VARIABLE THICKNESS ROLL FORMED BEAM

• Main Authors: MATECKI JOE, MALKOWSKI BRIAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.12.2014
• Subjects: GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR

A bumper reinforcement beam provides improved bending stiffness and strength, while reducing weight and maintaining functional bending impact strength. The illustrated beam is roll formed and includes a B-shaped cross section with upper and lower tubular sections sharing a common horizontal wall. A first material of the lower tubular section, including the common horizontal wall, is thinner than a second material forming a remainder of the upper tubular section. By using this arrangement for bumper beams that are likely to be impacted above a centerline, beam weight can be reduced by 2.5% to 6.7% or greater; while the stroke (intrusion into the vehicle) of impactors is generally maintained and maximum load capability (beam bending strength) is maintained.