Sealing method for structure included in vehicle

Abstract

To provide a technology of upgrading adhesiveness between a structure and sealing material.SOLUTION: A first structure includes a first seal surface, a first structure surface in a direction intersecting the first seal surface, and a first corner part interposed between the first seal surface and first structure surface. A second structure includes a second seal surface, a second structure surface in a direction intersecting the second seal surface, and a second corner part interposed between the second seal surface and second structure surface. The second corner part has a first connection surface that connects the second seal surface and second structure surface. The first connection surface is formed as an inclined surface or convex surface. A sealing method includes an application process of applying a sealing material to the first corner part so that the sealing material will protrude beyond the first seal surface toward a normal direction of the first seal surface, and a movement process of moving the second structure in parallel relatively to the first structure so that the second seal surface will be opposed to the first seal surface after the first connection surface is brought into contact with the sealing material applied to the first corner part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for sealing a structure contained in a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] When sealing structures included in a vehicle, the structures are generally stacked vertically with a sealing material sandwiched between them, and the sealing material is crushed to make each structure adhere to the sealing material (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-291952 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when a sealing material is applied to one structure and the other structure is moved in parallel to bring the structures into close contact with each other, the sealing material applied to one structure may be scraped off during the movement of the other structure, potentially reducing the adhesion between the structure and the sealing material. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms.

[0006] (1) A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a sealing method for sealing a first structure and a second structure included in a vehicle, the sealing method including: a first sealing surface, a first structural surface extending in a direction intersecting the first sealing surface, and a first corner portion located between the first sealing surface and the first structural surface; a second structure, a second sealing surface, a second structural surface extending in a direction intersecting the second sealing surface, and a second corner portion located between the second sealing surface and the second structural surface; the second corner portion having a first connecting surface connecting the second sealing surface and the second structural surface, the first connecting surface being configured as an inclined surface or a convex curved surface; and a sealing method including: applying a sealing material to the first corner portion in a direction normal to the first sealing surface so that the sealing material protrudes from the first sealing surface; and a moving step of moving the second structure in a parallel direction relative to the first structure so that the second sealing surface faces the first sealing surface after the first connecting surface is brought into contact with the sealing material applied to the first corner portion. According to this sealing method, the second corner of the second structure is configured as an inclined surface or a convex curved surface, so that when the second structure is moved parallel to the first structure, the sealing material applied to the first corner of the first structure can flow smoothly between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface, thereby improving the adhesion of the sealing material to the first structure and the second structure. (2) In the sealing method of the above aspect, the first structure may have a third structural surface along a direction intersecting the first sealing surface, the third structural surface being connected to the first sealing surface at an end opposite the first corner, and the moving step may move the second structure parallel to the first structure so that the second sealing surface faces the first sealing surface and the second structural surface faces the third structural surface. With this aspect, the sealing material also flows between the second structural surface and the third structural surface, thereby improving the sealing performance between the first structure and the second structure. (3) In the sealing method of the above aspect, the first corner portion may be defined by the first sealing surface and the first structural surface, and the sealing material may be applied to both the first sealing surface and the first structural surface in the application step. In this aspect, the anchoring effect of the first corner portion on the sealing material can be enhanced, and the sealing material can be effectively spread between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface. (4) In the sealing method of the above aspect, the first corner portion may have a second connecting surface connecting the first sealing surface and the first structural surface, and the second connecting surface may be configured as an inclined surface or a convex curved surface. This aspect can increase the fluidity of the sealing material between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface. In addition to the above-described sealing method, the present disclosure can also be realized, for example, as a method for manufacturing a vehicle including a first structure and a second structure, or a vehicle including a first structure and a second structure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a first structure and a second structure that constitute a part of a vehicle. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a process diagram of a sealing method for sealing a first structure and a second structure. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is an explanatory view showing another example of the first connecting surface of the second structure. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the first structure. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the application position of the sealing material. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A. First embodiment: FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a first structure 10 and a second structure 20 that constitute a part of a vehicle 100. The first structure 10 is a large molded part manufactured by a molding technique called megacast or gigacast, for example, and the second structure 20 is a vehicle body frame to which the molded part is assembled, for example. Alternatively, the first structure 10 may be a vehicle body frame, and the second structure 20 may be a battery pack housing fixed to the vehicle body frame. The first structure 10 may be a hollow aluminum extrusion that constitutes a part of the vehicle 100, and the second structure 20 may be a reinforcement inserted into the aluminum extrusion. The first structure 10 and the second structure 20 are not limited to these and may be any vehicle parts manufactured from metal members such as aluminum or iron, or resin members.

[0009] FIG. 1 shows arrows along the mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z directions. The X, Y, and Z directions are directions along the X, Y, and Z axes, which are three mutually orthogonal spatial axes, and each includes both the direction on one side of the X, Y, and Z axes and the opposite direction. The X and Y axes are axes along a horizontal plane, and the Z axis is an axis along a vertical line. The -Z direction is the vertical direction, and the +Z direction is the direction opposite the vertical direction. The -Z direction is also called "down," and the +Z direction is also called "up." Arrows along the X, Y, and Z directions are also shown in other figures as appropriate. The X, Y, and Z directions in FIG. 1 and the X, Y, and Z directions in other figures represent the same directions.

[0010] The first structure 10 has a substantially L-shape in side view. The first structure 10 includes a first sealing surface 11, a first structural surface 12, a third structural surface 13, and a first corner portion 14. The first sealing surface 11 is a surface on which a sealing material 30 is disposed. The first sealing surface 11 is a horizontal surface facing downward. The first structural surface 12 and the third structural surface 13 are surfaces that form part of the first structure 10. The first structural surface 12 is connected to the upper side of the -X direction end of the first sealing surface 11. The first structural surface 12 is a vertical surface that intersects with the first sealing surface 11 and faces the -X direction. The third structural surface 13 is connected to the lower side of the first sealing surface 11 at the +X direction end of the first sealing surface 11, i.e., the end opposite the first corner portion 14. The third structural surface 13 is a surface along the vertical direction that intersects with the first sealing surface 11 and faces the -X direction. The first corner portion 14 is a corner portion located between the first sealing surface 11 and the first structural surface 12. In this embodiment, the first corner portion 14 is defined by the first sealing surface 11 and the first structural surface 12. The angle formed by the first sealing surface 11 and the first structural surface 12 at the first corner portion 14 is 90 degrees.

[0011] The second structure 20 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The second structure 20 includes a second sealing surface 21, a second structural surface 22, and a second corner portion 24. The second sealing surface 21 is a surface on which the sealing material 30 is disposed. The second sealing surface 21 is a surface along the horizontal direction and faces upward. The height of the second sealing surface 21 is lower than the height of the first sealing surface 11. The second structural surface 22 is a surface that constitutes a part of the second structure 20. The second structural surface 22 is located below the end of the second sealing surface 21 in the +X direction. The second structural surface 22 is a surface along the vertical direction that intersects with the second sealing surface 21 and faces the +X direction. In this embodiment, the angle between the second sealing surface 21 and the second structural surface 22 is 90 degrees. The second corner portion 24 is a corner portion located between the second sealing surface 21 and the second structural surface 22. The second corner portion 24 has a first connecting surface 23. The first connecting surface 23 is a surface that connects the second sealing surface 21 and the second structural surface 22. In this embodiment, the first connecting surface 23 is configured as an inclined surface. In this embodiment, the inclination angle A1 of the first connecting surface 23 with respect to the second sealing surface 21 is 45 degrees.

[0012] The first structure 10 and the second structure 20 are tightly attached to each other via a sealing material 30. The sealing material 30 is disposed between the first sealing surface 11 and the second sealing surface 21. In this embodiment, the sealing material 30 is also disposed between the second structural surface 22 and the third structural surface 13. Therefore, in this embodiment, the second structural surface 22 and the third structural surface 13 also function as sealing surfaces. The sealing material 30 is, for example, an epoxy resin-based, urethane resin-based, or silicone resin-based sealer or adhesive. The sealing material 30 may contain a filler.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a process diagram of a sealing method for sealing the first structure 10 and the second structure 20 included in the vehicle 100. Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the sealing method.

[0014] In step P10 in Fig. 2, the first structure 10 is fixed. As shown in the upper part of Fig. 3, in this embodiment, the first structure 10 is fixed onto a mounting table 50 using a clamp 40. The clamp 40 fixes the first structure 10 onto the mounting table 50 so that the first sealing surface 11 faces downward and the first structural surface 12 faces in the -X direction. By fixing the first structure 10 in this manner, a gap 45 is formed between the first sealing surface 11 and the mounting table 50, in which the second structure 20 can be placed.

[0015] In step P20 of FIG. 2 , a sealing material 30 is applied to the first structure 10. The sealing material 30 is applied to the first corner 14 in a direction normal to the first sealing surface 11 so as to extend beyond the first sealing surface 11. In this embodiment, as shown in the middle part of FIG. 3 , the sealing material 30 is applied to both the first sealing surface 11 and the first structural surface 12, which define the first corner 14. By applying the sealing material 30 in this manner, the sealing material 30 is located below the first sealing surface 11 and in the −X direction relative to the first structural surface 12. The viscosity of the sealing material 30 is, for example, 30 to 700 Pa·s at a temperature of 20°C and a shear rate of 20 / s. The application of the sealing material 30 is performed, for example, by a robot 60 equipped with a dispensing gun 65. 3, the robot 60 applies the sealing material 30 to the entire first corner portion 14 extending in the Y direction by scanning the application gun 65 along the Y direction. Step P20 is also referred to as an application step.

[0016] 2, the second structure 20 is translated. In performing step P30, first, the second structure 20 is placed on the mounting table 50. Then, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 3, the second structure 20 is translated toward the gap 45 of the first structure 10 by a linear actuator 70 driven by a motor, hydraulic pressure, or compressed air. More specifically, after the first connecting surface 23 of the second structure 20 is brought into contact with the sealing material 30 applied to the first corner portion 14, the second structure 20 is translated relative to the first structure 10 so that the second sealing surface 21 of the second structure 20 faces the first sealing surface 11 of the first structure 10. In this embodiment, the second structure 20 is translated relative to the first structure 10 so that the second sealing surface 21 of the second structure 20 faces the first sealing surface 11 of the first structure 10 and the second structural surface 22 of the second structure 20 faces the third structural surface 13 of the first structure 10. Step P30 is also referred to as a moving step.

[0017] As described above, by moving the second structure 20 parallel to the first structure 10, the sealing material 30 applied to the first corner 14 of the first structure 10 is stretched by the first connecting surface 23 of the second structure 20, which is configured as an inclined surface, and flows between the first sealing surface 11 and the second sealing surface 21. After the sealing material 30 has stretched to the end of the first sealing surface 11 of the first structure 10 in the +X direction, the sealing material 30 penetrates between the third structural surface 13 of the first structure 10 and the second structural surface 22 of the second structure 20. By the sealing method described above, the sealing material 30 is tightly adhered to the first structure 10 and the second structure 20, as shown in FIG. 1 .

[0018] According to the sealing method of the first embodiment described above, after the first connecting surface 23 of the second structure 20 comes into contact with the sealing material 30 applied to the first corner portion 14 of the first structure 10, the second structure 20 is translated relative to the first structure 10 so that the second sealing surface 21 of the second structure 20 faces the first sealing surface 11 of the first structure 10. Therefore, while the first corner portion 14 serves as an anchor, the sealing material 30 applied to the first corner portion 14 flows between the first sealing surface 11 and the second sealing surface 21 so as to be stretched and lifted upward by the first connecting surface 23 of the second structure 20 configured as an inclined surface. As a result, the occurrence of tiny gaps between the sealing material 30 and each sealing surface 11, 21, particularly between the sealing material 30 and the first sealing surface 11, is suppressed, so that the adhesion of the sealing material 30 to the first structure 10 and the second structure 20 can be improved even when the second structure 20 is moved horizontally relative to the first structure 10 rather than the sealing material 30 being crushed vertically by the two structures.

[0019] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second structure 20 is translated relative to the first structure 10 so that the second sealing surface 21 of the second structure 20 faces the first sealing surface 11 of the first structure 10 and the second structural surface 22 of the second structure 20 faces the third structural surface 13 of the first structure 10. Therefore, the sealing material 30 can flow not only between the first sealing surface 11 of the first structure 10 and the second sealing surface 21 of the second structure 20, but also between the third structural surface 13 of the first structure 10 and the first structural surface 12 of the second structure 20. As a result, the sealing performance between the first structure 10 and the second structure 20 can be improved.

[0020] In this embodiment, the sealing material 30 is applied to both the first seal surface 11 and the first structural surface 12 that define the first corner 14. This enhances the anchoring effect of the first corner 14 on the sealing material 30, allowing the sealing material 30 to be well spread between the first seal surface 11 and the second seal surface 21. Furthermore, the enhanced anchoring effect on the sealing material 30 makes it easier to use a sealing material 30 with high viscosity.

[0021] In this embodiment, the inclination angle A1 of the first connecting surface 23 is set to 45 degrees. However, the inclination angle A1 is not limited to 45 degrees. For example, if the inclination angle A1 is less than 45 degrees, the resistance to the sealing material 30 can be reduced, allowing the sealing material 30 to flow more smoothly.

[0022] B. Other Embodiments: (B1) Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the first connecting surface 23 of the second structure 20. In the first embodiment, the first connecting surface 23 connected to the second sealing surface 21 and the second structural surface 22 is an inclined surface inclined with respect to the second sealing surface 21. In contrast, the first connecting surface 23 may be a convex curved surface as shown in Fig. 4. A convex curved surface is a curved surface that is convex outward. A convex curved surface is also called an R surface.

[0023] (B2) FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the first structure 10. In the first embodiment, the first corner 14 of the first structure 10 is defined by the first sealing surface 11 and the first structural surface 12. Alternatively, the first corner 14 may have a second connecting surface 15, as shown in FIG. 5. The second connecting surface 15 may be an inclined surface or a convex curved surface. As shown in FIG. 5, a sealing material 30 is applied to the second connecting surface 15. The sealing material 30 may be applied across the second connecting surface 15 and the first sealing surface 11. The inclination angle A2 of the second connecting surface 15 from the first sealing surface 11 is preferably equal to or greater than the inclination angle A1 of the first connecting surface 23. By setting the inclination angle A2 of the second connecting surface 15 to be equal to or greater than the inclination angle A1 of the first connecting surface 23, the sealing material 30 can flow smoothly. It is also possible for the first connecting surface 23 and the second connecting surface 15 to each be a convex curved surface. In this case, by making the radius of curvature of the second connecting surface 15 equal to or greater than the radius of curvature of the first connecting surface 23, the sealing material 30 can flow smoothly.

[0024] (B3) FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the application position of the sealing material 30. In the first embodiment, the sealing material 30 is applied to both the first seal surface 11 and the second structural surface 22 at the first corner 14 of the first structure 10. In contrast, the sealing material 30 may be applied only to the first seal surface 11, without being applied to the first structural surface 12. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the sealing material 30 is applied from the end of the first seal surface 11 on the first corner 14 side to the end on the opposite side from the first corner 14. If the sealing material 30 has a low viscosity, it can flow smoothly between the first seal surface 11 and the second seal surface 21 without being applied to the second structural surface 22 by configuring the first connecting surface 23 of the second structure 20 as an inclined surface or a convex curved surface.

[0025] (B4) In the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the first structure 10 is fixed, and the second structure 20 is translated relative to the first structure 10. In contrast to this, the first structure 10 may be translated relative to the second structure 20, with the second structure 20 being fixed.

[0026] (B5) In the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the first structure 10 is fixed by the clamp 40, the sealing material 30 is applied by the robot 60, and the second structure 20 is translated by the linear actuator 70. In contrast to this, for example, the first structure 10 may be fixed by being grasped by a robot, the sealing material 30 may be applied by a stationary applicator, and the second structure 20 may be translated by another robot.

[0027] (B6) In the first embodiment, the first structure 10 and the second structure 20 are arranged so that the first seal surface 11 is positioned above the second seal surface 21 in the vertical direction. In contrast to this, the first structure 10 and the second structure 20 may be arranged in reverse so that the second seal surface 21 is positioned above the first seal surface 11. Furthermore, the first structure 10 and the second structure 20 may be arranged so that the first seal surface 11 and the second seal surface 21 are not aligned along the horizontal direction but are aligned in a direction intersecting the horizontal direction, for example, along the vertical direction.

[0028] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each aspect described in the Summary of the Invention section can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve some or all of the above-described problems or achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 10...first structure, 11...first sealing surface, 12...first structural surface, 13...third structural surface, 14...first corner portion, 15...second connecting surface, 20...second structure, 21...second sealing surface, 22...second structural surface, 23...first connecting surface, 24...second corner portion, 30...sealing material, 40...clamp, 45...gap, 50...mounting table, 60...robot, 65...application gun, 70...linear actuator, 100...vehicle

Claims

1. A sealing method for sealing a first structure and a second structure included in a vehicle, comprising: the first structure has a first sealing surface, a first structural surface along a direction intersecting the first sealing surface, and a first corner portion located between the first sealing surface and the first structural surface, the second structure has a second sealing surface, a second structural surface along a direction intersecting the second sealing surface, and a second corner portion located between the second sealing surface and the second structural surface, the second corner portion has a first connection surface connecting the second sealing surface and the second structural surface, the first connection surface being configured as an inclined surface or a convex curved surface; The sealing method includes: a coating step of coating the first corner portion with a sealing material in a normal direction of the first sealing surface so that the sealing material protrudes beyond the first sealing surface; a moving step of moving the second structure in parallel relative to the first structure so that the second sealing surface faces the first sealing surface after the first connecting surface is brought into contact with the sealing material applied to the first corner portion; A sealing method comprising:

2. The sealing method according to claim 1, the first structure has a third structural surface along a direction intersecting the first sealing surface, the third structural surface is connected to the first sealing surface at an end opposite the first corner; A sealing method, wherein in the moving step, the second structure is moved parallel to the first structure relative to the second sealing surface so that the second sealing surface faces the first sealing surface and the second structural surface faces the third structural surface.

3. The sealing method according to claim 1, the first corner portion is defined by the first sealing surface and the first structural surface; The sealing method, wherein the applying step applies the sealing material over both the first sealing surface and the first structural surface.

4. The sealing method according to claim 1, A sealing method, wherein the first corner portion has a second connecting surface that connects the first sealing surface and the first structural surface, and the second connecting surface is configured as an inclined surface or a convex curved surface.

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