The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 19, 2005
Filed:
May. 01, 2002
Todd W. J. Tjoelker, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
John D. Bowman, Dorr, MI (US);
Alessandro Libriani, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Joseph C. Kollaritsch, Rockford, MI (US);
Todd W. J. Tjoelker, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
John D. Bowman, Dorr, MI (US);
Alessandro Libriani, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Joseph C. Kollaritsch, Rockford, MI (US);
Benteler Automotive Corporation, Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
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.