Abstract: An improved strengthening or reinforcing member, and in particular an automotive vehicle door reinforcing beam, constructed from ultra high strength steel is disclosed. The door reinforcing beam has a substantially trapezoidal shaped cross-sectional geometry and optionally can include an additional reinforcement extending over a central portion of the beam. In an alternative embodiment, a rounded outboard flange portion can be substituted for a generally flat outboard flange portion. The door reinforcing beam exhibits a substantial improvement in load carrying capability for a given mass, as compared to door reinforcing beams having other cross-sectional geometries, such as hat-shaped cross-sectional geometries.

Abstract: An improved strengthening or reinforcing member is provided, particularly an automotive vehicle door bar or beam. The bar comprises an air cooled, hot rolled section of high strength alloy steel having a minimum tensile strength of about 150,000 lb/in.sup.2 and a total elongation of at least about 7.5%. In a preferred embodiment the steel comprises about 0.16 to 0.21% carbon, about 1.8 to 2.1% manganese; about 1.2 to 1.4% chromium; about 0.7 to 0.9% silicon; and the balance essentially iron. A clip element may be mounted on the bar to retard or prevent spreading of the flange portions of the section during bending. By securing or fixing the clip element to the section, a substantial improvement in load carrying capability is obtained.

Abstract: A novel pre-quench zone is provided between the soak section and the water quench section of a continuous annealing line. The pre-quench section has multiple passes, and each pass has gas jet cooling tubes and heaters disposed along the path of movement of the strip. By selective operation of the gas jet cooling tubes or the heaters or both, the pre-quench zone provides a wide range of cooling capabilities and cooling rates so as to achieve a quench temperature ranging from 455.degree. C. to 955.degree. C. (850.degree.-1750.degree. F.) using either light or heavy gauge strip and without changing the normal line speed.