Forming Holes In Tube Patents (Class 72/370.27)
  • Patent number: 12134813
    Abstract: As a burring processed member able to suppress the formation of fatigue cracks in a burring part, one having a structure satisfying the following relations (1) to (3) is disclosed: 3?Ra?100 . . . (1), 3.0<h . . . (2), 24+r?[TS/(40+0.28×Ra)]<h . . . (3), where, “Ra” is an arithmetic mean roughness (?m) of the burring end face, “h” is a height (mm) from the first surface to the burring end face, “r” is a radius of curvature (mm) of the curved wall part, and “TS” is the tensile strength (MPa) of the sheet-shaped part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Nakada, Ryo Tabata, Takeshi Kawachi, Takeshi Toyoda
  • Patent number: 11415031
    Abstract: Method for forming a collar in a muffler shell including: providing a muffler shell made of a metal sheet and forming a muffler housing, the muffler shell having an exhaust gas opening, providing a collar forming head having a rotational axis and at least two movable expanders, introducing a collar forming head into a muffler housing, moving the expanders of the collar forming head introduced into the muffler shell radially away from the rotational axis of the collar forming head from a retracted position to an expanded position rotating the collar forming head around the of the collar forming head, bringing the rotating expanded collar forming head in contact with the metal sheet forming an outwardly projecting collar around the exhaust gas opening by flaring the edge of the metal sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Bosal Emission Control Systems NV
    Inventor: Paul Vanleene
  • Patent number: 8978431
    Abstract: A punch including a shearing edge formed on an outer periphery of the punch, a cutting edge formed on the distal end of the punch and at least two ramp surfaces provided between the shearing and cutting edges. Each of the ramp surfaces extend at an angle from the distal end to a recessed portion of the shearing edge. The shearing edge, cutting edge and ramp surfaces cooperate to partially form a hole in a part and retain a slug in the hole. A method of forming a hole and a slug control system for a hydro-piercing operation is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Kernosky, Kiran Kumar Mallela
  • Patent number: 8534109
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for making a hydro-formed part by first hydro-forming a tubular blank to form an initially formed part. The initially formed part is clamped in a calibration tool with clamps. The initially formed part is connected to a source of electric current and electric current is pulsed through the initially formed part to reduce internal stresses in the initially formed part and reduce spring-back to form the initially formed part to a target shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Sergey Fedorovich Golovashchenko
  • Patent number: 8256261
    Abstract: In a method of making through-passages in a perforated U-shaped sheet metal part, an inner core is positioned between confronting legs of the sheet metal part in an area of holes, and a support bar is inserted through one hole into the sheet metal part for support of a backside of the inner core. A shaping punch is inserted through another opposite hole into the inner core, thereby forming an inwardly directed collar. After retracting the support bar and the shaping punch and transferring the sheet metal part to replace the first inner core with a second inner core, a centering bar is inserted through the collared hole into the sheet metal part to center the sheet metal part in relation to the centering bar and to support a backside of the other inner core. A further shaping punch is then inserted into the second inner core through the first hole, thereby forming an inwardly directed collar so that the two collars are aligned and form through-passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Friesen, Horst Hinzpeter
  • Patent number: 8220301
    Abstract: A tool adapted to form and method of forming a tapped hole within a workpiece in a single pass, includes a piercing section operable to punch a pilot hole in and produce a slug attached to the workpiece, and a tapping section operable to form a female thread along the periphery of the hole, and more preferably, an extruding section operable to push workpiece material away from the exterior surface defined thereby, an expanding section operable to expand the diameter of the hole, a sealing section operable to seal the hole during a hydroforming process, and a burnishing section operable to further expand and treat the periphery of the hole prior to tapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mike M. Ghiran, Spyros P. Mellas, David H. Shea, Thomas W. McClure, Darrell W Rebman
  • Patent number: 8024954
    Abstract: In a method for cold-working a piping component (10) with a pipe branch (16), particularly a valve housing of stainless steel, the pipe branch (16) is provided its length and final bore by forcing at least one ball or a drawing tool with partially spherical surface in direction from an inner cavity in the component and outwards. The inventive feature of the method is that before the drawing of an opening, there is performed clamping of the component (10) in a matrix tool composed of several parts (2, 4, 6, 8), the parts of the matrix tool fitting closely to the greater part of the external surfaces of the component, so that surfaces at the parts of the component to be cold-worked are fixed during the drawing operation. Thereby, the drawing action will not distort the external or adjacent parts of the component or change the dimensions of the component, and control of the form and dimensions of the component is provided during the drawing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventor: Kristian Melgaard
  • Publication number: 20100024503
    Abstract: Articles are often formed from a tubular workpiece in a process which does not usefully shape the ends of the tube. In an embodiment of the invention, tube ends may be mechanically reduced in cross section and then expanded against a secondary forming surface(s) using an electromagnetic force to obtain desired shapes for the tube ends and minimize scrapping of workpiece material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: John R. Bradley, Michael H. Lovell, Kevin R. Marks, Terry A. Kent, Donald W. Cotton
  • Patent number: 7552609
    Abstract: Disclosed is a piercing device of a hydroforming mold with a lower steel having a cavity therein, which can make the replacement of the pierce punch easier. The piercing device comprises: a pierce punch, the front edge portion of which is inserted into the cavity, for punching a hole through a molding material; a pierce cylinder for providing hydraulic pressure; a rod connected to the pierce cylinder, which is to be operated by the hydraulic pressure; and a pierce block connecting the rod and the pierce punch, wherein the length between the front edge portion of the rod and the pierce punch is greater than the length of the pierce punch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Yong Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 7552535
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a hydroforming member includes the step of providing a blank (10). The blank (10) is defined by blank wall (16). The blank (10) is placed in a die assembly (14) having a die cavity (12) defined by a die surface (24). The blank (10) is expanded so that the blank wall (16) is forced against the die surface (24) to form the hydroformed member. A portion of the blank wall conforms against a wall-thinning element (26, 28) positioned along the die surface (24) to form a removable wall section (46, 50) in a portion of the blank wall (24). The removable wall section (46, 50) is then removed from the blank wall (16) to form an opening in the hydroformed member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventor: John Dicesare
  • Patent number: 7506425
    Abstract: Provided is a drum of a washing machine and method for manufacturing the same in which the drum can be rigidly manufactured at a low cost. The method includes forming a plurality of holes on a surface of a metal plate, bending first and second end portions of the metal plate, rolling the metal plate into a shape of a hollow cylinder and engaging the first bent end portion with the second bent end portion, and curling the engaged first and second bent edge portions toward an inner surface of the hollow cylinder and seaming the engaged first and second bent end portions to an outer surface of the hollow cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Geon Kim
  • Publication number: 20080222869
    Abstract: An apparatus for expanding metal and forming tubing combines two metal-forming operations into a single process. Tubing, such as that used for filters, is desirably expanded so that air or liquid may pass thru “diamonds” formed in the tubing. Expanding metal and forming tubing is accomplished in a single, continuous process by first slitting and expanding the metal, and then locking its seams to form a spiral pipe. This avoids depending on vendors for delivery of expanded metal at fluctuating prices, eliminates intermediate steps of handling the coils, and eliminates rusting while the expanded steel coils await formation into tubing. Tubing made from expanded metal may be used for air filters, oil filters, water filters, separators and other types of filters. Double-wall HVAC ducting systems or silencers can also use expanded material for reducing heat transfer and noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventor: Wilhelmus P.H. Castricum
  • Patent number: 7420109
    Abstract: A novel musical instrument tone hole forming tool. A body includes a distal end to be inserted transversely into a musical instrument through an opening therein. The distal end of the body includes sockets spaced about its periphery. Bearings are located in the sockets. A shaft is moveable within the body and includes reduced diameter distal portions which receive the bearings in a contracted configuration in order to insert the body into the musical instrument. The shaft drives the bearings outward from the distal end of the body in an expanded configuration to form the tone hole when the body is withdrawn out of the musical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Verne Q. Powell Flutes, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Wasser, Bohumir Zmrzly
  • Patent number: 7343678
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for production of a hollow section (1) in which a coiled pre-shape of the hollow section (1) is deep drawn from a sheet part, which is pre-bent after a trimming process and coiled into the final shape of hollow section (1). The edges (45) of hollow section (1) lying in the peripheral direction are then joined together in the contact region. In order to improve the joining capability of hollow section (1) to other components in simple fashion, it is proposed that before the coiling process at least one flat site (35) for joining to another component be embossed before the coiling process in a pre-bent region of the hollow section (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Bien, Michael Halves, Thomas Hülsberg, Uwe Klüssmann, Bernhard Müller, Holger Nuhn, Ralf Pünjer, Olav Reinhardt, Dirk Riewert, Alfred Riggers, Thorsten Sterna
  • Patent number: 7249480
    Abstract: An in-die hydropiercing device comprises a punch with an annular shearing blade which is operated by a hydraulic cylinder and is received in a ring-shaped die button mounted in one of the dies that form a die cavity for the hydroforming of a part, a center support member that is received in the center of the punch and supports the wall of the part inward of the shearing blade during the hydroforming of the part and also during the piercing of the part with the shearing blade, a slug collector, and a slug retainer that is mounted on the center support member and provides for retention of a slug produced from the piercing operation against the center support member and later releases the slug onto the slug collector for disposal following the opening of the dies and insertion of the slug collector between the open dies and then retraction of the slug collector with the slug for slug disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Mircea M. Ghiran, Gerry A. Harmon
  • Patent number: 7178240
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for molding a bicycle tube and the method comprises the following steps: first, providing a tube and then controlling thickness of the tube by a drawing and extruding process for forming a molding portion. Second, plasticize other portions of the tube into particular diameters and shapes by plasticizing processes. Third, hydroform the molding portion of the tube by a mold and a hydroforming device for forming particular three-dimensional shapes. By applying to the above-mentioned method, the tube could be molded into a three-dimensional, unique and delicate shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventor: Chan Shen Lo
  • Patent number: 7127924
    Abstract: A double action punch assembly for a hydroforming die includes a first punch segment having an aperture extending therethrough. The double action punch assembly also includes a movable mounting block disposed in the aperture of the first punch segment. The double action punch assembly further includes a plurality of second punch segments connected to the mounting block. The first punch segment is moved in a first action to pierce a tubular member in a first direction and the second punch segments are moved in a second action to pierce the tubular member in a second direction to produce an opening in the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Mike M. Ghiran
  • Patent number: 7073366
    Abstract: A method to reduce the width of slots or openings in a pipe. The method involve determining the position of the slots relative to the surface of the pipe and determining the width of the slots. A signal is generated corresponding to the determined width and relative position of the slots and the signal is directed to a controller. The controller compares the determined width of the slots with a pre-determined value and identifies slots having widths greater than the pre-determined value. The exterior surface of the pipe adjacent to the slots having determined widths greater than the pre-determined value is treated through causing one or more compression tools to be moved to selectively contact the exterior surface of the pipe adjacent to the identified slots so as to selectively reduce the width of the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Reservior Management (Barbados) Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Alexander Hruschak, Terry James McLean, Richard Todd Ariss
  • Patent number: 6931901
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed wherein a required threaded hole is formed in a hydroformed part with a single tool while the part remains in a hydroforming die cavity. In forming the threaded hole, a hole is first pierced in the wall of the part and then an annular region of the part extending about the hole is extruded inwardly to form an integral tubular neck defining a hole of predetermined depth. The hole is then expanded in a sizing operation to a diameter determined by the required thread to be formed therein by material displacement and the required thread is then formed in the wall of the hole in a material displacing manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Mircea M. Ghiran, Spyros Pete Mellas, Benjamin D Kaufman
  • Patent number: 6877652
    Abstract: Side hole-bearing tubular bodies made of metal and having an inside diameter of up to 2 mm are manufactured by a method which includes punching from a metal sheet a sheet blank in the developed shape of a tubular body and punching in the sheet blank a hole which corresponds to the side hole in the tubular body and/or notches which form the side hole when the sheet blank is pressed into, a tubular shape, in such a way that the metal sheet and the sheet blank remain partly joined; pressing the sheet blank into a tubular shape; and cutting apart the metal sheet and the sheet blank where they remain joined. Metal tubular bodies manufactured in this way can have one or more side holes of any shape, position or number thereon, and are highly suitable for use in medical devices such as syringe needles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignees: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha, Okano Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ooyauchi, Masayuki Okano
  • Patent number: 6840079
    Abstract: An automatic tube tee forming and trimming system uses a single apparatus for milling a hole in a tube, pulling a forming die through the milled hole, and face trimming the resulting pullout joint to the desired height. The forming die is pulled out through the hole via a universal driver which is simply attached to the drawbar without requiring any twisting to lock the assembly. The system may automatically conduct each of the steps once the tube is loaded into the apparatus. The apparatus completes the tube tee forming and trimming process in a relatively small cell, without the need to travel out to another factory area, within a relatively short period of time, and with minimal use of manual labor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Edward O. Jorgenson, John M. Padmos
  • Patent number: 6772518
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming at least one flat-tube insertion slot in a header tube. A sawcut is introduced into the header tube during a sawing step, and the slot is configured, during a subsequent punching step, by means of a slot punch, which punches into the region of the sawcut. A rimmed opening can be configured during the punching step by using a slot punch with a larger width and/or length relative to the sawcut. The sawcut is preferably introduced to a depth less that the wall thickness of the header tube. The respective web region(s) between chamber of a multi-chamber header tube can be compressed during the punching operation to a level lower than that of a header-tube wall region functioning as a flat-tube insertion stop, in order to form a chamber-connecting duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Walter Demuth, Wolfgang Geiger, Martin Kotsch, Hans-Joachim Krauss, Hagen Mittelstrass, Harald Raiser, Michael Sickelmann, Karl-Heinz Staffa, Christoph Walter
  • Patent number: 6698939
    Abstract: A number of holes (3) are formed in the outer circumferential wall (2) of a tubular metallic pipe (1) at regulator intervals in both circumferential and axial directions. Each of the holes (3) consists of a polygonal opening (4) and raised pieces (5) formed by bending the material from the peripheral edge surrounding the opening (3). This pipe may be used as an insert pipe in injection molding an article such as a lead screw, an optical fiber ferrule or the like. The raised pieces reinforce the part of the pipe surrounding each hole, and enhances the bonding between the molding material and insert pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignees: Mold Research Institute Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Act One
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Ishii, Akira Kato
  • Patent number: 6681611
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing holes on the circumference of a hollow section situated in an internal high pressure forming tool uses the action of a punch integrated in the forming tool. A desired breaking point is formed on the hollow section, which follows the edge contour of the operating face of the punch; and after the withdrawal of the punch, the hollow section material surrounded by the desired breaking area, acted upon by internal high pressure, is extracted from the hollow section from the inside to the outside, forming a hole. In order to produce holes on the circumference of hollow sections, in which the shape of the outer circumference of the hollow section is maintained, the wall of the hollow section is weakened to form an unstable thin area. The punch penetrates into the wall of the hollow section at an internal high pressure which corresponds to the forming pressure for forming a hollow blank inserted in the forming tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Haag, Uwe Hardtke, Thomas Huelsberg
  • Publication number: 20020174698
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus and apparatus for manufacturing holes on the circumference of a hollow section situated in an internal high pressure forming tool, by the action of a punch integrated in the forming tool. A desired breaking point is formed on the hollow section, which follows the edge contour of the operating face of the punch; and after the withdrawal of the punch, the hollow section material surrounded by the desired breaking area, acted upon by internal high pressure, is extracted from the hollow section from the inside to the outside, forming a hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG.
    Inventors: Ulrich Haag, Uwe Hardtke, Thomas Huelsberg
  • Patent number: 6484551
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing holes on the circumference of a hollow section situated in an internal high pressure forming tool uses the action of a punch integrated in the forming tool. A desired breaking point is formed on the hollow section, which follows the edge contour of the operating face of the punch; and after the withdrawal of the punch, the hollow section material surrounded by the desired breaking area, acted upon by internal high pressure, is extracted from the hollow section from the inside to the outside, forming a hole. In order to produce holes on the circumference of hollow sections, in which the shape of the outer circumference of the hollow section is maintained, the wall of the hollw section is weakened to form an unstable thin area. The punch penetrates into the wall of the hollow section at an internal high pressure which corresponds to the forming pressure for forming a hollow blank inserted in the forming tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Hagg, Uwe Hardtke, Thomas Huelsberg
  • Patent number: 6470546
    Abstract: A process and a device produces a linkage of a hollow cylindrical air/fuel ratio detector holder to an opening for the impingement of the air/fuel ratio detector, which is fastened into the holder, to an exhaust pipe equipped with exhaust gas. A desired finished shape is given through internal high-pressure remodeling of a blank pipe. During this process, internal high-pressure remodeling creates a contact surface on the exhaust pipe which is formed by a buckling. The contact surface is created to in the inverted shape of the contact contour of the casing surface of the holder so that a dimensionally stable linkage of an air/fuel ratio detector holder to an exhaust pipe is achieved simply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Pierre Bonny, Thomas Huelsberg
  • Patent number: 6453710
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a helically-wound lock-seam tube for a ventilation duct system, the tube is provided with a plurality of air nozzles through its wall. The method involves the steps of: feeding a strip of sheet metal from a supply to a punching and pressing unit; punching and pressing the strip in the punching/pressing unit to form two rows of spaced openings through the strip; feeding the punched strip to a roller unit, in which a longitudinal bead is formed in the strip; feeding the punched and beaded strip to a forming head in which the strip is helically-wound to form a tube having a helical lock seam; feeding the helically-wound lock-seam tube out of the forming head; and cutting the tube into desired lengths. The apparatus has components for carrying out the various method steps, and the finished tube is provided with a desired pattern of air nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Lindab AB
    Inventors: Werner J. Andresen, Rudolf Binggeli
  • Patent number: 6295842
    Abstract: A glass sheet quench unit (22) and method for quenching formed glass sheets by quench gas jets (40) that define a uniformly repeating gas jet impingement pattern (44) that is an equilateral triangular pattern providing uniformly repeating quench cells (46) distributed over the formed glass sheet to be quenched as equilateral hexagonal quench cells. The resultant product is a formed and quenched glass sheet (G) that has oppositely facing surfaces between which glass stresses are uniformly distributed. A method for making the quench unit (22) is performed by initially forming nozzle openings (38) in an elongated nozzle strip (36′), thereafter forming the nozzle strip with a curved cross section, thereafter forming the nozzle strip with a curved shape along its elongated length to provide a curved nozzle cap, subsequently securing the curved nozzle cap to planar sides (30) of an associated nozzle feed row (28), and securing the sides (30) of the nozzle feed row to a plenum housing (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald A. McMaster