Cross car beam for a vehicle
The present disclosure relates to a cross car beam for a vehicle, the cross car beam including a first main body extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end. The first main body has a u-shaped cross section following the longitudinal direction. The cross car beam is formed integrally by at least one fiber reinforced polymer.
1 . A cross car beam for a vehicle, the cross car beam comprising:
a first main body extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, the first main body comprising at least one deformable crash pad adapted to absorb impact energy; and
at least one collapsible guiding element disposed adjacent to the at least one deformable crash pad,
wherein the at least one collapsible guiding element comprises a guiding surface adapted to guide the at least one deformable crash pad during deformation, and
wherein the cross car beam is formed integrally by at least one fiber reinforced polymer.
2 . The cross car beam of claim 1 , wherein the cross car beam is made from an injection molded fiber reinforced polymer.
3 . The cross car beam of claim 1 , wherein the at least one deformable crash pad comprises a foam core.
4 . The cross car beam of claim 1 , wherein the at least one deformable crash pad is covered by a cover element facing a passenger compartment such that an impact from the passenger compartment on the cover element is transferred to the at least one deformable crash pad.
5 . The cross car beam of claim 1 , wherein the at least one collapsible guiding element is covered by a cover element facing a passenger compartment such that the impact energy from the passenger compartment on the cover element is transferred to the at least one collapsible guiding element.
6 . The cross car beam of claim 1 , wherein the at least one collapsible guiding element comprises a predetermined breaking location.
7 . The cross car beam of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined breaking location is disposed between the collapsible guiding element and an impact unit.
8 . The cross car beam of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined breaking location comprises a reduced cross section.
9 . The cross car beam of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined breaking location extends into a peripheral direction of the at least one collapsible guiding element.
10 . The cross car beam of claim 1 , wherein the at least one collapsible guiding element comprises an impact unit adapted to collapse relative to the at least one collapsible guiding element if an impact energy from a passenger compartment is transferred to the impact unit via a cover element.
11 . The cross car beam of claim 10 , wherein the impact unit is adapted to collapse into an internal space of the collapsible guiding element.
12 . The cross car beam of claim 1 , wherein the at least one collapsible guiding element comprises a first collapsible guiding element placed adjacent to the at least one deformable crash pad and a second collapsible guiding element placed adjacent to the at least one deformable crash pad, wherein the first collapsible guiding element is placed at a different side of the at least one deformable crash pad relative to the second collapsible guiding element.