Patents by Inventor Kenneth James SCHMIDT

Kenneth James SCHMIDT has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and system for flanging a metal piece
    Patent number: 10391537
    Abstract: A method and system for flanging a metal part is provided to improve the final dimensions of the part to a desired shape. Residual stresses from flanging operations can distort a final shape of the metal part. This disclosure provides an initial flanging step in which metal gainers are formed into the metal during a first flanging step. The metal gainers provide an increased amount of metal at select regions. Then, during a next flanging step, the metal gainers are smoothened or removed during that flanging step while the metal is additionally bent. The metal gainers help combat the residual stresses and allow the flange to better take the desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: John W. Davis, Kenneth James Schmidt, Christian Richard Genereux
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FLANGING A METAL PIECE
    Publication number: 20180281041
    Abstract: A method and system for flanging a metal part is provided to improve the final dimensions of the part to a desired shape. Residual stresses from flanging operations can distort a final shape of the metal part. This disclosure provides an initial flanging step in which metal gainers are formed into the metal during a first flanging step. The metal gainers provide an increased amount of metal at select regions. Then, during a next flanging step, the metal gainers are smoothened or removed during that flanging step while the metal is additionally bent. The metal gainers help combat the residual stresses and allow the flange to better take the desired shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: John W. DAVIS, Kenneth James SCHMIDT, Christian Richard GENEREUX