# US 8,465,088 B2 · A-pillar for a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,088 B2 - Document ID: US8465088B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/261,321 - Filed: 2010-12-11 - Published: 2012-12-20 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2009-12-13 - Assignees: Gestamp Hardtech AB - Applicants: Hans Bodin; Jan Krispinsson; Paul Akerstrom; Daniel Berglund; Lars Wikstrom; Martin Holmberg - Inventors: Hans Bodin; Jan Krispinsson; Paul Akerstrom; Daniel Berglund; Lars Wikstrom; Martin Holmberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465088B2 ## CPC - B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars} - B62D 25/02: Side panels {(B62D33/046 takes precedence; sideboards for open load compartments B62D33/023)} - B62D 29/007: {predominantly of special steel or specially treated steel, e.g. stainless steel or locally surface hardened steel} - 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 An A-pillar for a vehicle includes a first part (15) extending as far as the windscreen and supporting the door hinges and a second arcuate part (16) extending up along the windscreen and continuing towards the back in order to serve as a roof beam (19) above the door. This second part consists of two open sections (23, 24) with flanges (25, 26; 27, 28) welded together so as to give the pillar a closed profile. At least one of the sections (23) is press-hardened and has a breaking strength in excess of 1400 MPa and the flanges (25, 26; 27, 28) of the sections have a breaking strength below 1100 MPa in a portion (35) situated above the door. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A-pillar for a vehicle including a first part (15) extending as far as a windscreen and supporting door hinges and a second arcuate part (16) extending up along the windscreen and continuing towards the back of the vehicle in order to serve as a roof beam (19) above the door, the second part formed from two sections (23, 24) each having a longitudinal flange at each end of each said section (25, 26; 27, 28) said longitudinal flanges on one said section being welded to said longitudinal flanges on said other section so as to form a closed profile, characterised in that at least one of the sections (23) is press-hardened and has a breaking strength in excess of 1400 MPa, and both of the flanges in at least one pair of flanges (25, 26; 27, 28) welded together have a breaking strength uniformly below 1100 MPa in a region (35) situated above the door. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A-pillar according to claim 1, characterised in that the breaking strength of the flanges (25-28) in the said region (35) is between 500 and 1000 MPa. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A-pillar according to claim 1, characterised in that said vehicle includes a B-pillar and a cross member above the windscreen, and that said region (35) extends between a connection of the B-pillar (13) to the A-pillar (16) and a connection of the cross member (17) above the windscreen to the A-pillar. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A-pillar according to claim 1, characterised in that said at least one section (23) is hat-shaped and is press-hardened and the other (24) section is cold-formed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A-pillar according to claim 1, characterised in that both of said sections are hat-shaped sections (23, 24) and press-hardened. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A-pillar according to claim 1, characterised in that both flanges in both pairs of flanges (25, 26; 27, 28) welded together have a breaking strength uniformly below 1100 MPa at least in the region (35) situated above the door. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A-pillar according to claim 1, characterised in that said other pair of flanges welded together have a breaking strength in excess of 1400 MPa in the region (35) situated above the door. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A-pillar according to claim 7, characterised in that the other pair of flanges welded together have a breaking strength in excess of 1400 MPa in the region (35) situated above the door and in a portion in front of a C-pillar of the vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A-pillar according to claim 1, characterised in that said vehicle includes a cross member above the windscreen, and the region (35) situated above the door extends from a region for the attachment of a cross member above the windscreen to a region for the attachment of a B-pillar. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) A-pillar according to claim 2, characterised in that both flanges in both pairs of flanges (25, 26; 27, 28) welded together have a breaking strength uniformly below 1100 MPa at least in the region (35) situated above the door. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) A-pillar according to claim 3, characterised in that both flanges in both pairs of flanges (25, 26; 27, 28) welded together have a breaking strength uniformly below 1100 MPa at least in the region (35) situated above the door. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) A-pillar according to claim 4, characterised in that both flanges in both pairs of flanges (25, 26; 27, 28) welded together have a breaking strength uniformly below 1100 MPa at least in the region (35) situated above the door. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) A-pillar according to claim 2, characterised in that the other pair of flanges welded together have a breaking strength in excess of 1400 MPa in the region (35) situated above the door. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) A-pillar according to claim 3, characterised in that the other pair of flanges welded together have a breaking strength in excess of 1400 MPa in the region (35) situated above the door. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) A-pillar according to claim 4, characterised in that the other pair of flanges welded together have a breaking strength in excess of 1400 MPa in the region (35) situated above the door. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) A-pillar according to claim 2, characterised in that the other pair of flanges welded together have a breaking strength in excess of 1400 MPa in the region (35) situated above the door and in a portion in front of a C-pillar of the vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 3) A-pillar according to claim 3, characterised in that the other pair of flanges welded together have a breaking strength in excess of 1400 MPa in the region (35) situated above the door and in a portion in front of a C-pillar of the vehicle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 4) A-pillar according to claim 4, characterised in that the other pair of flanges welded together have a breaking strength in excess of 1400 MPa in the region (35) situated above the door and in a portion in front of a C-pillar of the vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) A-pillar according to claim 2, characterised in that said vehicle includes a cross member above the windscreen, and the region (35) situated above the door extends from a region for the attachment of the cross member above the windscreen to a region for the attachment of a B-pillar. ### Claim 20 (depends on 3) A-pillar according to claim 3, characterised in that said vehicle includes a cross member above the windscreen, and the region (35) situated above the door extends from region for the attachment of the cross member above the windscreen to a region for the attachment of a B-pillar.