Patent ID: 6851742

Claim:
A beam cast of aluminum-magnesium (Al—Mg) alloy for mounting components adjacent to a cowl/plenum structure at the forward end of a passenger compartment in an automotive vehicle, the beam comprising: a laterally extending main beam portion of Al—Mg alloy having a first end for fastening directly to a driver side front pillar of the vehicle and a second end for fastening directly to a passenger side front pillar of the vehicle; a plurality of spaced strap portions cast of Al—Mg alloy unitarily with the main beam portion, the strap portions extending forward from the main beam portion for attachment to the cowl/plenum structure of the automotive vehicle, and a pair of substantially vertical strut portions cast of Al—Mg alloy unitarily with the main beam portion, the substantially vertical strut portions having a space therebetween for accommodating HVAC components and having lower ends adapted to attach to vertical steel struts to anchor the lower ends of the strut portions to a floor brace.