A superefficient box beam bicycle structure (SBBBS) having a box section, a right triangular section and a left triangular section. The right and left triangular sections are either integral with the box structure, or the triangular sections are attached to the box structure by riveting, bonding or welding. The box structure is preferably made of a sheet material and the parts that comprise the box structure are attached together by riveting, bonding or welding. The SBBBS interfaces with conventional bicycle components to function as a lightweight, strong bicycle frame. Additionally, the SBBBS can be manufactured as a one-piece design, or can utilize a hybrid construction design with an internal structure and reinforcing members at areas of high stress.

An axle carrier for a motor vehicle is disclosed having at least two attachment points, a metallic upper shell and a lower shell of fiber composite material coupled to the metallic upper shell. A first load path extending through the metallic upper shell between the at least two attachment points in an edge region, and a second load path shorter that the first load path extending through the lower shell.

A lightweight vehicle pan assembly and for attachment to a vehicle frame via welding includes at least one metal flange and a molded pan body. The at least one metal flange has a weld portion adapted for welded attachment to the vehicle frame and an interface portion extending from the weld portion. The molded pan body has a base wall and at least one side wall extending upward from the base wall. The interface portion of the at least one metal flange is embedded in the at least one side wall of the molded pan body. The interface portion includes at least two rows of apertures defined therein for increasing a bond strength between the at least one metal flange and the molded pan body.

A driving force transmission apparatus includes: a pinion gear shaft having a pinion teeth portion, a first shaft portion extending from one side of the pinion teeth portion, and a second shaft portion extending from the other side of the pinion teeth portion; a ring gear meshing with the pinion teeth portion; a clutch housing capable of rotating relative to the pinion gear shaft on a rotation axis in coincidence with a rotation axis of the pinion gear shaft; a clutch mechanism located between the clutch housing and the first shaft portion of the pinion gear shaft; and a differential carrier accommodating the ring gear. The first shaft portion and the second shaft portion of the pinion gear shaft are supported by a first bearing and a second bearing, respectively. The clutch housing is supported by the pinion gear shaft through a third bearing fitted on the first shaft portion.

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle with at least one chassis component (1). The chassis component is characterized in that the chassis component (1) has a yield strength Rp0.2 of at least 600 MPa, a tensile strength Rm of at least 850 MPa and is utilized in a delivery condition air-hardened and in that the chassis component (1) consists of an air-hardening, mainly bainitic material. Furthermore a chassis component and a material for a chassis component are described.

A traverse strut for use in a twist beam axle assembly is provided. The traverse strut extends along a length and presents a central section; a pair of end sections; and a pair of intermediate sections between the central section and the respective end sections. At least a portion of the central section has a first wall thickness, at least a portion of each end section has a second wall thickness that is greater than the first wall thickness and at least a portion of each intermediate section has a third wall thickness that is greater than the second wall thickness. Additionally, at least two of the central, intermediate and end sections is work hardened. The transverse strut has improved performance and lower weight as compared to other known transverse struts.

A column housing for a vehicle steering system is made of synthetic resin and coupled outside a column tube of a steering column for the vehicle system, the column housing including: a slit which is formed to be elongated in a predetermined direction so that the column housing is deformed inward when the column housing is pressed on and fixed to the column tube positioned inside the column housing; and a first reinforcing portion which is formed so as to protrude outward at a predetermined portion from an end position of an end portion of the slit to the periphery of the slit where the slit is not formed, and has a shape having an increased thickness relative to other portions of the column housing.

A vehicle pillar structure comprising a pillar portion extending in parallel with an outer end portion of a windshield and the pillar portion having a hollow structure, the pillar portion comprising an outer side wall at a vehicle exterior side of the pillar portion; an inner side wall at a vehicle cabin side of the pillar portion; and a pair of side walls linking the outer side wall and the inner side wall. At least a portion of the outer side wall is an outer side transparent portion, at least a portion of the inner side wall is an inner side transparent portion and, as viewed from a driver position, overlaps with the outer side transparent portion, and a tensile strength of the outer side wall is lower than that of the inner side wall.

A workpiece includes a plurality of knots and webs, which are formed in one piece, of a sheet metal, in particular a steel plate. Each web extends between two openings from one knot to another knot, and at least three webs meet at each knot. A plurality of the webs has a cross section, which includes at least one hardened and one unhardened area.

A tonneau cover access panel assembly connectable to a vehicle that eliminates the need for side rails to both locate and tension a tonneau cover. The assembly also reduces weight and complexity. The assembly incorporates a readily accessible rear latching system that reduces or eliminates interference with the tonneau cover during operation. The assembly also incorporates a tonneau cover tensioning system. The tension seals out environmental elements and holds the tonneau cover and locating bows in place. The assembly holds the tonneau in the closed tension state keeping the tonneau cover secured and tight until the cover is opened by an operator. The assembly is movable between a closed position and a fully open/stowable position and any intermediate positions. The assembly is also movable between at least a first open position and the deployed position for more limiting access to the cargo bed of the vehicle when desired.