Unitary hydroformed roof support pillar

US7357448B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Ford Global Technologies, LLC · US
• VARI-FORM, INC. · CA

Inventors

• Xiaoming Chen · Xi'an, CN
• Omar Faruque · Ann Arbor, US
• Thierry Guimberteau · Livonia, US
• Everett Kuo · Troy, US
• Raj Mehta · Westland, US
• David Anthony Wagner · Northville, US
• Dean Gericke · Brighton, US
• Daniel Szalay · Belleville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 22, 2006
• Grant date: Apr 15, 2008
• Expiry date: Feb 22, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B62D27/02
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A one-piece B-pillar having a front flange and a rear flange formed on an upper portion of the B-pillar. The front and rear flanges extend forwardly and rearwardly from a trapezoidal section of the B-pillar. An inner concave portion is provided in a lower portion of the B-pillar. The one-piece B-pillar is secured to the outer and upper surfaces of a roof rail and to the outer surface of a rocker to provide side impact strength. The B-pillar is hydroformed in one-piece to provide superior strength for roof crush performance. The tubular portion of the B-pillar is partially collapsed to form a trapezoidal section in the upper portion of the B-pillar.