# US 10,118,645 B2 · Longitudinal beam made of multi-layer steel

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,118,645 B2
- Document ID: US10118645B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/662,721
- Filed: 2017-07-28
- Published: 2018-02-01
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-29
- Assignees: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
- Applicants: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
- Inventors: Henning Von Watzdorf; Georg Frost; Martin Schroeter
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118645B2

## CPC

- B62D 21/152: {Front or rear frames}
- B21D 53/88: other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards
- B32B 15/01: all layers being exclusively metallic {(making layered metal workpieces by pressure cladding B23K20/22; making coatings with a metallic material characterised by its composition C23C30/00)}
- B32B 15/011: {all layers being formed of iron alloys or steels}
- B62D 25/082: {Engine compartments}
- B62D 29/007: {predominantly of special steel or specially treated steel, e.g. stainless steel or locally surface hardened steel}
- B32B 2605/00: Vehicles
- C22C 38/04: containing manganese
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F)

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a longitudinal beam for a motor vehicle, having a body, of hollow cross section and extending in the longitudinal direction, with a front connection for a cross-member and a rear connection to a motor vehicle body, said longitudinal beam being characterized in that the longitudinal beam is produced from a multi-layer steel having a homogeneous wall thickness as a hot-formed and press-hardened component and has at least one reinforcement patch, wherein the multi-layer steel has a central layer and at least one outer layer made of a ferritic stainless steel alloy.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A longitudinal beam for a motor vehicle, said motor vehicle having a body, said longitudinal beam having a hollow cross section and extending in the longitudinal direction, with a front connection for a cross-member and a rear connection to a motor vehicle body, wherein the longitudinal beam is produced from a multi-layer steel having a homogeneous wall thickness as a hot-formed and press-hardened component, wherein the longitudinal beam includes at least one reinforcement patch, and wherein the multi-layer steel has a central layer and also at least one outer layer made of a ferritic stainless steel alloy.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 1, wherein
the longitudinal beam has a hollow body which has an open cross section, and
the longitudinal beam has a closed cross section.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 2, wherein the closed cross section is formed by a closing plate closing the hollow body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 1, wherein
the central layer is formed from a hardened steel alloy,
the at least one outer layer comprises two outer layers made of a stainless ferritic steel alloy and arranged on opposite sides of the central layer, respectively, and
the two outer layers are coupled to the central layer in an integral and areal manner.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal beam has a tensile strength of greater than 1350 MPa.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcement patch rests on the longitudinal beam over an entire surface area of the at least one reinforcement patch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 1, wherein
the at least one reinforcement patch is formed from a hardened steel alloy and/or from a multi-layer steel, or
the at least one reinforcement patch is formed from a fiber composite material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 1, wherein
the at least one reinforcement patch is hot-formed and press-hardened together with the longitudinal beam, or
the at least one reinforcement patch is coupled to the longitudinal beam after the hot forming and press hardening.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcement patch is arranged in an inner space of the longitudinal beam.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcement patch is arranged in a front region of the connection to the cross-member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcement patch is arranged in a rear region at the connection to the motor vehicle body.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 1, wherein a connection for coupling to an assembly or an engine mount is arranged in a central length portion of the longitudinal beam, wherein the at least one reinforcement patch is arranged in the longitudinal beam in the region of the connection.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal beam has a bending angle of greater than 70 degrees after the press-hardening at least in unreinforced surface regions.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal beam is not tempered and/or does not have any surface regions with a relatively soft material microstructure.

### Claim 15 (depends on 5)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 5, wherein the tensile strength of greater than 1350 MPa comprises a tensile strength of greater than 1500 MPa.

### Claim 16 (depends on 5)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 5, wherein the tensile strength of greater than 1350 MPa comprises a tensile strength of greater than 1750 MPa.

### Claim 17 (depends on 4)

The longitudinal beam according to claim 4, wherein the hardened steel alloy comprises a boron-manganese steel alloy.