Patents Assigned to Hot Metal Gas Forming Intellectual Property, Inc.
  • Method of forming a tubular blank into a structural component and die therefor
    Patent number: 7024897
    Abstract: A method of forming an elongated metal blank into a structural component having a predetermined outer configuration. The method includes providing a shape imparting cavity or shell section formed from a rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, placing the metal blank into the cavity or shell section, and forming the metal blank into the component by heating axial portions of the metal blank and forcing a fluid at a high pressure into the metal blank until the metal blank at least partially conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the cavity or shell section to form the structural component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Hot Metal Gas Forming Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: George D. Pfaffmann, William C. Dykstra, Marc R. Matsen
  • Method of forming a tubular blank into a structural component and die therefor
    Patent number: 7003996
    Abstract: A method of forming an elongated tubular blank into a tubular structural component having a predetermined outer configuration, the method comprising: providing a shape imparting shell formed from a low permeability, rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, plugging the open ends of the tubular blank, placing the plugged blank into the shell, and forming the tubular blank into the tubular component by inductively heating axial portions of the blank by axially spaced conductors adjacent the shell while or before forcing gas at a high pressure into the plugged blank until the blank conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the shell to form the structural component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Hot Metal Gas Forming Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Dykstra, George D. Pfaffmann, Xin Wu
  • Method of forming a tubular blank into a structural component and die therefor
    Publication number: 20040094244
    Abstract: A method of forming an elongated tubular blank into a tubular structural component having a predetermined outer configuration, the method comprising: providing a shape imparting shell formed from a low permeability, rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, plugging the open ends of the tubular blank, placing the plugged blank into the shell, and forming the tubular blank into the tubular component by inductively heating axial portions of the blank by axially spaced conductors adjacent the shell while or before forcing gas at a high pressure into the plugged blank until the blank conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the shell to form the structural component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Hot Metal Gas Forming Intellectual Property, Inc., a Michigan corporation
    Inventors: William C. Dykstra, George D. Pfaffmann, Xin Wu
  • Method of forming a tubular blank into a structural component and die therefor
    Patent number: 6613164
    Abstract: A method of forming an elongated tubular blank into a tubular structural component having a predetermined outer configuration, the method comprising: providing a shape imparting shell formed from a low permeability, rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, plugging the open ends of the tubular blank, placing the plugged blank into the shell, and forming the tubular blank into the tubular component by inductively heating axial portions of the blank by axially spaced conductors adjacent the shell while or before forcing gas at a high pressure into the plugged blank until the blank conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the shell to form the structural component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Hot Metal Gas Forming Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Dykstra, George D. Pfaffmann, Xin Nmn Wu