# US 2001/0024047 A1 · Cross member in a hybrid construction and method of making same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2001/0024047 A1 - Document ID: US20010024047A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 09/812,678 - Filed: 2001-03-21 - Published: 2001-09-27 - Earliest claimed: 2000-03-24 - Assignees: Behr GmbH & Co. - Inventors: Sabine Neuss; Thomas Reddig; Walter Wolf - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20010024047A1 ## CPC - B60H 1/00564: {of air ducts} - B60H 1/0055: {the housing or parts thereof being integrated in other devices, e.g. dashboard} - B60H 1/242: {located in the front area} - B62D 25/142: {having ventilation channels incorporated therein} - B62D 25/145: {having a crossbeam incorporated therein} - B60K 2360/658: Dashboard parts used as air ducts - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - 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) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract A cross member in a hybrid motor vehicle construction is arranged between A-columns of a motor vehicle. The cross member has a basic body which is widened in a center area at least on one side and is designed as part of a housing of a heating and/or air conditioning system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Cross member disposable in use between A-columns of a motor vehicle, which has a shell-shaped basic body reinforced by injection-molded-on ribs made of a plastic material and in which at least one air conducting duct is provided, wherein the basic body is widened in a center area at least on one side and is designed as part of a housing of a heating and/or air-conditioning system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Cross member according to claim 1, wherein the air conducting ducts are molded into the cross member and lead into the widened area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Cross member according to claim 1, wherein injected plastic material forms an air conducting duct at said cross member, said air conditioning duct being produced of plastic on all sides. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Cross member according to claim 1, wherein plastic material forms only a part of walls of air conducting ducts, and wherein supplementary wall sections are formed by the basic body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Cross member according to claim 1, wherein the basic body is reinforced in the widened area by at least one inserted component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Cross member according to claim 1, wherein connections for air outlet nozzles are molded in the widened area to the basic body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Cross member according to claim 1, wherein the basic body is provided with recesses, in whose area tube-shaped connection pieces to at least one air conducting duct are molded on by means of the plastic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Cross member according to claim 1, wherein receiving devices and/or fastening elements for components to be arranged in an area of an instrument panel are molded to the exterior side of the basic body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Cross member according to claim 8, wherein additional reinforcing elements for the cross member are provided in an area of the receiving device and/or the fastening elements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Cross member according to claim 1, wherein the basic body has an essentially C-shaped or U-shaped cross-section, whose legs point diagonally downward and forward. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Cross member according to claim 10, wherein the legs are bent to the outside and are widened in an area of fastening points. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) Cross member according to claim 10, wherein the legs in the area of fastening points are provided with reinforcing ribs on the exterior side. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) Cross member according to claim 2, wherein injected plastic material forms an air conducting duct at said cross member, said air conditioning duct being produced of plastic on all sides. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Cross member according to claim 13, wherein plastic material forms only a part of walls of air conducting ducts, and wherein supplementary wall sections are formed by the basic body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Cross member according to claim 14, wherein the basic body is reinforced in the widened area by at least one inserted component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) Cross member according to claim 15, wherein connections for air outlet nozzles are molded in the widened area to the basic body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) Cross member according to claim 16, wherein the basic body is provided with recesses, in whose area tube-shaped connection pieces to at least one air conducting duct are molded on by means of the plastic material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) Cross member according to claim 17, wherein receiving devices and/or fastening elements for components to be arranged in an area of an instrument panel are molded to the exterior side of the basic body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) Cross member according to claim 18, wherein additional reinforcing elements for the cross member are provided in an area of the receiving device and/or the fastening elements. ### Claim 20 A cross member for a motor vehicle comprising: a hollow shell shaped basic body defining at least one vehicle air conditioning duct, said basic body including a widened section in a region intermediate ends of the basic body, which widened section forms part of a vehicle heating and/or air conditioning system when an in use position with said basic body connected between motor vehicle body columns. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A cross member according to claim 20, wherein said basic body is formed of plural shell parts connected together. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A cross member according to claim 20, comprising plastic material reinforcing ribs injection molded on the basic body. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) A cross member according to claim 20, wherein said basic body is made of injection molded plastic material. ### Claim 24 A passenger vehicle assembly comprising: vehicle body A-columns at respective opposite lateral sides of a vehicle passenger space, and a cross member with respective opposite ends connected to the respective A-columns, said cross member including: a hollow shell shaped basic body defining at least one vehicle air conditioning duct, said basic body including a widened section in a region intermediate ends of the basic body, which widened section forms part of a vehicle heating and/or air conditioning system when an in use position with said basic body connected to the A-columns. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A passenger vehicle assembly according to claim 24, wherein said basic body is made of injection molded plastic material, wherein said basic body is formed of plural shell parts connected together, and wherein plastic material reinforcing ribs are injection molded on the basic body. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) A passenger vehicle assembly according to claim 24, comprising a vehicle steering assembly supported at said cross member. ### Claim 27 A method of making a vehicle cross member, comprising: providing a shell-shaped basic body adapted to be connected to vehicle A-columns and including a hollow section for at least one air conditioning duct, and forming reinforcing ribs an the basic body by injection molding plastic thereon, wherein the basic body is widened in a center area at least on one side and is designed as part of a housing of a heating and/or air-conditioning system.