seat 22c' protrudes upward from the spacer 22.

[0063] In this case, the height of the welding seat 22c' may be smaller than the thickness of the non-iron plate 12. If the height of the welding seat 22c' is greater than the thickness of the non-iron plate 12, when the non-iron plate 12 is fastened by the flange bolt 21, the flange portion 21a of the flange bolt 21 will not be able to press the non-iron plate 12. Therefore, the height of the welding seat 22c' may be smaller than the thickness of the non-iron plate 12.

[0064] Fig.12 A structure for assembling different types of metal plates according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0065] In this embodiment, the spacer 22 may be formed in a washer shape, and no thread may be formed in the through hole 22 a of the spacer 22 .

[0066] A weld nut 23 having a thread formed therein may be additionally coupled to the bottom surface of the steel plate 11 , for example, joined thereto by welding, and the flange bolt 21 may be fastened to the weld nut 23 .

[0067] Therefore, the flange bolts 21 may pass through the non-iron plate 12 , the spacers 22 , and the steel plate 11 and may be fastened to the weld nuts 23 , so that the non-iron plate 12 is assembled to the steel plate 11 .

[0068] Fig.13 A method of assembling different types of metal panels according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0069] The method for assembling different types of metal plates according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a spacer placement step S110, placing a spacer 22 on the upper surface of a steel plate 11 so that a through hole 22a of the spacer 22 matches with a through hole 11a of the steel plate 11; a welding step S120, in a state where the bottom surface of the steel plate 11 is supported by a clamp 31, pressing the spacer 22 downward from above the spacer 22 using a welding tool 32 to join the bottom surface of the spacer 22 with the upper surface of the steel plate 11; a plate placement step S130, placing a non-iron plate 12 on the upper surface of the spacer 22 so that a through hole 12a of the non-iron plate 12 matches with a through hole 22a of the spacer 22; and a bolt tightening step S140, assembling the non-iron plate 12 and the steel plate 11 by tightening the flange bolts 21.

[0070] In the spacer placement step S110, the spacer 22 may be placed on the upper surface of the steel plate 11. That is, the spacer 22 may be placed on the upper surface of the steel plate 11 so that the through hole 22a of the spacer 22 matches the through hole 11a of the steel plate 11 (see Figure 5 ).

[0071] In the welding step S120, the spacer 22 and the steel plate 11 may be joined by welding. In a state where the bottom surface of the steel plate 11 is supported by the jig 31, the bottom surface of the spacer 22 and the upper surface of the steel plate 11 may be joined by pressing the spacer 22 downward from above the spacer 22 using the welding tool 32. The welding protrusion 22b may be melted ( Figure 7 W in), so that the steel plate 11 is joined to the spacer 22.

[0072] The plating layer 22d may be formed on the entire surface of the spacer 22 (see Figure 6 ), but the welding tool 32 may press the welding seat 22c in the welding step S120. In this case, the plating layer 22d may be separated from the portion pressed by the welding tool 32, so that in the partial area ( Figure 7 The plating layer 22d is not formed in the portion A).

[0073] In the plate placement step S130, the non-iron plate 12 may be positioned on the upper surface of the spacer 22. In the plate placement step S130, the non-iron plate 12 may be placed on the upper surface of the spacer 22 such that the through holes 12a of the non-iron plate 12 match the through holes 22a of the spacer 22.

[0074] In the bolt tightening step S140, the non-iron plate 12 and the steel plate 11 may be assembled by tightening the flange bolts 21 to the weld nuts 23. In the bolt tightening step S140, the flange bolts 21 may pass through the non-iron plate 12 and may be tightened to the spacers 22 and the weld nuts 23, so that the non-iron plate 12 is assembled to the steel plate 11.

[0075] Although the plating layer 22d may be separated from a partial section of the spacer 22 in the welding step S120, the plating layer 21b may be formed on the entire surface of the flange bolt 21. Figure 8 As shown, in a state where the non-iron plate 12 is spaced apart from the steel plate 11, the non-iron plate 12 can abut against the plating 21b of the flange bolt 21 and the plating 22d of the spacer 22. Therefore, electrochemical corrosion between the non-iron plate 12 and the steel plate 11 can be prevented.

Claims

1. A structure for assembling different types of metal sheets, the structure comprising: Steel plates; a non-iron plate assembled to the steel plate; a spacer joined to the steel plate and spacing the steel plate from the non-ferrous plate; as well as Flange bolts pass through the non-ferrous plate and fasten the steel plate to the non-ferrous plate.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein: Screw threads are formed on an inner surface of the through hole of the spacer and an outer peripheral surface of the flange bolt, respectively, so that the flange bolt and the spacer are coupled to each other by screwing to fasten the non-iron plate to the steel plate.

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein: The surfaces of the flange bolts and the surfaces of the spacers are plated with a zinc component.

4. The structure according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of welding protrusions disposed on a bottom surface of the spacer, wherein The spacer is joined to the steel plate by welding.

5. The structure of claim 4, further comprising a weld seat disposed on the spacer and configured to abut a welding tool during a welding process.

6. The structure according to claim 5, wherein: The welding seat is disposed to surround the through hole of the spacer and to be inclined downward from the upper surface of the spacer toward the through hole.

7. The structure according to claim 5, wherein: The welding seat has a predetermined height and is disposed to surround the through hole of the spacer.

8. The structure according to claim 1, wherein: The diameter of the through hole of the non-ferrous plate is larger than the outer diameter of the welding seat of the spacer.

9. The structure according to claim 1, wherein: The diameter of the flange portion of the flange bolt is larger than the diameter of the through hole of the non-iron plate.

10. The structure according to claim 1, wherein: A coating hole is provided around the through hole of the spacer, wherein a coating material is configured to flow through the coating hole during a coating process.

11. The structure of claim 1, further comprising a weld nut coupled to a bottom surface of the steel plate, wherein: The flange bolts pass through the non-ferrous plate, the spacer, and the steel plate and are fastened to the weld nuts, so that the non-ferrous plate is assembled to the steel plate.

12. A method of assembling different types of metal panels, the method comprising: placing a spacer on the upper surface of the steel plate so that the through hole of the spacer matches the through hole of the steel plate; In a state where the bottom surface of the steel plate is supported by the welding jig, the bottom surface of the spacer is joined to the upper surface of the steel plate by pressing the spacer downward from above the spacer using a welding tool; placing a non-ferrous plate on an upper surface of the spacer such that the through holes of the non-ferrous plate match the through holes of the spacer; and The non-iron plate and the steel plate are assembled by tightening flange bolts.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: Assembling the non-ferrous plate and the steel plate includes fastening the flange bolts to the non-ferrous plate, the spacer, the steel plate, and a weld nut disposed below the steel plate.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The surfaces of the flange bolts and the surfaces of the spacers are plated with a zinc component.

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