Patent ID: 6029334
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: B21D,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of interlocking hemmed together edges of inner and outer vehicle body panels wherein the outer panel is formed to a pre-finished condition with a hemming edge border flange lip bent up from a peripheral margin of the main vehicle-interior-facing (inboard) surface of the outer panel, comprising the steps of:(1) stamping the inner panel to a desired size and shape including forming generally flat peripheral border and a main central portion offset inboard from the border in vehicle mounted use,(2) trimming the border of the pre-stamped inner panel to desired outside dimensions,(3) forming an inner panel and hardware sub-assembly by attaching a plurality of hardware components by welding to the inner panel,(4) then forming a plurality of interlock holes in the inner panel border by individually piercing out the holes in the border with a piercing tool moving through the border from the outboard side to the inboard side of the border while the inner panel is held and located in a predetermined orientation relative to piercing tool travel,(5) marrying the inner panel to the outer panel by placing the outer panel outboard side down on a locating fixture and placing the inner panel outboard side down on the inboard side of the outer panel with the outer edge of the inner panel border disposed inwardly adjacent the raised hemming flange lip of the outer panel and then crimping partially inwardly a plurality of spaced portions of the outer panel flange lip to hold the two panels temporarily assembled, and(6) then hemming the flange lip of the outer panel over the inboard surface of the border of the inner panel by hemming steel means and permanently interlocking the panels by providing staking means located to register a staking tool individually with the interlock holes and operable to deform the registered portion of the hemmed flange lip into the associated interlock hole in the inner panel border.