IP Library Granted Patent US 8,163,211
Granted Patent B2
US 8,163,211 · App. 11/997,335 · Granted Apr 24, 2012

Panel and method for manufacturing the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,163,211
App. No.
11/997,335
Granted
Apr 24, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a panel capable of obtaining sufficient strength, weight reduction and sound absorbing performance. A space is formed by an inner thin plate fixed to the inner surface of an outer thin plate, and a foam material is filled in the space. The foam material is preferably a highly foamable rubber sound absorbing material. In the inner thin plate, a perimetrical side part and perimetrical edge part for forming the space, and a concave part for enhancing the strength of the panel are drawn to the side of the outer thin plate. The bottom faces of the perimetrical edge part and concave part of the inner thin plate are bonded to the outer thin plate using a thermosetting adhesive.

Claims (12)

1. A method for manufacturing a panel comprising the steps of:

spraying a coating material onto an outer thin plate;

providing a non-foam material of a foamable filler on the outer thin plate;

providing an inner thin plate over the outer thin plate to form a space between the inner and outer plates, wherein the space contains the non-foam material;

intermittently applying a thermosetting adhesive to a perimetrical edge part of the outer thin plate, wherein the adhesive is partially and intentionally removed from the perimetrical edge part;

turning up the entire perimetrical edge part of the outer thin plate to fix the perimetrical edge part to a perimetrical edge part of the inner thin plate;

placing the fixed assembly into a baking coating heating device to bake the coating material and foam the non-foam material so that it fills into the space;

simultaneously curing the adhesive with the baking coating heating device; and

releasing air contained in the space during foaming through omissions of the adhesive.

2. The method for manufacturing the panel according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

drilling an inner hole in the inner thin plate; and

laser processing an outer hole to the outer thin plate through the inner hole.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2010
From: CATERPILLAR JAPAN LTD.
To: CATERPILLAR S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 024235/0446 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 17, 2008
From: SHIN CATERPILLAR MITSUBISHI LTD.
To: CATERPILLAR JAPAN LTD.
Reel/Frame 021531/0563 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2008
From: UTO, RYOJI
To: SHIN CATERPILLAR MITSUBISHI LTD.
Reel/Frame 020437/0410 →