Of Tool Patents (Class 72/342.7)
  • Patent number: 11358209
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a hot forged material capable of preventing the generation of double-barreling shaped forging defects. The method for producing a hot forged material, wherein both an upper die and a lower die are made of Ni-based super heat-resistant alloy and the method comprises a hot forging step of pressing a material for hot forging by the lower die and the upper die in the air to form the hot forged material, the method comprising: a raw material heating step of heating the material for hot forging in a furnace to a heating temperature within a range of 1025 to 1150° C.; a die heating step of heating the upper die and the lower die to a heating temperature within a range of 950 to 1075° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI METALS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shogo Suzuki, Tomonori Ueno, Shinichi Kobayashi, Shoichi Takahashi, Takanori Matsui
  • Patent number: 10413955
    Abstract: A tool may be used to shape and/or partially press harden a workpiece. In some examples, the tool may comprise a main body having a surface, as well as a heat conducting system containing a thermal medium. The heat conducting system is integrated in the tool in such a way that, for the heating of the surface, a heat radiating from a heat source is conducted by means of the heat conducting system to the surface of the main body. Further, the heat conducting system may comprise a thermal oil or a melt as the thermal medium. The surface of the main body may be configured to face the workpiece during the shaping or partial press hardening of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignees: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Sascha Sikora, Stéphane Graff, Janko Banik
  • Patent number: 9914491
    Abstract: A method for producing a motor vehicle component, is disclosed having the steps of—providing a blank composed of a 5000 grade naturally hard aluminum alloy with an initial yield strength, completely heating the blank to a forming temperature between 150° C. and 350° C., preferably between 200° C. and 300° C. in less than 20 s, preferably less than 10 s and in particular in 2 to 5 s, and performing forming in a forming tool in less than 20 s, preferably less than 10 s and in particular between 2 and 5 s, the temperature being held between 150° C. and 350° C. in at least one first region of the blank, and cooling to a temperature lower than 250° C., in particular lower than 200° C., being performed in a second region during or after the deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Friedrich Bohner, Jochen Doerr, Jochem Grewe, Christian Hielscher, Joern Toelle, Boris Rauscher
  • Patent number: 9707608
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bending a workpiece (1) of sheet metal, whereby a deformation region (6), in particular a strip-shaped region, on the workpiece (1) containing the bent edge to be produced (5) is heated before and/or during the bending process to a deforming temperature below the fusion temperature of the metal to increase deformability locally. In order to reduce undesirable deformation due to shrinkage stress, the workpiece (1) is heated before and/or during and/or after the bending operation in at least one heating zone (11) that is different from the deformation region (6) by means of the application of energy from outside the workpiece (1) starting from an initial temperature to a processing temperature below the fusion temperature of the metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: TRUMPF Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventor: Gerhard Sperrer
  • Patent number: 9636735
    Abstract: A method of making a part is provided. A blank is loaded into a die assembly having a pair of shoes with forming pieces attached thereto and compressible members sandwiched between the shoes and the forming pieces. The die is closed about the blank to deform the blank into a part. The die is then opened by a predetermined distance while at least one of the compressible members deforms elastically to maintain contact between at least one of the forming pieces and the part. Less than the entire surface of the part is then conductively cooled through the at least one forming piece to provide a predetermined portion of the part with a predetermined microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Monty Lynn Hansen, James Donald Metz
  • Patent number: 9321092
    Abstract: Consumed energy is minimized to reduce running cost. Final formed products of uniform quality are successively obtained. High productivity is provided. A primary forming step of obtaining a primary formed product by plastically working a heated steel sheet with a primary forming die set for a predetermined time period, a secondary forming step of machining the primary formed product with the secondary forming die set for a predetermined time period to obtain a secondary formed product, and a hardening step of allowing a cooling die set placed in a hydraulic press controlled by a servomotor to hold the secondary formed product under pressure for a longer time period than the time period of each of the primary and secondary forming steps to obtain a hardened final formed product are successively performed in sequence. The hardening step is performed independently without coordinating with the primary and secondary forming steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignees: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, IMANISHI MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., SEKISOU KANAGATA CO., LTD., KEYLEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tekkan Takasue, Kyousou Ishida, Kouji Hironaka, Takuya Yamazaki, Kenichi Hatakeyama, Shinichiro Kurusu, Akihiro Nakashima, Toshiharu Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9032772
    Abstract: A method of forming a product via induction heating and forming of the product includes providing an induction heating coil for induction heating of a component and providing a die forming shell for supporting the component and for defining the final shape of a formed product formed from the component. The die forming shell includes a metallic material. A support structure is provided for supporting the die forming shell during the induction heating of the component. The support structure includes a metallic material. The support structure includes insulating portions to limit or substantially preclude inducement of electrical current through the support structure during the induction heating process. The component is inductively heated along its length while the component is in the die forming shell. The component is at least one of (a) heated before the formed product is formed and (b) heated while the formed product is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Temper IP, LLC
    Inventor: William C. Dykstra
  • Patent number: 9010167
    Abstract: A shaping apparatus for shaping a workpiece. The apparatus comprises first and second pairs of shaping members and a spacer located between the first and second pairs of shaping members. The first pair of shaping members comprises a material having a first linear coefficient of thermal expansion, and the second pair of shaping members comprises a material having a third linear coefficient of thermal expansion. The first linear coefficient of thermal expansion is higher than the second linear coefficient of thermal expansion such that on heating of the apparatus, thermal expansion of the shaping members causes the first pair of shaping members to expand outwardly, and the second pair of shaping members to expand inwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Richard Green, Michael John Annear
  • Publication number: 20150052962
    Abstract: A forging die device is provided with an upper die 10 and a lower die 20. At least one die 10 (20) of the upper die 10 and the lower die 20 has a die holder 12 (22) which surrounds the outer periphery of the die 10 (20) and holds the die 10 (20). The die holder 12 (22) is configured to bear the radial tensile stress (tensile force) received by the die 10 (20) during forging. By this means, the die 10 (20) can be miniaturized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Takashi Choda, Yukihide Honda, Shigeomi Araki, Shogo Murakami, Soichiro Kojima, Yusuke Momota
  • Publication number: 20150026977
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an assembled camshaft for valve-controlled internal combustion engines, in which at least one cam disc with a base circle region and cam region is machined on the running surface and has a cam-disc recess, includes shrinking the cam disc onto a corresponding shaft designed with a defined dimensional overlap by cooling the shaft and heating the cam disc. Temporally before being shrunk onto the shaft, the at least one cam disc is clamped by a clamping device such that a tension force acts on the recess wall region, which defines the cam-disc recess, the tension force corresponding to a predetermined extent to the state of stresses and/or deformation state of the recess wall region after the operation of shrinking the cam disc onto the corresponding shaft. The running-surface machining of the at least one cam disc takes place when the cam disc is clamped by the clamping device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Ulrich BOEHME, Adrian FINK
  • Patent number: 8887545
    Abstract: There is provided a forging die holder including a resistance heater capable of efficiently heating a die via the die holder when warm forging or hot forging is performed. A die holder is for holding a die used in a forging press for performing warm forging or hot forging. The die holder has heater mounting holes into which resistance heaters are inserted, sensor mounting holes into which temperature sensors are inserted, and guide portions disposed on both end portions of holder surfaces of holders for supporting back surfaces of the foregoing die to support side surfaces of the foregoing die located therebetween on both sides thereof. The heater mounting holes are formed at positions opposing the holder surfaces in aligned relation with the side surfaces of the foregoing die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Ito, Masanori Tanahashi, Hiroyuki Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20140238097
    Abstract: In some examples, a laminated tooling die may include multiple sheets or plates used in conjunction in any of a number of forming operations such as, for example, hydroforming, compression molding, and stamping. The sheets or plates can include an open interior that, when used in conjunction with neighboring sheets, produce a cavity into which a deformable workpiece can be placed and subjected to the forming operation. In some examples, one or more sheets can be coupled with a heat exchanger to impart a heat transfer with the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Quinlan Yee Shuck
  • Publication number: 20140124104
    Abstract: A hot forming line for producing hot formed and press hardened steel sheet products, includes: a forming device; a heating device having a temperature treatment station, wherein the temperature treatment station includes an upper tool and a lower tool, and at least one temperature treatment source; and exchangeable temperature treatment plates for conductive temperature treatment of a blank or part inserted into the temperature treatment station, wherein the exchangeable temperature treatment plates are constructed for arrangement on the upper tool and/or the lower tool, and the temperature treatment source is constructed for heating or cooling the temperature treatment plates. The temperature treatment station is constructed for treating different regions of the blank or part with different temperatures by conductive contact of the temperature treatment plates with the blank of part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: CARSTEN TRIPPE, DIETER WULFES, STEFAN ADELBERT, ELISABETH DANGER
  • Publication number: 20140124105
    Abstract: A hot forming line for producing hot formed and press hardened steel sheet products, in particular motor vehicle parts includes a heating device and a forming device, wherein the heating device has a temperature treatment station with an upper tool and a lower tool and the temperature treatment station has a temperature source for heating, wherein exchangeable temperature treatment plates are arrangeable on the upper and/or the lower tool and the temperature source is constructed as inductor, and the temperature treatment plates can be heated by the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Trippe, Dieter Wulfes, Stefan Adelbert, Elisabeth Danger
  • Publication number: 20140085727
    Abstract: A method for making a color image and a color filter manufactured with the method. The color of the color image and the color of the color filter are characterized by resonance features of a Fabry-Perot resonant cavity (100). Through a nanoimprint technology, Fabry-Perot resonant cavities with different thicknesses are manufactured, and the Fabry-Perot resonant cavities with different thicknesses correspond to red, green and blue respectively. The red, green and blue Fabry-Perot resonant cavities are distributed according to the color separation principle, and a combination thereof has the effect of representing a whole image macroscopically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicants: SVG Optronics Co., Ltd., Soochow University
    Inventors: Linsen Chen, Yun Zhou, Yan Ye, Su Shen
  • Patent number: 8646302
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drawing tool (1) for shaping and cooling a steel part from a blank (6), said tool including: at least one punch (2); and at least one matrix (3); the punch and the matrix each including: at least a first portion (21, 31) corresponding to a hot area (11) of the drawing tool; and at least a second portion (22, 32) corresponding to a cold area (12) of the drawing tool; in the cold area, the second part of the punch and the second part of the matrix are brought into contact with the blank when the drawing tool is closed; characterized in that, in the hot area of the drawing tool, a heating means are provided for heating said hot area to a temperature higher than about 400° C., and in that, in said hot area, a distance (L) on top of the blank thickness (e) is provided between the punch and the matrix when the drawing tool is closed, is related to the temperature (T) of the hot area, and is given by the formula T=100·(6?L), with L>0.2 and 400?T<600; L being in mm and T in ° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Sofedit
    Inventors: Jean Jacques Lety, Stéphane Anquetil, Laurent Barromes, Sophie Sebrier
  • Publication number: 20130327113
    Abstract: A system and method for manufacturing a medical device. The system can include a thermal chamber and an expander at least partially positioned within the thermal chamber. The expander can be configured to uniformly expand a medical device as the medical device is advanced over the heated expander and heat set the expanded medical device while the medical device is positioned on the heated expander. The method can include forming a medical device from a tube having a first diameter; uniformly expanding the medical device from the first diameter to a second diameter at which the medical device can be left within a body vessel, the medical device being expanded from the first diameter to the second diameter while being continuously positioned on an expander; and heat setting the expanded medical device at the second diameter while the medical device is positioned on the expander.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Lee Green
  • Publication number: 20130327107
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hot work tool, in particular a piercing mandrel or a rolling bar for producing seamless pipes or a forging mandrel for hot forging tubular workpieces made of metal, said tool having a main tool body (2), wherein at least one working area of the main tool body (2) is provided with a coating (4). In order to achieve an improved strength of the coating (4) on the main tool body, according to the invention the main tool body (2) has a profiled surface (5) and the coating (4) is applied to the profiled surface (5). The invention further relates to a method for producing such a hot work tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Kazim Serin, Hans Joachim Pehle
  • Publication number: 20130319067
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal part by producing a preform with a fibrous structure of metal fibers, and subjecting the preform to hot isostatic pressing in a tool until a solid part is obtained, the tool including at least one first element including a cavity for molding the part. The first tool element is elongate in a direction between two ends, and the fibrous structure is at least partially formed by winding at least one metal wire around the first tool element in the direction, from one end to the other. The method can be used, for example, for manufacturing reinforcement parts for a fan blade of a turbojet engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Thierry Godon, Bruno Jacques Gerard Dambrine, Alain Robert Yves Perroux
  • Patent number: 8510924
    Abstract: A reconfigurable fixture device system, including: a base member; a reconfigurable pad disposed on the base member, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a shape memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece; an activation device in operative communication with the shape memory material; a controller in operable communication with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the activation device, and the base member; a plurality of sensors for sensing a parameter associated with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece, wherein the plurality of sensors is in operable communication with the controller; and an actuator in operable communication with the controller and the at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nilesh D. Mankame, James W. Wells, Christopher P. Henry, Ivan G. Sears, Douglas Martin Linn, Alan L. Browne, Richard J. Skurkis
  • Publication number: 20130205863
    Abstract: A forming tool and a method for hot forming and partially press hardening a workpiece, wherein the workpiece is heated prior to forming and is subsequently hot formed in a forming tool including a die, a punch, and a cooling device. When the forming tool is closed, the contact between the workpiece and the contact surfaces of the die and the punch of the forming tool is interrupted by moving apart a movable die part and a movable punch part. The die includes a first die part and at least one second die part which is movable relative to the first die part. The punch includes a first punch part and at least one second punch part which is movable relative to the first punch part. The at least one movable second die part and the at least one movable second punch part interact with an opening device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: GMF UMFORMTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Siegfried Loesch
  • Publication number: 20130205854
    Abstract: An elevated temperature forming system in which a sheet metal workpiece is provided in a first stage position of a multi-stage pre-heater, is heated to a first stage temperature lower than a desired pre-heat temperature, is moved to a final stage position where it is heated to a desired final stage temperature, is transferred to a forming press, and is formed by the forming press. The preheater includes upper and lower platens that transfer heat into workpieces disposed between the platens. A shim spaces the upper platen from the lower platen by a distance greater than a thickness of the workpieces to be heated by the platens and less than a distance at which the upper platen would require an undesirably high input of energy to effectively heat the workpiece without being pressed into contact with the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: USAMP
    Inventor: USAMP
  • Patent number: 8479552
    Abstract: A component forming system has an induction heating coil for induction heating of a component and a die forming shell for supporting the component and for defining the final shape of the formed product. A support structure for supporting the die forming shell during the induction heating of the component may be formed of a metallic material, and/or may include insulating elements to limit or substantially preclude inducement of electrical current through the support structure during the induction heating process. The die forming shell may be formed of a metallic material and/or may include insulating elements to limit or substantially preclude inducement of electrical current through the support structure during the induction heating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Temper IP, LLC
    Inventor: William C. Dykstra
  • Publication number: 20130152660
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermoforming station in which motors are oriented so as to rotate in the same sense on the drive of the upper table (33) and of the lower table (32) of the thermoforming station whilst actuating elements (31) are oriented in counterrotating manner. In addition, a wobbling table mounting (37) is proposed. Further disclosed is a table-guiding system which is separate from the upper yoke supports. Spring assemblies (46) for holding overload supports are also mentioned. The thermoforming station (26) operates as a whole more reliably and is very easily maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: KIEFEL GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Frey
  • Publication number: 20130156557
    Abstract: A shaping apparatus for shaping a workpiece. The apparatus comprises first and second pairs of shaping members and a spacer located between the first and second pairs of shaping members. The first pair of shaping members comprises a material having a first linear coefficient of thermal expansion, and the second pair of shaping members comprises a material having a third linear coefficient of thermal expansion. The first linear coefficient of thermal expansion is higher than the second linear coefficient of thermal expansion such that on heating of the apparatus, thermal expansion of the shaping members causes the first pair of shaping members to expand outwardly, and the second pair of shaping members to expand inwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
  • Publication number: 20130145809
    Abstract: A mold for hot stamping is disclosed. The mold may include: a base plate configured to receive and exhaust coolant, at least one lower mold and at least one upper mold. The at least one lower mold may be mounted at a surface of the base plate, and configured to receive the coolant from the base plate. The lower mold may also have the same shape as a lower shape of a product so as to form the lower shape of the product during hot stamping. The upper mold is made of material different from that of the lower mold, coupled to an upper portion of the lower mold, has the same shape as an upper shape of the product so as to form the upper shape of the product, and is configured to receive the coolant from the lower mold such that the coolant flows in the upper mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Seung Sang Lee
  • Publication number: 20130094919
    Abstract: The method of the present application includes machining complex part features in a flat metal sheet, and subsequently forming the machined flat metal sheet to have the desired shape and contours. Prior to the step of machining the complex part features, the method includes calculating a scaled location of the complex part features so that the subsequent forming step acts to translate and deform the complex part features into a desired location. The present application further includes a method for machining high performance metal alloy, such as titanium. Further, the present application includes a heated mandrel for applying heat to a high performance metal alloy, such as titanium, during stretch forming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Stephen K. Bishop, Stephen S. Swenson, Crystal L. Wilson, Paulette D. Lemond
  • Patent number: 8381563
    Abstract: A forging die heating or preheating apparatus comprises a burner head comprising a plurality of flame ports. The burner head is oriented to compliment an orientation of at least a region of a forging surface of a forging die and is configured to receive and combust a supply of an oxidizing gas and a supply of a fuel and produce flames at the flame ports. The plurality of flame ports are configured to impinge the flames onto the forging surface of the forging die to substantially uniformly heat at least the region of the forging surface of the forging die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: ATI Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Urban J. De Souza, Robin M. Forbes-Jones, Billy B. Hendrick, Alonzo L. Liles, Ramesh S. Minisandram, Sterry A. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 8375758
    Abstract: A laminated tooling apparatus includes a first tooling die, a first susceptor carried by the first tooling die and having at least one straight susceptor portion and at least one angled susceptor portion adjacent to the straight susceptor portion, a first plurality of susceptor slots extending through the at least one angled susceptor portion of the first tooling die, a second tooling die adjacent to the first tooling die, a second susceptor carried by the second tooling die and having at least one straight susceptor portion and at least one angled susceptor portion adjacent to the straight susceptor portion; and a second plurality of susceptor slots extending through the at least one angled susceptor portion of the second tooling die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, William Dykstra
  • Publication number: 20130036785
    Abstract: An apparatus is described for forging a hollow body (1), comprising forging tools (2) which are arranged in a centrically symmetrical way about a forging axis, and a forging mandrel (3). In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions for the production of different hollow bodies (1) it is proposed that the forging mandrel (3) comprises a mandrel core (7) and mandrel segments (8) which are distributed over the circumference of the mandrel core (7), are exchangeably held on the mandrel core (7), and form forming surfaces (9) for the hollow space of the hollow body (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: GFM-GMBH
    Inventor: Robert KOPPENSTEINER
  • Publication number: 20120324976
    Abstract: A method of forging aluminum/aluminum alloys includes: providing an aluminum/aluminum alloy billet; providing a forging die, the forging die including an upper die and a lower die, the upper die and the lower die being all mounted with heating element and temperature controller; locating the aluminum/aluminum alloy billet in the forging die; heating the upper die and the lower die and making the temperature difference between the upper die and the lower die be about 100° C.-350° C.; forging the aluminum/aluminum alloy billet to get an aluminum/aluminum alloy forged piece, the temperature difference between the upper die and the lower die being kept at about 100° C.-350° C. during the forging process; and opening the upper die and the lower die to remove out the aluminum/aluminum alloy forged piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicants: FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED, SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: LI LONG, CHAO-HSUN LIN
  • Publication number: 20120273098
    Abstract: A method for producing a structural sheet metal component formed from an aluminum alloy for a motor vehicle includes providing an aluminum sheet blank in a state T4 or T5 or T6 or T7, heating the aluminum sheet blank to a heating temperature between 100° C. and 450° C., forming the aluminum sheet blank to a structural sheet metal component, and heat post-treatment of the formed structural sheet metal component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Friedrich Bohner, Jochen Dörr, Jochem Grewe
  • Patent number: 8240183
    Abstract: Method upon heating of extrusion tools (1) for the extrusion of metal into a profile and which extrusion tool is formed by an internal tool (5) that is receivable by a tool ring (4) and that has the intended hole-profile openings (6). In that connection, the entire extrusion tool (1) is heated, after which the temperature of the tool ring (4) only is lowered before subsequent introduction of the extrusion tool (1) into the press and the execution of the extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: IUT Industriell Ugnsteknik Sweden
    Inventor: George Berge
  • Patent number: 8230713
    Abstract: An elevated temperature forming die apparatus comprising a lower die part having a first upper surface positioned to engage a lower surface of a first region of such a workpiece, an upper die part supported for reciprocal motion relative to the lower die part, the upper die part having a lower surface that engages an upper surface of a second region of a sheet material workpiece, heaters in thermal communication with the die parts, and a third die part having an upper surface that engages a lower surface of the second region of a sheet material workpiece whose first portion is positioned between the upper and lower die parts, the third die part being supported for reciprocal motion relative to the upper die part such that closure of the upper die part along the first stroke portion against the third die part will clamp the first portion of the workpiece between the upper and third die parts, and the third die part being supported for reciprocal motion relative to the lower die part such that, once the first p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: USAMP
    Inventors: Paul Edward Krajewski, Richard Harry Hammar, Dajun Zuo, Peter A. Friedman, S. George Luckey, Jr., Dennis Cedar
  • Publication number: 20120107632
    Abstract: A component of an air-hardenable steel composed of (contents in mass %): C<0.20; Al<0.08; Si<1.00; Mn 1.20 to <2.50; P<0.020; S<0.015; N<0.0150; Cr 0.30 to <1.5; Mo 0.10 to <0.80; Ti 0.010 to <0.050; V 0.03 to <0.20; B 0.0015 to <0.0060, with the remainder being iron including the usual elements present in steel, is produced by heating a hot- or cold-rolled steel sheet or steel tube section to a temperature of ?blank=800 to 1050° C. and then forming the sheet or tube into a component in a forming tool. After removal from the tool, the component is cooled down in air while the component still has a temperature above ?removal=200° C. and below 800° C. The component achieves the required mechanical properties during air-cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: SALZGITTER FLACHSTAHL GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Braun, Uwe Eggers, Cord Schäffner, Joachim Schottler, Friedrich Luther, Stefan Mütze
  • Patent number: 8166785
    Abstract: This invention relates to a rolling mill apparatus and a method of shape control of a rolled strip which enables satisfactory shape control even in extremely thin rolling. A rolling mill apparatus of this invention has a rolling mill, which rolls a rolled strip P between upper and lower work rolls; a shape detecting portion, which detects the degree of flatness of the rolled strip in the width direction of rolled strip which has been rolled by the rolling mill; a spray portion, having a plurality of spray nozzles arranged along the length direction of the upper and lower work rolls, which sprays the upper and lower work rolls with coolant C; and, a shape control portion, which adjusts the spray amount and/or temperature of the coolant C sprayed from the spray portion based on detected information from the shape detecting portion, to control the shape of the rolled strip P.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: IHI Corporation, IHI Metaltech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ootsuka, Tsukasa Matsuzawa, Shigeru Tsuzuki, Hisashi Honjou
  • Publication number: 20120090371
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a shaped part from an aluminum sheet comprising an aluminum alloy, in particular an aluminum alloy of the 5000 series, wherein at least one aluminum sheet is introduced in a forming tool and cold-formed by the same, and in a further step, or in further steps, the cold-formed aluminum sheet is heated at least once at least in some regions and at least once further formed. In order to create advantageous conditions for the method, it is proposed for the heated aluminum sheet to be subjected to the further forming step even before a temperature has been reached which the aluminum sheet has during the cold forming thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: VOESTALPINE AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Karl Michael Radlmayr, Wolfgang Stall, Claudio Canalini
  • Publication number: 20120067101
    Abstract: A forging tool for precision forging of components of intermetallic or high-temperature stable phases with high yield stresses and shapeable at temperatures up to 1400° C. is made of graphite with a low-melting metal or a low-melting metal alloy infiltrated into its open-pored cavities, where metal carbides are created by heat treatment and form with the graphite a two-phase material hardened by subsequent quenching. The tool features high strength thanks to the yield stress increasing as the temperature increases at forging temperatures up to 1400° C., and is oxidation-resistant. It is electrically conductive, and has a low heat capacity, so that rapid inductive heating of the tool involving only low energy expenditure, short forging cycles and an inexpensive isothermic shaping process are possible. It has good lubrication properties, low wear and low manufacturing costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventors: Felix TURLEY, Dan ROTH-FAGARASEANU, Kim GROSSMANN
  • Patent number: 8118954
    Abstract: A method for producing a metallic component (B) allows adjoining zones (Z1, Z2, Z3) having differing material properties to be produced in a manner which is simple in terms of production. This is achieved in that a sheet metal element (E) heated to a forming temperature is shaped in a forming tool (1) into an end-shaped component (B), wherein the forming tool (1) has a temperature adjustment means for adjusting the temperature of at least one of the portions (5, 7, 16) thereof that comes into contact with the sheet metal element (E) during the forming process, and in that the forming speed is controlled in consideration of the time for which the portion (5, 7, 16) of the forming tool (1) that is regulated with regard to the temperature thereof is in contact with the respective region (E1, E2, E3) of the sheet metal element (E) that rests against said portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Heiko Beenken, Thomas Heller, Franz-Josef Lenze, Sascha Sikora
  • Publication number: 20110289997
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating articles from metals having a hexagonal close packed (HCP) crystal structure is described. The method comprises a two-stage process: specialized hot deep drawing and pneumatic coining within a single press cycle. The apparatus includes a drawing chamber in which the environmental temperature is sufficient to impart enough ductility to the metal or alloy blank to allow it to be drawn about a plug into an outline shape of the finished part. More detailed features are then added by increasing the gas pressure inside the chamber, thereby forcing the drawn blank more closely against the contours of the plug. Use of pneumatic pressure avoids the use of matched dies, which are prohibitively complex and expensive to use to shape parts from such HCP metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: LUXFER GROUP LIMITED
    Inventor: Anthony John Barnes
  • Patent number: 8047034
    Abstract: A robotic bending apparatus for bending archwires and other types of elongate, bendable medical devices into a desired configuration includes a first gripping tool and a moveable gripping tool. The first gripping tool can be either fixed with respect to a base or table for the robot or positioned at the end of robot am. The moveable gripping tool is mounted to the end of a moveable robot arm having a proximal portion also mounted to the base. The robot preferably comprises a six axis bending robot, in which the distal end of the moveable arm can move relative to the fixed gripping tool about three translational axes and three rotational axes. The gripping tools preferably incorporate force sensors which are used to determine overbends needed to get the desired final shape of the archwire. The robot may also include a resistive heating system in which current flows through the wire while the wire is held in a bent condition to heat the wire and thereby retain the bent shape of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Orametrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Werner Butscher, Friedrich Riemeier, Rüdger Rubbert, Thomas Weise, Rohit Sachdeva
  • Patent number: 7980110
    Abstract: Apparatus for continuous extrusion of an aluminium sheathing free from imperfections or discontinuities onto a core cable, such as an insulated copper cable, includes a rotatable wheel formed with a pair of circumferential grooves arcuate tooling bounding radially outer portions of the respective grooves, a die body provided with divergent exit apertures discharging laterally to an extrusion chamber through 90° elbows and short divergent passages at diametrically opposed locations. An electrical induction heater includes coils of copper tubing connected to an electrical power source and to a coolant circulating device is positioned at a radially outer portion of the die body and is energizable to supply heat to the die body to maintain a uniform temperature of approximately 480° C., controlled by signals from thermocouples around the extrusion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: BWE Limited
    Inventor: Daniel J. Hawkes
  • Patent number: 7891075
    Abstract: A reconfigurable fixture device system, including: a base member; a reconfigurable pad disposed on the base member, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a shape memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece; an activation device in operative communication with the shape memory material; a controller in operable communication with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the activation device, and the base member; a plurality of sensors for sensing a parameter associated with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece, wherein the plurality of sensors is in operable communication with the controller; and an actuator in operable communication with the controller and the at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Nilesh D. Mankame, James W. Wells, Christopher P. Henry, Ivan G. Sears, Douglas M. Linn, Alan L. Browne, Richard J. Skurkis
  • Publication number: 20110033019
    Abstract: A neutron absorbing insert for use in a fuel rack and method of manufacturing the same. In ones aspect, the invention is a neutron absorbing apparatus comprising: a plate structure having a first wall and a second wall that is non-coplanar to the first wall; the first and second walls being formed by a single panel of a metal matrix composite having neutron absorbing particulate reinforcement that is bent into the non-coplanar arrangement along a crease; and a plurality of spaced-apart holes formed into the single panel along the crease prior to bending.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Evan Rosenbaum, Thomas G. Haynes, III, Krishna P. Singh
  • Publication number: 20100319425
    Abstract: There is provided a production method capable of forming spiral ribs stably by reducing troubles at the time of cold drawing for forming the spiral ribs on an internally ribbed steel tube. When the internally ribbed steel tube on which a plurality of stripes of spiral ribs are formed in the tube axis direction is manufactured by inserting a plug on which a plurality of stripes of spiral grooves are formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof into the tube to be worked subjected to chemical treatment and then performing cold drawing, drawing is performed with the plug preheated to 50 to 200° C., thus forming the spiral ribs on the internal surface of a blank tube. The chemical treatment preferably includes a pickling step of removing oxided scale and rust on the tube surface, a step of forming a zinc phosphate coat on the neutralized tube surface, and a step of forming a lubricating layer on the zinc phosphate coat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: Kenichi Beppu
  • Publication number: 20100307215
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a substrate, for example a tool used in hot metalforming operations, is coated with an enamel nanoparticulate graded coating. The nanoparticles in the coating may be boron-nitride nanoparticles. The coating may include a first portion adjacent a surface of the substrate, and a second portion adjacent the first portion. The first portion of the coating may have a lower volume fraction of nanoparticles than the second portion. The first portion has excellent adhesion to the surface of the substrate, and the second portion reduces friction and wear. The coated tool may be formed by applying at least one layer of a coating mixture to a surface of the tool and heating the coating mixture. A metal workpiece may be formed into an article by contacting the metal workpiece against the coated surface of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Arianna T. Morales
  • Publication number: 20100288009
    Abstract: A hot press forming apparatus that hot press forms a blank to process the blank into a formed product comprises: a conduction heating mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus, the conduction heating mechanism clamping the fed blank at a predetermined conducting position so as to be in a conveyance-stopped state, and performs conduction heating onto the blank; a die quenching type hot press mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus and disposed thermally isolated downstream of the conduction heating mechanism, the hot press mechanism hot pressing the blank subjected to conduction heating at a predetermined processing position; and a conveying mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus. The conveying mechanism conveys the blank subjected to conduction heating at least from the conducting position to the processing position, to supply the blank to the hot press mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN TAKAOKA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsunori Ishiguro, Masaki Furuhashi
  • Patent number: 7832245
    Abstract: A titanium sheet to be formed is heated in a sealingly closed tool by the radiation heat from the heating elements integrated into the tool to a forming temperature not exceeding 600° C., and is deformed towards a cold tool contour by the action of a non-oxidizing gaseous pressure medium introduced into the tool and heated to the hot-forming temperature, as well as by underpressure generated on the side of the workpiece facing away from the pressure medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Karl Schreiber
  • Patent number: 7823430
    Abstract: A quick plastic forming (QPF) tool is provided in which a thermal gap is created that reduces or eliminates some of the conductive heat loss paths when the QPF tool is in an open position during part removal or sheet loading. By reducing conductive heat loss, a more precise temperature control for the QPF tool from manufacturing cycle to manufacturing cycle may be realized. The QPF tool may also have a thermal gap when the tool is placed in a semi-open position during idle times. The QPF tool may also include components for creating the thermal gap when the QPF tool is moved to the open position and control the lateral movement of the part forming section of the QPF tool as the part is moved between the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Hammar, Richard M. Kleber, Gary A. Kruger
  • Patent number: 7810367
    Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention is a method of shaping a metallic hollow member in a shaping tool (1, 20, 50) at increased temperature and under internal pressure, said hollow member (5) protruding at one end at least from said shaping tool (1), the configuration of the tool mold and/or the shaping parameters acting onto said hollow member being selected in such a manner that said hollow member (5, 59) substantially keeps its original shape outside said tool (1, 20, 50), with said tool being heated in the region of the cavity and a tool, said tool being completely made from a homogeneous ceramic material with the component part being heated inductively, the cavity having a tribological additional coating in order to minimize friction of the component part against the wall and/or the affinity of the component part with the material of the cavity wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Karl Kipry