Bumper system

• US 20100237639A1
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH (Benteler International AG)
• Original Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH (Benteler International AG)
• Inventors: Handing, Christian, Wibbeke, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,276,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 293/132
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/03 characterised by material, e.g. composite B60R19/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/34 destroyed upon impact, e.g. one-shot type
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/182 of light metal, e.g. extruded
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1826 of high-tension steel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49986 Subsequent to metal working

Abstract

A bumper system for motor vehicles has a cross-member and two crush boxes. The cross-member is made from steel and the crush boxes are made from aluminum, or vice versa. The bumper member that is made from steel has a zinc coating on at least the joint area thereof. A braze weld fixedly connects the crush boxes to the cross-member along associated joints.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A bumper system for motor vehicles and the like, comprising:

a cross-member having a joint area, and being constructed from one of a steel material and an aluminum material;

at least one crush box having a joint area, and being constructed from the other one of said steel material and said aluminum material; and

wherein

said one of said cross-member and said crush box that is constructed from said steel material has a zinc coating on at least said joint area thereof; and

including

a braze weld fixedly connecting said joint area of said cross-member with said joint area of said crush box.

13. The bumper system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said zinc coating has a thickness in the range of 5 μ

m to 50 μ

m.

14. The bumper system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said one of said cross-member and said crush box that is constructed from said steel material has a thickness in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm; and

said one of said cross-member and said crush box that is constructed from said aluminum material has a thickness in the range of 1 mm to 4 mm.

15. The bumper system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said cross-member is constructed from said steel material having a tensile strength Rm in the range of 800 MPa to 1,800 MPa; and

said crush box is constructed from said aluminum material having a tensile strength in the range of 85 MPa to 350 MPa.

16. The bumper system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said zinc coating comprises either a thermal diffusion layer or a powder coating.

17. The bumper system as set forth in claim 12, including:

mounting plates constructed from said other one of said steel material and said aluminum material connected with an end of said crush box facing away from said cross-member by a material bond.

18. A method for making a vehicle bumper system, comprising:

forming a cross-member with a joint area from one of a steel material and an aluminum material;

forming at least one crush box with a joint area from the other one of the steel material and the aluminum material;

applying a zinc coating on at least the joint area of the one of the cross-member and the crush box that is constructed from the steel material; and

braze welding the joint area of the cross-member with the joint area of the crush box.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said forming step for the component constructed from the steel material comprises hot forming the steel component; and

said zinc coating applying step comprises thermally diffusing the zinc coating on the steel component after said hot forming step.

20. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said zinc coating applying step comprises powder coating the one of the cross-member and the crush box made from the steel material after the steel component has been formed.

21. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said zinc coating applying step comprises applying zinc coating to the one of the cross-member and the crush box that is constructed from the steel material prior to said associated forming step.

22. The method as set forth in claim 18, including:

forming at least one mounting plate from the steel material;

forming the cross-member from the steel material;

forming the crush box from the aluminum material; and

braze welding the mounting plate to the crush box.