Norsk Hydro, A.s.

Hydro Raufoss Automotive A/

Peter Gundlach

Edvin L Clausen

Ronald H Pedersen

A method for manufacturing a structural member (,), especially a vehicle assembly member serving to absorb collision energy and forces by direct or indirect collision impact, for the purpose of obtaining a deformation body which is processed from an extruded blank. The post-processing of the blank is provided without supplementing further parts, and the blank can be given various geometrical designs for variation of stiffness and energy absorbing properties of the finished structural member. There is provided a substantially extruded blank (,) having a first yoke portion (,) and one or more leg portions (,A,,B) protruding from the yoke portions; and in the area between the yoke portion (,) and the leg portions (,A,,B), there is effected a cutting along a certain extension, such that in a leg zone (,Z) extending from the bottom of the cutting (,) and outwardly along a leg portion there is effected a bending for providing one or more reinforcing collision corners (,).

Method for manufacturing a structural member for collison impact

A structural assembly at a front or rear of a vehicle frame includes a longitudinal member extending in a longitudinal direction of the frame. The longitudinal member has a part that extends at an angle to such longitudinal direction. A transverse member extends transversely of the longitudinally direction and includes a straight central part and an end part extending at an angle to the straight central part and at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the frame that is substantially equal to the angle of the part of the longitudinal member. The part of the longitudinal member and the end part of the transverse member are aligned and joined to form a nested joint that extends at the angle to the longitudinal direction of the frame. A side member extends in the longitudinal direction of the frame, and the nested joint is joined to the side member, thus forming a triple joint connection between the longitudinal, transverse and side members.

Growing community of inventors

Raufoss, Norway

Peter Gundlach