Reinforcing structure for reinforcing a side wall structure for a motor vehicle in the region of a door cutout

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a reinforcing structure for reinforcing a side wall structure for a motor vehicle in the region of a door cutout, wherein the reinforcing structure is designed ring-shaped in order to surround a door cutout of a side wall structure. It is provided that the reinforcing structure is produced material-uniformly. The present disclosure furthermore relates to a semi-finished product for producing such a reinforcing structure and to a method for producing the reinforcing structure. The present disclosure also relates to a side wall structure and to a side wall for a motor vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing a reinforcing structure comprising:
 providing a plurality of blanks;   connecting the plurality of blanks to one another subject to forming a ring structure, so that a semi-finished product is formed; and   creating a reinforcing structure through hot-forming of the semi-finished product without its prior cold-forming or through cold-forming of the semi-finished product and subsequent hot-forming of the cold-formed semi-finished product, so that the portions of the reinforcing structure are produced out of the plurality of blanks of the semi-finished product.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blanks are tailored rolled blanks. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blanks are tailored rolled blanks having a non-uniform thickness profile. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blanks are connected to one another through welding for producing a tailored welded blank. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing structure at least partially consists of a press-hardened steel or a press-hardened steel alloy. 
     
     
         6 . A method for producing a reinforcing structure for a side wall structure of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
 thermally joining a plurality of plates to create a ring-shaped reinforcing structure, wherein the ring-shaped reinforcing structure is configured to surround a door cutout of the side wall structure of the motor vehicle; and   shaping the ring-shaped reinforcing structure, using at least one thermal forming procedure, to increase strength and stability of the ring-shaped reinforcing structure.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the creating step further comprises:
 press-hardening the plurality of plates, prior to thermally joining;   wherein each of the plurality of plates comprises a steel material.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of plates comprises a steel alloy material. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of plates comprise tailored rolled blanks. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a first one of the plurality of plates comprises a material thickness that differs from at least a second one of the plurality of plates. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one thermal forming procedure comprises at least a hot-forming procedure. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one thermal forming procedure comprises at least a cold-forming procedure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one thermal forming procedure comprises at least a deep-drawing procedure. 
     
     
         14 . A method for producing a ring-shaped reinforcing structure for a side wall structure of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
 press-hardening a plurality of sheet metal blanks;   welding the plurality of sheet metal blanks together to create a ring-shaped reinforcing structure; and   shaping the ring-shaped reinforcing structure using thermal forming processes.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 utilizing a non-uniform thickness profile for at least one of the plurality of sheet metal blanks;   wherein the non-uniform thickness profile provides targeted reinforcement for a particular portion of the side wall structure.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of sheet metal blanks comprises at least one tailored rolled blank; and wherein the at least one tailored rolled blank comprises a non-uniform thickness profile. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ring-shaped reinforcing structure comprises a uniform material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a first one of the plurality of sheet metal blanks comprises a material differing from a second one of the plurality of sheet metal blanks. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 utilizing a non-uniform thickness profile for at least one of the plurality of sheet metal blanks;   wherein the non-uniform thickness profile changes in a longitudinal direction of the one of the plurality of sheet metal blanks.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 utilizing a non-uniform thickness profile for at least one of the plurality of sheet metal blanks;   wherein the non-uniform thickness profile changes in a transverse direction of the one of the plurality of sheet metal blanks.