Abstract: Apparatus for heat-treating an elongate structural body part made from a blank compressed while being soft or from steel strip of hardenable 22 Mn B5 mod. steel sheet with a thickness of 1 mm to 3 mm, includes an apparatus for positioning the structural body part in substantially upright disposition. Placed in surrounding relationship to the structural body part is an induction element which can move from bottom to top, thereby being able to follow a contour of the structural body part and allowing to at least partially heat the structural body part to an austenitizing temperature suitable for hardening. Disposed adjacent to the induction element is a cooling unit which follows the induction element in movement direction. The induction element and the cooling unit are moveable relative to one another and connected to a tool carriage which is mounted to a column for movement in a vertical direction, in a transverse direction to the column and about a horizontal axis.

Abstract: Apparatus for heat-treating an elongate structural body part made from a blank compressed while being soft or from steel strip of hardenable 22 Mn B5 mod. steel sheet with a thickness of 1 mm to 3 mm, includes an apparatus for positioning the structural body part in substantially upright disposition. Placed in surrounding relationship to the structural body part is an induction element which can move from bottom to top, thereby being able to follow a contour of the structural body part and allowing to at least partially heat the structural body part to an austenitizing temperature suitable for hardening. Disposed adjacent to the induction element is a cooling unit which follows the induction element in movement direction. The induction element and the cooling unit are moveable relative to one another and connected to a tool carriage which is mounted to a column for movement in a vertical direction, in a transverse direction to the column and about a horizontal axis.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a bending-resistant, torsionally yielding tubular profiled member as a transverse support of a twist beam rear axle of a passenger car, a tube blank of tempering steel is cold formed to a tubular profiled member with a torsionally yielding central longitudinal section of a U-shaped cross-section and with opposed torsion-proof end sections. At least partial sections of the tubular profiled member are annealed at a temperature level between 850° C. and 960° C. The tubular profiled member is then hardened in water at a temperature above the AC3 point and subsequently tempered at a temperature between 200° C. and 550° C. for a duration of more than five minutes. As an alternative, a tube blank of case hardening steel is used, and at least partial sections of the tubular profiled member formed from this tube blank are case-hardened during a heat treatment with carburization of the surface of the tubular profiled member and subsequent quenching.

Abstract: A tapping valve of plastics material for transport and storage containers for liquids, which is constructed as a flap valve or ball valve, includes a valve housing with an inlet connection connectable to an outlet connection of the liquid container and an outlet connection, wherein the outlet connection of the valve body is welded to the male part of a Kamlok coupling for connecting a discharge hose. The valve housing is of a polyethylene of high density and the male part of the Kamlok coupling is of a glass fiber-reinforced polyethylene of high density.

Abstract: In a method of making a steel crossbeam for use as component of a bumper for motor vehicles, a composite element is formed by attaching sheet metal strips in parallel disposition onto a broadside of a steel sheet strand across an entire length thereof, whereby the sheet metal strips have a width which is narrower than a width of the steel sheet strand. The composite element is then shaped through roll-forming in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the composite element into a crossbeam.

Abstract: An instrument support member with an integrated air conducting unit to be mounted between the A-columns of a motor vehicle is composed of at least two metal shells which are connected to each other by plasma jet welding with an effective focus remote from the nozzle, and a plastic tube surrounded by the shells. The plastic tube is mounted at a radial distance from the shells.

Abstract: An arrangement for simulating force effects of a vehicle wheel has a multi-part housing and a frame-shaped wheel adapter mounted on the housing and arranged in a vertical plane. The wheel adapter defines a wheel center and a ground contact point of the wheel in the vertical plane. A first push rod is articulated on the wheel adapter and extends in a horizontal plane intercepting the vertical plane at the wheel center. It simulates a first longitudinal force. The wheel adapter has a U-shaped cutout near the ground contact point which is penetrated by a vertical bolt extending in the vertical plane through the wheel center and the ground contact point and connected by a first joint to the housing. A second push rod is connected to the housing transversely to the vertical plane. The axis of the second push rod intercepts the ground contact point and simulates a lateral force.

Abstract: In a method of making a steel crossbeam for use as component of a bumper for motor vehicles, a composite element is formed by attaching sheet metal strips in parallel disposition onto a broadside of a steel sheet strand across an entire length thereof, whereby the sheet metal strips have a width which is narrower than a width of the steel sheet strand. The composite element is then shaped through roll-forming in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the composite element into a crossbeam.

Abstract: In a method of making a steel crossbeam for use as component of a bumper for motor vehicles, a composite element is formed by attaching sheet metal strips in parallel disposition onto a broadside of a steel sheet strand across an entire length thereof, whereby the sheet metal strips have a width which is narrower than a width of the steel sheet strand. The composite element is then shaped through roll-forming in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the composite element into a crossbeam.

Abstract: A backrest of a motor vehicle seat has a sheet metal shell having several cutouts and an upholstery member arranged on the sheet metal shell. The upholstery member has securing elements for attaching the upholstery member to the sheet metal shell. Each securing element has a fastening leg secured in one of the cutouts of the sheet metal shell. Each one of the securing elements has a hook portion positioned opposite the fastening leg and engaging the upholstery member. An upholstery cover covers the upholstery member and has connectors each connected to one of the securing elements.

Abstract: An instrument panel support, positioned between A columns of a motor vehicle, has a profiled support member with an integrated air guide system. The profiled support member has at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet connected to the air guide system. The air guide system forms at least a portion of a heat exchanger of an air conditioner of the motor vehicle. Preferably, at least one heat exchanger conduit is integrated into the air guide system.

Abstract: The deformation member (1) is disposed between a longitudinal member (2) and a cross member (3) of a motor vehicle, with the cross member having a horizontal central longitudinal plane which is vertically offset to the horizontal central longitudinal plane of the longitudinal member (2). The deformation member includes an elongate, hollow base body (4) of polygonal cross section and a height which is greater than its width, and an upper and a lower reinforcing shell (14, 19) which are connected through welding to the base body (4) via the longitudinal edges of their legs (13, 18). The end walls of the lower reinforcing shell (19) are closed by cover plates (22, 24). The deformation member (1) can be coupled via a plate (23) with the longitudinal member (2) of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A B-column comprises a component of a car body for a motor vehicle. The B-column constitutes a longitudinal steel profile. The invention provides that the longitudinal profile has a first longitudinal portion comprised of a martensitic material structure and a strength of more than 1400 N/mm2 and has a second longitudinal portion of higher ductility with a predominantly ferritic-perlitic material structure and a strength of below 850 N/mm2. The lower longitudinal portion is wider then the upper longitudinal portion and has an elongation at rupture which is below 25%.

Abstract: A twist-beam axle for motor vehicles, includes two longitudinal control arms, and a transverse strut interconnecting the longitudinal control arms, wherein the transverse strut and/or the longitudinal control arms is/are partially hardened.

Abstract: An axle support for motor vehicles has a U-shaped hollow frame with a transverse tube, a first curved transition portion connected to a first end of the transverse tube, and a second curved transition portion connected to a second end of the transverse tube, a first longitudinal tube connected to the first transition portion, and a second longitudinal tube connected to the second transition portion, wherein the first and second longitudinal tubes extend perpendicularly to the transverse tube in the same direction away from the transverse tube. The first and second longitudinal portions each have a curved section with a depression. The curved sections have an interior filled with an inner foamed member of hardenable foam.

Abstract: A side impact support is described that can be incorporated in a vehicle door, for example, the door of an automobile. The side impact support is made of a metal sheet with a hat-shaped cross-section and two lateral legs connected by a web. The width of the end sections of the side impact support increases towards its end faces. According to the invention, the hat-shaped cross-section of the end sections extends to the end faces and increases in height and width. Preferably, side flanges projecting in the transverse direction are provided on the longitudinal edges of the profile, wherein the side flanges extend beyond the end sections to the end faces.

Abstract: A composite control arm shaft for motor vehicles includes two longitudinal control arms connected through a transverse beam, wherein the transverse beam has a trough-shaped double-wall torsion section essentially having the form of a V or U, approximately circular or oval tubular end sections and transition sections whose cross-section continuously changes from the end sections toward the torsion section. The transverse beam has in the transition sections thereof an internal partial foam filling.

Abstract: In a device for hydraulic forming of a tubular component under high inner pressure compressive conditions in a lower die and an upper die of a forming tool, the upper die can be coupled for relative limited movement by at least one piston-cylinder unit containing a hydraulic fluid with the press plunger of a travel-limited mechanical press and the cylinder interior of the piston-cylinder unit can be coupled for providing fluid communication with the interior of the component. Alternatively, in the device for hydraulic forming of a blank under high pressure compressive conditions in a forming tool comprising a lower die and an upper die, the upper die can be coupled for relative limited movement by at least one piston-cylinder unit containing a hydraulic fluid with the press plunger of a travel-limited mechanical press and the cylinder chamber of the piston-cylinder unit can be coupled for establishing fluid communication with the forming space of the forming tool.

Abstract: A bumper arrangement for a front end or a rear end of an automobile having a bumper cover enclosing the bumper arrangement has a transverse support having a first and a second end. First and second spacer consoles are connected to the first and second ends of the transverse support, respectively. First and second stop plates are connected to the first and second spacer consoles opposite the transverse support. The first and second stop plates secure the bumper arrangement to longitudinal support beams of the car body extending in the longitudinal direction of the automobile. A transverse beam is positioned below the transverse support in a mounted position of the bumper arrangement. Spacer stays connect the transverse beam to the stop plates and are positioned below the spacer consoles. The transverse support and/or the spacer consoles, at least over portions thereof, have two or more deformation areas arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the automobile.

Abstract: A side impact beam for motor vehicles has a profiled section of sheet metal having a length in a longitudinal direction and having a cross-sectional shape over most of the length. The cross-sectional shape has at least one cross-sectional portion comprised of a stay extending in the longitudinal direction, a first leg and a second leg connected to opposite longitudinal sides of the stay, a first flange connected to a free end of the first leg, and a second flange connected to a free end of the second flange. At least one tension element connects the first and second legs.