Vehicle pillar reinforcement using additive manufacturing
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorMike James Freeman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to reinforcing a vehicle pillar. The vehicle pillar includes a corner member and a reinforcement member. The reinforcement member is additively manufactured and may utilize functionally graded materials. The reinforcement member may be directly deposited on the corner member or may be manufactured separately and coupled thereafter to the corner member. The reinforcement member includes a first component, and a second component. Additionally, the reinforcement member may include a third component that extend angularly from the first and second component to form a Y-shaped structure. The reinforcement member can include multiple attachment joints that facilitate consolidating and coupling the reinforcement member with various vehicle components.
Claims17
A vehicle pillar, comprising:
- a corner member;
- and
- a reinforcement element coupled to the corner member, the reinforcement element including:
- a first component;
- and
- a second component, the first and second components formed integrally as a single unit,
- wherein each of the first component and the second component includes at least one integral joint element configured to secure at least one of a hinge element and a strut to the reinforcement element,
- wherein the first component and the second component are integrally formed via an additive manufacturing process, and
- wherein the first and second components comprise a functionally graded material that is deposited on the corner member via the additive manufacturing process.
A vehicle pillar, comprising:
- a corner member;
- and
- a reinforcement element coupled to the corner member, the reinforcement element including:
- a first component;
- and
- a second component, the first and second components formed integrally as a single unit,
- wherein the first component and the second component are integrally formed via an additive manufacturing process, and
- wherein the first and second components comprise a functionally graded material that is deposited on the corner ember via the additive manufacturing process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.