Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Machine or implement
Patent
1994-05-24
1996-11-05
Friedman, Carl D.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Machine or implement
527311, 527317, 527402, 2961466, 296188, 296210, E04B 232, B62D 2500
Patent
active
055705588
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a strengthening member, for example for reinforcing vehicle body panels such as roofs, consisting essentially of a bent sheet metal channel with opposing flanges which are provided with stiffening profiling.
It is generally known to make use of profiled or embossed strengthening members of bent sheet metal on car body panels, where the embossings are intended to stiffen the panel. One such strengthening member, in the form of a profiled channel member for reinforcing car doors, is shown in DE 2 021 906. The member is provided with uniformally distributed V-shaped indentations along its length which are relatively deep and spaced relatively far apart. The indentations extend over half the width of the base of the channel, half the wall region connected to the base and half of a flange or brim connected to the wall region. This known strengthening member has a relatively complicated shape and is intended to reinforce the door to achieve improved side impact protection.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide a strengthening member of the type described in the introduction, which has a profiling which can be obtained in a simple press operation when pressing the member, and which offers high stiffness with little shape change when removed from the press tool. More particularly, it is an object to provide a strengthening member having a "hat" shape which can be produced considerably more cheaply than those hat-shaped strengthening members which have been produced hitherto which do not display profiling.
This is achieved in accordance with the invention by means of the profiling forming a uniform pattern of closely spaced indentations separated by intermediate surface regions, which pattern extends along the channel walls and over the entire height of the walls.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the indentations and the surface regions have the same shape, for example triangular, and surface area, so that a continuous boundary line is created between them which extends in a zig-zag fashion between the transition section of the wall and base up to an upper edge of the wall. It has been shown that a strengthening member of this type can be produced for a third of the cost of a previously used press-hardened member for certain stiffening purposes. The profiling or embossing increases the strength so that press-hardening is no longer required, whilst at the same time eliminating superposed strains. This means that there is virtually no difference in shape between the finished member and the press tool, thereby considerably reducing the rejection rate.
The invention will be described in greater detail by way of example only and with reference to the attached drawing, in which
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a member according to the invention, and
FIG. 2 is an enlargement of the right-hand end of the member shown in FIG. 1.
The member shown in the drawings has a "hat" shape formed by a base section 1, two side walls 2 projecting upwardly therefrom, and "brims" or flanges 3 projecting from the side walls 2. The member is produced by pressing a metal sheet so that transition sections 4 and 5 of small radius are formed between said parts. In FIG. 1, a straight reference line, denoted by "a", is drawn above the member in order to illustrate that the member is slightly bowed in the direction of its length. This allows the member to be adapted to the curvature of the body panel to which it is to be attached, such as a car roof.
When pressing a conventional "hat" shaped member with flat side walls, it is impossible to avoid a certain spring-back in the sheet metal when the member is removed from the press tool. This spring-back causes the member to flatten out somewhat so that its shape deviates from that of the press tool. A consequence of this can be that the shape of the flanges 3 deviates so much from the shape of, for example, the roof surface to which the flanges of the member are to be affixed that the member has to be rejected.
REFERENCES:
patent: 440007 (1890-11-01), Caldwell
patent: 1351614 (1920-08-01), Brown
patent: 2145407 (1939-01-01), Soule
patent: 2355707 (1944-08-01), De Boer
patent: 2549442 (1951-04-01), Fischer et al.
patent: 3137922 (1964-06-01), Schumacher
patent: 3636690 (1972-01-01), White
patent: 4329824 (1982-05-01), Lowe
patent: 4453364 (1984-06-01), Ting
patent: 4793113 (1988-12-01), Bodnar
patent: 4796946 (1989-01-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 4938525 (1990-07-01), Yamauchi
AB Volvo
Friedman Carl D.
Kent Christopher Todd
LandOfFree
Reinforcing beam does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Reinforcing beam, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Reinforcing beam will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2006990