Bumper reinforcing cross-member
The invention relates to a bumper cross-member including an elongated body having a three-dimensional configuration formed from several metal sheet elements joined together by welding and shaped. The three-dimensional configuration has a non-uniform open transversal section along the body. The method includes joining several metal sheet elements together by welding in order to produce a flat tailored blank and shaping the tailored blank to produce the body. Shaping is carried out by hot or cold stamping. The several metal sheet elements can be joined either mutually adjacent or overlaid by different welding techniques, they can be of different of identical thicknesses and of the same type or different types of steel.
1. A bumper reinforcing cross-member, comprising an elongated body having a three-dimensional configuration formed from several metal sheet elements joined together by means of welding and then shaped, said three-dimensional configuration having a non-uniform open cross-section along said body, wherein said three-dimensional configuration comprises a main groove extending along the entire body substantially spanning the width thereof, the depth of said main groove decreasing towards both ends of the body, and wherein said three-dimensional configuration further comprises at least one secondary groove extending alone a portion of the bottom of said main groove spanning a portion of its width, said secondary groove decreasing in depth towards both ends thereof.
2. A cross-member according to claim 1 , wherein the several metal sheet elements are butt jointed.
3. A cross-member according to claim 1 , wherein the several metal sheet elements are joined by overlaying.
4. A cross-member according to claim 1 , wherein the several metal sheet elements are of the same type of steel.
5. A cross-member according to claim 1 , wherein the several metal sheet elements are of different types of steel.
6. A cross-member according to claim 5 , wherein the several metal sheet elements are of identical thickness.
7. A cross-member according to claim 5 , wherein the several metal sheet elements are of different thicknesses.
8. A cross-member according to claim 2 , further comprising a larger sheet element spanning a central area and one end, and a smaller sheet element located adjacent to said larger sheet element spanning the other end.
9. A cross-member according to claim 2 , further comprising a central sheet element and two end sheet elements located side by side of said central sheet element.
10. A cross-member according to claim 2 , further comprising a central sheet element, two end sheet elements and two intermediate sheet elements, each one arranged between said central sheet element and one of said end sheet elements.
11. A cross-member according to claim 3 , further comprising a base sheet element and a reinforcing sheet element overlaid on a central area of said base sheet element.
12. A cross-member according to claim 3 , further comprising a base sheet element and a reinforcing sheet element overlaid on an end area of said base sheet element.
13. A cross-member according to claim 1 , wherein said three-dimensional configuration comprises a general arched shape longitudinally along the body.
14. A cross-member according to claim 13 , wherein said three-dimensional configuration comprises flanges extending outwards from side edges of said main groove and along the body.
15. A cross-member according to claim 14 , further comprising at least one metal cover joined by welding to the body covering at least part of the length of the main groove.
16. A cross-member according to claim 1 , wherein said three-dimensional configuration is obtained by stamping said metal sheet elements once joined together.
17. A cross-member according to claim 16 , wherein said three-dimensional configuration is obtained by hot stamping.
18. A cross-member according to claim 16 , wherein said three-dimensional configuration is obtained by cold stamping.
19. A cross-member according to claim 16 , wherein said three-dimensional configuration is obtained by first pre-shaping the blank by cold stamping and subsequently complete shaping the blank by hot stamping.