Cross car support structure

In an automotive vehicle having side pillars located on opposite sides of a vehicle body at a juncture between a passenger compartment and an engine compartment, improvement comprising a cross car structural member extending across the vehicle between the side pillars,

• the structural member including a hollow tubular metal beam extending between the side pillars, the beam being of uniform cross-sectional shape throughout its length,
• the beam having side walls defining a passageway longitudinally of the beam,
• opening through the side walls of the beam at spaced locations for entry and exit of heating, ventilating and air conditioning air to flow longitudinally of the beam and in or out of the openings;
• wherein the beam includes a section with an arched configuration where the beam curves upwardly and then downwardly with an upper apex centered above a location of a steering wheel column on a driver's side of the vehicle.

In an automotive vehicle having side pillars located on opposite sides of a vehicle body at a juncture between a passenger compartment and an engine compartment, improvement comprising a cross car structural member extending across the vehicle between the side pillars,

• the structural member including a hollow tubular metal extended beam extending between the side pillars, the beam being of uniform cross-sectional shape throughout its length,
• the structural member including a pair of end bracket members with one end bracket member coupled to each end of the beam and adapted to couple each end of the beam to vertical pillars on opposite sides of a vehicle body,
• the structural member further including auxiliary structural members for securing the structural member to a frame of a vehicle and for supporting a steering wheel column,
• the entirety of the structural member formed from aluminum or aluminum alloy with the beam, and bracket members and structural members interconnected substantially only by welding;
• wherein the beam includes a section with an arched configuration where the beam curves upwardly and then downwardly with an upper apex centred above a location of a steering wheel column on a driver's side of the vehicle.

In an automotive vehicle having side pillars located on opposite sides of a vehicle body at a juncture between a passenger compartment and an engine compartment, improvement comprising a cross car structural member extending across the vehicle between the side pillars,

• the structural member including a hollow tubular metal extended beam extending between the side pillars, the beam being of uniform cross-sectional shape throughout its length,
• the structural member including a pair of end bracket members with one end bracket member coupled to each end of the beam and adapted to couple each end of the beam to vertical pillars on opposite sides of a vehicle body,
• the structural member further including auxiliary structural members for securing the structural member to the frame of a vehicle and for supporting a steering wheel column,
• the entirety of the structural member formed from aluminum or aluminum alloy with the beam, and bracket members and structural members interconnected substantially only by welding;
• wherein the auxiliary structural bracket members include a secondary cross beam member and at least one intermediate vertical bracket member,
• the secondary cross beam member extending substantially parallel to the beam and being spaced vertically at a height below the beam spaced therefrom,
• each of the end bracket members extending vertically from the beam to lower ends thereof which are bridged and joined by the secondary cross beam member,
• each intermediate bracket member spaced laterally from adjacent end bracket members and any other intermediate bracket members.