Metal treatment – Process of modifying or maintaining internal physical... – Heating or cooling of solid metal
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-19
2001-10-09
Yee, Deborah (Department: 1742)
Metal treatment
Process of modifying or maintaining internal physical...
Heating or cooling of solid metal
C148S320000, C072S054000, C072S060000, C072S061000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299709
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bow-formed bumper for a vehicle and a method of forming the bow-formed bumper. The method of forming the bow-formed bumper may comprise hydroforming the bow-formed bumper.
The present invention further relates to a method of hydroforming a blank with a closed profile in a partible tool by supplying a pressure fluid into the blank.
2. Background Information
Hydroforming is a well-known forming process that uses pressurized fluid, such as water or oil, or, less commonly, pressurized gas to deform a structural member into a desired shape. Generally in this process, the structural member is placed inside a die, usually made of two die sections that are placed about the structural member. The inside of the die determines the shape of the product to be formed. The structural member is then filled with the pressurized fluid. The pressure of the fluid is such that the structural member is outwardly deformed into conformance with the shape of the interior of the die to create the desired shape. This is especially useful in creating substantially tubular or box-shaped beams or other structural pieces for use in vehicles.
This well known technique is limited substantially to steels with a good formability. Steel with a high yield strength has too limited elongation and can therefore only be used when the forming is light. It is, however, conventional to hydroform in several steps and to anneal between the forming steps when greater forming is desired than the steel itself permits.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to receive a high strength product in a fast and simple way.
A further object of the present invention is to create a bow-formed bumper for a vehicle and to develop a method of forming the bow-formed bumper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, the tool is maintained cooled, a blank that is hardenable is heated to a hardening temperature, placed in the tool and pressurized so that it is formed into contact with the tool, and kept in contact with the tool and the pressure fluid long enough to permit it to harden before it is removed from the tool, the forming being so fast that the blank will not have time to harden by the contact with the pressure fluid.
In other words, according to one possible embodiment of the present invention, a tool or die apparatus can be maintained at a substantially cool temperature. A hardenable blank or structural piece can be heated to a hardening temperature and then placed in the tool. The blank can then be pressurized with a pressurized liquid so that it is deformed by contact with the tool. The blank can be kept in contact with the tool and the pressure fluid long enough to permit it to harden before it is removed from the tool. The forming of the blank can be so fast that the blank will not have time to harden by contact with the pressure fluid.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1490535 (1977-11-01), None
patent: 64771 (1927-02-01), None
patent: 435527 (1984-10-01), None
patent: 508902 (1998-11-01), None
Nils H. Ljungman & Associates
SSAB Hardtech AB
Yee Deborah
LandOfFree
Bow-formed bumper, a method of forming a bow-formed bumper,... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Bow-formed bumper, a method of forming a bow-formed bumper,..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bow-formed bumper, a method of forming a bow-formed bumper,... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2573901