Motor Vehicle Body Shell Coating Sequence

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for manufacturing passenger cars are complex and inefficient, particularly due to the repeated attachment and detachment of movable outer skin elements like doors and hoods during the cathodic dip painting process, which limits material choices and increases the risk of damage and processing costs.

Innovation Solution

Attaching movable outer skin elements to the body shell only after it has passed through cathodic dip coating or anti-corrosion coating, allowing for separate coating processes and reducing the need for top coats, thus simplifying production and enabling the use of different materials like plastic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If movable outer skin elements are attached to the body shell during body-in-white production and guided through cathodic dip painting together with the body, then the painting process can be completed in one step, but the outer skin elements are at risk of damage and material choices are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepainting process efficiencyVSAvoidouter skin element integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the coating process into two separate stages: first, the body shell undergoes cathodic dip painting without the outer skin elements attached; second, the outer skin elements are attached afterward and receive a separate top coat. This segmentation eliminates the risk of damage to outer skin elements during the harsh dip painting process while maintaining production efficiency through streamlined workflows.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If movable outer skin elements are removed after cathodic dip painting to equip them with additional components, then additional components can be installed, but the process complexity increases due to repeated attachment and detachment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent customization capabilityVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by equipping the outer skin elements with additional components (windows, mirrors, handles, etc.) before the final assembly stage. This allows all necessary components to be pre-installed on the outer skin elements while they are still accessible, eliminating the need for later disassembly and reassembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If outer skin elements are attached early in production, then alignment can be performed during body-in-white production, but accessibility to the vehicle interior is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveouter skin element alignmentVSAvoidvehicle interior accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs the alignment and attachment of outer skin elements as a preliminary action during the final assembly stage rather than during body-in-white production. This timing allows workers easy access to the vehicle interior for precise alignment and installation, while still ensuring proper positioning before final quality checks and delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach simplifies the production process, reduces the risk of damage to outer skin elements, and offers cost savings by eliminating the need for repeated attachment and detachment, as well as allowing for more flexible material choices and improved accessibility within the vehicle.

Implementation Method 1

the respective body shell (42) is only provided with a cathodic dip coating or similar anti-corrosion coating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCathodic dip coating: Electrodeposition

Data Source

PatentEP2655176B1Motor vehicle and its fabrication process
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 MERCEDES BENZ GROUP AG
  • EP2655176B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2655176B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2655176B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle, in which a plurality of movable external skin elements (90), in particular doors (74), hoods (76) or hatches (78), which form the external skin of the motor vehicle are attached to a respective bodyshell (42) of the motor vehicle, wherein the movable external skin element (90), in particular the doors (74), hoods (76) or hatches (78) are firstly attached to the respective bodyshell (42) of the motor vehicle in or after an assembly line, in particular in or after a main assembly line (46). In addition, the invention relates to a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle, having a bodyshell (42) which is provided with a cathodic dip-paint coat or similar anti-corrosion paint coat and to which a plurality of external skin elements (90, 80) which form the external skin of the motor vehicle are attached, wherein the bodyshell (42) of the motor vehicle is provided only with the cathodic dip-paint coat or similar anti-corrosion paint coat.