Reinforced thermoplastic structural joint assembly for a vehicle

摘要

A structural joint assembly for a vehicle is provided with a first thermoplastic composite member having a protrusion containing fibrous material. A reinforcement member is provided with a receptacle for mating engagement with the protrusion. A second thermoplastic member is mounted to the first thermoplastic member over the protrusion such that the reinforcement member is provided between the first thermoplastic member and the second thermoplastic member but not adhesively bonded or overmolded therebetween. A method of manufacturing a structural joint assembly and a structural joint assembly manufactured by a method are disclosed. The methods include molding a first thermoplastic member with a protrusion with fibrous material and a second thermoplastic member. A reinforcement member has a receptacle and is mounted to the first thermoplastic member. The receptacle is retained by the protrusion without adhesive bonding or overmolding. The second thermoplastic member is joined to the first thermoplastic member.

主权项

1. A method of manufacturing a structural joint assembly comprising:
molding a first thermoplastic member with fibrous material and having peripheral ribs defining a recessed channel with at least one protrusion extend from the channel; molding a second thermoplastic member; providing a reinforcement member sized to be received within the channel of the first thermoplastic member and having a receptacle for a mating engagement with the at least one protrusion; mounting the reinforcement member to the first thermoplastic member such that the receptacle of the reinforcement member is retained by the protrusion without adhesive bonding or overmolding and the reinforcement member; and abutting an inner surface of the second thermoplastic member to the first thermoplastic member along the peripheral ribs and the at least one protrusion such that the reinforcement member is provided between the first thermoplastic member and the second thermoplastic member; welding the second thermoplastic member to the first thermoplastic member by applying thermoplastic welding to an outer surface of the second thermoplastic member to entirely enclose the reinforcement within the first and second thermoplastic members with a thermoplastic weld along the peripheral ribs thereby increasing load capacity.