With Modification Or Control Of Temperature Or Work, Tool Or Machine Patents (Class 72/128)
  • Patent number: 11414723
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a pipe bend is disclosed, comprising: heating, with an induction coil, a first annular band of a wall of a first end portion of a moving pipe; directing quenching fluid toward an outer and inner surface of the first annular band; heating a second annular band of a wall of a bend portion of the moving pipe; directing the quenching fluid toward an outer and inner surface of the second annular band; decreasing a speed of the pipe while moving the induction coil from stationary and maintaining a relative speed between the pipe and the induction coil substantially constant; heating a third annular band of a wall of a second end portion of the pipe while moving the induction coil; and directing the quenching fluid toward an outer surface and an inner surface of the third annular band while moving the induction coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Welspun Corp Limited
    Inventors: Balkrishan Goenka, Prasanta Mukherjee, Shashidhar Dwivedi, Hardik Shah, Suresh Dungrani
  • Patent number: 11377803
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an orthotropic deck panel includes cambering a deck plate of the orthotropic deck panel to a first degree of camber in a longitudinal direction, cambering the deck plate to a second degree of camber in a transverse direction, and attaching a rib member of the orthotropic deck panel to the deck plate by welding the rib member to the deck plate. The first degree of camber corresponds to a shape of a surface of which the orthotropic deck panel is a part, and the second degree of camber is configured such that the deck plate is flatter in the transverse direction after the rib member is welded to the deck plate than when the deck plate is being cambered in the transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Vigor Industrial LLC
    Inventors: Terrance J. Aarnio, Keith Chapman, Bill Crittendon, Thomas J. Hickman, Daniel Miller, Christopher Palmer, Perry Royland, Vern Taute, David Ward, Oded Maman
  • Patent number: 11185904
    Abstract: Disclosed are differential temperature push bending method and device for tube with small bending radius, the device comprising: a push bending die, core, fillers and pushers, wherein the core and the fillers are both arranged in a bending chamber of the push bending die, an inlet and an outlet end of the push bending die are respectively provided with a front guiding sleeve and a rear guiding sleeve, the pusher in the front guiding sleeve abuts against a plurality of fillers, and the pusher in the rear guide sleeve abuts against the core. A heat rod is provided at an outer end of the bending chamber. The present disclosure adopts differential temperature type push bending, flow performance of the tube blank at the outer corner of the die can be improved, and the material can be timely fed to prevent excessive stretching and thinning of the outer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Nanchang Hangkong University (NCHU)
    Inventors: Xuefeng Xu, Yubin Fan, Chunlin Fu
  • Patent number: 10711934
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pipe is described, wherein the method comprises a step of fastening a second mechanical quick connection member to a rectilinear hollow tubular body, a step of positioning the rectilinear hollow tubular body in a bending machine so that the angular coding mechanism of the second mechanical quick connection member is in a reference angular position with respect to said bending machine, and a step of bending the rectilinear hollow tubular body as a function of said angular reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: STELIA AEROSPACE
    Inventor: Damien Sireude
  • Patent number: 10625321
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a cooling apparatus for a steel material in which one portion in a longitudinal direction of an elongated steel material (10) is heated while the steel material is fed in the longitudinal direction in a state where one end portion of the steel material is gripped, and the one end portion is moved in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional direction so as to form the steel material into a predetermined shape including a bent portion and thereafter to cool a heated portion including the bent portion. The cooling apparatus includes a first cooling apparatus (22) that ejects a first cooling medium to the heated portion, and a second cooling apparatus (23) that is disposed on a downstream side from the first cooling apparatus when viewed along a feeding direction of the steel material, and that ejects a second cooling medium to the heated portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Serizawa, Akihiro Sakamoto, Masahito Tasaka, Naoaki Shimada, Ryuji Hamada, Hideki Matsuda, Norimasa Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 10590615
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an orthotropic deck panel includes securing a rib member in a first fixture, beveling an edge surface of the rib member while the rib member is secured in the first fixture, and releasing the rib member from the first fixture, attaching the rib member to a deck plate, and attaching a floor beam to the rib member and the deck plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Vigor Industrial LLC
    Inventors: Terrance J. Aarnio, Keith Chapman, Bill Crittendon, Thomas J. Hickman, Daniel Miller, Christopher Palmer, Perry Royland, Vern Taute, David Ward, Oded Maman
  • Patent number: 10537927
    Abstract: A bending apparatus has (a) a first manipulator which feeds a hollow metal blank of closed cross section in its lengthwise direction, (b) a second manipulator which supports a first support means disposed at a first position and a metal blank while feeding it, a heating means disposed at a second position downstream of the first position in the blank feed direction for heating all or part of the circumference of the blank, and a cooling means disposed at a third position downstream of the second position for cooling a portion of the heated blank, and (c) a third manipulator which constitutes a second support means disposed at a fourth position downstream of the third position in the feed direction of the blank and which moves two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting at least one location of the metal blank to bend the metal blank into a desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION, NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN PIPE CO., LTD., KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Atsushi Tomizawa, Naoaki Shimada, Shinjiro Kuwayama, Saburo Inoue, Manabu Okahisa, Yusuke Kinoshita, Takashi Suyama
  • Patent number: 10035295
    Abstract: A plastic tube is bent by advancing the tube to position a desired first bend location of the tube at a bending/cooling station, the bend location of the tube having been previously heated by a tube heating assembly sufficiently for bending. The tube heating assembly is moved to a next desired bend location of the tube. Bending and cooling the tube at the first bend location, and heating the next desired bend location, take place in overlapping time windows, before advancing the tube to position the next desired bend location of the tube at the bending/cooling station. Total cycle time for heating, bending and cooling is thereby substantially reduced compared to carrying out heating, bending and cooling sequentially. The apparatus is controlled by PLC or PC-based programs, which effect movement via servomotors and also control other parameters such as heating and cooling times and temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: CMP Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Henry D. Weinhardt, A. Daniel Weinhardt, Robert M. Shwery
  • Patent number: 9999460
    Abstract: A system for bending a surgical rod including a linear actuator and a rotational actuator is provided. The linear actuator is configured for moving the surgical rod along a linear direction of the system, and the rotational actuator is configured for rotating the surgical rod about the linear direction. A bending mechanism is also provided positioned downstream of the linear and rotational actuators configured for bending the surgical rod. A controller is operably connected to the linear and rotational actuators and the bending mechanism, the controller configured to activate the various components and bend the surgical rod into a desired three-dimensional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Tarek Shazly, Jahid Ferdous, Gregory Grabowski
  • Patent number: 9993861
    Abstract: A roller hemming apparatus is disclosed. A roller hemming apparatus for hemming an outer panel with respect to an inner panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a tool body mounted at a front end of an arm of a robot, a pre-hemming roller mounted to a front side of a mounting block, which is disposed at a lower portion of the tool body, through a first mounting bracket, a main hemming roller mounted to a rear side of the mounting block through a second mounting bracket, and at least one heater mounted at a lateral side of the mounting block and configured to heat a flange portion of the outer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SUNGWOO HITECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Wook Yoon, Mun Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 9821357
    Abstract: A bent product having a three-dimensionally bent portion intermittently or continuously in the lengthwise direction is manufactured by supporting a steel pipe at a first position A while feeding it in the lengthwise direction, locally heating the steel pipe being fed at a second position B, cooling the heated portion of the steel pipe at a third position C, and varying the position of a gripping means, which grips the steel pipe in a region D downstream of the third position C, in a three-dimensional direction including the feed direction of the steel pipe in a workspace including a space on the upstream side of the third position C in the feed direction of the steel pipe to impart a bending moment to the heated portion of the steel pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION, SUMITOMO PIPE & TUBE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tomizawa, Naoaki Shimada, Saburo Inoue, Shinjiro Kuwayama
  • Patent number: 9604272
    Abstract: An induction heating coil for stably heating a steel tube which is being fed in its axial direction without rotating, the heating being uniform in the circumferential direction and in a narrow range in the axial direction has at least two 1-turn coils in the form of a first turn coil body and a second turn coil body. The inner peripheral length Ln (the non-effective coil length) where the effective number of coil turns is less than the total number of coil turns when the coil is projected in the axial direction and the inner peripheral length L0 of the projected coil bodies (the inner coil length) satisfy Ln/L0<0.05. First and second coil bodies have insulating portions on their connecting portions, and the insulating portions are present in locations separated by a central angle of 5-45° measured from the center of the coil bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Okada, Atsushi Tomizawa, Naoaki Shimada
  • Patent number: 9259774
    Abstract: A first layer is established on a second layer and an induction coil is disposed within induction proximity to the second layer. The induction coil is electrically energized thereby heating the second layer to a target temperature. A die having a die cavity is translated from a first location spaced substantially beyond an induction heating distance from the induction coil to a clamping location adjacent the second layer such that the induction coil surrounds a predetermined location on an external surface of the die. The die is heated by induction between the induction coil and the die while the die is translated toward the clamping location until the die reaches a predetermined die temperature. The induction coil is de-energized after the die has reached the predetermined die temperature. The first layer and the second layer are clamped between a binder and the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jon T. Carter
  • Patent number: 9174257
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and stretch-bending straightener for straightening metal strips (1) by stretch-bending, comprising a plurality of straightening rolls (5a, 6a, 7a, 8a) which are arranged behind one another in the strip flow direction (D) and spaced from one another in the strip flow direction (D), wherein the strip (1) subject to tensile stress below the limit of elasticity is alternately bent around the straightening rolls (5a, 6a, 7a, 8a), undergoing plastic elongation, wherein a deflecting roll (5b, 6b, 7b) is arranged upstream of one or more straightening rolls (5a, 6a, 7a), respectively, wherein said straightening rolls can be adjusted relative to the strip (1) and wherein said deflecting roll has a larger diameter than the respective downstream straightening roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: BWG Bergwerk—und Walzwerk—Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Noe
  • Patent number: 9126246
    Abstract: Rolling method for the production of flat products, such as metal strip, which provides a production step of a thin slab with a thickness comprised between 30 and 90 mm, preferably between 35 and 70 mm, a temperature maintenance and/or possible heating step of the slab to be sent for rolling, and a rolling step with multiple passes performed in a reversing rolling mill (14) comprising at least a reversing rolling stand (15), in which at least a winding reel furnace (16a) is also present upstream of the stand (15) and a winding reel furnace (16b) downstream of the stand (15), a winding step also being provided downstream of the rolling in at least a coiler (19a, 19b) to form a relative coil of strip of a defined weight, comprised between 20 and 30 tons, and a cooling step of the strip being provided between the reversing rolling mill (14) and said at least one coiler (19a, 19b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: DANIELI & C. OFFICINE MECCANICHE SPA
    Inventors: Gianpietro Benedetti, Paolo Bobig
  • Publication number: 20150132600
    Abstract: A method for three-dimensionally bending a workpiece comprises feeding the workpiece by a feeding unit provided at an upstream side of the workpiece, supporting the workpiece by a supporting unit at a downstream side of the feeding unit, processing the workpiece by clamping the workpiece with a three-dimensionally movable unit that is provided downstream of the supporting unit, heating a local part of the workpiece in a temperature range which allows quenching to be performed, applying a bending moment to the heated local part of the workpiece by the three-dimensionally movable unit in association with the supporting position and/or the moving speed of the workpiece after the heating step, and rapidly quenching the heated portion. Even when a high-strength workpiece is bent, it is possible to effectively obtain a product having excellent shape fixability and uniform hardness distribution at low costs for wide application for bending sophisticated automobile parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Atsushi TOMIZAWA, Fumihiko Kikuchi, Shinjiro Kuwayama
  • Publication number: 20150099139
    Abstract: A high strength hot rolled steel sheet with an excellent combination of tensile strength of at least 550 MPa and formability, including weight percent at most 0.15% of C, at most 0.5% of Si, between 0.5 and 2.0% of Mn, at most 0.06% of P, at most 0.008% of S, at most 0.1% of Al sol, at most 0.02% of N, between 0.02 and 0.45% of V, between 0.05 and 0.7% of Mo, optionally between 0.01 and 0.1% of Nb, balance of Fe and inevitable impurities, wherein the steel sheet has a precipitation strengthened and substantially single-phase ferritic microstructure, wherein the volume fraction of the ferrite phase in said microstructure is not lower than 97%, and wherein the precipitates in the microstructure comprise fine precipitates of composite carbides containing Mo and V and optionally Nb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Rolf Arjan Rijkenberg, David Neal Hanlon
  • Publication number: 20150013845
    Abstract: A hot strip for producing an electric steel sheet has the following alloy composition in weight %: C: 0.001 to 0.08 Al: 4.8 to 20 Si: 0.05 to 10 B: up to 0.1 Zr: up to 0.1 Cr: 0.1 to 4, remainder iron and melting related impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Zacharias Georgeou, Alexander Redenius
  • Publication number: 20150004430
    Abstract: A three-dimensionally bending machine comprises a supporting unit to support a workpiece and a feeding unit to feed the workpiece from an upstream side of the workpiece. A heating and cooling unit, provided around the outer circumference of a portion of the workpiece downstream of said supporting unit heats the portion of workpiece in a temperature range for plastic deformation and quenches and rapidly cools the deformed workpiece. A three-dimensionally movable unit, provided downstream of said heating and cooling unit, supports the metal material and controls the supporting position and/or the moving speed of the metal material to apply the bending moment in association with a feed amount, a heating amount, and a cooling amount of the workpiece. Even when a high-strength workpiece is bent, a workpiece having excellent shape fixability and uniform hardness distribution can be made, especially for application to sophisticated automobile parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Atsushi TOMIZAWA, Fumihiko KIKUCHI, Shinjiro KUWAYAMA
  • Patent number: 8919171
    Abstract: A method for three-dimensionally bending a workpiece comprises feeding the workpiece by a feeding unit provided at an upstream side of the workpiece, supporting the workpiece by a supporting unit at a downstream side of the feeding unit, processing the workpiece by clamping the workpiece with a three-dimensionally movable unit that is provided downstream of the supporting unit, heating a local part of the workpiece in a temperature range which allows quenching to be performed, applying a bending moment to the heated local part of the workpiece by the three-dimensionally movable unit in association with the supporting position and/or the moving speed of the workpiece after the heating step, and rapidly quenching the heated portion. Even when a high-strength workpiece is bent, it is possible to effectively obtain a product having excellent shape fixability and uniform hardness distribution at low costs for wide application for bending sophisticated automobile parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignees: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, Nippon Steel & Sumikin Pipe Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tomizawa, Fumihiko Kikuchi, Shinjiro Kuwayama
  • Publication number: 20140373587
    Abstract: A portable rotary tubing straightener apparatus comprises a mobile console with spool mounting assembly. A motor is supported on the console and drives a shaft which mounts a drive roller. An adjustable tensioner assembly has a tension roller positionable opposite the drive roller. The drive and tension rollers are engageable at opposed locations of a continuous tubing. A rotary straightener assembly is disposed on the console. A motor carried by the console is activatable to rotate the rotary straightener assembly. A spool with metal tubing is mounted to the spool mounting assembly and passes tubing through the rotary assembly and between the rollers. Upon activating the motors, the tubing unwinds from the spool and exits in a continuous straightened condition from the drive and tension rollers. A rotary handle is employed for adjusting the tension in the tension roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Kevin Harding
  • Patent number: 8863565
    Abstract: A three-dimensionally bending machine comprises a supporting unit to support a workpiece and a feeding unit to feed the workpiece from an upstream side of the workpiece. A heating and cooling unit, provided around the outer circumference of a portion of the workpiece downstream of said supporting unit heats the portion of workpiece in a temperature range for plastic deformation and quenches and rapidly cools the deformed workpiece. A three-dimensionally movable unit, provided downstream of said heating and cooling unit, supports the metal material and controls the supporting position and/or the moving speed of the metal material to apply the bending moment in association with a feed amount, a heating amount, and a cooling amount of the workpiece. Even when a high-strength workpiece is bent, a workpiece having excellent shape fixability and uniform hardness distribution can be made, especially for application to sophisticated automobile parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignees: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, Sumitomo Pipe & Tube Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tomizawa, Fumihiko Kikuchi, Shinjiro Kuwayama
  • Publication number: 20140261916
    Abstract: A high strength-high ductility cold rolled steel sheet is provided. The steel sheet has a recovery annealed microstructure, a yield strength greater than 820 megapascals (MPa) and a percent elongation to failure greater than 3.5%. In some instances, the steel alloy sheet has a Rockwell B hardness greater than 100 and may or may not exhibit a yield strength-to-tensile strength ratio between 0.25 and 1.00.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Chris John Paul Samuel, Marisa Vann, Bertram Wilhelm Ehrhardt, Stanley Wayne Bevans
  • Patent number: 8833130
    Abstract: A tissue fastener production method of clamping two living tissues together by bringing the two living tissues into close contact includes the following steps: fixing one end of a wire material made of a metal to a shaft body, and winding the wire material around an outer periphery of the shaft body while twisting the wire material round an axis of the wire material, thereby forming a coil on which a predetermined force is exerted in the winding direction; heat treating the wire material to impart superelasticity thereto; and deforming the wire material to which the superelasticity is imparted in a range in which the wire material is elastically deformable, and reversing the winding direction of the coil in a direction reverse to the winding direction of the coil wound in the step of forming the coil so as to obtain an initial tension corresponding to the predetermined force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Rei Matsunaga, Masatoshi Sato, Kunihide Kaji, Shinji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8833127
    Abstract: A lightweight hollow member having a high strength such as at least 780 MPa, a complicated shape which can be applied to automotive parts, a high stiffness, and excellent impact properties, and a manufacturing apparatus and method which can form the hollow member by simple steps and which use relatively small and inexpensive forming equipment are provided. The manufacturing apparatus 10 has a feed unit 11 which feeds a hollow steel material being worked 20 having a closed transverse cross-sectional shape in its lengthwise direction, a support unit 12 which supports the material being worked 20 while it is being fed at a first position A, a heating unit 13 which heats the material being worked 20 at a second position B, a transverse cross-sectional shape modifying unit 14 which carries out working to modify the transverse cross-sectional shape of the material being worked 20 at a third position C, and a cooling unit 15 which cools the material being worked 20 at a fourth position D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Tomizawa, Hiroaki Kubota
  • Patent number: 8800338
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the manufacture of a coil spring from a wire. The apparatus comprises first and second tools for contacting the wire prior to, and/or during, deformation of the wire into a coil spring. The apparatus includes means for applying an electrical potential difference between the first and second tools such that an electric current is caused to flow through at least part of the wire during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Springform Technology Limited
    Inventor: Ian James Whitworth
  • Patent number: 8776568
    Abstract: A bent member having a bent portion with an extremely small bend radius is manufactured by supporting a rectangular tube by a first support means disposed at a first position A while performing relative feeding of the rectangular tube in its lengthwise direction, locally heating the rectangular tube by a heating means disposed at a second position B, cooling the rectangular tube by a cooling means disposed at a third position C, and at the time of working, applying a shear force to the heated portion of the rectangular tube with a shear force applying means 14 disposed in a downstream region D by moving the device 14 two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally simultaneously in the feed direction of the rectangular tube and in a direction generally parallel to a transverse cross section in the lengthwise direction of the rectangular tube which was heated by the heating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, Sumitomo Pipe & Tube Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tomizawa, Hiroaki Kubota, Shinjiro Kuwayama, Saburo Inoue
  • Patent number: 8776567
    Abstract: An arm material for an upper arm or a lower arm is provided which constitutes a double wishbone suspension or the like of an automobile and which has a flat, hollow, closed cross-sectional shape and enables further decreases in size, decreases in weight, and increases in strength. An arm material for an automobile suspension has a body made from a parts material made by metal. The parts material made by metal has a flat, hollow, closed cross-sectional shape having a pair of opposing long sides and is formed from a single member in its lengthwise direction. The body has at least a first bent portion which is bent in a plane roughly parallel to the pair of long sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Naoaki Shimada, Michitaka Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8635895
    Abstract: In a method for cooling a hot strip wound to a hot strip bundle, a device for cooling a hot strip bundle, a control and/or regulating device, and a metal strip, the hot strip bundle (1) is twisted (100) and cooled by contact of the lateral surface (5) thereof with at least one element (3, 7). By twisting the hot strip bundle (1) about the axis of symmetry (S) thereof, a method and a device can be provided by which homogenous strip properties may be obtained for a cooling hot strip bundle in a compact manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Felkl
  • Publication number: 20130316187
    Abstract: A method for the roll-forming of profiles or structural parts from semifinished sheet-like products, in particular from metallic materials, in particular from steel sheet or aluminum. For this, the semifinished sheet-like product is adjusted in its temperature, the adjustment of the temperature taking place locally, in particular in forming regions of the semifinished product that are intended to undergo a forming operation. Furthermore, a component is preferably produced by using this method, in particular a structural part for a seat structure of a motor vehicle, in particular a vehicle seat rail that can be adjusted forwards and backwards to adjust the seat, and to a roll-forming device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Hans-Georg Werner
  • Patent number: 8567225
    Abstract: A bent member having excellent dimensional accuracy is manufactured by stably forming a high temperature portion uniformly in the circumferential direction of a steel tube and in a narrow region in the axial direction of the steel. The bent member is manufactured by supporting a steel tube at a first position while feeding it, performing induction heating of the steel tube at a second position with an induction heating coil, cooling the steel tube at a third position to form a high temperature portion which moves in the axial direction of the steel tube, and three-dimensionally varying the position of a gripping mechanism for the steel tube in a region to apply a bending moment to the high temperature portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Okada, Atsushi Tomizawa, Naoaki Shimada
  • Patent number: 8511135
    Abstract: A bending apparatus for manufacturing a bent member from a steel pipe with high dimensional accuracy and high productivity can be installed in a small space with good maintainability. The apparatus has a feed mechanism for feeding a steel pipe in its lengthwise direction, a first support mechanism for supporting the steel pipe while feeding it, a heating mechanism for heating a part or all of the steel pipe being fed, a cooling mechanism for cooling the portion of the heated steel pipe being fed, a second support mechanism for imparting a bending moment to the heated portion of the steel pipe to bend the steel pipe into a desired shape by moving two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting the fed steel pipe in at least one location, and a deformation preventing mechanism for preventing deformation of the steel pipe. The feed mechanism is a vertically articulated robot having seven axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignees: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, Sumitomo Pipe & Tube Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinjiro Kuwayama, Atsushi Tomizawa, Saburo Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130095347
    Abstract: A hot-stamped steel according to the present invention includes, by mass %, C: 0.20% to 0.35%, Si: 0.1% to 0.5%, the total of at least one selected from Mn and Cr: 1% to 3%, Al: 0.005% to 0.06%, Ti: 0.002% to 0.1%, Nb: 0.002% to 0.1%, O: 0.003% to 0.007%, and a balance of iron and inevitable impurities, wherein P is limited to 0.015% or less, S is limited to 0.01% or less, N is limited to 0.004% or less, the dimensional ratio of the lengths of prior austenite grains in a rolling direction to the lengths of the prior austenite grains in the sheet thickness direction is 1.3 to 2.5, the average grain size of the prior austenite grains is 6 ?m or less, the microstructure includes 98% or more of martensite, and the tensile strength is 1470 MPa or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Kaoru Kawasaki, Kohichi Sano, Yoshihito Sekito
  • Publication number: 20130017116
    Abstract: The stainless steel sheet according to the present invention is a ferritic stainless steel which is comprised of, by mass %, C: 0.001 to 0.03%, Si: 0.01 to 1.0%, Mn: 0.01 to 1.5%, P: 0.005 to 0.05%, S: 0.0001 to 0.01%, Cr: 12 to 16%, N: 0.001 to 0.03%, Nb: 0.05 to 0.3%, Ti: 0.03 to 0.15%, Al: 0.005 to 0.5%, Sn: 0.01 to 1.0%, and has the remainder of Fe and unavoidable impurities and satisfies the relationship of 1?Nb/Ti?3.5. The method comprises heating a slab of stainless steel which contains the above steel ingredients, setting the extraction temperature 1080 to 1190° C., and setting the coiling temperature after the end of hot rolling 500 to 700° C. After hot rolling, the method comprises annealing the hot rolled sheet, which can be omitted, cold rolling once or cold rolling twice or more which includes processing annealing, and finish annealing the steel sheet at 850 to 980° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Masaharu Hatano, Akihito Yamagishi, Shigenori Takahata, Eiichiro Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 8316683
    Abstract: A product intermittently having a bent portion which curves three-dimensionally and a quenched portion is manufactured by performing bending downstream of a support means while feeding a metal material which is supported by the support means from an upstream side towards a downstream side. A portion of the metal material is heated by a heating means downstream of the support means. A bending moment is imparted to the portion of the metal material heated by the heating means to three-dimensionally change the position of a movable roller die which is disposed downstream of the heating means and has a plurality of rolls which feed the heated metal material in the axial direction, and the metal material is quenched by spraying a cooling medium at the portion of the metal material which was heated by a cooling means disposed between the heating means and the movable roller die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignees: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Pipe & Tube Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tomizawa, Naoki Shimada, Fumihiko Kikuchi, Shinjiro Kuwayama
  • Publication number: 20120227455
    Abstract: A magnesium hot rolling mill system including a rolling mill having at least two work rolls for rolling of magnesium sheet or plate, a hot coiler positioned on either side of the rolling mill for heating and maintaining a desired temperature of the magnesium sheet or plate, active thermal roller tables, a mill drive system for independently driving the work rolls for asymmetrical rolling of the magnesium sheet and a warm coil loading and payoff station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Roberto Passoni, Christopher A. Romanowski
  • Publication number: 20120198902
    Abstract: A metal sheet is formed by passing it between a pair of closely spaced shaped bodies fixedly mounted on driving shafts by intermediate pieces which limit the angular portion of the circumferences of the shaped bodies with which the sheet comes into contact. The configuration of the surfaces of the shaped bodies define the respective top and bottom surface configurations imparted to the sheet by being passed between the rotating shaped bodies with pressure, and, optionally, heat. The direction of rotation of the shaped bodies is reversed, without the application of pressure to the sheet, to bring the sheet back to a starting position for each repeated pass of the sheet through the shaped bodies thereby to progressively change thickness and/or shape of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: OSTSEESTAAL GMBH
    Inventor: Guenter Eilers
  • Publication number: 20120186317
    Abstract: A finishing rolling device for manufacturing a thin magnesium strip based on a coil fed to the device includes a roll stand for accommodating at least two working rolls (32, 33) that define a roll gap. A first coiler accommodates the coil and feeds the magnesium strip to the roll gap and a second coiler for winding up the magnesium strip after it passes through the roll gap. The first coiler is provided with a heating device and a hood arrangement that shields the coil or the magnesium strip against heat radiation. The hood arrangement of the first coiler features a coil passage opening for introducing the coil into the hood arrangement on its housing side that faces away from the roll stand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Axel Barten, Werner Latzel, Wilhelm Friedrich Sommer, Thomas Rücker, Axel Marx
  • Publication number: 20120175029
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a bent product which can guarantee a high working accuracy and which can provide a large bending angle without damage to the surface condition of a metal material even when a widely varying bent shape is desired or when it is necessary to perform bending of a high strength metal material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicants: SUMITOMO PIPE & TUBE CO., LTD., SUMITOMO METAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi TOMIZAWA, Naoaki Shimada, Saburo Inoue, Shinjiro Kuwayama
  • Publication number: 20120138199
    Abstract: A process for producing a bearing seat or a drive journal having a large diameter on a rolled threaded spindle is disclosed. The blank of the threaded spindle is hot-upset in the longitudinal direction, such that it bulges radially with respect to the longitudinal direction, a first longitudinal region having an enlarged diameter being provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Roland Greubel
  • Publication number: 20120128997
    Abstract: A coil material capable of contributing to an improvement of the productivity of a high-strength magnesium alloy sheet and a method for manufacturing the coil material are provided. Regarding the method for manufacturing a coil material through coiling of a sheet material formed from a metal into the shape of a cylinder, so as to produce the coil material, the sheet material is a cast material of a magnesium alloy discharged from a continuous casting machine and the thickness t (mm) thereof is 7 mm or less. The sheet material 1 is coiled with a coiler while the temperature T (° C.) of the sheet material 1 just before coiling is controlled to be a temperature at which the surface strain ((t/R)×100) represented by the thickness t and the bending radius R (mm) of the sheet material 1 becomes less than or equal to the elongation at room temperature of the sheet material 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electries Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatada Numano, Michimasa Miyanaga, Takeshi Uchihara, Yukihiro Oishi, Nozomu Kawabe
  • Publication number: 20110179842
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for cold roll forming profiles having variable cross-sections, with several roll stands arranged in a row, each containing a pair of rollers, between which a sheet-metal strip (2) is guided along its length (X), wherein the roll stands are moved translationally transversely to the length of the sheet-metal strip and rotationally about an axis of the roll stand during cold roll forming. According to the invention, a re-forming device (8, 10, 12) is arranged behind at least one of the roll stands and has at least one drive for generating a movement of the re-forming device in a plane transversely to the length (X) of the sheet-metal strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: DATA M SHEET METAL SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Freitag, Albert Sedlmaier, Andre Abee, Bernard Poks
  • Publication number: 20110100080
    Abstract: In a method for cooling a hot strip wound to a hot strip bundle, a device for cooling a hot strip bundle, a control and/or regulating device, and a metal strip, the hot strip bundle (1) is twisted (100) and cooled by contact of the lateral surface (5) thereof with at least one element (3, 7). By twisting the hot strip bundle (1) about the axis of symmetry (S) thereof, a method and a device can be provided by which homogenous strip properties may be obtained for a cooling hot strip bundle in a compact manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Felkl
  • Publication number: 20110012003
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for raising a retractable mast include engaging at least three flexible bands such that each band forms a side of a mast. Each band includes a right edge side and a left edge side, each edge having disposed thereon a set of spaced teeth, each tooth having a slot disposed therein and a tab disposed between adjacent teeth, the tab configured to engage the slot of an opposing tooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: GEO SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher D. WOODRUFF, Kevin GROAH, George E. WOODRUFF
  • Publication number: 20100300169
    Abstract: A device for bending a pipe includes a pipe feed device configured to continuously advance the pipe in a longitudinal direction of the pipe feed device; a bending arm pivotable about a rotation axis and having a pipe holding device securable on the bending arm in a first fixing position and in a second fixing position, the first fixing position disposed on the other side of a centre axis of the bending arm from the second fixing position, the pipe holding device configured to detachably secure the pipe, wherein the feed device and the bending arm are movable relative to one another such that the feed device and the rotation axis can be moved past one another; and a heating device disposed in a pipe feed direction and configured to heat an area of the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: AWS SCHAEFER TECHNOLOGIE GMBH
    Inventor: August Wilhelm Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20100218577
    Abstract: A three-dimensionally bending machine comprises a supporting unit to support a workpiece and a feeding unit to feed the workpiece from an upstream side of the workpiece. A heating and cooling unit, provided around the outer circumference of a portion of the workpiece downstream of said supporting unit heats the portion of workpiece in a temperature range for plastic deformation and quenches and rapidly cools the deformed workpiece. A three-dimensionally movable unit, provided downstream of said heating and cooling unit, supports the metal material and controls the supporting position and/or the moving speed of the metal material to apply the bending moment in association with a feed amount, a heating amount, and a cooling amount of the workpiece. Even when a high-strength workpiece is bent, a workpiece having excellent shape fixability and uniform hardness distribution can be made, especially for application to sophisticated automobile parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Atsushi Tomizawa, Fumihiko Kikuchi, Shinjiro Kuwayama
  • Publication number: 20090320544
    Abstract: A coiler furnace having a heat-insulated enclosure delimiting a furnace interior, a strip coiling device includes a coiler drum having a slotted receiving opening for the hot-rolled strip in the furnace interior. A controlled rotational drive for a coiler shaft is located outside the furnace interior. An inlet and outlet opening to the enclosure for a hot-rolled strip. A strip guiding device between a roller table and the coiler drum. In order to avoid any winding errors, a feeding shield extends through the enclosure of the coiler furnace and is coupled to a displacement drive arranged outside the furnace interior. The displacement drive can be displaced between an insertion position and a withdrawal position of the shield. The feeding shield, in the insertion position, interacts with the strip guiding device to form a feed funnel, mounted upstream the slotted receiving opening on the coiler drum for the hot-rolled strip together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Micheal Jesche, Wolfgang Peitl
  • Publication number: 20090288466
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for attachment to a conventional sheet metal forming press. The apparatus allows the sheet metal forming process to be preformed fully submerged in an oil. Methods for sheet metal forming in oil are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicants: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Ameroll Metal Products Company Limited
    Inventors: Chak Yin Tang, Tai Chiu Lee, Luen Chow Chan, Nga Yung Ng
  • Publication number: 20090151414
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling a hem profile in roll-forming processes are described. An example roll-forming apparatus includes a first plurality of work rolls to form a first hem on a material and a second plurality of work rolls. One of the second plurality of work rolls is adjustable relative to an opposing work roll and to the first plurality of work rolls to adjustably control a profile of the first hem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Verne D. Voth, Gregory S. Smith
  • Patent number: 7490500
    Abstract: A tape measure device has an elongated blade with a central concave-convex segment with at least one planar segment adjoining edgewise the central concave-convex segment to form a junction that extends substantially along the entire length of the elongated blade. During formation of the blade the junction is annealed to avoid formation of a flaw or incipient fracture along the junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Alltrade Tools LLC
    Inventors: Hector Ray Hernandez, Jr., Jaime Nash