Laminated structural members for vehicles
A tubular structural member of an automobile wherein such member includes a double wall construction. Such product is initially formed from a double walled tube. The resulting member exhibits superior sound and/or vibration dampening without sacrificing stiffness or strength.
1 . A hollow structural member for an automobile having a double wall formed from a laminate of two metal sheets.
2 . The structural member of claim 1 wherein the metal sheets are formed from the same metal.
3 . The structural member of claim 1 wherein the metal sheets are formed from different metals.
4 . The structural member of claim 1 wherein said member is a vehicle frame component selected from the group consisting of pillars, rockers, support beams, drive shafts, side impact beams, bumpers, and cross members.
5 . The structural member of claim 1 wherein said member is a vehicle frame cross member.
6 . A method for forming a hollow structural member for an automobile comprising:
a) providing a hollow tube having a double wall comprising a laminate of two metal sheets;
b) forming said tube into said structural member.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein said structural member is a vehicle frame component selected from the group consisting of pillars, rockers, support beams, drive shafts, side impact beams, bumpers, and cross members.
8 . The method of claim 6 further comprising, prior to step (a), providing a laminate of two metal sheets and forming the laminate into a tube.
9 . The method of claim 6 wherein said forming step includes bending and/or hydroforming.