Composite vehicle door components formed by sheet molding compound-resin transfer molding assemblies

    公开(公告)号:US11529851B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-12-20

    申请号:US16332235

    申请日:2017-09-11

    IPC分类号: B60J5/00 B60J5/04

    摘要: A lightweight and simplified vehicle door assembly is provided with four main components, an upper frame positioned about the window, an inner frame structure, an outer body panel, and a composite reinforcement component. The composite reinforcement component provides an all-in-one solution for a side impact cross beam, as well as an upper door reinforcement, a front door pillar reinforcement, and a rear door pillar reinforcement. The composite reinforcement component acts to reinforce the overall door structure, offers resistance to a side impact that limits the intrusion into the passenger compartment, and offers resistance to a frontal impact by maintaining the spacing between the vehicle A and B pillars (for a front door) and pillar C and D for a back door. A coupe vehicle door in which there is no window frame may be reinforced with the composite reinforcement component. The composite reinforcement component may have continuous or chopped fibers.

    Continuous channel resin transfer molding with rapid cycle time

    公开(公告)号:US11407187B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-08-09

    申请号:US16472740

    申请日:2017-12-20

    IPC分类号: B29C70/48 B29C70/54 B29C70/44

    摘要: A process for resin transfer molding (RTM) with injection and overflowing of a resin through one or more troughs is provided that includes the injection of resin into a plurality of injection ports feeding the one or more troughs and overflowing the resin in into a mold. The temperature and pressure are controlled as applied to the mold. The injection ports are activated for injecting the resin in any order of individually, in groups, or pairings. A resin transfer molding (RTM) system for performing the process includes a mold having a cavity. A set of injection ports feed one or more continuous channels between the cavity and a reservoir of resin. A numerical controller selectively activates the injection ports to overflow the resin into the cavity in any order of individually, in groups, or pairing.

    Vehicle headliner system and method for installing the same

    公开(公告)号:US11312317B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-04-26

    申请号:US16862654

    申请日:2020-04-30

    IPC分类号: B60R13/02

    摘要: A headliner for use in a vehicle having a roof, the headliner including a sheet and a plurality of first snap portions adapted to couple with a plurality of corresponding second snap portions fixed to the vehicle roof to mount the sheet to an interior side the vehicle roof through the interaction of the plurality of first snap portions and the corresponding second snap portions. A method for installing a headliner on a vehicle roof structure includes providing a headliner comprising a sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of first snap portions fixed to the sheet, and joining the plurality of first snap portions to a plurality of second snap portions fixed to the roof structure, the plurality of second snap portions adapted to couple with the plurality of first snap portions to mount the sheet to the interior side the vehicle roof structure.

    Process for automated sanding of a vehicle component surface

    公开(公告)号:US11383344B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-07-12

    申请号:US16464609

    申请日:2017-11-29

    摘要: A process for automated sanding of a vehicle component surface is provided and includes providing a sanding mechanism having a sanding head engaged with a housing, a rotary motor contained within the housing, the rotary motor having a drive shaft rotatable about an axis and extending outwardly therefrom, a radial plate attached to a first end of the drive shaft, and a sanding disk having an abrasive surface releasably attached to the radial plate; attaching the sanding head to a gimbal having a pressure sensor; powering the rotary motor driving rotation of the drive shaft, the radial plate and the sanding disk in at least one of a clockwise or counterclockwise direction; movably applying the sanding disk to the surface at a maintained constant pressure; and achieving a desired finish on the surface prepared to be primed and painted to a class A auto high sheen surface finish.