Stiffening Device for Flexible Adhesive Volume Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in connecting objects with differing thermal expansion properties, such as steel and plastic, where traditional flexible adhesives struggle to maintain stability and prevent distortion due to flow issues during application and curing, especially in open roof vehicle constructions.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a stiffening device with a height less than the final adhesive volume, which is either injection molded or attached to the object, allows for the application of a flexible adhesive around it, preventing flow and ensuring stability during curing, and optionally using auxiliary stiffening devices to further secure the adhesive base.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the height of the adhesive volume is increased to provide sufficient flexibility for thermal expansion compensation, then the flexibility is improved, but the adhesive flows out during application and the volume becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidvolume stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A stiffening device is attached to the object before applying the adhesive. This preliminary structural support prevents the adhesive from flowing out during application and maintains volume stability while allowing the final adhesive layer to achieve the required height for flexibility and thermal expansion compensation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The stiffening device acts as an intermediary element between the object surface and the adhesive volume. It provides the necessary structural support to hold the adhesive in place during application, enabling the creation of a stable high-volume adhesive bond that can accommodate thermal expansions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the adhesive volume is applied without a stiffening device, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the adhesive flows out and cannot maintain the required height

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidadhesive height control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stiffening device is attached to the object before adhesive application, creating a pre-formed structure that guides and contains the adhesive. This preliminary preparation enables precise control of adhesive height while maintaining a relatively simple overall manufacturing process using standard injection molding or attachment techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the adhesive volume is made high to compensate for thermal expansion differences, then the flexibility is improved, but the adhesive becomes unstable during injection molding application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal expansion compensationVSAvoidadhesive volume stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stiffening device is installed before adhesive injection to provide structural support throughout the injection process. This ensures that even large volumes of adhesive can be injected reliably without collapsing or becoming unstable, while maintaining the height necessary for thermal expansion compensation between dissimilar materials like steel and plastic.

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 enables the creation of a stable adhesive connection with sufficient flexibility to accommodate thermal expansion differences, preventing distortion and ensuring a robust bond between objects with varying thermal expansion coefficients.

Implementation Method 1

When the above method is used for connecting two objects which experience thermal expansions which strongly differ, the completed volume of adhesive should provide sufficient flexibility to compensate for this difference in thermal expansion.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

During its application the adhesive tends to flow out on the respective object because it is not yet cured.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscosity:

Data Source

PatentUS8864219B2Method for connecting two objects and panel using said method

Publication Date: 2014.10.21 INALFA ROOF SYST GROUP

AI summary

In a method for connecting two objects, comprising applying to at least one of said objects a volume of an adhesive of the type which, when cured, is flexible and thereafter a step of bringing the other of said objects in contact with said volume of adhesive, there is the additional step of, before applying said volume of adhesive, providing a stiffening device extending from and attached to the object to which said volume is to be applied and with a height which is less than the height of the completed volume of adhesive, after which additional step the volume of adhesive is applied around said stiffening device.