Abstract: A die apparatus including a first die element and a second die element is provided. The first die element is arranged with the second die element for disposal of a blank therebetween and includes a coolant channel and a trim groove for alignment with a trim line of the blank. A groove insert is disposed within the trim groove arranged to support a portion of the blank extending thereover and to reduce a cooling rate of the blank. The groove insert may be of a material including reflective radiation characteristics to reduce heat transfer from portions of the blank adjacent the trim line. The first die element may include a cavity aligned with a pierce region of the blank so that the pierce region does not contact an adjacent die element surface.

Abstract: A die apparatus including a first die element and a second die element is provided. The first die element is arranged with the second die element for disposal of a blank therebetween and includes a coolant channel and a trim groove for alignment with a trim line of the blank. A groove insert is disposed within the trim groove arranged to support a portion of the blank extending thereover and to reduce a cooling rate of the blank. The groove insert may be of a material including reflective radiation characteristics to reduce heat transfer from portions of the blank adjacent the trim line. The first die element may include a cavity aligned with a pierce region of the blank so that the pierce region does not contact an adjacent die element surface.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a hot-stamping device includes first and second die portions including an alloy of metal M, the alloy of metal M having higher heat conductivity than ferrous alloy, and a cooling circuit in communication with at least one of the first and second die portions. The metal M may be copper. The alloy of metal M may include greater than 50 percent by weight of metal M. The first and second die portions may each independently include a greater than 50 percent by weight of the alloy of metal M.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a die for forming sheet metal. The die includes a die body, an outer surface, and a sheet metal facing surface. At least one passage extends through the die body to form an escape route, purging an amount of air trapped in-between the die and a sheet metal during a sheet metal operation. The passage includes an entry port, an exit port, and a bore that connects the entry port to the exit port. Each port has a transition area between its respective surface and the bore. The transition area is configured to be other than a right angle.

Abstract: A method to manufacture a steel die having a Physical Vapor Deposition wear resistant coating on a profile surface and a steel die formed thereby is disclosed. The steel die is subjected to quenching and tempering to achieve a Rockwell hardness in the range of about 40-45 Rc and then subjected to machining to form a profile surface. The surface is then subjected to Physical Vapor Deposition of a wear resistant coating that may be multiple layers of CrN, AlCrN, TiCrN, TiN, TiCN or TiAlN, and preferably is alternating layers of TiN—TiCN—TiN. The coating is applied at a sufficient thickness to impart wear resistance to the steel die. The steel dies are useful in sheet metal stamping operations.

Abstract: A multi-edge folded louvered fin for a heat exchanger includes a blank extending longitudinally having a longitudinal axis and folded in a serpentine configuration having top and bottom base portions and a fin body extending between adjacent ones of said top and bottom base portions. The multi-edge folded louvered fin also includes a plurality of louvers for each fin body extending outwardly at a first predetermined angle relative to a direction of air flow entering the heat exchanger. Each of the louvers has a leading edge and a trailing edge being offset longitudinally relative to each other. The multi-edge folded louvered fin includes the fin body being disposed at a second predetermined angle relative to the direction of air flow entering the heat exchanger. The multi-edge folded louvered fin further includes the first predetermined angle opposing the second predetermined angle.

Abstract: A method of making a heat exchanger core (56) having a stack of fins (60) having collared holes through which tubes (30) are laced. An overlying fin is supported on an underlying fin by collars (90) around the holes in one of the fins. Leading lengthwise end portions (66) of the tubes are corrugated and each tube is laced, via its leading lengthwise end portion, through a respective set of aligned holes in the fins. Then the tubes are mechanically staked to at least some of the fins in the stack by expanding the cross sections of the corrugated leading lengthwise end portions of the tubes against the collared holes in those fins through which the corrugated leading end portions pass (FIGS. 14-18).

Abstract: A method of finishing a length, particularly a leading end (66), of an aluminum heat exchanger core tube (30) that has a flattened, oblong cross section to facilitate lacing through an aluminum fin stack. A widthwise intermediate portion of the tube that, in the cross section, is intermediate opposite widthwise end portions is corrugated by squeezing the widthwise intermediate portion in the direction of the cross section thickness (FIGS. 5 and 6). While the corrugated widthwise intermediate portion is being held squeezed, the widthwise end portions of the tube cross section are reformed to size the tube end to a desired overall width and a desired overall thickness free of substantial springback when the corrugated widthwise intermediate portion ceases to be held squeezed (FIGS. 7, 8, 9).