US 2012/0267908 A1 · VEHICLE BUMPER BEAM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME

Abstract

A bumper beam of the present invention is provided with a tubular bumper reinforcement member (1) and a tubular crush box (2). A reinforcement member hole (15) is provided in an outer peripheral wall (11) of the bumper reinforcement member (1) in a penetrated manner. A partition wall (22) is provided so as to bridge opposed inner wall surfaces of an outer peripheral wall (21) of the crush box (2). The tip end portion of the crush box (2) is arranged so as to penetrate the reinforcement hole (15). In this state, ridge portions (25a, 25b) are formed, by means of a tube expansion process using a tube expansion die, on the crush box (2) so as to extend in a circumferential direction thereof at a front side and a rear side of the reinforcement hole (15). With this, the crush box (2) is secured to the bumper reinforcement member (1). According to the present invention, the bumper beam can be reduced in size and weight.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A vehicle bumper beam equipped with a hollow tubular bumper reinforcement member to be arranged along a vehicle width direction and a hollow tubular crush box to be arranged along a fore and aft direction and having a tip end portion configured to support the bumper reinforcement member, characterized in that

a reinforcement member hole is formed in the bumper reinforcement member so as to penetrate at least a part of an outer peripheral wall of the bumper reinforcement member in the fore and aft direction,
a partition wall is formed in the crush box so as to bridge opposed inner wall surfaces of an outer peripheral wall of the crush box, and
the crush box is secured to the bumper reinforcement member by forming reinforcement member side ridge portions on the crush box at a front side and a rear side of the reinforcement member hole so as to extend in a circumferential direction by a tube expanding process using a tube expanding die with the tip end portion of the crush box penetrating the reinforcement member hole.

A method of manufacturing a vehicle bumper beam equipped with a bumper reinforcement member to be arranged along a vehicle width direction and a crush box having a tip end portion configured to support the bumper reinforcement member, the method includes:

a step of preparing a bumper reinforcement member as the bumper reinforcement member including a reinforcement member hole penetrating at least a part of an outer peripheral wall in a fore and aft direction;
a step of preparing a crush box as the crush box including a partition wall bridging opposed inner surfaces of an outer peripheral wall;
and
a step of securing the crush box to the bumper reinforcement member by forming reinforcement member side ridge portions of the crush box at a front side and a rear side of the reinforcement member hole so as to extend in a circumferential direction by a tube expanding process using a tube expanding die with the tip end portion of the crush box penetrating the reinforcement member hole.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicle bumper beam and method for manufacturing same

Life of this patent

Vehicle bumper beam and method for manufacturing same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12