Benteler Automotive Corporation

Other

Todd W J Tjoelker

Alessandro Libriani

Joseph C Kollaritsch

John D Bowman

Tyler Steven Hernden

Davon M Browne

Craig A Fellows

Shui Fang Chou

A method of forming a vehicle component, particularly an elongated impact beam, having an open section structure, in a manner to provide predetermined strategically strengthened portions, comprising the steps of cold forming unhardened steel into a workpiece having mounting surfaces, selectively fixturing the mounting surfaces, static induction heating the workpiece with lengthwise surface eddy currents on selected portions, followed by quenching of the fixtured heated workpiece to form strengthened portions, and unfixturing the resulting component. Also disclosed is apparatus to accomplish this, and the resulting novel vehicle component.

Heat treatment strategically strengthened door beam

An energy absorbing impact system is designed for vehicle bumpers and the like, and includes a base member connected with a vehicle frame, and having a central opening therein. An impact receiving member is spaced apart from the base member, and is connected with a vehicle bumper. An invertible, tubular energy absorbing crush member is positioned between the base and impact receiving member, and includes a generally square lateral cross-sectional shape, with flat face portions disposed between opposite corner portions. One end of the crush member is connected with the impact receiving member, and the opposite end of the crush member is partially slit longitudinally to define planar tabs which are flared outwardly and connected with the base member adjacent the central opening, such that impact on the impact receiving member forces the crush member through the central opening in the base member, causing the face portions to tear longitudinally away from the corner portions as the crush member inverts through the central opening to absorb energy associated with the impact.

Energy absorption impact system and method for making the same

A channeled energy absorption unit for a vehicle bumper impact system to absorb impact energy and forestall or minimize damage to vehicle frame rails under impact. The basic embodiment is a tube with one end flared and welded at a hole in one end plate or directly to the vehicle frame rail. When loaded axially, the tube splits, peels and is inverted to absorb impact in a generally square wave energy absorption. Preferred channels in the tube stabilize the failure mode during this process to assure a predetermined energy absorption characteristic.

Energy absorption impact system

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Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America

Todd W J Tjoelker