Heat Induced Interference Fit for Structural Purposes in Vehicles

Abstract

A process for joining components of desired materials for structural purposes in the construction of a vehicle, such as a bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, moped, car, truck, trolley, pushcart, or other such vehicle of motion as powered by an individual, engine, or motor, through the use of an interference fit as a result of utilizing the thermal expansion properties of the materials. This process is an improvement upon conventional practices requiring some manner of melting a material to create a joint.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention prior to joining.

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the present invention after joining.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Selected embodiments of the present invention will now be explained in detail with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions for the present invention are provided for illustration only and not intended for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, two hollow tubes 1 and 2 are aligned to be joined to a joint 3 to form an example of an application of this process which takes the form of the front of a bicycle. At ambient temperature, the inner diameter of the hollow tubes 1 and 2 are smaller than the outer diameter of the protrusions 3a and 3b. Prior to assembling the these three components, the hollow tubes 1 and 2 must be heated to the point where they have expanded such that the inner diameter of the hollow tubes 1 and 2 are larger than the outer diameter of the protrusions 3a and 3b.

Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, two hollow tubes 1 and 2 have been aligned to be joined to a joint 3 to form an example of an application of this process which takes the form of the front of a bicycle. With the hollow tubes 1 and 2 and the joint 3 at ambient temperature, interference exists between the components along the area of contact.

Claims

1. A process for joining components in the assembly of the foundational structure of a vehicle of motion, such as a bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, moped, car, truck, trolley, pushcart, or other such vehicle of motion as powered by an individual, engine, or motor, by means of initially requiring a larger cross-sectional area for the inserted component than exists on the receiving component. Then, by means of creating a temperature differential for which the receiving component is at a great enough temperature that the resulting thermal expansion brings about an increase in cross-sectional area that will be large enough to accept the inserted component's cross sectional area, the two components can be easily slid together.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the component is composed of a plastic, metal, ceramic, and/or composite.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the inserted component is not of the same material as the receiving component.