Lightweight bumper for automobiles

摘要

A bumper beam is formed from a tailor welded blank with thinner gage sheet metal laser welded to thicker gage sheet metal at opposing sides thereof. The tailor welded blank is then formed into a bumper beam having a uniform B-shaped cross-sectional configuration from one terminal end to the other. The heavier gage material in the tailor welded blank corresponds to the terminal ends of the bumper beam where the bumper beam is affixed to the lower frame rails of the vehicle chassis thus placing the greater energy absorption qualities for the bumper beam only at the locations in which they are needed without requiring reinforcement inserts.