Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100166903 | Elevated temperature forming die apparatus - An elevated temperature forming die apparatus comprising a lower die part having a first upper surface positioned to engage a lower surface of a first region of such a workpiece, an upper die part supported for reciprocal motion relative to the lower die part, the upper die part having a lower surface that engages an upper surface of a second region of a sheet material workpiece, heaters in thermal communication with the die parts, and a third die part having an upper surface that engages a lower surface of the second region of a sheet material workpiece whose first portion is positioned between the upper and lower die parts, the third die part being supported for reciprocal motion relative to the upper die part such that closure of the upper die part along the first stroke portion against the third die part will clamp the first portion of the workpiece between the upper and third die parts, and the third die part being supported for reciprocal motion relative to the lower die part such that, once the first portion of a workpiece has been clamped between the upper and third die parts a draw region of the workpiece extending adjacent an interface between the first and second portions of the workpiece can be drawn by displacing the lower die part relative to the clamped-together upper and third die parts along a second portion of the die set stroke. | 07-01-2010 |
20140260479 | PRESSURE SEQUENCE PROCESS FOR HYDRO-FORMING AN EXTRUDED STRUCTURAL TUBE - A pressure sequence hydro-forming method is used to form an extruded structural tube. The extruded structural tube is placed in a hydro-forming die that is partially closed to compress the tube. The tube is filled with a hydro-forming liquid at a first pressure. The hydro-forming die is then closed and the pressure of the hydroforming fluid is increased as the hydro-forming die is fully closed. The pressure is increased to a second level of pressure to shape the tube into the desired part shape. | 09-18-2014 |
20140338414 | Method of Calibrating an Extruded Straight Tube - A method and tool for calibrating an extruded tube for use in a manufacturing operation. According to the method, the tube is stretched while in a clamping tool by approximately 3%. The tool encloses the tube while a stretching mechanism is clamped to opposite longitudinal ends of the tube and applies a stretching force to opposite ends of the tube. The tool includes a clamping mechanism that clamps the tube into a cavity and a stretching mechanism with clamps that are attached to opposite longitudinal ends of the tube to calibrate the tube by longitudinally stretching the tube. | 11-20-2014 |
20150101718 | Artificial Aging Process For High Strength Aluminum - A method of age hardening a 7xxx series aluminum alloy is provided that includes heat treating the alloy at a first temperature for a first exposure time and heat treating the alloy at a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature for a second exposure time. The age hardening process may be used to form an alloy having a yield strength of at least 490 MPa and the total age hardening time may be 8 hours or less. In one example, the first heat treatment is performed at 100° C. to 150° C. for 0.2 to 3 hours and the second heat treatment is be performed at 150° C. to 185° C. for 0.5 to 5 hours. | 04-16-2015 |
20150125713 | HEAT TREATMENT TO IMPROVE JOINABILITY OF ALUMINUM SHEET - In at least one embodiment, an assembly is provided comprising a first member including a 6xxx series aluminum alloy heat treated to have a yield strength of at least 200 MPa and an r/t (bendability) ratio of up to 0.4. One or more members may be secured to the first member with a rivet (e.g., a self-piercing rivet). The heat treated alloy may have a yield strength of at least 260 MPa and may have a bendability ratio of up to 0.3. A method of forming an assembly is also provided, including heat treating a 6xxx series aluminum alloy to produce an alloy having a yield strength of at least 200 MPa and an r/t (bendability) ratio of up to 0.4 and riveting a member including the heat treated alloy to one or more additional members. | 05-07-2015 |
20150240339 | TAILORED ROLLING OF HIGH STRENGTH ALUMINUM - A method of processing high strength aluminum sheet is provided. The method may comprise uncoiling a coil of O or F-temper 6xxx or 7xxxx series aluminum alloy sheet, tailored rolling the sheet to form a tailored rolled sheet having at least two different thicknesses, blanking the tailored rolled sheet to form a tailored rolled blank (TRB), hot stamping the tailored rolled blank to form a component, and age hardening the component. The tailored rolling operation may reduce the thickness of the aluminum sheet by up to 60% in selected regions. The method may include a hot stamping process for age hardening aluminum alloys that solution heat treats and quenches the TRB. The method may be used to form lightweight, high-strength aluminum vehicle components having a controlled thickness profile to reduce component part weight. | 08-27-2015 |
20150328671 | ROTARY-DRAW BENDING MANDREL WITH GALLING-RESISTIVE INSERTS - A galling-resistive insert is positioned on an outer surface of a mandrel assembly. The insert is secured at the outer surface of the mandrel assembly and functions to reduce galling of an inner surface of a tubular blank during a rotary-draw bending operation. | 11-19-2015 |
20150352626 | METHOD OF HYDROFORMING AN EXTRUDED ALUMINUM TUBE WITH A FLAT NOSE CORNER RADIUS - A method of hydroforming a vehicle rail from an extruded aluminum tube includes the steps of positioning the extruded aluminum tube into a hydroforming die and partially closing the hydroforming die. Next is the step of applying a liquid under a first level of pressure to the extruded aluminum tube in the hydroforming die. This is followed by engaging an inner radius of a bend in the extruded aluminum tube with the hydroforming die before completely closing the hydroforming die and increasing the level of liquid pressure in the workpiece to a second level to form and hydro-pierce a part from the extruded aluminum tube. | 12-10-2015 |