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) at least one container (10) is arranged in the at least one cavity (5) to be formed, which comprises a sealing sphere (12A) receiving a sealant (7), wherein after completion of the assembly of the assembly (1) the at least one container (10) is activated with the sealant (7), wherein the at least one container (10) is designed and arranged in the at least one cavity (5) of the assembly (1) such that the activation of the at least one container (10) causes the sealing sphere (12A) to rupture and the sealant (7) to be released and 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 4. 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 of the assembly, at least one container is arranged in the at least one cavity to be formed, which comprises a sealing sphere that holds a sealant. After assembly of the assembly is complete, the at least one container is activated with the sealant. The at least one container is designed and positioned in the at least one cavity of the assembly such that, upon activation of the at least one container, the sealing sphere ruptures, releasing the sealant and allowing it to flow over at least part of the area 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 pressure inside the sealing sphere and causing it to rupture. 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 is proposed according to such a method. The container comprises a sealing sphere formed from a first film, which encloses an outer receiving space, and an inner sphere formed from a second film, which encloses an inner receiving space and is arranged within the outer receiving space. A blowing agent is introduced into the inner receiving space, and a sealant is introduced into the outer receiving space. The blowing agent is designed to expand upon activation of the container, rupturing the sealing sphere and forcing the sealant out of the sealing sphere.

[0011] In embodiments of the invention, the two films can be designed such that the container bursts from the inside out at a certain temperature and / or pressure, thereby releasing the sealing material.

[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 previously could not be covered, or only with great difficulty and significant material usage, due to their inaccessibility. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention also enable a reduction in vehicle weight and material costs by reducing the amount of wax required.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the sealant can be solid in a base 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 at least one container can be activated by thermal heating. The thermal heating causes the propellant, propellant charge, or air reservoir to expand. This allows the sealing sphere to rupture, so that the sealant is forced out of the sphere onto the area of ​​the cavity to be sealed. The container can thus be activated, 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.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of the container, the sealing ball can be arranged in a cage with at least one opening. This opening can be of any shape, for example, as an elongated slot, a rectangular hole, or a round hole. Preferably, the cage comprises several openings and is made of plastic. Because it is made of plastic, the cage can melt when heated and thus adhere to the assembly. The cage allows the container to be easily attached to the assembly cavity during assembly, for example, by means of a snap-fit ​​or clip connection. Furthermore, such containers with cages can be used to pre-seal various openings in the components of the assembly, preventing the bodywork from being contaminated with wax.Furthermore, the cage can prevent defects during the painting process that could occur with a sealing ball without a cage. The cage can also act as a spacer between the sealing balls.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the container, the sealing material can preferably be a sealing wax. This enables a cost-effective implementation of the sealing of the area of ​​the cavity to be sealed.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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 first embodiment of a container according to the invention. Fig. 3 a schematic perspective sectional view of a section of an assembly with several second embodiments of a container according to the invention, which is arranged and fastened in a cavity of the assembly. Fig. 4 a schematic perspective sectional view of a section of an assembly with several third embodiments of a container according to the invention, which is arranged and fastened in a cavity of the assembly.

[0020] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the illustrated embodiment of a method 100 according to the invention comprises introducing a sealant 7 into a cavity 5 of a Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows assembly 1 in a step S100, 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, at least one container 10 is arranged in the at least one cavity 5 to be formed, which includes a sealing sphere 12A that receives a sealing material 7. In a step S120, after completion of the assembly 1, the at least one container 10 is activated with the sealing material 7. Here, the at least one container 10 is designed and arranged in the at least one cavity 5 of the assembly 1 such that, upon activation of the at least one container 10, the sealing sphere 12A ruptures in a step S130 and the sealing material 7 is released and flows at least over parts of the area to be sealed in the cavity 5.

[0021] As from Fig. 3 and Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 4, assembly 1 is at least a component of a vehicle body shell. In the illustrated embodiments, assembly 1 is designed as a sill 1A, in the cavity 5 of which several containers 10 are arranged and fastened. The containers 10 can be snapped into the assembly 1. Of course, other suitable fastening techniques can also be used to secure the individual containers 10 in the cavity 5 of assembly 1.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment of method 100, the at least one 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.

[0023] As from Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the illustrated embodiments of the container 10 for introducing a sealing material 7 into a cavity 5 each comprise a sealing sphere 12A formed from a first film 12, which encloses an outer receiving chamber 13, and an inner sphere 14A formed from a second film 14, which encloses an inner receiving chamber 15 and is arranged within the outer receiving chamber 13. A blowing agent 9 is introduced into the inner receiving chamber 15, and a sealing material 7 is introduced into the outer receiving chamber 13. The blowing agent 9 is designed to expand upon activation of the container 10, thereby rupturing the sealing sphere 12A and forcing the sealing material 7 out of the sealing sphere 12A.

[0024] In the illustrated embodiments of the container 10, the propellant 9 is configured as an air reservoir 9A. Here, the air in the air reservoir 9A expands due to thermal heating during activation of the container 10 until the second foil 14 of the inner sphere 14A and the first foil 12 of the sealing sphere 12A burst due to the high internal pressure. In an alternative embodiment of the container 10 (not shown), the propellant 9 is configured as a propellant charge. Here, the propellant charge expands due to thermal heating during activation of the container 10.

[0025] As from Fig. 3 and Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 4, the sealing ball 12A in the second embodiment of the container 10B and in the third embodiment of the container 10C differs from the one in Fig. In the embodiment 2 shown, the container 10A is arranged in a cage 16 with at least one opening 18.

[0026] As from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 3, the illustrated first embodiment of the cage 16A of the illustrated second embodiment of the container 10B comprises several openings 18 designed as elongated slots 18A.

[0027] As from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 4, the illustrated second embodiment of the cage 16B of the illustrated third embodiment of the container 10C comprises several openings 18 designed as hexagonal holes 18B.

[0028] In an alternative embodiment of the container 16 not shown, the cage 16 comprises several openings 18 designed as round or oval holes.

[0029] In the illustrated embodiments, the sealant 7 is a sealing wax 7A. The sealant 7 is solid in its initial state and is liquefied by thermal heating. This allows the sealant 7 to more easily emerge from the sealing sphere 12A and cover the area of ​​the cavity 5 to be sealed. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1 assembly 1A sill 3 components 5 Cavity 7 Sealant 7A Sealing Wax 9 propellants 9A Air Depot 10 containers 12 first slide 12A sealing ball 13 outer recording room 14 second slide 14A Inner ball 15 inner recording room 16, 16A, 16B Cage 18 Opening 18A slot 18B Hole 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 a component of a vehicle body shell, 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) at least one container (10) is arranged in the at least one cavity (5) to be formed, which comprises a sealing sphere (12A) receiving a sealant (7), wherein after completion of the assembly of the assembly (1) the at least one container (10) is activated with the sealant (7), wherein the at least one container (10) is designed and arranged in the at least one cavity (5) of the assembly (1) such thatthat, upon activation of the at least one container (10), the sealing sphere (12A) ruptures and the sealing material (7) is released and spills out 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 upon activation of the container (10), increases the pressure inside the sealing sphere (12A) and ruptures the sealing sphere (12A). Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing agent (7) is solid in a basic state and is liquefied by thermal heating. Method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one 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 3, comprising a sealing sphere (12A) formed from a first film (12) which encloses an outer receiving space (13), and an inner sphere (14A) formed from a second film (14) which encloses an inner receiving space (15) and is arranged within the outer receiving space (13), wherein a blowing agent (9) is introduced into the inner receiving space (15), and a sealing material (7) is introduced into the outer receiving space (13), wherein the blowing agent (9) is configured to expand upon activation of the container (10), to rupture the sealing sphere (12A) and to force the sealing material (7) out of the sealing sphere (12). Container (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the sealing ball (12A) is arranged in a cage (16) with at least one opening (18). Container (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one opening (18) is designed as an elongated slot (18A) or as a square hole (18B) or as a round hole. Container (10) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the sealing material (7) is a sealing wax (7A). Container (10) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the propellant (9) is designed as a propellant charge or as an air reservoir (9A).

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