James R Lowe

US Patent:

7963019, Jun 21, 2011

Filed:

Aug 22, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/508061

Inventors:

John Reed - Hudson OH, US
James Lowe - Temperance MI, US
Lawrence Queener - Pinckney MI, US
Hikmat Mahmood - Bloomfield Hills MI, US
Henry Hausler - Manchester MI, US
Joe Weishaar - Plymouth MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B23P 11/00

US Classification:

2952514, 298972, 293102

Abstract:

A roll-forming process for the manufacture of a structural member can be used in the manufacture of an automotive vehicle. The roll-forming process creates a component that has multiple cells with an integral internal web separating the cells, enhancing the strength, rigidity and stiffness of the component for any given size and shape. The roll-forming process starts with a piece of sheet metal and rolls the sheet metal into a desired shape and then rolls the tube back over on itself to create a second cell with the internal reinforcing web positioned between two structural cells of the beam. The rolled form is then welded into the formed shape to create the structural beam. The two cells of the beam can be the same general size or be formed as completely disparate sizes, depending on the design requirements of the structural member.