Patent GB-492630-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to vehicle bodies and apparatus for manufacturing same
IPC: B29C70/44
Filed: 1937-11-15
Abstract: 492,630. Vehicle bodies; moulding. AUTO UNION AKT.-GES. Nov. 15, 1937, No. 31411. Convention date, Nov. 13, 1936. [Class 108 (i)] [Also in Group V] A vehicle body comprising preformed units of synthetic resin saturated material and preformed reinforcing members of similar material is formed by assembling the parts together in a casing, with adhesive applied at the joints, and applying heat and pressure to cause the adhesive to unite with the adjacent parts, the body so formed being then allowed to cool. As shown in Fig. 3, the roof 3 consists of members 28, 29 of identical shape formed preferably of superimposed paper strips, shavings, clippings, &c. saturated in synthetic resin and pressed and cut into shape, the roof being connected to the sides which comprise walls 31, 32 of similar material, by means of distance pieces 35 projecting between the members 28, 29 and walls 31, 32. A flange 34 on the walls 31 receives a window-frame 33 and along the top edges of the window aperture reinforcing strips 36 are provided with which the necessary window-frame parts are formed in the pressing operation. Between the members 28, 29, distance pieces 35, and strips 36, is interposed adhesive 38 which fills the gaps between the various parts and may have embedded in it paper or fabric strips. The other joints, e.g. 39, 40 are formed similarly. The space between the inner and outer surfaces is filled with material such as cardboard or bullet-proof material. The solid floor is formed by plates 42 and a distance piece 43. The door frame is constituted by a distance piece 44, Fig. 4, the door hinges 45, 46 being inserted in the joint between the door frame and adjacent wall and held by the adhesive. Alternatively, a distance piece 55, Fig. 8, may be folded back on itself and subsequently pressed into T-section shape to form a door frame. Fig. 6 shows the upper longitudinal edge of the body, the side walls 48, 49 being connected by a distance piece 50' united by adhesive 51 formed with a groove to receive the rolling-roof fabric 52 which is secured by a member 53. The various parts are assembled in a mould-like casing, Figs. 1, 2, the inner surface of which conforms to the outer surface of the car body, the casing comprising a top and front portion 7, side portions 8, and bottom portion 9, each of which is hollow, parts 10 being provided in the outer wall for connection to a hot air or steam supply, the portions intercommunicating through passages 11. The portions 7. 8 are mounted on and guided by U-section girders, 18, 17 and the bottom portion 9 is secured to the side portions 8 by clamping means 19. To enable the casing to rotate about its longitudinal axis, the girders 17, 18 are joined to end plates 20, 21 on which are mounted circular rails 22 engaging and supported by pulleys 23 carried by a travelling base 24, the casing being fixed in any position by teeth 26 on the plates coacting with a locking device 27. The outer members 28, 31, &c. of the body are first inserted in the casing 7, 8, 9, the outer distance pieces 35, 50, frame members 36, 44, 55, &c. inner distance pieces 39, 43, &c. and fittings 45, 46, &c. are then positioned on the outer members, the adhesive 38 having been applied previously to the positions for the joints, and finally the inner members 29, 40, 32 &c. are placed in position, the joints being plastered with adhesive. A pressure-applying unit 14, enveloped by an inflatable bag 15 having an inlet orifice 16 and made of rubber-impregnated fabric which adapts itself to the internal shape of the body, is then inserted through the floor, door, or roof aperture and steam or hot air is introduced into the portions 7, 8, 9 and simultaneously, under pressure, into the bag 15, causing the adhesive to melt and mould into the required shape. Finally. the steam &c. is discharged and cold air pumped in to cool off and harden the adhesive. The body may be coated with lacquer and wool fibres may be sprayed on the inner walls above the seats. The pressure-applying unit 14 may be built up of relatively-movable parts.