Side impact beam

• US 20030178273A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH (Benteler International AG)
• Original Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH (Benteler International AG)
• Inventors: Konig, Ralf, Ulrich, Lars, Gehringhoff, Ludger, Fortstroer, Alfons, Bullmann, Detlef
• Granted Patent: US 7,086,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 188/377
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0444 characterised by a special cross section

Abstract

A side impact beam for incorporation into the structure of a motor vehicle comprises a sheet metal profile with flaring end portions and two longitudinal beads extending along the sheet metal profile and wherein the end portions that are provided with cross beads that are stamped in an additional tooling step during manufacturing and after the longitudinal beads have been formed, and are arranged in transverse disposition to the longitudinal beads and wherein the longitudinal beads and the cross beads are oriented in the same direction and the length of one cross bead corresponds approximately to the width of the two longitudinal beads, such that the so configured cross beads provide a stabilizing effect of the end portions and ensure the flattening of the connecting surfaces, thereby leading to a reduction of assembly problems.

Claims

1. A side impact beam for incorporation into a motor vehicle comprising:

a sheet metal profile having a flaring end portion at each end;

said sheet metal profile provided with at least one longitudinal bead and having at least one cross bead arranged at each end portion with the at least one cross bead in transverse disposition to said longitudinal bead.

2. The side impact beam of claim 1, wherein the at least one longitudinal bead and the at least one cross bead each have a length and a width dimension and wherein the length of the cross bead corresponds to approximately the width of the longitudinal bead.

3. The side impact beam of claim 2, wherein the side impact beam has two longitudinal beads extending parallel to each other and the length of the cross bead corresponds to approximately the width of both longitudinal beads.

4. The side impact beam of claim 1, wherein the at least one longitudinal bead and the at least one cross bead are so stamped in the metal profile as to have a same orientation.

5. The side impact beam of claim 1, wherein the at least one cross bead is located in immediate proximity and in front of the longitudinal bead.