With Deforming Of Work Or Product (other Than Bending Longitudinally) Patents (Class 72/168)
  • Patent number: 11559835
    Abstract: A processing device processes a frame-shaped workpiece which extends in a prescribed extension direction, and includes, integrally, a plate-shaped web surface portion, a plate-shaped first flange portion that bends and extends from one end of the web surface portion, and a plate-shaped second flange portion which bends from the other end of the web surface portion and extends in the opposite direction to the first flange portion. The processing device includes a shaping device which conveys the workpiece in the extension direction, and an exit side pinch roll device provided further downstream, in the workpiece conveying flow direction, than the shaping device. The exit side pinch roll device includes a first roll which presses a central region of an upper surface side of the web surface portion, and a second roll which presses a central region of a lower surface side of the web surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Sugai, Satoshi Kamata, Suguru Kondo, Takeshi Yamada, Akira Kono
  • Patent number: 11433443
    Abstract: A heat-insulating device for use in a processing line for a metal strip to be transported along a strip conveying direction, preferably for use in a rolling mill, wherein the heat-insulating device has: at least one heat-insulating carriage which has a heat-insulating hood which, in order to reduce temperature losses, can be moved over the metal strip; and a transport, which has a drive for moving the heat-insulating carriage and is configured in such a way that the heat-insulating carriage can be moved out of the processing line and into the latter horizontally, preferably along a straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: SMS GROUP GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Piehlk
  • Patent number: 10814372
    Abstract: A gutter piece and a method of forming the gutter piece including the steps of: obtaining a gutter forming apparatus with a marking subassembly; obtaining a supply of gutter material; through the gutter forming apparatus, progressively forming the gutter material into completed gutter pieces, each with a length, as the gutter material is advanced in a forming path; and through the subassembly, continuously making discrete visible marks on the gutter material as the gutter material is advanced that: a) reside at predetermined intervals along a length of each of the completed gutter pieces, and b) are located to facilitate controlled interval placement of hangers that are used to support the completed gutter pieces in an operative position on a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: KWM GUTTERMAN INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Minor, Sr., Keith W. Minor
  • Patent number: 10480452
    Abstract: A mixer of a bypass turbine aeroengine according to one embodiment, includes circumferential inner and outer flow surfaces in a wavy configuration to form a plurality of lobes of the mixer. The mixer has an upstream end portion of sheet metal with a first thickness and a downstream end portion of sheet metal with a second thickness less than the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, Guy Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 9727043
    Abstract: A method for starting up an automation machine in a machine series is described. With the method, a software package is automatically generated in a planning system with a step tree. The step tree included in the software package is structured in the form of a graph with edges and nodes, wherein at least some of the nodes comprise start-up data or start-up information relating to the start-up data, and wherein the edges describe permitted transitions between two respective nodes. The software package is executed on a machine or on a unit which is connected with the machine for communication. A planning system for carrying out the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sven Illner, Jochen Keller, Lutz Müller, Lars Tanneberger
  • Patent number: 9003852
    Abstract: A sheet metal blank for the manufacture of a casing of a gas turbine engine comprising a sheet of substantially constant wall thickness and a raised or thicker region extending along substantially the full length of the sheet metal blank. A raised or thicker region is provided between edges of the sheet metal blank. The raised or thicker region comprises at least one boss and at least one ridge extending way from the or each boss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Richard Green, Michael Annear
  • Patent number: 8991230
    Abstract: A roll forming method including a roll forming step performed by a plurality of roll formers and a bending step performed by a round bender provided with a plurality of bending roll units is disclosed. After a concave surface is formed at a surface of a shaped beam sequentially bent so as to have a closed section at the roll forming step, the concave surface is disposed so as to face toward an inward of a curvature of the shaped beam in the round bender and the shaped beam is formed to have the curvature through multiple steps at the bending step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sungwoo Hitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-Wook Jeong, Bong Kun Son
  • Patent number: 8979503
    Abstract: A control switch incorporates a solid state transducer, a strain gauge. The transducer responds to a local environmental condition, such as fluid level, or pressure and exhibits a parameter change which can be detected as an electrical output. Control circuits coupled to the transducer can sense the parameter change and switch a source of electrical energy to a load in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Metropolitan Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Kochan, Jr., Casey Barker
  • Patent number: 8872060
    Abstract: An apparatus forms a sheet into a beam having four exterior walls and a common center leg extending between an opposing two of the walls. The apparatus includes a roll former forming the sheet into the beam cross section, a welding station with top and bottom laser welders, and a weld box fixture having inwardly-biased external mandrels (biased by actuators) and outwardly-biased internal split mandrels (biased by springs) that interact to hold a desired shape of the beam in the weld fixture, and also includes a sweeping unit and cutoff device. By this arrangement, the internal and external mandrels, in combination with a bias of the actuators and springs, control a shape of the beam by flexure and movement of material of the sheet when in the weld box fixture during a welding process of the welder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas Johnson, Doug Witte, Daniel Gatti, Brian Oxley, Brian Malkowski
  • Patent number: 8763437
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a roll former with rolls configured to form a structural beam from sheet material, and a sweep unit for longitudinally sweeping a beam in any of vertical, horizontal, or combination directions. The sweep unit has a first pair of forming rolls positioned to engage first opposing sides of the structural beam and has a second pair of forming rolls positioned to engage second opposing sides of the structural beam. The sweep unit movably supports the first and second pairs of forming rolls so that any selected one of the forming rolls continuously engages an associated side of the structural beam while an associated one of the forming rolls opposing the selected one forming roll moves downstream and around the selected one forming roll. This provides a very stable beam-bending condition promoting dimensional stability during the sweeping process, and hence dimensional accuracy and repeatability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Richard D. Heinz, Bryan E. Gould
  • Patent number: 8707749
    Abstract: A roll forming system and a roll forming method are disclosed. The roll forming system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a bending unit provided with synchronizing means moving a synchronizing table in keeping pace with a forming speed of a shaped beam along a process line, clamping means clamping both sides of the shaped beam, position conversion means converting a position of the shaped beam between a cutting position and a bending position, cutting means cutting one side of the shaped beam by a cutting wheel, and a bending means stretch-bending the shaped beam to have a predetermined curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sungwoo Hitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mun-Yong Lee, Dong-Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8591198
    Abstract: A control switch incorporates a solid state transducer, a strain gauge. The transducer responds to a local environmental condition, such as fluid level, or pressure and exhibits a parameter change which can be detected as an electrical output. Control circuits coupled to the transducer can sense the parameter change and switch a source of electrical energy to a load in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Metropolitan Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Kochan, Jr., Casey Barker
  • Patent number: 8448486
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a long reinforcing material-attached profile strip (100) in which joint portions are formed at both side edge portions and to which a reinforcing material continuously formed in the longitudinal direction is attached is supplied, and mutually adjacent joint portions are joined to each other, thereby producing a spiral pipe (S). A curl-forming apparatus (3) includes a sending roller for the reinforcing material-attached profile strip (100) and a curl guide. Using the curl-forming apparatus (3), adjacent parts of the reinforcing material-attached profile strip (100) are subjected to plastic deformation to form spirals by being provided with arc-like curls having a radius of curvature substantially similar to or not greater than the radius of curvature of the spiral pipe (S). Accordingly, the spiral pipe (S) can be produced while suppressing the action of a restoring force that restores the reinforcing material-attached profile strip (100) to its original radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Nakagaki, Tomonori Yamaji, Toshio Yamane
  • Patent number: 8443645
    Abstract: A bending method and a bending apparatus are provided for bending a medical suturing needle into different curved shapes by using one bending roller. The bending apparatus comprises a reciprocally rotatable bending roller, and a belt having such a flexibility as can be wound on the outer circumference of the bending roller. The bending method curves a medical suturing needle by sandwiching and constricting a material for the medical suturing needle between the bending roller and the belt and by rotating the bending roller reciprocally in the winding direction and in the rewinding direction. In the bending method, the curved shape of the material is changed by changing the winding angle of the belt to be wound on the outer circumference of the bending top thereby to change the area for constricting the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: MANI, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Kato
  • Publication number: 20130047690
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a roll former with rolls configured to form a structural beam from sheet material, and a sweep unit for longitudinally sweeping a beam in any of vertical, horizontal, or combination directions. The sweep unit has a first pair of forming rolls positioned to engage first opposing sides of the structural beam and has a second pair of forming rolls positioned to engage second opposing sides of the structural beam. The sweep unit movably supports the first and second pairs of forming rolls so that any selected one of the forming rolls continuously engages an associated side of the structural beam while an associated one of the forming rolls opposing the selected one forming roll moves downstream and around the selected one forming roll. This provides a very stable beam-bending condition promoting dimensional stability during the sweeping process, and hence dimensional accuracy and repeatability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: SHAPE CORP.
    Inventor: SHAPE CORP.
  • Patent number: 8336355
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a roll-forming system and a method thereof that enables both ends of a panel to be formed attractively by roll-forming the panel after cutting grooves are formed at both ends of the panel by using a blanking press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sungwoo Hitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Do-Hoi Koo, Suek-Jun Choi
  • Patent number: 8333096
    Abstract: A method includes, in combination, a roll former with rolls configured to form a structural beam from sheet material, and a sweep unit for longitudinally sweeping a beam in any of vertical, horizontal, or combination directions. The sweep unit has a first pair of forming rolls positioned to engage first opposing sides of the structural beam and has a second pair of forming rolls positioned to engage second opposing sides of the structural beam. The sweep unit movably supports the first and second pairs of forming rolls so that any selected one of the forming rolls continuously engages an associated side of the structural beam while an associated one of the forming rolls opposing the selected one forming roll moves downstream and around the selected one forming roll. This provides a very stable beam-bending condition promoting dimensional stability during the sweeping process, and hence dimensional accuracy and repeatability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Richard D. Heinz, Bryan E. Gould
  • Patent number: 8333095
    Abstract: An apparatus includes, in combination, a roll former with rolls configured to form a structural beam from sheet material, and a sweep unit for longitudinally sweeping a beam in any of vertical, horizontal, or combination directions. The sweep unit has a first pair of forming rolls positioned to engage first opposing sides of the structural beam and has a second pair of forming rolls positioned to engage second opposing sides of the structural beam. The sweep unit movably supports the first and second pairs of forming rolls so that any selected one of the forming rolls continuously engages an associated side of the structural beam while an associated one of the forming rolls opposing the selected one forming roll moves downstream and around the selected one forming roll. This provides a very stable beam-bending condition promoting dimensional stability during the sweeping process, and hence dimensional accuracy and repeatability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Richard D. Heinz, Bryan E. Gould
  • Patent number: 8307685
    Abstract: A high-strength beam includes first and second sections bent in opposite directions as part of a roll-forming process. A frame includes side frame members incorporating the double-bent beam and at least one energy management tube attached to the beam. In one form, the beam is tubular and has a cross-sectional dimension of greater than 25 mm and a material strength of at least about 60 KSI tensile strength. A roll form apparatus includes a roll former device and a sweep station in-line with the roll former device for sweeping the continuous beam in first and second opposing directions. Also, a method of roll-forming comprises steps of: roll-forming a sheet of material into a continuous beam and sweeping first and second sections of the beam in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Richard D. Heinz, Bruce W. Lyons, Bryan E. Gould
  • Patent number: 8061034
    Abstract: A method for forming a bumper beam includes providing an elongated piece of sheet metal having opposing end portions and an intermediate portion, bending the end portions with respect to the intermediate portion until the end portions are substantially perpendicular to the intermediate portion, bending a central section of the intermediate portion to form a protruding bulge in the intermediate portion after the bending the end portions, and bending side sections of the intermediate portion to move ends of the end portions adjacent to one another and adjacent to the protruding bulge after the bending the central section to from the bumper beam. The end portions form front walls of the bumper beam, the protruding bulge forms inner side walls and a web portion of the bumper beam, and the side sections form outer side walls and rear walls of the bumper beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery Jay Mellis
  • Publication number: 20110197644
    Abstract: A profiling arrangement for the longitudinal shaping of a metal band or starting profile into a profile or tube is provided, and includes a plurality of shaping stations 10 that are arranged in a line one behind the other and in each of which a group of roller shaping tools is assembled and are run through in succession by the metal band or starting profile, as well as with a machine substructure on which the shaping stations are mounted. In addition, on or next to the machine substructure, there are linear guides with driven carriages that can move in and against a direction of motion of the metal band or profile for the holding of tools, manipulators, and the like acting on the profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: DREISTERN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Frank Bertram
  • Patent number: 7938949
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a hardened profiled structural part from a hardenable steel alloy with cathodic corrosion protection. The method includes applying a coating to a sheet made of a hardenable steel alloy, wherein the coating comprises zinc, and the coating further comprises one or several elements with affinity to oxygen in a total amount of 0.1 weight-% to 15 weight-% in relation to the total coating. After applying the coating, the coated sheet steel is roller-profiled in a profiling device, so that the sheet tape is formed into a roller-formed profiled strand. Thereafter, the coated sheet steel is brought, at least in parts and with the admission of atmospheric oxygen, to a temperature required for hardening and is heated to a structural change required for hardening. A skin made of an oxide of the element(s) with affinity to oxygen is formed on the surface of the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: voestalpine Stahl GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Brandstatter, Herbert Eibensteiner, Martin Fleischanderl, Josef Faderl, Gerald Landl, Anna Elisabeth Raab, Siegfried Kolnberger
  • Publication number: 20110067472
    Abstract: An apparatus includes, in combination, a roll former with rolls configured to form a structural beam from sheet material, and a sweep unit for longitudinally sweeping a beam in any of vertical, horizontal, or combination directions. The sweep unit has a first pair of forming rolls positioned to engage first opposing sides of the structural beam and has a second pair of forming rolls positioned to engage second opposing sides of the structural beam. The sweep unit movably supports the first and second pairs of forming rolls so that any selected one of the forming rolls continuously engages an associated side of the structural beam while an associated one of the forming rolls opposing the selected one forming roll moves downstream and around the selected one forming roll. This provides a very stable beam-bending condition promoting dimensional stability during the sweeping process, and hence dimensional accuracy and repeatability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Richard D. Heinz, Bryan E. Gould
  • Publication number: 20110067473
    Abstract: A method includes, in combination, a roll former with rolls configured to form a structural beam from sheet material, and a sweep unit for longitudinally sweeping a beam in any of vertical, horizontal, or combination directions. The sweep unit has a first pair of forming rolls positioned to engage first opposing sides of the structural beam and has a second pair of forming rolls positioned to engage second opposing sides of the structural beam. The sweep unit movably supports the first and second pairs of forming rolls so that any selected one of the forming rolls continuously engages an associated side of the structural beam while an associated one of the forming rolls opposing the selected one forming roll moves downstream and around the selected one forming roll. This provides a very stable beam-bending condition promoting dimensional stability during the sweeping process, and hence dimensional accuracy and repeatability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Richard D. Heinz, Bryan E. Gould
  • Patent number: 7882718
    Abstract: A computer controlled roll-forming apparatus is adapted to provide a repeating pattern of different longitudinal shapes to a continuous beam “on the fly” during the roll-forming process. A sweep station of the apparatus includes a primary bending roller tangentially engaging the continuous beam along the line level and an armature for biasing the continuous beam against the primary bending roller for a distance partially around a downstream side of the primary bending roller to form a sweep. Actuators adjustably move the armature partially around the downstream side of the primary bending roller between multiple positions for imparting a series of different longitudinal shapes. Internal and external mandrels control wall stability to allow even sharper sweeps. In one form, the apparatus also includes a coordinated cut-off, so that when separated into bumper beam segments, the ends of the individual beam segments have a greater sweep than their center sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Bruce W. Lyons, Bryan E. Gould, James H. Dodd, Richard D. Heinz
  • Patent number: 7832242
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a hardened profiled structural part from a hardenable steel alloy with cathodic corrosion protection. The method includes applying a coating to a sheet made of a hardenable steel alloy, wherein the coating comprises zinc, and the coating further comprises one or several elements with affinity to oxygen in a total amount of 0.1 weight-% to 15 weight-% in relation to the total coating. After applying the coating, the coated sheet steel is roller-profiled in a profiling device. Thereafter, the coated sheet steel is heated to a structural change required for hardening. A skin made of an oxide of the element(s) with affinity to oxygen is formed on the surface of the coating. After sufficient heating the sheet is cooled, wherein the rate of cooling is set in such a way that hardening of the sheet alloy is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: voestalpine Stahl GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Brandstätter, Herbert Eibensteiner, Martin Fleischanderl, Josef Faderl, Gerald Landl, Anna Elisabeth Raab, Siegfried Kolnberger
  • Patent number: 7797977
    Abstract: In a system for producing a helical stator, a stator core strip is provided having a base portion with spaced tangs extending from the base portion. The strip is driven in a feed direction toward a bending region. At the bending region the strip is bent with an outside pressure member positioned to apply pressure at an outside edge of the strip base portion and with an inside pressure wheel having a plurality of teeth. A backstop surface of the teeth contact an inside edge of the base portion between adjacent tangs to support the base portion as the strip is bent by the outside pressure member. A winding arbor receives the bent strip to collect multiple turns of the bent strip to form the helical stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Tempel Steel Company
    Inventor: Richard A. Lebbin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7730754
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for manufacturing a spiral duct in which straight connection parts are integrally formed with both ends of a curved duct. Further provided are an apparatus and method for manufacturing a spiral duct capable of improving cutting quality of a metal band and precisely and securely coupling bent parts of edges of the metal band. The apparatus comprises a cutting roll to cut a metal band into two parts, the cutting roll having a horizontal rotation angle that can be varied to cut along a straight or a waved line in order to form a duct having straight and curved parts, and in order to adjust a diameter of the duct. In addition, the apparatus includes rolls for forming bent parts at edges of the cut metal bands, and for winding and seaming edges of the metal bands to form ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Jinwoong Technology
    Inventors: Kyu-Seok Cha, Seok Heo
  • Patent number: 7621167
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of constructing a rotary device which as an outer hub and an inner hub disposed within the outer hub. One of the inner and outer hubs is rotatable with respect to the other one of the inner and outer hubs about an axis. A ribbon of material extends between opposite ends and is roll formed to achieve a desired profile of an inner and outer peripheral wall of the inner and outer hub, respectively. The roll formed ribbons of material are each secured to maintain the desired profile and achieve the respective peripheral wall. The inner peripheral wall is inserted inside the outer peripheral wall such that the outer peripheral wall surrounds the inner peripheral wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Inventor: Gilbert Staffend
  • Patent number: 7603760
    Abstract: In a method or system for producing a helical stator, a stator core strip is provided having a base portion with spaced tangs extending from the base portion. The strip is driven in a feed direction toward a bending region. At the bending region the strip is bent with an outside pressure member positioned to apply pressure at an outside edge of the strip base portion and with an inside pressure wheel having a plurality of teeth. A backstop surface of the teeth contact an inside edge of the base portion between adjacent tangs to support the base portion as the strip is bent by the outside pressure member. A winding arbor receives the bent strip to collect multiple turns of the bent strip to form the helical stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Tempel Steel Company
    Inventor: Richard A. Lebbin, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090165520
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a roll-forming system and a method thereof that enables both ends of a panel to be formed attractively by roll-forming the panel after cutting grooves are formed at both ends of the panel by using a blanking press.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: SUNGWOO HITECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Do-Hoi KOO, Suek-Jun Choi
  • Patent number: 7530249
    Abstract: A computer controlled roll-forming apparatus is adapted to provide a repeating pattern of different longitudinal shapes to a continuous beam “on the fly” during the roll-forming process. A sweep station on the apparatus includes a primary bending roller tangentially engaging the continuous beam along the line level and an armature for biasing the continuous beam against the primary bending roller for a distance partially around a downstream side of the primary bending roller to form a sweep. Further, actuators adjustably move the armature at least partially around the downstream side of the primary bending roller between at least first and second positions for imparting multiple different longitudinal shapes into the continuous beam. In one form, the apparatus also includes a coordinated cut-off, so that when separated into bumper beam segments, the ends of the individual beam segments have a greater sweep than their center sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Bruce W. Lyons, Bryan E. Gould, James H. Dodd, Richard D. Heinz
  • Patent number: 7360386
    Abstract: The subject invention discloses a sweep unit assembly having a series of stations defining a path for an elongated article. A cradle is coupled to each of the stations. The stations are movable to introduce a first curve into the path and the article and each of the cradles are independently movable for introducing a second curve into the path and the article. A mount is included that supports at least one of the stations. The mount engages a base such that each of the stations are movably secured to the base and remain easily accessible for adjusting the stations and the cradles to impart various degrees of curvature into the path and the article. The sweep unit assembly is capable of imparting a curve into an elongated article formed of a metal and having a tensile strength greater than 80 KSI and a yield strength of 6 to 9 percent. The subject invention also discloses a method of adjusting the sweep unit assembly and a method of introducing a curve into the elongated article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Century, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry P. Bair
  • Patent number: 7337642
    Abstract: A computer controlled roll-forming apparatus is adapted to provide a repeating pattern of different longitudinal shapes to a continuous beam “on the fly” during the roll-forming process. A sweep station on the apparatus includes a primary bending roller tangentially engaging the continuous beam along the line level and an armature for biasing the continuous beam against the primary bending roller for a distance partially around a downstream side of the primary bending roller to form a sweep. Further, actuators adjustably move the armature at least partially around the downstream side of the primary bending roller between at least first and second positions for imparting multiple different longitudinal shapes into the continuous beam. In one form, the apparatus also includes a coordinated cut-off, so that when separated into bumper beam segments, the ends of the individual beam segments have a greater sweep than their center sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Shape Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce W. Lyons, Bryan E. Gould, James H. Dodd, Richard D. Heinz
  • Patent number: 7213431
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an aluminum alloy wheel, comprising the steps of producing an elongated strip of alloy blank with a desired cross-section by squeezing an alloy material, pre-curving the two ends of said blank into arcs, placing one end of said blank between an upper main roller and a lower main roller of a rolling machine to hold said blank, when said blank is being held by said upper main roller and said lower main roller and being driven back and forth along the longitudinal direction, approaching two auxiliary rollers of said rolling machine toward the two sides of said upper main roller to push said blank, so that said blank follows the curve established by a holding point between said upper main roller and said lower main roller and pushing points of said auxiliary rollers to progressively coil into the shape of the desired aluminum alloy wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Evergreat Intl Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yung-Chen Hsu
  • Publication number: 20040187537
    Abstract: A method and a device are proposed which accurately and efficiently form a pipe with a bending machine only without using any correcting means. A work having holes is fed into a bending machine in which under an upper roll, lower rolls parallel thereto are arranged and a pipe is formed with rough forming step and fine forming step. In the rough forming step, bending is done so that it will have a required diameter at the hole portions. In the fine forming step, the hole portions are not pressed for bending while the other portions are rolled so as to become closer to the required diameter to form the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Takashi Kudo
  • Patent number: 6751995
    Abstract: A roll bending die for bending metal into an arc with reinforcing ribs and tapered ends. The roll bending machine includes a body member being designed for being rotatably coupled to the roll bending machine whereby the body member selectively engages a pliable roller of the roll bending machine. The body member is designed for being rotated by the pliable roller when the pliable roller is rotated by the roll bending machine whereby the body member rolls the material into an arc when the material is placed between the body member and the pliable roller. The body member comprises a plurality of ridge portions outwardly extending from a perimeter face of the body member. The ridge portions are designed for pressing ribs into the material when the material is rolled between the body member and the pliable roller of the roll bending machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventor: Steven W. Sabasta
  • Patent number: 6253591
    Abstract: A method for bending a metallic flanged member includes the steps of applying a compressive force to a flange 2 of a metallic flanged member 1 in a direction that intersects a longitudinal direction of the metallic member for compression plastic deformation of the flange, and thereafter bending the metallic flanged member 1 along a flanged side thereof in such a manner that the flanged side of the metallic flanged member is situated on an inner side of a bending process, and an apparatus for use with the same method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuru Sayama, Shin Ihara, Kazuya Okada, Toshiyuki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 6138359
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a predetermining curvature in the flange and web of a structural member including an indexing mechanism and method for controlling the amount of curvature produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Inventor: Charles W. Mears
  • Patent number: 5979205
    Abstract: A ring manufacturing method and a ring manufacturing apparatus according to the invention does not require the preparation of a specially shaped plate material for each type of ring plate to be manufactured. It is therefore possible to manufacture a ring plate of any thickness or width with a high degree of accuracy even in high-variety, low-volume production. In a plate material forming step, a round bar 1 is formed by rollers 3, 4 into a plate material having any desired cross-sectional shape. In a slant rolling step, the plate material is slant rolled by slant rollers 9, 10 and thereby formed into a specially shaped plate material whose thickness increases in the width direction from one side to the other. In a ring forming step, this specially shaped plate material is formed into a ring shape by a ring forming device 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsutaka Uchida, Hiroyuki Ikuta
  • Patent number: 5960662
    Abstract: A roll forming device has a trailer having a hitch mechanism at a front end and a plurality of wheels, a sheet metal roll forming apparatus mounted to the trailer and a crane mounted to the trailer for moving materials to the roll forming apparatus. An outrigger system is also provided that includes front stabilizer jacks. In addition, rear leveling jacks are also provided proximate the rear end of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: M.I.C. Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick Morello
  • Patent number: 5934544
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for making an automotive bumper beam by a single roll forming. The apparatus of the present invention comprises an uncoiler; a straightener; a brake press; a first group of roll formers; a second group of roll formers; a final sweep roll former; adjuster; welding member; and cutting member. The method of the present invention is comprising of a step of preparing the steel sheet; a step for forming the tubular cross-sectional shape on the steel sheet; a step for forming a sweep on the steel sheet; a step for adjusting the tubular cross-sectional shape of the steel sheet; a step for welding two flanges to each other at their terminal ends; and a step for cutting the steel sheet to the predetermined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Corporation, Sung Woo Metal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-ho Lee, Mun-yong Lee
  • Patent number: 5890386
    Abstract: A process and a roll bending machine for bending plates. The plate to be bent is made to pass between upper and lower gripping rolls parallely arranged between each other; at least one of these rolls is connected to a drive motor for rotation. One of the rolls is upwardly movable to exert a required working pressure on the plate, and it is adjustably urged against the other roll in at least one intermediate position of its length till causing a deflection of both the rolls in the same direction, making one roll to assume an arch shaped configuration substantially conforming to the configuration of the other roll, in such a way to generate an homogenous bending pressure for the entire width of the plate which is thus bent with a substantially constant bending degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Promau S.R.L.
    Inventor: Orazio Maria Davi
  • Patent number: 5752705
    Abstract: A piston ring being planar, having a dished section and a planform giving desired radial pressure distribution on a co-operating cylinder wall and which ring is made form a steel resistant to stress relieving at the piston ring operating temperature. The dishing may be either positive or negative and may lie in the range from 0.025 to 0.75 mm. A method and apparatus are also described for the manufacture of such rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: AE Piston Products Limited
    Inventor: Robert Plant
  • Patent number: 5634365
    Abstract: The process relates to the aptitude for detectability of defects using eddy-currents on metal tubes cold laminated using a pilger mill and relates more particularly to the possibility of reducing the background noise and increasing the ratio between a standard signal and this background noise.The process consists of carrying out, after reduction in section by at least 30% in a cold pilger mill, a hollow drawing pass with a reduction in the external diameter of approximately 0.1% to 5%. The signal/background noise ratio can in this way be multiplied by a factor of between 2 and 3.7, in the case of a series of tubes made of INCO 690 alloy, as shown in the single figure.The invention also relates to tubes produced using this process.Application in production of steam generating tubes for nuclear power stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Valinox Nucleaire
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Buret, Denis Vuillaume
  • Patent number: 5623805
    Abstract: A seaming device for connecting building panels in a continuous seam along adjacent side edges of two building panels in the construction of a building or like structure which is particularly suited for seaming panels with both curved and straight portions. The seaming device includes an intermediate set of rollers capable of moving vertically and thereby allowing the seamer to seam panels having both straight portions and curved portions. By allowing the intermediate rollers to move vertically, the seaming apparatus of the present invention "walks" along the panel much more easily and avoids causing damage to the paint of the panel. The vertical movement of the intermediate rollers permits the seamer to adjust to changes in the panel from straight to curved and curved to straight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: M.I.C. Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick Morello
  • Patent number: 5584198
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for crimping the side walls of a sheet metal building panel independently of a main crimper which crimps the belly of the panel. The depth and the position along the panel of the side crimp is adjusted independently of the main crimpers in relation to the radius the panel is being curved and the length of panel that has passed through the apparatus. The adjustment is controlled by a microprocessor. The microprocessor controls a hydraulic motor which drives a machine screw which activates a scissors-jack type linkage. Blocks holding the rotatably mounted crimping rollers are mounted on slides and attached to the linkage. As the linkage moves, the depth of the crimping rollers is adjusted. The rotation of the crimping rollers is hydraulically driven through a gear-sprocket rotary motion drive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: M.I.C. Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Morello, Christopher K. Kastner, Charles A. Murphy
  • Patent number: 5502880
    Abstract: A machine for manufacturing piston rings from the metal strip (10). The machine comprises feeding means (12) for feeding the strip, shaping means (14, 16, 18, 20) for shaping successive portions of the strip into piston rings of a desired shape, and severing means (22) operable to sever the piston rings from the remainder of the strip. The machine also comprises displacing means (28) operable during each operation of the severing means (22) to move the severing means to substantially reduce the relative movement between the severing means and the point on the strip (10) at which the strip is severed. The severing means (22) is moved along a linear path which extends substantially tangentially to the path of said point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: T&N Technology Limited
    Inventor: Richard J. Sharp
  • Patent number: RE37497
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for crimping the side walls of a sheet metal building panel independently of a main crimper which crimps the belly of the panel. The depth and the position along the panel of the side crimp is adjusted independently of the main crimpers in relation to the radius the panel is being curved and the length of panel that has passed through the apparatus. The adjustment is controlled by a microprocessor. The microprocessor controls a hydraulic motor which drives a machine screw which activates a scissors-jack type linkage. Blocks holding the rotatably mounted crimping rollers are mounted on slides and attached to the linkage. As the linkage moves, the depth of the crimping rollers is adjusted. The rotation of the crimping rollers is hydraulically driven through a gear-sprocket rotary motion drive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: MIC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Morello, Christopher K. Kastner, Charles A. Murphy
  • Patent number: RE38064
    Abstract: A mobile metal building forming machine forms panels of predetermined length from a coil of flat metal and then the formed panels are continuously crimped on their side edges for strength and are selectively curved by crimping the bottom of the panel. The crimping and curvature are automatically controlled so that building panels with vertical walls and an arched roof may be formed. A moveable crimping roll is automatically portioned to control the curvature and the roll is chain driven so that it may be moved without affecting its rotational drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: MIC Industries
    Inventor: Frederick Morello