Abstract: A method for producing an automobile column is disclosed. The automobile column has a region of a first type and a region of a second type which have mutually different strengths. A transition region having a width of less than 50 mm is formed between the two regions. The automobile column has in the region of the first type a bainitic structure and in the region of the second type a martensitic structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a hot-formed and press-hardened metal component for an automobile having at least two regions of different hardness. A hardenable sheet-metal blank is heated to at least an austenizing temperature and a first region of the sheet-metal blank is intermediately cooled at a cooling speed greater than the lower critical cooling speed of the material of the sheet-metal blank. The sheet-metal blank is then hot-formed and press-hardened in a press-hardening tool by quenching the first region from a bainitic structure transformation stage, thereby adjusting a mixed structure of martensite and bainite in the first region.

Abstract: An axle suspension for a motor vehicle includes a longitudinal leaf spring made of fiber composite and having ends coupled to the motor vehicle. The leaf spring has an attachment zone and two arms which extend from the attachment zone to the ends of the leaf spring to define a trailing arm and a leading arm in a travel direction of the motor vehicle, with the trailing arm having a cross sectional dimension which is greater than a cross sectional dimension of the leading arm. A clamping device couples an axle component to the leaf spring substantially in midsection of the leaf spring and is arranged offset in longitudinal direction from the midsection of the leaf spring.

Abstract: A motor vehicle structure includes a metallic base body in the form of a three-dimensional metal sheet and a reinforcement element made of fiber composite having a matrix resin for coupling the reinforcement element with the base body in a coupling zone by a material joint. Arranged between the base body and the reinforcement element is a non-woven having voids through which the matrix resin is able to permeate.

Abstract: A method for producing an automobile column is disclosed. The automobile column has a region of a first type and a region of a second type which have mutually different strengths. A transition region having a width of less than 50 mm is formed between the two regions. The automobile column has in the region of the first type a bainitic structure and in the region of the second type a martensitic structure.

Abstract: An axle suspension for a motor vehicle includes a longitudinal leaf spring made of fiber composite and having ends coupled to the motor vehicle. The leaf spring has an attachment zone and two arms which extend from the attachment zone to the ends of the leaf spring to define a trailing arm and a leading arm in a travel direction of the motor vehicle, with the trailing arm having a cross sectional dimension which is greater than a cross sectional dimension of the leading arm. A clamping device couples an axle component to the leaf spring substantially in midsection of the leaf spring and is arranged offset in longitudinal direction from the midsection of the leaf spring.

Abstract: A side rail and to a method for producing a side rail are disclosed. The side rail has a region of a first type and a region of a second type which have mutually different strengths. A transition region having a width of less than 50 mm is formed between the two regions. The side rail has in the region of the first type a bainitic structure and in the region of the second type a martensitic structure.

Abstract: A stabilizer for installation onto a motor vehicle axle includes a stabilizer back and two legs which are connected to the stabilizer back to form a U-shaped, or C-shaped, or other suitably shaped structure. The stabilizer back is made of a composite material such as fiber composite, e.g. of glass fibers, carbon fibers, basaltic fibers, and metallic fibers.

Abstract: A motor vehicle structure includes a metallic base body in the form of a three-dimensional metal sheet and a reinforcement element made of fiber composite having a matrix resin for coupling the reinforcement element with the base body in a coupling zone by a material joint. Arranged between the base body and the reinforcement element is a non-woven having voids through which the matrix resin is able to permeate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a hot-formed and press-hardened metal component for an automobile having at least two regions of different hardness. A hardenable sheet-metal blank is heated to at least an austenizing temperature and a first region of the sheet-metal blank is intermediately cooled at a cooling speed greater than the lower critical cooling speed of the material of the sheet-metal blank. The sheet-metal blank is then hot-formed and press-hardened in a press-hardening tool by quenching the first region from a bainitic structure transformation stage, thereby adjusting a mixed structure of martensite and bainite in the first region.

Abstract: An automobile column and to a method for producing an automobile column are disclosed. The automobile column has a region of a first type and a region of a second type which have mutually different strengths. A transition region having a width of less than 50 mm is formed between the two regions. The automobile column has in the region of the first type a bainitic structure and in the region of the second type a martensitic structure.

Abstract: In a method of making a body part or chassis part of a motor vehicle, several pre-impregnated fiber materials (prepregs) are stacked on top o one another, with an outermost prepreg intended for attachment to a metallic base body being provided with an adhesive. The stacked prepregs are then shaped into a three-dimensional preform which is then compressed with the base body in a press tool for bonding the preform with the base body and allowing the adhesive to cure, thereby producing a joined structure which is allowed to cure.

Abstract: According to the method, a blank (7) that is severed from strip material (4) of coated, high-strength boron steel is homogeneously heated in a furnace (11) having a plurality of temperature zones (8, 9, 10) first in a 1st zone (8) to a temperature of approximately 830° C. to 950° C. and maintained at this temperature level for a defined time (t). Thereafter, a region (12) of first kind of the blank (7) is cooled down in a 2nd zone (9) of the furnace (11) to a temperature of approximately 550° C. to 700° C. and maintained at this lowered temperature level for a defined time (t1). At the same time, a region (13) of second kind of the blank (7) is maintained in a 3rd zone (10) of the furnace (11) at a temperature level of approximately 830° C. to 950° C. during a time (t2). After this heat treatment, a blank (7) is formed into a shaped component (1) in a thermoforming process.

Abstract: In a method of making a lightweight structure composed of a reinforced base element and a reinforcement element, the reinforcement element is fabricated, and the base element is heated by a heat source to a curing or pre-curing temperature. Subsequently the heated base element is joined together with the reinforcement element in a press tool.

Abstract: The interior of a furnace is partitioned into two longitudinally extending and transversely adjacent zones, and one of the zones is heated to a substantially higher treatment temperature than the other of the zones, which may or may not be heated. A steel workpiece is conveyed longitudinally through the furnace with a region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the one zone and another region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the other of the zones such that the regions are heated to different temperatures. The treatment temperature in one of the zone is above the AC1 point for the workpiece and the temperature in the other of the zones is close to or below the AC1 point for the workpiece.

Abstract: The interior of a furnace is partitioned into two longitudinally extending and transversely adjacent zones, and one of the zones is heated to a substantially higher treatment temperature than the other of the zones, which may or may not be heated. A steel workpiece is conveyed longitudinally through the furnace with a region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the one zone and another region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the other of the zones such that the regions are heated to different temperatures. The treatment temperature in one of the zone is above the AC1 point for the workpiece and the temperature in the other of the zones is close to or below the AC1 point for the workpiece.

Abstract: In a method of making a body part or chassis part of a motor vehicle, several pre-impregnated fiber materials (prepregs) are stacked on top of one another, with an outermost prepreg intended for attachment to a metallic base body being provided with an adhesive. The stacked prepregs are then shaped into a three-dimensional preform which is then compressed with the base body in a press tool for bonding the preform with the base body and allowing the adhesive to harden, thereby producing a joined structure which is allowed to cure.

Abstract: The interior of a furnace is partitioned into two longitudinally extending and transversely adjacent zones, and one of the zones is heated to a substantially higher treatment temperature than the other of the zones, which may or may not be heated. A steel workpiece is conveyed longitudinally through the furnace with a region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the one zone and another region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the other of the zones such that the regions are heated to different temperatures. The treatment temperature in one of the zone is above the AC1, point for the workpiece and the temperature in the other of the zones is close to or below the AC1, point for the workpiece.

Abstract: The interior of a furnace is partitioned into two longitudinally extending and transversely adjacent zones, and one of the zones is heated to a substantially higher treatment temperature than the other of the zones, which may or may not be heated. A steel workpiece is conveyed longitudinally through the furnace with a region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the one zone and another region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the other of the zones such that the regions are heated to different temperatures. The treatment temperature in one of the zone is above the AC1 point for the workpiece and the temperature in the other of the zones is close to or below the AC1 point for the workpiece.

Abstract: Hardened metal articles such as slabs, plates or sheets or preformed metal articles which are to have regions of different ductility are subjected to heating to an austenization temperature and then to quenching of the region of greater ductility to form a start temperature lying above the gamma-alpha transformation temperature of the workpiece structure. The quenching is terminated at a stop temperature lying above the martensitic temperature and prior to any substantial transformation into ferritic or perlitic structures. The higher ductility region is then maintained prior to any substantial transformation into ferritic or perlitic structures. The higher ductility region is then maintained isothermically for condition of austenitite ferrite and/or perlite. The lower ductility structure is brought to a temperature sufficient for martensitic formation and the hardening is then carried out.