| 摘要 |
An expansible foaming reinforcing member for reinforcing a hollow structural member of an automobile, aircraft, boat, etc. is provided. The reinforcing member (10) includes a synthetic, resin-based expansible reinforcing materia l (12) secured to a carrier (14) which maintains the reinforcing member at the desired location within the structural member until thermal expansion. The reinforcing material (12) is formed of a thermally expansible composition which preferably has an expansion temperature similar to the temperatures achieved in specific stages of a particular manufacturing process (e.g., suc h as the temperature at which the paint bake or powder bake stage is carried o ut in the automobile manufacturing process). The reinforcing material (12) of t he inventive reinforcing member (10) comprises a plurality of spaced-apart fins or ribs (16a-g). During heat activation, heated air can travel between the ribs (16a-g), thus allowing a greater surface area of the reinforcing materi al (12) to be exposed to heat leading to improved expansion. The ribs (16a-g) c an be configured to a shape corresponding to the cross-section of the cavity of the structural member, thus permitting the reinforcing member (10) to be inserted into small, irregular shaped cavities.
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