Designing and producing lightweight automobile bodies
First Claim
1. A process for producing a light-weight vehicle body comprising a plurality of components, said process comprising the steps of:
- a. selecting at least one type of material for said components;
b. selecting structural performance targets;
c. conducting a beam model analysis;
d. designing a body-in-white;
e. creating a shell model;
f. selecting material gauges for said components;
g. selecting manufacturing processes for said components;
h. conducting a first structural analysis;
i. determining whether said shell model meets said selected structural performance targets;
j. selecting crash requirements;
k. creating a crash model;
l. conducting a crash model analysis;
m. determining whether said crash model meets said selected crash requirements;
n. conducting a second structural analysis; and
o. determining for at least a second time whether said shell model meets said selected structural performance targets.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and system for designing and producing a lightweight automobile or vehicle body. Structural performance targets are selected, a beam model analysis is conducted, and a body-in-white design is developed. A shell model is created and analyzed and material gauges and manufacturing processes for the body components are selected. A structural analysis is conducted to determine whether the shell model meets the selected structural performance targets. A crash model is created, analyzed, and modified until satisfactory crash requirements are met. A final structural analysis is conducted to determine whether the shell model meets the selected structural performance targets.
132 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A process for producing a light-weight vehicle body comprising a plurality of components, said process comprising the steps of:
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a. selecting at least one type of material for said components; b. selecting structural performance targets; c. conducting a beam model analysis; d. designing a body-in-white; e. creating a shell model; f. selecting material gauges for said components; g. selecting manufacturing processes for said components; h. conducting a first structural analysis; i. determining whether said shell model meets said selected structural performance targets; j. selecting crash requirements; k. creating a crash model; l. conducting a crash model analysis; m. determining whether said crash model meets said selected crash requirements; n. conducting a second structural analysis; and o. determining for at least a second time whether said shell model meets said selected structural performance targets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A process for producing a lightweight body-in-white comprised of a plurality of components, the plurality of components being made of a steel material, said process comprising the steps of:
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a. selecting structural performance targets for the body-in-white; b. conducting a finite element beam model analysis to determine the locations and cross-sections of said components; c. designing a preliminary body-in-white; d. creating a finite element shell model; e. selecting the thickness of the material for said components, as well as the manufacturing processes used to produce said components, said shell model having at least a first component made from stamped steel material, at least a second component made from hydroformed steel material, and at least a third component made from a tailor blanked material; f. conducting a first structural analysis to determine whether said shell model meets said selected structural performance targets; g. modifying said shell model where necessary in accordance with said first structural analysis; h. selecting crash requirements for said body-in-white; i. creating a finite element crash model; j. conducting a computer simulated crash model analysis to determine whether said crash model meets said selected crash requirements; and k. conducting a second structural analysis and modifying said shell model where necessary in accordance with said crash model analysis and said second structural analysis.
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Specification