Abstract:
A motor mount repair system for use in a component assembly comprising a degradable member, a framework and a bolt-housing shaft of the component assembly includes an adhesion and sealing material comprising at least one resin. The degradable member of the component assembly is coupled in co-operative relationship to both the framework and to the bolt-housing shaft of the component assembly. When applied to the degradable member, the adhesion and sealing material adheres to and seals the degradable member permitting both repair of the degradable member and re-use of the component assembly. The component assembly comprises at least one of a motor mount, a shock absorber end, a sway bar bushing and a control arm bushing. Various methods of repairing the degradable member of the component assembly with the motor mount repair system are used.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to repair of vibrating vehicle components and, more specifically, to a repair material system for a component assembly of a vehicle coupled to a vibrating member of the vehicle and methods of using the repair material system to both repair and permit reuse of the component assembly. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the past, engine driven vehicles were relatively noisy. Currently, motor vehicles, vessels (such as boats) and other pieces of equipment (such as compressors) which utilize an engine as their source of power typically have an engine coupled to one or more energy absorbing mounts. Typically these energy absorbing mounts dampen vibrations, attenuate sound or lessen destructive forces, which shorten the life of components. Examples of energy absorbing mounts include motor mounts, shock absorber ends, sway bar bushings and control arm bushings. 
   Initially, primitive energy absorbing mounts simply comprised rubber bushings for absorbing energy which were constrained between two metal plates and further comprised a mounting bolt for coupling to the engine. The construction of energy absorbing mounts has evolved over time as material science and vibration-absorbing technology has improved. Even though materials used for energy absorbing have improved, based on economical considerations and a desire to absorb a greater amount of vibration, sound and destructive forces, the energy absorbing portion of the mount has been made of softer materials without compensating for the reduced durability of the energy absorbing portion of the mount. The softening of this energy absorbing material has led to shorter mount life since the softer energy absorbing material degenerates more rapidly. 
   Typically, a motor mount comprises a component assembly including an outer framework, which is fastened to the structural frame of the vehicle (vessel or equipment). The motor mount further includes an energy absorbing material (compliant) in an interior portion of the component assembly, which is designed to absorb vibration and to attenuate sound and destructive forces. Typically, a secondary framework, consisting of a tube accommodating a mounting bolt, is suspended within this energy absorbing (compliant) material. This central bolt is coupled to a bracket, which is attached to the engine. Often, the component assembly cannot be disassembled without destruction of the energy absorbing (compliant) material in the interior portion of the component assembly. The energy absorbing material adheres to both the outer framework and the secondary framework having the tube and the mounting bolt. The purpose of the above described component assembly is to suspend and hold the engine in place so that vibration/force/sound transfer to the vehicle (vessel or equipment) is significantly reduced. Consequently this increases the life of the engine, structural framework and mounts, and provides improved operator comfort. The energy absorbing (compliant) portion of the component assembly eventually degenerates due to the forces applied to it by the engine through environmental factors such as temperature cycling, chemicals and mechanical fatiguing factors. Similar degradation occurs to other components as described above, where vibration, sound and force are absorbed by an energy absorbing (compliant) material suspended between at least two structural mounting brackets. 
   For illustration, in the specific case of motor mounts for vehicle engines, motor mounts were previously found on both sides of the engine at the lower side, and also attached to the frame of the vehicle. Modern motor mounts are found in a variety of locations such as the inner fender well, near the base of the radiator, at the base of the firewall, near the top of the radiator or as braces originating from the base of a motor/transmission to the frame of the vehicle. Most vehicles made in the past twenty years or so include three or four motor mounts. 
   When a component assembly such as a motor mount fails, a costly repair entailing replacement of the entire motor mount is required. A trade-off between the cost of labor and the cost of replacing a degraded motor mount with a new motor mount often dictates decisions about how a repair will be done. Bunker, U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,918 has disclosed a motor mount insert made of polyurethane to retrofit a clam-shell designed motor mount typically found in a truck. As discussed above, in many vehicles (vessels and equipment), the energy absorbing (compliant) material cannot be separated out and replaced as disclosed by Bunker, U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,918. 
   The inventors of this application disclose a repair material system for a component assembly of a vehicle (such as a motor mount) which is coupled to a vibrating member (such as an engine) of the vehicle and convenient procedures of using the repair material system to both repair and permit reuse of the component assembly. These procedures provide cost-effective repairs without requiring a complete retrofit of the component assembly. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a repair material system for a component assembly of a vehicle which is coupled to a vibrating member of the vehicle. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of using a repair material system to both repair and permit reuse of a component assembly of a vehicle which is coupled to a vibrating member of the vehicle by decoupling the component assembly from the vehicle. 
   It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method of using a repair material system to both repair and permit reuse of a component assembly of a vehicle which is coupled to a vibrating member of the vehicle without decoupling the component assembly from the vehicle. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a repair material system for use in a component assembly is disclosed. The repair material system comprises in combination, an adhesion and sealing material comprising at least one resin, the component assembly comprising a degradable member, a framework and a bolt-housing shaft of the component assembly. The degradable member of the component assembly is coupled in co-operative relationship to both the framework and to the bolt-housing shaft of the component assembly. The adhesion and sealing material adheres to and seals the degradable member of the component assembly when applied to the degradable member of the component assembly thereby permitting both repair of the degradable member and re-use of the component assembly. The repair material system further comprises a vibrating member and the component assembly is coupled to the vibrating member to dampen the vibrating member. The component assembly comprises at least one of a motor mount, a shock absorber end, a sway bar bushing and a control arm bushing. 
   In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, a method for repairing a component assembly with a repair material system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing an adhesion and sealing material comprising at least one resin, providing the component assembly comprises a degradable member, a framework and a bolt-housing shaft of the component assembly, the degradable member of the component assembly coupled in co-operative relationship to both the framework and to the bolt-housing shaft of the component assembly, and providing the adhesion and sealing material adheres to and seals the degradable member of the component assembly when applied to the degradable member of the component assembly thereby permitting both repair of the degradable member and re-use of the component assembly. 
   The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a component assembly comprising a degradable member having two sides, a framework and a bolt-housing shaft with the degradable member in a deteriorated state prior to using a repair material (not shown) in accord with the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the component assembly of  FIG. 1  with the repair material being applied to a portion of one side of the degradable member of the component assembly. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the component assembly of  FIG. 1  after the repair material has been applied to a portion of the surface of the degradable member. 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view through  4 - 4  of the component assembly of  FIG. 3  showing the repair material embedded within the degradable member. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the component assembly having two sides comprising the degradable member having two sides, the framework and the bolt-housing shaft with the degradable member in a deteriorated state prior to using the repair material (not shown) in accord with the invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the bolt-housing shaft of the interior portion of the component assembly of  FIG. 5  surrounded by a barrier coupled to one side of the component assembly. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the bolt-housing shaft of the component assembly of  FIG. 5  supported by a tape on the opposite side of the component assembly to permit alignment of the bolt-housing shaft with the repair material being applied to a portion of one side of the degradable member. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the component assembly of  FIG. 5  after the repair material has been applied to a portion of one side of the degradable member. 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view through  9 - 9  of the component assembly of  FIG. 8  showing the repair material embedded within the degradable member. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing yet another embodiment of the component assembly comprising the degradable member having two sides, the framework and the bolt-housing shaft with the degradable member in a deteriorated state, prior to using the repair material (not shown), and the component assembly coupled to a portion of a vibrating member in accord with the invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the combined component assembly and a portion of the vibrating member of  FIG. 10  and with the vibrating member buttressed by a jack permitting alignment of the bolt-housing shaft in the degradable member prior to using the repair material (not shown). 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the combined component assembly and a portion of the vibrating member of  FIG. 10  and a cleaner being applied to a portion of the component assembly prior to applying the repair material (not shown) to a portion of one side of the degradable member. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the combined component assembly and a portion of the vibrating member of  FIG. 10  with the repair material being applied to a portion of one side of the degradable member of the component assembly. 
       FIG. 14  is a sectional view through  14 - 14  of the combined component assembly and the vibrating member of  FIG. 13  showing the repair material being applied to a portion of each one of the two sides of the degradable member of the component assembly. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   According to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of a component assembly  10  comprises a degradable member  14 , a framework  12  and a bolt-housing shaft  16  of the component assembly  10 . The degradable member  14  of the component assembly  10  is coupled in co-operative relationship to both the framework  12  and to the bolt-housing shaft  16  of the component assembly  10 . The degradable member  14  having two sides has a multiplicity of deteriorated portions  18  in at least one of the two sides of the degradable member  14 . A portion of the component assembly  10  further comprises a brace  20  coupled to a portion  28  of a vehicle, such as at least one structural member of the vehicle (not shown in  FIG. 1 , but shown in  FIGS. 10-13 ). As shown in  FIGS. 10-13 , the bolt-housing shaft  16  is coupled to a portion  30  (such as a bracket, a strut and the like) of a vibrating member  32  (such as an engine, a transmission, a vibrating component and the like of the vehicle) to dampen vibrations of the vibrating member  32 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the component assembly  10  is decoupled from a vehicle (not shown) prior to repair. 
   According to  FIG. 2 , an adhesion and sealing material  24  adheres to and seals the degradable member  14  of the component assembly  10  when the adhesion and sealing material  24  is applied to the degradable member  14  of the component assembly  10  thereby permitting both repair of the degradable member  14  and re-use of the component assembly  10 . In  FIG. 2 , the adhesion and sealing material is applied from a dispenser  22 . It is understood that the dispenser  22  may be a hand held tube, a caulking gun tube, a pressurized aerosol canister with an application tube, an automatic dispensing device and the like. 
   The adhesion and sealing material  24  may be a one-part material or a multiple-part material, which may be dispensed from a multiple-part dispenser. The adhesion and sealing material  24  comprises at least one resin. A preferred resin is at least one resin of the type unsaturated ethylenic polyester cured with at least one initiator of the type of aliphatic peroxide and aromatic peroxide or a combination of aliphatic and aromatic peroxides. It is understood that other types of unsaturated compounds that are rapidly cured with a hardener or initiator may also be suitable. Curing may be effected by the heat of reaction during polymerization, external heat or by the use of a source of energy such as UV and the like. It is further understood that the resin need not be solely of a type that requires free-radical curing (or hardening). Some examples of resins that may be suitable include thermoplastic polyurethanes which cross-link at a later time by means of a delayed curing mechanism, some types of epoxies, phenolics, high glass temperature thermoplastics such as aromatic polyamides and the like. The resin of the adhesion and sealing material  24  further comprises at least one filler. The at least one filler extends the usable life of the degradable member  14  of the component assembly  10 . It is believed that the at least one filler raises the glass transition temperature of the resin, and may additionally improve thermal performance of the resin. Some examples of useful fillers include inorganic and organic fibers, such as glass, aramid, carbon and the like and minerals, such as clay, calcium carbonate, silica, carbon black and the like. The resin of the adhesion and sealing material  24  further comprises at least one elastomer. The at least one elastomer both extends the usable life of the degradable member  14  and is capable of dampening vibrations, attenuating sound transmission and preventing destructive forces in the degradable member  14  of the component assembly  10 . Some examples of useful elastomers include synthetic rubbers, such as polyurethanes and urethane-acrylic copolymers, substituted silicones and siloxanes, styrene-butadiene copolymers, acrylic and acrylonitrile copolymers of carboxylic acids, isoprene and chloroprene polymers, polyamides and their copolymers, ethylene-propylene diene terpolymers rubbers and the like. It is understood that the resin of the adhesion and sealing material  24  may comprise both at least one filler and at least one elastomer. The working characteristics of the adhesive and sealing material  24  include rheology suitable for flow into the multiplicity of deteriorated portions  18  and for self-leveling when applied to a portion of the component assembly  10 . In addition, the adhesive and sealing material  24  should be workable for a sufficient time so that the adhesive and sealing material  24  may be used to repair the component assembly  10 . 
   In  FIG. 2 , a portion of the component assembly  10  is supported by a pair of elevated leveling bars  26  and the dhesive and sealing material  24  is applied to a portion of the degradable member  14  resulting in filling of the multiplicity of deteriorated portions  18 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the appearance of the degradable member  14  after the adhesive and sealing material  24  has been applied. Since the degradable member  14  is coupled in co-operative relationship to both the framework  12  and to the bolt-housing shaft  16  of the component assembly  10 , the adhesive and sealing material  24  also adheres to and seals both a portion of the framework  12  and a portion of the bolt-housing shaft  16 . Adherence to and sealing of both a portion of the framework  12  and a portion of the bolt-housing shaft  16  is enhanced by cleaning both a portion of the framework  12  and a portion of the bolt-housing shaft  16  prior to applying the adhesive and sealing material  24  (see  FIG. 12 ). It is understood that commonly available substantially non-residue producing solvents may be used as a cleaner  38  (see  FIG. 12 , which illustrates the use of a brake cleaner  38 ).  FIG. 4  is a sectional view through  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  of the component assembly  10  after the adhesive and sealing material  24  has been applied to a portion of the degradable member  14  and after the adhesive and sealing material  24  has been cured. According to  FIG. 4  the degradable member  14  having the multiplicity of deteriorated portions  18  is now repaired, with the adhesive and sealing material  24  filling both the multiplicity of deteriorated portions  18  and a portion of the surface of both sides of the degradable member  14 .  FIGS. 2-4  illustrate a process for repairing the degradable member  14  where the bolt-housing shaft  16  is not substantially displaced from its previous location. In the process of  FIGS. 2-4 , the bolt-housing shaft  16  requires no support from a selective barrier  34  (in contrast, see  FIG. 7 , where the selective barrier  34  is used). 
     FIGS. 5-9  depict a process for repairing another embodiment of the component assembly  10 . Referring to  FIG. 5  the component assembly  10  comprises the degradable member  14 , the framework  12  and the bolt-housing shaft  16  of the component assembly  10 , as described above for the embodiment of the component assembly  10  of  FIGS. 1-4 . The component assembly  10  of  FIGS. 5-9  further comprises a pair of braces  20  coupled to a portion  28  of a vehicle (not shown) and the degradable member  14  of the component assembly  10  of  FIGS. 5-9  comprises a multiplicity of deteriorated portions  18 . The component assembly  10  is decoupled from a vehicle (not shown) prior to repair. 
   According to  FIGS. 5-7 , the degradable member  14  is deteriorated to the extent that the bolt-housing shaft  16  embedded in the degradable member  14  is supported using the selective barrier  34 . It is understood that the selective barrier  34  may be a removable tape such as a pressure sensitive tape and the like or a flat supporting material such as wood, cardboard and the like, where the flat supporting material has a cut-out for supporting the bolt-housing shaft  16 . During the process of repairing the component assembly  10 , the flat supporting material functions as the selective barrier  34  to be coupled to a portion of a first side of the framework  12  of the component assembly  10  thereby blocking loss of the adhesion and sealing material  24  from a second side of the degradable member  14  when the adhesion and sealing material  24  is introduced to the first side of the degradable member  14  of the component assembly  10 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , the selective barrier  34  is coupled to both a portion of the bolt-housing shaft  16  and a portion of the framework  12  of the component assembly  10  on the first side of the component assembly  10  when the adhesion and sealing material  24  is applied to a portion of the degradable member  14  of the component assembly  10 , and the selective barrier is coupled to a portion of the second side of the component assembly  10  as shown in  FIG. 6 . In  FIG. 7 , the component assembly  10  is supported on a pair of elevated leveling bars  26  and the adhesive and sealing material  24  is applied to a portion of the degradable member  14  resulting in filling of the multiplicity of deteriorated portions  18 . It is understood that the pair of leveling bars  26  are simply illustrative of a procedure where the component assembly  10  is raised prior to applying the adhesion and sealing material  24  to a portion of the degradable member  14  of the component assembly  10 . The rheology of the adhesion and sealing material  24  does not require that the adhesion and sealing material  24  be applied in any particular orientation. It is preferred that the adhesion and sealing material  24  be applied in an S-shaped back and forth motion. It is also preferred that the adhesion and sealing material  24  completely cover the surface of the degradable member  14 . After the adhesion and sealing material  24  has been applied to a portion of the degradable member  14  on the first side of the component assembly  10  and the adhesion and sealing material  24  is hardened (or cured), the selective barrier  34  on the second side of the component assembly  10  is removed and the adhesion and sealing material  24  is applied to a portion of the degradable member  14  of the second side of the component assembly  10  (see  FIG. 8 ). The adhesion and sealing material  24  is hardened (or cured) and the repaired component assembly  10  may be re-used. It is understood that the adhesion and sealing material  24  may be applied to both the first side and the said second side of the component assembly  10  without waiting for hardening (or curing) of the adhesion and sealing material  24 .  FIG. 9  shows a sectional view through  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8  of the component assembly  10  after the repair process described above and as depicted in  FIGS. 6-8 . 
     FIGS. 10-14  depict yet another process for repairing an embodiment of the component assembly  10  when the component assembly  10  remains coupled to a portion of a vehicle. Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the component assembly  10  is similar to the component assembly  10  of  FIGS. 5-9  (see description above) with the pair of braces  20  coupled to a portion  28  of a vehicle, such as at least one structural member of the vehicle. Additionally, the bolt-shaft housing  16  is coupled to a portion  30  (such as a bracket, a strut and the like) of a vibrating member  32  (such as an engine, a transmission, a vibrating component and the like of the vehicle) to dampen vibrations of the vibrating member  32 . Referring to  FIG. 11 , the vibrating member  32  is buttressed by using a jack  36 , although it is understood that blocks of metal, wood or a block and tackle, and the like may also serve the same function of buttressing the vibrating member  32 . The bolt-housing shaft  16  is aligned to a position in the degradable member  14  before the degradable member  14  of the component assembly  10  was deteriorated (see  FIG. 11 ). Referring further to  FIGS. 12-14 , a procedure for repairing the component assembly  10 , in-situ without decoupling the component assembly  10  from the vibrating member  32  or decoupling from the portion  28  of the vehicle follows essentially the same steps as shown for the repair of the component assembly  10  depicted in  FIGS. 1-4  (see description above). In the depictions of  FIGS. 10-14 , no selective barrier  34  is used, although it is understood that the selective barrier  34  may be used as shown in the repair process depicted in  FIGS. 5-9  (see description above). 
   Statement of Procedures Used 
   A method for repairing any one embodiment of the component assembly  10  with a repair material system comprises initial steps of providing an adhesion and sealing material  24  which comprises at least one resin, providing the component assembly  10  includes the degradable member  14 , the framework  12  and the bolt-housing shaft  16 , and the degradable member  14  coupled in co-operative relationship to both the framework  12  and to the bolt-housing shaft  16  of the component assembly  10 , and providing the adhesion and sealing material  24  adheres to and seals the degradable member  14  of the component assembly  10  when applied to the degradable member  14  of the component assembly  10 . Additional initial steps of the method include providing the vibrating member  32 , the component assembly  10  being coupled to the vibrating member  32  and providing the degradable material  14  having a first side and a second side. 
   In the case depicted by  FIGS. 1-4  (and described above) after the initial steps of the method described above, further steps of the method include decoupling the component assembly  10  from the vibrating member  32 ; selectively cleaning a portion of a surface of the component assembly  10  to enhance adhesion of the adhesion and sealing material  24  to the component assembly  10 ; supporting a portion of the second side of the component assembly  10 ; applying the adhesion and sealing material  24  to a portion of the first side of the degradable member  14  thereby covering a substantial portion of a surface of the degradable member  14 ; hardening the adhesion and sealing material  24 ; supporting a portion of the first side of the component assembly  10 ; selectively applying the adhesion and sealing material  24  to a portion of a surface of the second side of the degradable member  14 ; and hardening the adhesion and sealing material  24  thereby permitting both repair of the degradable member  14  and reuse of the component assembly  10  after coupling the component assembly  10  to the vibrating member  32 . 
   In the case depicted by  FIGS. 5-9  (and described above), after the initial steps of the method described above, further steps of the method include decoupling the component assembly  10  from the vibrating member  32 ; selectively cleaning a portion of a surface of the component assembly  10  to enhance adhesion of the adhesion and sealing material  24  to the component assembly  10 ; providing the selective barrier  34 ; supporting the bolt-housing shaft  16  with the selective barrier  34 ; aligning the bolt-housing shaft  16  to a position in the degradable member  14  before the degradable member  14  was deteriorated; coupling the selective barrier  34  to a portion of one side of the framework  12  thereby blocking loss of the adhesion and sealing material  24  from the second side of the degradable member  14  when the adhesion and sealing material  24  is introduced to the first side of the degradable member  14 ; supporting a portion of the second side of the component assembly  10 ; applying the adhesion and sealing material  24  to the first side of the degradable member  14 ; hardening the adhesion and sealing material  24 ; and decoupling the selective barrier  34  from the one side of the framework  12  when the adhesion and sealing material  24  hardens. Further steps of the method include examining the second side of the degradable member  14 ; supporting a portion of the first side of the component assembly  10 ; selectively applying the adhesion and sealing material  24  to a portion of a surface of the second side of the degradable member  14 ; and hardening the adhesion and sealing material  24 . 
   In one variation of the case depicted by  FIGS. 10-14  (where a selective barrier  34  is not used) and as described above, after the initial steps of the method described above, further steps of the method include buttressing the vibrating member  32  to align the bolt-housing shaft  16  to a position in the degradable member  14  before the degradable member  14  was deteriorated (instead of decoupling the component assembly  10  from the vibrating member  32 ); selectively cleaning a portion of a surface of the component assembly  10  to enhance adhesion of the adhesion and sealing material  24  to the component assembly  10 ; applying the adhesion and sealing material  24  to a portion of the first side of the degradable member  14 ; and hardening the adhesion and sealing material  24  thereby repairing at least the first side of the degradable member  14  of the component assembly  10 . Further steps of the method include, examining the second side of the degradable member  14 ; selectively applying the adhesion and sealing material  24  to a portion of a surface of the second side of the degradable member  14 ; and hardening the adhesion and sealing material  24  thereby permitting both repair of the degradable member  14  and reuse of the component assembly  10  in combination with the vibrating member  32  when the vibrating member  32  is no longer buttressed. 
   In another variation of the case depicted by  FIGS. 10-14  (where a selective barrier  34  is used), the method includes buttressing the vibrating member  32  to align the bolt-housing shaft  16  to a position in the degradable member  14  before the degradable member  14  was deteriorated; selectively cleaning a portion of a surface of the component assembly  10  to enhance adhesion of the adhesion and sealing material  24  to the component assembly  10 ; providing a selective barrier  34 ; coupling the selective barrier  34  to a portion of one side of the framework  12  thereby blocking loss of the adhesion and sealing material  24  from the second side of the degradable member  14  when the adhesion and sealing material  24  is introduced to the first side of the degradable member  12 ; applying the adhesion and sealing material  24  to a portion of the first side of the degradable member  14 ; hardening the adhesion and sealing material  24 ; and decoupling the selective barrier  34  from the one side of the framework  12  of the component assembly  10  when the adhesion and sealing material  24  hardens. The method further includes examining the second side of the degradable member  14 ; selectively applying the adhesion and sealing material  24  to a portion of a surface of the second side of the degradable member  14 ; and hardening the adhesion and sealing material  24 . 
   While the disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.