Aluminum Company of America

Alcoa Inc.

Sherri F McCleary

Gary A Nitowski

James M Marinelli

John T Siemon

Dinesh C Seksaria

John W Cobes

Israel Stol

Stephen Paul Sunday

John V Costrini

Paula L Price

The present invention provides a thin vehicle closure panel design that substantially reduces a thickness (panel gauge plus the perpendicular distance or depth between the panels) of a vehicle hood () and the impact effect on the head of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle hood () includes a hood shell () including an outer panel () and an inner panel (); a unitary foam core () positioned between and bonded to the outer () and/or the inner panel () of the hood shell (); and at least one recess () that corresponds to an underhood component (). In another aspect of the invention, a vehicle hood () is provided in which a latch attachment member () and/or hinge members () are attached to inner surface () of the inner panel () of the hood shell ().

Pedestrian safe automotive hood having reinforcing foam

A method of joining metal components having the steps of depositing adhesive material between the components and welding the components together via solid-state or fusion welding. The welds are spaced apart from the adhesive material and are produced so as to prevent exposure of the adhesive material to the welding. The two types of bonds (adhesive and welding) are produced in the components separated by time and space.

Method of combining welding and adhesive bonding for joining metal components

An aluminum alloy sheet, plate, casting or extrusion having a surface layer containing magnesium oxide and aluminum oxide is cleaned with an acidic solution. The cleaned component has an aluminum oxide layer that is pretreated with a phosphorus-containing organic acid to form a functionalized layer. A layer of polymeric adhesive is applied to the functionalized layer, and the adhesive layer is joined to a metal support structure to form a vehicle assembly.

Acid pretreatment for adhesive bonding of vehicle assemblies

Aluminum alloy sheet coated with an organophosphonic or organophosphinic acid is joined to an adjacent metal member by means of a polymeric adhesive, preferably an epoxy adhesive. The coated sheet may be worked into a desired configuration after coating. Assemblies made in accordance with the invention are useful as vehicle parts, including automotive body parts.

Coating aluminum alloy sheet to promote adhesive bonding for vehicle

Growing community of inventors

Apollo, PA, United States of America

Sherri F McCleary