A reinforcing, baffling, or sealing device for a vehicle structure, the device comprising a carrier, an expandable material applied to the carrier, and openings formed in the carrier. The expandable material is formed of a heat activated material having foamable characteristics. The openings are formed in a repetitive pattern and perpendicular to a horizontal axis of the device. The device is stretched along the horizontal axis.

A reinforcing, baffling, or sealing device for a vehicle structure, the device comprising a carrier, an expandable material applied to the carrier, and openings formed in the carrier. The expandable material is formed of a heat activated material having foamable characteristics. The openings are formed in a repetitive pattern and perpendicular to a horizontal axis of the device. The device is stretched along the horizontal axis.

A vehicle body combination structure includes a center floor panel extending from a lower portion of a vehicle body along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and a rear floor panel disposed at a rear of the vehicle body and connected to the center floor panel, wherein one end surface of the center floor panel and one end surface of the rear floor panel are vertically overlapped to form an overlap region, and wherein the rear floor panel and the center floor panel form a wheel base of the vehicle body.

One aspect is an apparatus including a plurality of additively manufactured components each having an adhesive injection channel. The components are connected together such that adhesive injection channels are aligned to form an adhesive path that allows adhesive flow between the components. Another aspect is an apparatus, including an additively manufactured component having an adhesive injection channel and an adhesive flow mechanism comprising at least one of an adhesive side end effector or a vacuum side end effector, the adhesive flow mechanism configured to provide adhesive to the adhesive injection channels.

One aspect is an apparatus including a plurality of additively manufactured components each having an adhesive injection channel. The components are connected together such that adhesive injection channels are aligned to form an adhesive path that allows adhesive flow between the components. Another aspect is an apparatus, including an additively manufactured component having an adhesive injection channel and an adhesive flow mechanism comprising at least one of an adhesive side end effector or a vacuum side end effector, the adhesive flow mechanism configured to provide adhesive to the adhesive injection channels.

A vehicle body assembly system defines a preset pre-buck section and a preset main-buck section along a conveying route of a floor assembly, and may include: i) pre-buck units which are installed at both sides of the conveying route in the pre-buck section, respectively, restrict lower portions of side assemblies, which vary in accordance with a type of vehicle, with respect to both sides of the floor assembly, and preassemble the lower portions of the side assemblies to the floor assembly by a first welding robot; and ii) main-buck units which are installed at both sides of the conveying route in the main-buck section, respectively, restrict upper portions of the side assemblies preassembled by the pre-buck unit, and post-assemble vehicle body components to the upper portions of the side assemblies by a second welding robot.

A vehicle body assembly system defines a preset pre-buck section and a preset main-buck section along a conveying route of a floor assembly, and may include: i) pre-buck units which are installed at both sides of the conveying route in the pre-buck section, respectively, restrict lower portions of side assemblies, which vary in accordance with a type of vehicle, with respect to both sides of the floor assembly, and preassemble the lower portions of the side assemblies to the floor assembly by a first welding robot; and ii) main-buck units which are installed at both sides of the conveying route in the main-buck section, respectively, restrict upper portions of the side assemblies preassembled by the pre-buck unit, and post-assemble vehicle body components to the upper portions of the side assemblies by a second welding robot.

Methods for validating manufacturing equipment for use during the production of a motor vehicle include identifying touchpoints on the underbody of a vehicle, machining a foam underbody, and validating manufacturing equipment using the foam underbody. A three-dimensional model of the underbody of the vehicle may be used to identify the touchpoints and for machining the foam underbody. The foam underbody includes a polyurethane foam. At least the touchpoints of the foam underbody are machined to a tolerance of less than or equal to +/−3 millimeters with reference to the touchpoints on the three-dimensional model.

A vehicle driveline component with a housing, a tube and a plurality of slugs. The housing has a tube mount with a body and a plurality of slug bores. The body defines a tube bore that extends along an axis. The slug bores are spaced circumferentially apart about and are formed through the body. Each of the slug bores intersects the tube bore. The tube is received in the tube bore. Each of the slugs is received into an associated one of the slug bores and is welded to the tube. Each of the slugs engages an inside surface of one of the slug bores to inhibit movement of the tube relative to the tube mount. The body has a wall thickness and each of the slugs engages the inside surface of one of the slug bores over a distance that is less than the wall thickness.

A vehicle driveline component with a housing, a tube and a plurality of slugs. The housing has a tube mount with a body and a plurality of slug bores. The body defines a tube bore that extends along an axis. The slug bores are spaced circumferentially apart about and are formed through the body. Each of the slug bores intersects the tube bore. The tube is received in the tube bore. Each of the slugs is received into an associated one of the slug bores and is welded to the tube. Each of the slugs engages an inside surface of one of the slug bores to inhibit movement of the tube relative to the tube mount. The body has a wall thickness and each of the slugs engages the inside surface of one of the slug bores over a distance that is less than the wall thickness.