Patent ID: 6918224
Filing Date: 2005-07-19
Classification: B60J,C21D,Y02P

Abstract:
1. In a method for forming a vehicle impact beam of the type having a predetermined open section configuration, the improvement comprising: cold forming unhardened steel at substantially ambient temperature into an elongated vehicle impact beam having opposite ends, and an elongated open section therebetween having an offset lateral cross-sectional configuration with a center portion and a pair of elongated flanges extending along opposite sides of the center portion which collectively define the predetermined open section configuration; positioning an elongated induction coil lengthwise along at least one of the center portion and the flanges of the formed vehicle impact beam for induction heating the same with lengthwise moving surface eddy currents; and induction heating the one of the center portion and the flanges of the formed vehicle impact beam through activation of the elongated induction coil creating primarily lengthwise surface eddy currents on at least selected portions of the one of the center portion and the flanges to selectively strengthen the formed vehicle impact beam.