Double walled baffle
US6382635B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 7, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/20
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An expandable baffle for sealing a cavity of an automobile is provided. The baffle includes a thermally expandable sealing material which has an expansion temperature similar to the temperatures achieved in specific stages of the automotive manufacturing processes (e.g., the paint bake stage). The inventive baffle further includes a support for the sealing material which maintains the material at the desired location within the cavity until thermal expansion. The support is formed of a material having a melting point higher than the thermal expansion temperature of the sealing material. In one embodiment, the support comprises a pair of solid, spaced-apart sidewalls that “bow” upon expansion of the sealing material. In an alternate embodiment, the sidewalls include a plurality of openings formed therein through which the sealing material flows during thermal expansion. The inventive baffles are useful for providing noise attenuation and for sealing the cavity from moisture and contaminants while providing a limited degree of structural reinforcement.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.