Gestamp Hardtech Ab

Ssab Hardtech Ab

Lars Wikstrom

Hans Bodin

Jan Krispinsson

Martin Jonsson

Daniel Berglund

Paul Akerstrom

Martin Holmberg

The invention relates to a B-pillar for a vehicle including a main section () with a hat-shaped section () comprising a central flange (), two web portions () and two side flanges (). At least the hat-shaped section () is press-hardened and has a breaking strength in excess of 1400 MPa and the side flanges () of the hat-shaped section () have a breaking strength below 1100 MPa along at least part of the length of the side flanges (). The B-pillar () includes a cover plate () welded to the side flanges () of the hat-shaped section () so as to form a closed profile, the cover plate () having a breaking strength below 1100 MPa at least in the region in which it bears against the side flanges (). The side flanges () of the hat-shaped section have a breaking strength below 1100 MPa in the region in which the side flanges bear against the cover plate ().

B-pillar for a vehicle

An A-pillar for a vehicle includes a first part () extending as far as the windscreen and supporting the door hinges and a second arcuate part () extending up along the windscreen and continuing towards the back in order to serve as a roof beam () above the door. This second part consists of two open sections () with flanges () welded together so as to give the pillar a closed profile. At least one of the sections () is press-hardened and has a breaking strength in excess of 1400 MPa and the flanges () of the sections have a breaking strength below 1100 MPa in a portion () situated above the door.

A-pillar for a vehicle

A vehicle door has a supporting annular frame-of high strength steel close to the outer panel and the frame is stamped from a plane sheet so that a side impact guard beam () is formed in the same stamping operation. Both the annular frame and the side impact guard beam have hat-formed cross section, and reinforcement plates () couple together the outer and inner flanges () and give the frame a closed cross section at the connections of the side impact guard beam to the annular frame. The outer side flange () of the annular frame carries the outer panel of the door, and the other elements of the door are screwed on the frame-at the interior side of the frame.

Supporting part of a vehicle door

A supporting frameof a door with an integrated side impact guard beamis made of high strength steel. The outer panelof the door will be close to the side impact guard beam. All the interior units of the door, such as lock and window structurewith window frame, are mounted on a beam structureThe beam structure is then mounted on the frameso that the window structure will be between the frameand the beam structure

Vehicle door and a method of manufacturing such a door

A vehicle door has a supporting press formed frame () of high-strength steel that has two standing hat beams () interconnected by an upper horizontal hat beam (), a lower horizontal hat beam () and intermediate side impact guard beam (). The hat beams have their crowns () directed towards the interior of the vehicle and they carry an outer panel () by their outer side flanges (). The standing hat beams () have a profile height on at least portion () of their length that overlaps the corresponding pillar (). Thereby, in a frontal crash, the frame of the door can transmit force from the A-pillar of the vehicle to the B-pillar.

Vehicle

A vehicle door has a supporting frame () substantially in the form of a rectangular annular hat beam () of high-strength steel, which, with its outer side flange (), carries the outer panel () of the door and has its crown () towards the vehicle interior. The lower rear portion of the outer side flange () has a boltarranged to fit in a hole () in the pillar (). In case of a side impact, the bolt will make the pillar participate in the energy absorption. The frame () is comparatively shallow and it can therefore have a high yield strength and all the other elements of the door can be mounted on the inside of the frame, which make them easily available for service.

Vehicle and a vehicle door

The bumper beam of a vehicle has a hat profile and it is mounted in two tapered crash boxes , which extend into the hat profile with their narrow ends. These narrow ends are fixed to the bottom of the hat profile so that the crash boxes will flatten out the hat profile when they are axially compressed. This arrangement is particularly advantageous for reducing the damages in low-velocity offset crashes that have an effect on only one of the crash boxes since it reduces the risk of damages on other parts than the crash box and the bumper beam.

Growing community of inventors

Lulea, Sweden

Lars Wikstrom