# US 2019/0168818 A1 · Vehicle cross members and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168818 A1 - Document ID: US20190168818A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/322,784 - Filed: 2017-08-03 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-03 - Assignees: Sabic Global Technologies B.V. - Applicants: SABIC Global Technologies B.V. - Inventors: Harold van Aken; Sandeep Kulkarni; Warden Schijve; Bert Rietman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168818A1 ## CPC - B62D 25/145: {having a crossbeam incorporated therein} - B62D 29/005: {preformed metal and synthetic material elements being joined together, e.g. by adhesives} - B62D 29/04: predominantly of synthetic material (working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29) - 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) ## Abstract This disclosure includes vehicle cross members and related methods. Some cross members include an elongated beam having a sidewall extending between first and second ends to define a first channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the beam and across at least longitudinally adjacent first and second sections of the beam, the first channel being open on a first side of the beam, and a second channel extending along the longitudinal axis and across at least the second section, the second channel being disposed below the first channel and open on a second side of the beam that is opposite the first side. Some cross members include a composite body having a plastic material and one or more laminates, where the body defines the beam such that at least one of the laminate(s) borders a majority of an inner cross-sectional perimeter of each of the first and second channels. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle cross member comprising: an elongated beam having: a first end; a second end; and a sidewall extending between the first and second ends to define: a first channel extending a first length along a longitudinal axis of the beam and across at least longitudinally adjacent first and second sections of the beam, the first channel being open on a first side of the beam and having: a bottom portion; and first and second opposing side portions extending from the bottom portion and toward the first side; and a second channel extending a second length along the longitudinal axis and across at least the second section, the second channel being open on a second side of the beam that is opposite the first side and having: a bottom portion; and first and second opposing side portions extending from the bottom portion of the second channel and toward the second side; wherein the second channel is disposed below the first channel such that: at least a portion of one of the first and second side portions of the first channel is defined by a segment of the sidewall; at least a portion of one of the first and second side portions of the second channel is defined by the segment of the sidewall; and a line that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis extends through the opposing side portions of each of the first and second channels; wherein the second length is less than or equal to half of the first length. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle cross member of claim 1, comprising one or mounts, each configured to couple a component to the beam, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of: a steering column, an airbag housing or carrier, and an instrument cluster. ### Claim 3 A vehicle cross member comprising: an elongated beam having: a first end; a second end; and a sidewall extending between the first and second ends to define: a first channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the beam and across at least longitudinally adjacent first and second sections of the beam, the first channel being open on a first side of the beam and having: a bottom portion; and first and second opposing side portions extending from the bottom portion and toward the first side; and a second channel extending along the longitudinal axis and across at least the second section, the second channel being open on a second side of the beam that is opposite the first side and having: a bottom portion; and first and second opposing side portions extending from the bottom portion of the second channel and toward the second side; wherein the second channel is disposed below the first channel such that: at least a portion of one of the first and second side portions of the first channel is defined by a segment of the sidewall; at least a portion of one of the first and second side portions of the second channel is defined by the segment of the sidewall; and a line that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis extends through the opposing side portions of each of the first and second channels; one or more mounts, each configured to couple a component to the beam, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of: a steering column, an airbag housing or carrier, and an instrument cluster. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle cross member of claim 3, wherein: the first channel extends a first length along the longitudinal axis of the beam; the second channel extends a second length along the longitudinal axis; and the second length is less than or equal to half of the first length. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The vehicle cross member of claim 3, comprising a first support extending from the second side of the beam, the first support configured to secure the beam to a vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The vehicle cross member of claim 3, comprising a second support extending downwardly from the beam, the second support configured to secure the beam to a vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle cross member of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first support and the second support extends from the second section of the beam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The vehicle cross member of claim 3, comprising: a composite body including: a plastic material; and one or more laminates, each having fibers dispersed within a matrix material; wherein the body defines the beam; and wherein at least one of the one or more laminates is disposed along the beam such that the at least one laminate borders at least a portion of an inner cross-sectional perimeter of each of the first and second channels. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle cross member of claim 8, wherein at least one of the one or more laminates is disposed along the beam such that the at least one laminate borders a majority of an inner cross-sectional perimeter of each of the first and second channels. ### Claim 10 A vehicle cross member comprising: a composite body including: a plastic material; and one or more laminates, each having fibers dispersed within a matrix material; wherein the body defines an elongated beam comprising: a first end; a second end; and a sidewall extending between the first and second ends to define: a first channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the beam and across at least longitudinally adjacent first and second sections of the beam, the first channel being open on a first side of the beam; and a second channel extending along the longitudinal axis and across at least the second section, the second channel being disposed below the first channel and open on a second side of the beam that is opposite the first side; wherein at least one of the one or more laminates is disposed along the beam such that the at least one laminate borders a majority of an inner cross-sectional perimeter of each of the first and second channels. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle cross member of claim 10, wherein the laminate(s) disposed along the beam span a total distance along the beam measured along the longitudinal axis of the beam that is less than or equal to half of a length of the beam measured along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The vehicle cross member of claim 10, wherein the laminate(s) disposed along the beam span a total distance along the beam measured along the longitudinal axis of the beam that is greater than half of a length of the beam measured along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The vehicle cross member of claim 10, wherein the body defines a first support extending from the second side of the beam, the first support configured to secure the beam to a vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The vehicle cross member of claim 10, wherein the body defines a second support extending downwardly from the beam, the second support configured to secure the beam to a vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The vehicle cross member of claim 10, wherein the plastic material comprises a thermoplastic material, a thermoset material, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The vehicle cross member of claim 10, wherein, for at least one of the one or more laminates, the fibers comprise carbon fibers, glass fibers, basalt fibers, textile fibers, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The vehicle cross member of claim 10, wherein, for at least one of the one or more laminates, the matrix material comprises a thermoplastic material, a thermoset material, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The vehicle cross member of claim 10, wherein, for at least one of the one or more laminates, the matrix material comprises the plastic material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 3) The vehicle cross member of claim 3, comprising one or more ribs extending into the first and second channels. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) A method for forming a vehicle cross member, the method comprising: forming, in a mold, the composite body of claim 10.