Transverse-member module for a motor vehicle
AssigneeLANXESS Deutschland GmbH
InventorsThomas MALEK, Frank Lutter, Boris Koch, Ulrich Dajek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a transverse-member module for receiving the instrument panel and reinforcing the bodywork via direct connection of the two A-pillars of a motor vehicle, composed of a transverse member with a steering-column retainer, where the transverse-member module, i.e. not only the transverse member but also the steering-column retainer, are produced using a metalplastic-composite design (hybrid technology).
Claims11
1-10. (canceled)
A transverse-member module for receiving an instrument panel of a motor vehicle comprising
- at least a partially plastic-surrounded metal tube,
- a molded sheet-metal profile functioning as a steering column retainer, designed and placed in such a way that the molded sheet-metal profile, in composite with molded-on plastic, provides a stiff connection between a steering column and a front wall and provides a connection to the metal tube by way of a plastic structure.
A method for influencing an intrinsic vibration of an instrument-panel support to provide a first-mode natural frequency >36 Hz by attaching a transverse-member module under an instrument panel of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of
- providing an at least partially plastic-surrounded metal tube;
- providing a molded sheet-metal profile functioning as steering-column retainer including a composite with molded-on plastic, providing a stiff connection between steering column and front wall and providing a firm connection to the metal tube by way of a structure consisting entirely of plastic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.