The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 03, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 29, 1999
John L. Kichline, Jr., Reading, PA (US);
Richard L. Stuck, Stevens, PA (US);
Dana Corporation, Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for joining two or more vehicle components together to form a joint in a vehicle body and frame assembly is disclosed. The frame assembly can include a pair of longitudinally extending side rails having a plurality of transverse cross members extending therebetween. At least one of the side rails includes a portion that is deformed inwardly to define a mounting projection that is sized to receive an end of one of the cross members therein. The mounting projection is preferably formed having a first relatively large diameter portion that is somewhat larger in diameter than the outer diameter of the end of the cross member and a second relatively small diameter portion that is only slightly larger in diameter than the outer diameter of the end of the cross member. An internal magnetic pulse welding inductor assembly is inserted within the cross member to generate an intense electromagnetic field. The presence of this electromagnetic field causes the end of the cross member to expand outwardly into engagement with the first and second portions of the mounting projection of the side rail at a high velocity. The high velocity impact of the end of the cross member with the mounting projection of the side rail causes some portions of the end of the cross member and the mounting projection of the side rail to weld or molecularly bond together, and causes other portions of the end of the cross member and the mounting projection of the side rail to mechanically interlock or engage one another to form a joint for the vehicle body and frame assembly.