IP Library Granted Patent US 12703022
Granted Patent B2
US 12703022 · App. 18/912,595 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Motor vehicle component and method for producing the same

Inventors: Guenter Fortmeier (Delbrueck, DE); Thomas Henksmeier (Wadersloh, DE); Norbert Niggemeyer (Paderborn, DE); Erik Schultz (Paderborn, DE)
Assignees: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH; VOLKSWAGEN AG
B21D53/88B23K37/00B60G21/051B60G2200/21B60G2206/72B60G2206/8201
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12703022
App. No.
18/912,595
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A motor vehicle component has two component parts made of steel with different wall thicknesses, which are arranged at an angle α to one another and are connected by a weld seam. A joining surface at the end portion of the first component part has a bevel produced without cutting. In order to form the bevel, an end portion of an initial blank is formed without cutting. The end portion is then trimmed at the end and an abutment surface is created on the front side of the end portion. The two component parts are positioned relative to each other so that the joining surface of the first component part and the joining surface of the second component part face each other. The material-locking joining of the first component part and the second component part is achieved by a weld seam on the joining surfaces.

Claims (10)

1 . A method of making a welded motor vehicle component, the method comprising:

manufacturing a first component part with a joining surface, the joining surface having a bevel and an abutment surface;

forming an end portion of the first component part having a wall with a wall thickness, and forming a bevel on the end portion, the first component part having two bends to form a slanted portion;

trimming the end portion to separate an end piece from the end portion to form the abutment surface on a front side of the end portion;

positioning the first component part and a second component part, which has a wall with a wall thickness and a joining surface, at an angle relative to one another, so the joining surface of the first component part and the joining surface of the second component part face one another; and

material-locking joining the first component part and the second component part by a weld seam at the respective joining surfaces.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the end portion is laterally displaced, bent, or embossed during the forming.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first component part is subjected to a further forming before or after the forming and the trimming of the end portion.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the trimming of the end portion is at an angle perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wall of the first component part.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness of the wall of the second component part is smaller than the wall thickness of the wall of the first component part.