IP Library Granted Patent US 9,193,405
Granted Patent B2
US 9,193,405 · App. 13/622,531 · Granted Nov 24, 2015

Reinforcing structure for reinforcing a side wall structure for a motor vehicle in the region of a door cutout

Inventors: Bernd Pohl (Muenster-Sarmsheim, DE); Stefan Stanik (Bruchkoebel, DE)
Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
B62D65/06B21D31/00B23K31/02B62D25/02B62D25/025B62D25/04Y10T29/49616
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,193,405
App. No.
13/622,531
Granted
Nov 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a reinforcing structure for reinforcing a side wall structure for a motor vehicle in the region of a door cutout, wherein the reinforcing structure is designed ring-shaped in order to surround a door cutout of a side wall structure. It is provided that the reinforcing structure is produced material-uniformly. The present disclosure furthermore relates to a semi-finished product for producing such a reinforcing structure and to a method for producing the reinforcing structure. The present disclosure also relates to a side wall structure and to a side wall for a motor vehicle.

Claims (17)

1. A reinforcing structure for reinforcing a side wall structure for a motor vehicle in the region of a door cutout, the reinforcing structure comprising:

a ring-shaped structure configured to surround the door cutout of the side wall structure, the ring-shaped structure formed by at least four separate portions that are coupled to each other to define the ring-shape, with at least one of the at least four separate portions having a material thickness that is different than a material thickness of one of the at least four separate portions;

wherein the reinforcing structure comprises a single component formed by butt-welding the at least four separate portions, with each of the at least four separate portions comprised uniformly of a same, single material; and

wherein the material comprises a press-hardened steel or a press-hardened steel alloy.

2. The reinforcing structure according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing structure is at least one of a hot-formed component and a cold-formed component.

3. The reinforcing structure according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least four separate portions has a non-uniform thickness profile.

4. A semi-finished product for producing a reinforcing structure that is produced from at least two tailored rolled blanks, the reinforcing structure comprising:

a ring structure couplable to a sidewall structure of a motor vehicle, the ring structure configured to surround a door cutout formed in the side wall structure;

wherein the ring structure comprises a single reinforcing component formed by edge to edge welding the at least four separate blanks at a respective transition location, with one of the transition locations defined along a sill of the motor vehicle, two of the transition locations defined along a hinge pillar of the motor vehicle and one of the transition locations defined along a B-pillar of the motor vehicle; and

wherein the at least four separate blanks comprise a common, single material suitable for press-hardening.

5. A motor vehicle comprising:

a side wall having a door cutout; and

a reinforcing structure comprising a ring-shaped structure configured to surround the door cutout of the side wall structure, the reinforcing structure comprising at least four separate portions, wherein at least one of the at least four separate portions comprises a material thickness distinct from at least one other one of the at least four separate portions, wherein the at least four separate portions comprise uniformly a common, single material, and wherein the material comprises a press-hardened steel or a press-hardened steel alloy; and

wherein the ring-shaped structure comprises a single reinforcing component formed by butt-welding the at least four separate portions at respective transition locations, with one of the transition locations defined along a sill of the motor vehicle, two of the transition locations defined along a hinge pillar of the motor vehicle and one of the transition locations defined along a B-pillar of the motor vehicle.

6. The motor vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the reinforcing structure is on an outer side of the side wall.

7. The motor vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the reinforcing structure is on an inner side of the side wall.

8. The motor vehicle of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the at least four separate portions has a non-uniform thickness profile.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034287/0415 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 26, 2013
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 030694/0591 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2012
From: POHL, BERND; STANIK, STEFAN
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 029437/0311 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2011 113 675 · Sep 20, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130076075A1 · Mar 28, 2013