Abstract: A device, such as an inner race of a torque converter's overrunning clutch, is formed by powder metallurgy. The race includes oil grooves and chamfers formed in each face by forging. The oil grooves on the first face open onto the chamfer. The chamfer on the second face is interrupted at the oil grooves such that each oil groove opens onto the diametral surface. A forge assembly for forming the race includes a die assembly including a discontinuous lower chamfer tool, an upper punch including groove tools and a continuous chamfer tool, and a lower punch including groove tools and radially extending teeth disposed at the oil grooves and capable of extending into the gaps of the lower chamfer tool. A method for forming the race includes employing the die assembly to forge the oil grooves and chamfers into the preform and remove flash by conventional grinding processes.
Abstract: A presently-preferred process for manufacturing a connecting rod comprises placing a heated preform suitable for being formed into the connecting rod into a closed forge die, and forging the preform in a first forging operation while the preform is at a forging temperature to form an as-forged connecting rod having vertical flash extending therefrom. The presently-preferred process further comprises placing the as-forged connecting rod in a second forge die while the as-forged connecting rod is at a temperature substantially equal to the forging temperature, and forging the vertical flash in a second forging operation. The presently-preferred process also comprises removing the as-forged connecting rod from the second forge die, and machining the as-forged connecting rod to predetermined dimensions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 29, 2001
Date of Patent:
June 1, 2004
Assignee:
GKN Sinter Metals
Inventors:
Timothy E. Geiman, Ronald Lee Trosin, Henry James Knott