Patent ID: 6554352
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
In an automotive vehicle having side pillars located on opposite sides of a vehicle body at a juncture between a passenger compartment and an engine compartment, improvement comprising a cross car structural member extending across the vehicle between the side pillars,the structural member including a hollow tubular metal beam extending between the side pillars, the beam being of uniform cross-sectional shape throughout its length, the beam having side walls defining a passageway longitudinally of the beam, opening through the side walls of the beam at spaced locations for entry and exit of heating, ventilating and air conditioning air to flow longitudinally of the beam and in or out of the openings; the beam comprises aluminum or an aluminum alloy; and wherein the beam is formed by extrusion and after extrusion is bent such that at least a portion of a longitudinal through the beam assumes a non-linear configuration.