US 12,319,347 B2
Metal structural component comprising a higher-ductility patch and method of manufacture thereof
Quentin Benjamin Giraud Du Poyet, Argenteuil (FR); Unai Lopategi Sanz, Bilbao (ES); Amine Mermitte, Guyancourt (FR); and Yoann Aurélien Rullaud, Guyancourt (FR)
Assigned to AUTOTECH ENGINEERING S.L., Amorebieta-Extano (ES)
Appl. No. 18/002,841
Filed by AUTOTECH ENGINEERING S.L., Amorebieta-Etxano (ES)
PCT Filed Jul. 14, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/069610
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 21, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/013294, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 20, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 20382650 (EP), filed on Jul. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0174163 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. B62D 25/04 (2006.01); B23K 9/007 (2006.01); B62D 29/00 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 25/04 (2013.01) [B23K 9/007 (2013.01); B62D 29/007 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Method of manufacturing a metal structural component (E) for a vehicle, the component (E) being a profile with at least one portion having a U-shaped cross-section, the portion having a bottom (1) and two lateral walls (2, 3), the portion having a longitudinal direction (L), a first transverse direction (T) and a second transverse direction (H), so that in the U-shaped cross-section of the portion are defined:
a bottom (1) of the portion, the bottom (1) having a direction coinciding with the first transverse direction (T);
a first lateral wall (2) and a second lateral wall (3) of the portion, the two lateral walls (2, 3) having directions coinciding with the second transverse direction (H);
an intermediate zone (Z) of the portion having a U-shaped cross-section, having a first determined length (l) according to the longitudinal direction (L), wherein the intermediate zone (Z) comprises a metal having greater ductility than a main material of the component (E) that surrounds the intermediate zone (Z),
the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a planar blank (B) which spans the longitudinal (L) and the first transverse (T) directions;
b) cutting out the blank (B) to create an opening (A) having a first portion (Q) and wherein the first portion (Q) of the opening (A) has a second length (lt) in the first transverse direction (T);
c) welding a patch (P) to the blank (B) so as to cover the opening (A), the patch (P) being made of the metal having greater ductility than the material of the blank (B);
d) stamping the assembly formed by the blank (B) and the patch (P) to obtain the component (E) having the at least one portion having a U-shaped cross-section so that at least part of the bottom (1) of the portion corresponds to the patch on said first determined length (l) and the first portion (Q) of the opening (A) of the blank (B) having the second length (lt) in the first transverse direction (T) extends from the first lateral wall (2) to the second lateral wall (3) of the at least one portion.