U.S. patent application number 10/499200 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-27 for baffle equipped with flap assembly.
Invention is credited to Belpaire, Vincent.
Application Number | 20050017542 10/499200 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8179600 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050017542 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Belpaire, Vincent |
January 27, 2005 |
Baffle equipped with flap assembly
Abstract
The present invention relates to an acoustic baffle device for
sealing a cavity of a vehicle body at a predetermined cross section
of the cavity, comprising a piece of sealing material that is
formed in a shape corresponding to but being smaller than the shape
of the cross section of the cavity. The acoustic baffle device of
the invention is characterized in having a flap assembly having a
lower neck defining a passage for a flexible tube or a similar
device, said lower neck having a flap secured in closed position by
a locking device and being connected preferably to the lower end of
the lower neck through means that permit the reversible opening of
the above-defined passage. Furthermore, the present invention
relates to a flap assembly useful for such an acoustic baffle
device, and to a process for sealing a cavity of a vehicle body at
a predetermined cross section of the cavity.
Inventors: |
Belpaire, Vincent; (Forest,
BE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 19928
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320
US
|
Family ID: |
8179600 |
Appl. No.: |
10/499200 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
December 14, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP02/14269 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/187.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 13/07 20130101;
B62D 29/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/187.01 |
International
Class: |
F01N 001/00; F16K
017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 19, 2001 |
EP |
01130188.4 |
Claims
1. An acoustic baffle device for sealing a cavity of a vehicle body
at a predetermined cross section of the cavity, comprising a piece
of sealing material that is formed in a shape corresponding to but
being smaller than the shape of the cross section of the cavity,
characterized in having a flap assembly having a lower neck
defining a passage for a flexible tube or any similar device, said
lower neck having a flap secured in closed position by a locking
device and being connected to the lower neck preferably in the
range of its lower end through means that permit the opening of the
above-defined passage.
2. An acoustic baffle device according to claim 1, characterized in
that the sealing material is heat expandable.
3. An acoustic baffle device according to claim 1, characterized in
that the sealing material has an activation temperature
corresponding to the expansion temperature of said material,
preferably in the range of between 130.degree. C. and 210.degree.
C.
4. An acoustic baffle device according to claim 1, characterized in
that the sealing material is heat expandable, foaming polyethylene
and/or Ethyl-Vinylacetat-Copolymer (EVA).
5. An acoustic baffle device according to claim 1, characterized in
that it is equipped with a support element provided beneath or
around or in the piece of sealing material for supporting the
same.
6. An acoustic baffle device according to claim 5, characterized in
that the support element is based on any heat resistant type of
common plastic, preferably polyamide, most preferably polyamide 6,
polyamide 6,6, polyamide 11, polyamide 12 or a mixture of
themselves.
7. An acoustic baffle device according to claim 5, characterized in
that the flap assembly is secured to the support element or
co-injected with it.
8. An acoustic baffle device according to claim 1, characterized in
that the lower neck is positioned at the end of the flap
assembly.
9. An acoustic baffle device according to claim 1, characterized in
that the locking device securing the flap in closed position is a
flexible hook.
10. An acoustic baffle device according to claim 1, characterized
in that the means connecting the flap to the lower neck is a
hinge.
11. An acoustic baffle device according to claim 1, characterized
in that the flap assembly also has an upper neck that guides the
introduction of a drain tube or any similar device from a larger
distance, preferably without any additional, manual operation.
12. A flap assembly being preferably useful for an acoustic baffle
device for sealing a cavity of a vehicle body at a predetermined
cross section of the cavity, having a lower neck defining a passage
for a flexible tube or any similar device, said lower neck having a
flap secured in closed position by a locking device and being
connected to the lower neck preferably in the range of its end
through means that permit the opening of the above-defined
passage.
13. A flap assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that
the flap assembly is secured to the support element of an acoustic
baffle device or co-injected with it.
14. A flap assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that
the lower neck is positioned at the end of the flap assembly.
15. A flap assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that
the locking device securing the flap in closed position is a
flexible hook.
16. A flap assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that
the means connecting the flap to the lower neck is a hinge.
17. A flap assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that
said flap assembly also has an upper neck that guides the
introduction of a drain tube or any similar device from a larger
distance, preferably without any additional, manual operation.
18. A flap assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that
said flap assembly is manufactured by an injection moulding
process.
19. A flap assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that
said flap assembly is manufactured in the form of one single,
moulded piece.
20. A flap assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that
said flap assembly is based on any heat resistant type of common
plastic, preferably polyamide, most preferably polyamide 6,
polyamide 6,6, polyamide 11, polyamide 12 or a mixture of
themselves.
21. Process for sealing a cavity of a vehicle body at a
predetermined cross section of the cavity while permitting the
reversible opening of a passage for a flexible drain tube or any
similar device, comprising a step of introducing an acoustic baffle
device in accordance with claim 1 into at least one of the cavities
of a vehicle body, preferably into at least one of the pillar
cavities.
22. A process according to claim 21, characterized in that a flap
assembly is secured to the support element of the acoustic baffle
device or co-injected with it, wherein the flap assembly is
preferably useful for an acoustic baffle device for sealing a
cavity of a vehicle body at a predetermined cross section of the
cavity, having a lower neck defining a passage for a flexible tube
or any similar device, said lower neck having a flap secured in
closed position by a locking device and being connected to the
lower neck preferably in the range of its end through means that
permit the opening of the above-defined passage.
23. (Cancelled)
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an acoustic baffle device
for sealing a cavity of a vehicle body at a predetermined cross
section of the cavity.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Especially in case of cars being equipped with sun roofs,
after having sealed, e.g., the pillar cavities of the vehicle body
during car manufacturing process by means of acoustic baffles,
drain tubes may be introduced in said cavities additionally, in
order to remove and dispose the rain water accumulated around the
sun roof. If, however, such an introduction of drain tubes is
possible, this step usually damages the baffle, tending thereby to
affect or even destroy at least partially its acoustic dampening
effect. Furthermore, according to baffle arrangements corresponding
to the state of the art, a possible solution for that problem is to
include preconstructed gaps, slits or holes in the baffle, capable
of and suitable for being opened by any subsequent mechanical
touch. A significant drawback of such modified baffle systems is,
however, that even slight flow of certain chemical substances as
used, e.g., in the stage of electro coating bath (EC-bath) for
vehicle body treatment could result in an undesired opening of said
gaps, holes or slits, resulting consequently in an undesired
deterioration of the acoustic dampening performance of the baffle.
Furthermore, when using the acoustic baffle devices according to
the state of the art, as a consequence of the above discussed
drawbacks it is particularly not possible to introduce a drain tube
or a similar device from a larger distance and/or in a non
accessible area without any tools and/or additional manual
operation.
TECHNICAL PROBLEM AND SOLUTION
[0003] There is consequently a strong need for an acoustic baffle
system avoiding such disadvantages according to the state of the
art, i.e., a device that makes possible the passage of a drain tube
(or any other device, electric cables, etc. . . . ) in cavities,
preferably pillar cavities of cars after the expansion of sealing
material and that furthermore guarantees the unrestricted acoustic
performance profile of the baffle when no such tube or similar
device is introduced in this pillar. This problem is solved by the
technical teaching of the present invention, providing an acoustic
baffle device being equipped with a flap assembly that makes
possible the passage of a drain tube (or any other, similar device;
electric cables, etc. . . . ) during any stage of car
manufacturing, preferably after the expansion of sealing material,
and that furthermore guarantees the unrestricted, acoustic
performance profile of the baffle when no tube is introduced in the
pillar, i.e., the flap remains in closed position.
[0004] It is therefore the object of the present invention to
provide an acoustic baffle device having a flap assembly that makes
possible the passage of a drain tube (or any other device, electric
cables, etc. . . . ) during any stage of car manufacturing,
preferably after the expansion of sealing material and that
guarantees furthermore the unrestricted acoustic performance
profile of the baffle when no tube is introduced in the cavity. In
the latter case, the flap remains in closed position, even when
being affected by a flow during any vehicle body treatment step or
post manufacturing treatment stages.
[0005] According to a preferred embodiment, it is another object of
the present invention to provide an acoustic baffle device having a
flap assembly that makes possible the introduction of a drain tube
from a larger distance, in non accessible area, without any tools
or additional operation by hand.
[0006] According to the present invention, an acoustic baffle
device is provided for sealing a pillar cavity of a vehicle body at
a predetermined cross section of the cavity. The device comprises a
piece of sealing material being preferably heat expandable, which
sealing material is formed in a shape corresponding to but being
smaller than the shape of the cross section of the cavity. The
sealing material has preferably an activation temperature
corresponding to expansion temperature of the material. Preferably,
a support element can be provided beneath or around or in the piece
of sealing material for supporting it.
[0007] The acoustic baffle device is equipped with a "flap
assembly", which is preferably secured to the support or
co-injected with it. This flap assembly includes a lower neck
defining a passage for a drain tube (or any other, similar device)
that may be introduced in a pillar. The lower neck has a flap
positioned preferably at its end and being secured in closed
position by a flexible locking means, preferably a hook. The flap
is connected to the lower neck preferably in the area of the lower
end of the neck through means that permit the opening and the
passage of a tube, preferably by means of a hinge. The flap
assembly may preferably also include an upper neck that guides the
introduction of drain tube and makes possible the introduction from
a larger distance.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides an acoustic baffle device for
sealing a cavity of a vehicle body at a predetermined cross section
of the cavity, comprising a piece of sealing material that is
formed in a shape corresponding to but being smaller than the shape
of the cross section of the cavity. The acoustic baffle device of
the invention is characterized in having a flap assembly having a
lower neck defining a passage for a flexible tube or a similar
device, said lower neck having a flap secured in closed position by
a locking device and being connected to preferably the lower end of
the lower neck through means that permit the reversible opening of
the above-defined passage. Preferably, the sealing material is heat
expandable. More Preferably, the sealing material has an activation
temperature corresponding to the expansion of said material, most
preferably in the range of between 130.degree. C. and 210.degree.
C. Particularly, the sealing material is heat expandable, foaming
polyethylene and/or Ethyl-Vinylacetat-Copolymer (EVA).
[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the acoustic baffle
device is equipped with a support element provided beneath or
around or in the piece of sealing material for supporting the same.
More preferably, the support element is based on any heat resistant
type of common plastic, preferably polyamide, most preferably
polyamide 6, polyamide 6,6, polyamide 11, polyamide 12 or a mixture
of themselves. The expression "heat resistant" means here that the
material is completely resistant towards a temperature in the range
of between 130.degree. C. to 210.degree. C.
[0010] Preferably, the flap assembly is secured to the support
element or co-injected with it, and the lower neck is positioned at
the end of the flap assembly. The locking device securing the flap
in closed position is preferably a flexible hook, and the means
connecting the flap to preferably the end of the lower neck is
preferably a hinge. The flexion of the locking device and opening
of the flap is activated by the pressure of the tube between the
wall of the lower neck and the locking device itself when the tube
is introduced in the assembly.
[0011] According to another preferred embodiment of the acoustic
baffle device, the flap assembly also has an upper neck that guides
the introduction of a drain tube or any similar device from a
larger distance, most preferably without any additional, manual
operation.
[0012] Furthermore, according to the technical teaching of the
present invention is provided a flap assembly useful for an
acoustic baffle device for sealing a cavity of a vehicle body at a
predetermined cross section of the cavity, having a lower neck
defining a passage for a flexible tube or a similar device, said
lower neck having a flap secured in closed position by a locking
device and being connected to the lower neck, preferably in the
range of its lower end through means that permit the reversible
opening of the above-defined passage. Preferably, the flap assembly
is secured to the support element of an acoustic baffle device or
co-injected with it, and preferably the lower neck is positioned at
the end of the flap assembly. Furthermore, preferably the locking
device securing the flap in closed position is a flexible hook, and
the the means connecting the flap to the lower end of the neck is
preferably a hinge.
[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, said flap assembly also
has an upper neck that guides the introduction of a drain tube or a
similar device from a larger distance, more preferably without any
additional, manual operation.
[0014] Preferably, the flap assembly is manufactured by an
injection moulding process, more preferably it is manufactured in
the form of one single, moulded piece. Most preferably, the flap
assembly is based on any heat resistant type of common plastic,
preferably polyamide, most preferably polyamide 6, polyamide 6,6,
polyamide 11, polyamide 12 or a mixture of themselves.
[0015] Furthermore, according to the present invention is provided
a process for sealing a cavity of a vehicle body at a predetermined
cross section of the cavity while permitting the reversible opening
of a passage for a flexible drain tube or a similar device,
comprising a step of introducing an acoustic baffle device as
described above in at least one of the cavities, preferably pillar
cavities of a vehicle body. Preferably, in such a process the flap
assembly as described above is secured to the support element of
the above-described acoustic baffle device or co-injected with
it.
[0016] Most preferably, the above-described flap assembly of the
invention may be used in one of the stages of a process as
described in above section.
[0017] Based on the technical teaching of the present invention,
drain tubes may be assembled in any vehicles, preferably such
vehicles being equipped with a sun roof. Drain tubes preferably
could be assembled during the so called "body in white step" of
baffle assembling (i.e., before expansion of sealing material) or
during the assembly as such (i.e., after expansion of sealing
material). According to the teaching of the invention, the angle
between the axis of the acoustic baffle device (and also the flat
assembly, consequently), on the one hand, and the axis of the
cavity, on the other hand, can be defined easily by analysing the
introduction path of the drain tube. Preferably, the flap assembly
of the invention is made of one single moulded piece and can be
furthermore designed to be injected without any mobile parts in the
mould. Preferably, the expandable sealing material can be
overmoulded (dual moulding).
EXAMPLE
[0018] The FIGS. 1 and 2 each provide two schematical, perspective
views of a working example for an acoustic baffle device having a
flap assembly corresponding to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention. The FIGS. 3(a) and (b) each show two schematical
cross sections of one and the same working example for a flap
assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 3(a) represents the opened state and FIG. 3(b) the
closed state of this example for a cross section of a flap assembly
according to the invention. FIG. 4 is a schematical, perspective
view representing an example for the effect of the locking device
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the flap assembly of
the present invention. FIGS. 5 to 9 each represent different,
subsequent stages of the introduction of a drain tube into a flap
assembly according to an example for a preferred embodiment of the
present invention in the form of schematical cross sections. The
direction of the movement of the drain tube in FIGS. 5 to 8 is
indicated by an arrow.
* * * * *