Cross member system for a coupling device a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9457633-B2
Application number	US-201414519881-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2014
Priority date	Oct 21, 2014
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

A cross member system for a coupling device of a motor vehicle includes a tubular cross member, which extends between two lateral fastening consoles and a coupling mounting, which is connected with the cross member in a central section of the cross member. The cross member has a varying cross sectional course in longitudinal direction and is formed from a cut-to size-plate by a U/O-forming and is longitudinal seam welded. A central section of the cross member has a polygonal cross section. The cross member further has lateral end sections with a cross section which deviates from the polygonal cross section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cross member system, for a coupling device of a motor vehicle, comprising:
two lateral fastening consoles each being configured U-shaped and having a web with two lateral legs, each of the two lateral legs being provided with an opening, with the opening of one of the legs being aligned with the opening of the other leg so as to form a mounting for a respective end section of the cross member, wherein the opening is formed by a through-passage having a rim provided with a circumferential collar;
a tubular cross member extending between the two lateral fastening consoles and being formed from a cut-to-size plate into a hollow section by a U/O-forming and contacting edges of the formed plate are welded to each other; and
a coupling mounting connected with the cross member in a central section of the cross member.

2. The cross member system of claim 1 , wherein a cross section of the cross member varies in a longitudinal direction of the cross member.

3. The cross member system of claim 1 , wherein the central section of the cross member has a polygonal cross section, preferably a rectangular cross section, in particular a square cross section, and wherein the cross member has lateral end sections having a cross section deviating from the polygonal cross section, in particular a round cross section, preferably a circular cross section.

4. The cross member system of claim 1 , wherein a respective transition section is provided between the central section an the end sections.

5. The cross member system of claim 1 , wherein the cross member has a wall thickness between 3.0 mm and 4.0 mm.

6. The cross member system of claim 1 , wherein the cross member is made of a steel material having a tensile strength (R m ) of 300 MPa to 900 MPa.

7. The cross member system of claim 1 , wherein the cross member is made of a steel material having a tensile strength (R m ) of 780 MPa to 800 MPa.

8. The cross member system of claim 1 , wherein the cross member has wall thicknesses that are adjusted to a stress encountered by the cross member during operation.

9. The cross member system of claim 1 , wherein the cross member has a three dimensionally curved course along a length of the cross member.

10. The cross member system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling mounting comprises a tubular body, which is oriented transversely to the central section.

11. The cross member system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling mounting is arranged below the central section and is joined with the central section.

12. The cross member system of claim 1 , wherein end sections of the cross member are respectively connected with a fastening console, and wherein the each of the end sections is held in a mounting of the fastening console.

13. The cross member system of claim 12 , wherein the mounting has a through-passage in a leg of the fastening console.

14. The cross member system of claim 1 , wherein the collars of the through-passage of one of the legs and the collar of the through passage of the other one of the legs point in opposite directions.

15. A method for producing a cross member system for a coupling device of a motor vehicle, comprising:
producing a tubular cross member by cutting a steel plate to size, forming the cut-to-size steel plate into a hollow section by a U/O-forming, and welding contacting edges of the formed steel plate to each other, wherein a geometry of the cut-to-size steel plate corresponds to a geometry of the cross member in an uncoiled planar state of the cross member;
providing two lateral fastening consoles each being configured U-shaped and having a web with two lateral legs, each of the two lateral legs being provided with an opening, with the opening of one of the legs being aligned with the opening of the other leg so as to form a mounting for a respective end section of the cross member wherein the opening is formed by a through-passage having a rim provided with a circumferential collar;
arranging the tubular cross member between the two lateral fastening consoles; and
connecting a coupling mounting with the cross member in a central section of the cross member.

Assignees

• Benteler Automobiltechnik Gmbh

Inventors

• Krieger Ryan

Classifications

• B60D1/485 Primary

  mounted by means of transversal members attached to the frame of a vehicle · CPC title

• B21D5/015

  for making tubes · CPC title

• B21D35/006

  Blanks having varying thickness, e.g. tailored blanks · CPC title

• B21D53/88

  other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards · CPC title

• B60D1/48

  characterised by the mounting · CPC title