Abstract:
A bracket for a rocker panel assembly includes a first flange and a second flange. The second flange is at an end of a body opposite the first flange and extends parallel to the first flange. The first and second flanges each define a plurality of apertures being dimensioned and configured to control flow of an E-coat fluid injected therein to provide a seal between the first and second flanges to inhibit oxidation in an absence of a seal around a periphery of the first and second flanges.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to reinforcement brackets on vehicle rocker assemblies. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Vehicle rocker panels interconnect structural members of the vehicle. The rocker panel may be formed with a contour. The contour of the rocker panel may require reinforcement to prevent deformation of the rocker panel. Reinforcement brackets are oftentimes attached inside the rocker panel to add structural rigidity to the rocker panel and strengthen the vehicle. The reinforcement brackets help to prevent deformation of the rocker panel by attaching to the rocker panel. Therefore, the reinforcement brackets are designed to integrate with the contour of the rocker panel in order to increase the stiffness of the rocker panel. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A vehicle rocker panel assembly includes a steel rocker panel and a steel bracket. The steel bracket is attached to the panel at a flange to reinforce the panel. The flange defines apertures each having a diameter configured to permit release of pressure caused by injection of E-coat fluid into the apertures and between the panel and flange to inhibit oxidation therebetween in an absence of a seal around a periphery of the flange. 
         [0004]    A vehicle includes a rocker panel assembly. The rocker panel assembly includes a steel rocker panel, and a bracket. The bracket extends a length of the rocker panel and defines a plurality of spaced apart apertures on a flange of the bracket parallel to the rocker panel. The apertures being dimensioned so as to direct flow of an E-coat liquid injected therein between the flange of the bracket and rocker panel to inhibit oxidation therebetween in an absence of a seal around a periphery of the flange, and to relieve a pressure between the flange and rocker panel associated with the flow. 
         [0005]    A bracket for a rocker panel assembly includes a first flange and a second flange. The second flange is at an end of a body opposite the first flange and extends parallel to the first flange. The first and second flanges each define a plurality of apertures being dimensioned and configured to control flow of an E-coat fluid injected therein to provide a seal between the first and second flanges to inhibit oxidation in an absence of a seal around a periphery of the first and second flanges. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a vehicle having a rocker panel reinforcement bracket; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the reinforcement bracket attached to the rocker assembly for a vehicle; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the reinforcement bracket with defined anti-corrosion holes. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments may take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures may be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  depicts a side view of a vehicle  10  having a rocker panel assembly  12 . The rocker panel assembly  12  includes a rocker panel  14  and the reinforcement bracket  16 . The rocker panels may be formed of thin martensitic layers. Reinforcement brackets may be attached to the rocker panels to prevent the rocker panels from deforming. The reinforcement brackets may also be formed from steel. Without a sealant or corrosion resistant layer, attachment between the reinforcement brackets and the rocker panels may create a galvanic reaction resulting in corrosion. 
         [0011]    As will be discussed in detail with reference to the other Figures, typically an E-coat sealant is provided between the rocker panel  14  and the reinforcement bracket  16 . The E-coat sealant acts as a barrier between the rocker panel  14  and the reinforcement bracket  16  to prevent corrosion through galvanic reaction. Further, the E-coat sealant may also prevent liquid such as water to gather between the rocker panel  14  and the reinforcement bracket  16 . By sealing any gap between the rocker panel  14  and the reinforcement bracket  16 , the E-coat sealant also aids to prevent corrosion through the introduction of corrosive solvents between the rocker panel  14  and the reinforcement bracket  16 . 
         [0012]    Adding the reinforcement bracket  16  to the rocker panel  14  strengthens the overall structural rigidity of the rocker panel assembly  12 . Adding the E-coat sealant between the rocker panel  14  and the reinforcement bracket  16  further aids to prevent corrosion of the rocker panel assembly  12 . Therefore, attaching the reinforcement bracket  16  to the rocker panel assembly  12  prevents the rocker panel assembly  12  from deforming when a force is applied, as well as preventing corrosive rust from eating away at the rocker panel assembly  12 . 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of the reinforcement bracket  16  attached to the rocker panel  14 . The reinforcement bracket  16  has a contour  18  to allow for attachment to the rocker panel  14 . The reinforcement bracket  16  uses first and second flanges  20 ,  22  to provide support to the rocker panel  14  in at least two locations. Attaching the reinforcement bracket  16  to the rocker panel  14  using two attachment points increases the stiffness of the rocker panel  14 . The first and second flanges  20 ,  22  are interconnected by a body  24 . The body  24  is designed to allow the first flange  20  and the second flange  22  to provide flat contact between the reinforcement bracket  16  and the rocker panel  14 . The first and second flanges  20 ,  22  connect to the body at a substantially right angle. Being substantially perpendicular to the body  24  allows the reinforcement bracket  16  to provide structural rigidity to the rocker panel preventing deformation to the rocker panel assembly  12 . 
         [0014]    In order to provide structural rigidity to the rocker panel assembly  12 , the first flange  20  and the second flange  22  as well as the body  24  need to maintain stiffness. Therefore, access holes  26  need to be designed such that they do not weaken the first flange  20 , the second flange  22 , or the body  24 . Further, the first flange  20  and the second flange  22  require the E-coat to prevent corrosion at the attachment between the rocker panel  14 , the first flange  20  and the second flange  22 . A plurality of apertures  30  may be defined on the first flange  20  and the second flange  22  to allow E-coat to flow between the rocker panel  14 , the first flange  20  and the second flange  22 . The plurality of apertures  30  are designed such that the reinforcement bracket  16  provides structural rigidity to the rocker panel  14 . 
         [0015]    The plurality of apertures  30  are configured to direct the flow of the E-coat sealant by pumping excess air from between the first and second flanges  20 ,  22  and the rocker panel  14 . For example, injecting E-coat sealant through the apertures  30  applies pressure between the first and second flanges  20 ,  22  and the rocker panel  14  forcing air to escape via the apertures  30 . As the E-coat is injected and covers a contact area  32  between the first flange  20  and the second flange  22  and the rocker panel  14 , air is released into the atmosphere through the plurality of apertures  30 . Releasing air in the atmosphere aids to prevent corrosion by inhibiting oxide from forming at the junction of the first and second flanges  20 ,  22  and the rocker panel  14 . Further, by sealing the contact areas  32  between the apertures  30 , the E-coat prevents corrosion due to rust. 
         [0016]    The plurality of apertures  30  prevents the need for a seal around the outer perimeter of the first flange  20  and the second flange  22 . The plurality of apertures  30  allows injection of E-coat to contact areas  32  between the reinforcement bracket  16  and the rocker panel  14 . By providing a mechanism for which the E-coat can provide sealing and corrosion resistance, the plurality of apertures  30  saves cost because the reinforcement bracket  16  can provide corrosion resistance and reinforce structural rigidity of the rocker panel  14 . Therefore, the reinforcement bracket  16  via the plurality of apertures  30  disposed along the first and second flanges  20 ,  22  provides reinforced structure to the rocker panel  14  and inhibits oxide formation in the absence of a seal around the periphery of the first flange  20  and the second flange  22 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the reinforcement bracket  16 . As described above, the number of the plurality of apertures  30  on both the first flange  20  and the second flange  22  needs to be optimized in order to allow the reinforcement bracket  16  to maintain structural rigidity of the rocker panel. Likewise, the dimensions of the apertures  30  also need to be optimized in order to maintain the structural rigidity of the reinforcement bracket  16  and as such the rocker panel. For example, the orientation of the plurality of apertures  30  on the first and second flanges  20 ,  22  provides flow of E-coat as well as a rigid reinforcement. 
         [0018]    The plurality of apertures  30  may each define a center  34  and a diameter  36 . The location of each aperture  30  is both based on the distance  38  between the centers  34  of the apertures  30  as well as the diameter  36  of the apertures  30 . For example, in at least in one embodiment, the first flange  20  may define four apertures  30  across a length  40  of the first flange. Likewise, in at least one embodiment, the second flange  22  may define three apertures across a length  42  of the second flange  22 . Using this orientation, the apertures may have a diameter  36  not exceeding  10  mm. Further, to ensure coverage of the E-coat sealant underneath the contact areas  32  of the bracket  16 , the apertures  30  are placed with each center  34  approximately between 15 and 20 mm. While shown and described using a single orientation, other orientations and dimensions of the apertures  30  may be contemplated that allow the reinforcement bracket  16  to reinforce the rocker panel as well as to prevent corrosion between the contact areas  32  of the reinforcement bracket and the rocker panel. 
         [0019]    While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics may be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes may include, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, embodiments described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and may be desirable for particular applications.