Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100024924 | RECOVERY HEAT TREATMENT TO IMPROVE FORMABILITY OF MAGNESIUM ALLOYS - The formability of coiled and annealed (O-temper) magnesium alloy sheet material in high temperature forming operations is sometimes adversely affected by small amounts of cold work introduced into the fine grained material during handling of the coil and unwinding it to obtain blank workpieces for hot stamping, hot blow forming, or the like. When necessary, the formability of the sheet material with regions of hard worked microstructure may be improved by predetermining a recovery heat treatment using small portions of the material in formability tests. The recovery heat treatment, determined for the specific coiled stock, may then be applied to the material of the coil as it is used in making vehicle body panels or the like. | 02-04-2010 |
20100192655 | CLEANING DIES FOR HOT FORMING OF ALUMINUM SHEETS - In substantial volume production operations involving hot blow forming or hot stamping of aluminum alloy sheet workpieces, debris largely comprised of particles of aluminum alloy material adheres to critical forming surfaces of the heated steel tools. This debris mars forming surfaces and causes defects in aluminum alloy parts formed against them. Such aluminum-rich debris may be reactively transformed to change its adherent properties and removed from tool surfaces without removing the heated tool from production. In one embodiment, a hot sacrificial magnesium sheet may be formed on the tool(s) to alloy with aluminum debris and carry it from the forming surface. | 08-05-2010 |
20100282823 | MAGNETIC PARTICLE CONTAINING MATERIAL FOR FASTENING TOGETHER PARTS OR SUBSTRATES - In one exemplary embodiment, a high melting temperature fastening material may be prepared containing magnetic particles that is used to fasten two or more parts substrates together to form an integrated part. | 11-11-2010 |
20110048091 | FORMING OF COMPLEX SHAPES IN ALUMINUM AND MAGNESIUM ALLOY WORKPIECES - A billet of an aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy is formed by a combination of forming operations into a desired article of complex, but open shape. In a first step a billet is heated and extruded to form an extruded workpiece profile having at least first and second sections of different thicknesses. The extruded workpiece may be shaped so that the respective sections are at an angle to each other. The extruded workpiece is then further formed against a forming surface so that the shape of least one of the sections is further formed toward the shape of the article. The methods are suitable for efficient manufacture of many like complex shapes such as brackets and reinforcement members, and even container pans for computers and other electronic devices. | 03-03-2011 |
20110048096 | EMBOSSED SHAPE MEMORY SHEET METAL ARTICLE - Electromagnetic forming methods suitable for creating surface features on a shape memory alloy are described. Features may be created over a range of scales, including those suitable for the generation of holographic images. Features, images, or patterns may be made capable of reversibly appearing and disappearing as a result of changes in temperature and may include temperature sensitive displays for automotive and other applications. | 03-03-2011 |
20110062770 | CAST MAGNESIUM ALLOY WHEELS - A method of imparting superior fatigue performance to a vehicle wheel cast from a magnesium alloy by selective application of friction stir processing to regions of the casting known to be subject to high in-service stresses is described. The method may be particularly applicable to open wheel designs in which a plurality of spokes is used to connect the hub and rim portions of the wheel. | 03-17-2011 |
20110071271 | SMART DEVICES BASED ON A DYNAMIC SHAPE MEMORY EFFECT FOR POLYMERS - Certain polymer materials, including perfluorosulfonic acid ionomers, have been found to be capable of being deformed from an initial permanent shape into three or more temporary shapes. An article thus formed from such a polymer material may be used initially in a final temporary shape. As the article is progressively heated, the polymer composition reverts successively from its final temporary shape through its intermediate temporary shapes. If a suitable temperature is reached, the original permanent shape is recovered. The article may be devised to serve successive functions in each of its several shapes. | 03-24-2011 |
20110111246 | MODIFIED SURFACES USING FRICTION STIR PROCESSING - A procedure for incorporating particles to a predetermined depth in a body to develop a composite surface layer using friction stir processing is described. The process comprises; preparing the surface of the body; applying particulate matter to the prepared surface; selecting a friction stir tool with a pin length substantially equal to the desired composite layer thickness; using a friction stir process to frictionally heat, stir and intermix the particulate matter with the matrix of the article; and traversing the friction stir tool across the body. | 05-12-2011 |
20110121223 | MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL FLUIDS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - One embodiment includes a magnetorheological fluid having an on-state yield stress when a magnetic field is applied thereto and comprising a carrier fluid and magnetizable particles suspended in the carrier fluid, and wherein the suspension of the magnetizable particles in the carrier fluid remains essentially homogenous indefinitely in the absence of the magnetic field, and wherein the on-state yield stress of the magnetorheological fluid is greater than or equal to that of poly(alpha)olefin fluid containing the same concentration of magnetizable particles, and wherein the off-state viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid is between about 0.4 and about 12 Pascal-seconds at 40° C. | 05-26-2011 |
20110214472 | FLUID-ASSISTED NON-ISOTHERMAL STAMPING OF A SHEET BLANK - A method for stamping a desired shape from a sheet blank includes providing the sheet blank. The method also includes locally cooling the sheet blank with a stream of fluid in a predetermined area of high stress concentration to be experienced during forming of the sheet blank into a desired shape. The method additionally includes forming the metal sheet blank into the desired shape in a stamping press with a punch. A system employing the method for forming a sheet blank is also disclosed. | 09-08-2011 |
20110239721 | FLUID COOLING DURING HOT-BLOW-FORMING OF METAL SHEETS AND TUBES - Metal sheets and thin-wall metal tubes may be heated to a hot working temperature and transformed by a hot-blow-forming step to achieve shapes, difficult to attain, without excessive thinning or strain causing damage to the workpiece based on the inherent formability of the metal alloy. The stages of forming of the intended shape in the metal workpiece are analyzed and workpiece regions of potential damage during forming are identified. Then, during actual forming, these regions of the hot workpiece are selectively cooled with air (or other cooling fluid) to reduce thinning or strain in the critical region(s) and to redistribute this strain to adjacent lower strain areas of the workpiece. This hot-blow-forming practice is particularly useful in attaining complex shapes in workpieces of aluminum-based alloys and magnesium-based alloys. | 10-06-2011 |
20120086264 | BIMETALLIC CASTING - A method of forming a casting includes providing a preform to a mold cavity. The preform is formed from one of a first metal and a second metal and defines an interface surface. A molten portion of the other of the first metal and the second metal is cast into the mold such that the molten portion proximately contacts the interface surface of the preform. An interface layer at the interface surface, a first portion defined by the mold cavity and the interface layer, and a second portion defined by the interface layer, are formed during casting. The interface layer may define a metallurgical bond between the first portion and the second portion. In the non-limiting example provided herein, the first portion is substantially comprised of aluminum and the second portion is substantially comprised of magnesium. In a non-limiting example, the casting may be configured as a vehicle wheel. | 04-12-2012 |
20120088116 | BIMETALLIC FORGING AND METHOD - A method of forming a bimetallic forging includes providing a blank comprising at least a first element and a second element of a first metal, and an insert of a second metal. A blank is configured such that the insert may be substantially encapsulated by a shell defined by the first element and the second element. The blank is forged to form a bimetallic forging including an outer portion defined by the shell, an inner portion defined by the insert, and an interface layer therebetween. In a non-limiting example, the first metal is substantially comprised of aluminum and the second metal is substantially comprised of magnesium. In a non-limiting example, the blank may be forged to form a vehicle wheel including an aluminum skin substantially encapsulating a magnesium inner portion, providing wheel with a high strength to weight ratio and improved corrosion performance. | 04-12-2012 |
20120153531 | FORMING PROCESSES USING MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL FLUID TOOLING - A method for forming a part with a tooling assembly includes forming an MRF bladder located within the tooling assembly into a desired shape, then placing the part in the tooling assembly, and forming the part with the tooling assembly by applying pressure until the part obtains the desired shape from the MRF bladder. | 06-21-2012 |
20120186706 | STAMPING OF AGE-HARDENABLE ALUMINUM ALLOY SHEETS - A method for enhancing the formability of press-formed high strength, age-hardenable aluminum alloy sheet is disclosed. The sheet is partially formed when in an overaged condition, for example in a T7 or T8 temper condition, to form a preform. After an annealing and solutionizing process the preform is promptly further deformed in a second forming operation and subsequently aged to develop high strength. The method may be employed to form components of more complex shape from higher strength aluminum alloys such as 6000 series and 7000 series alloys. | 07-26-2012 |
20120234488 | MAGNETIC HOT MELT ADHESIVE AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - One embodiment includes a magnetic particle-containing adhesive an adhesive including a polymer resin having a softening temperature; and magnetic particles dispersed within the polymer resin. | 09-20-2012 |
20120260709 | INTERNAL MANDREL AND METHOD - A method and system for forming a part from a workpiece including a hollow portion, using a mandrel and a conventional press such as a stamping press includes filling the hollow portion of the workpiece with a mandrel material and transforming the mandrel material to form a mandrel. The mandrel material is removable from the formed part and may be recycled to form a mandrel for another workpiece. | 10-18-2012 |
20130205854 | Elevated temperature forming method and preheater apparatus - 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. | 08-15-2013 |
20130219658 | MAGNETIC BUMPER APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE CLOSURE - A magnetic bumper apparatus for constraining a vehicle closure to a vehicle closure interface includes first and second magnetic members configured for attachment to the closure and closure interface, and a non-magnetic bumper element interposed therebetween. Each magnetic member defines a plurality of spatially modulated magnetic fields (SMMF) in corresponding patterns to provide a cumulative SMMF attractive force and a cumulative SMMF repulsive force between the magnetic members and define a separation reference and an alignment reference. The magnetic members in magnetic proximity to each other constrain the closure to the closure interface with respect to the alignment and separation references to prevent contact between a closure surface and a closure interface surface and to define at least one alignment parameter therebetween. Constraining the closure to the closure interface may include resisting a non-magnetic force inputted to the vehicle to prevent contact between the closure and closure interface surfaces. | 08-29-2013 |
20130341137 | High energy density magnetic springs using spatially modulated magnetic fields technology - A magnetic spring utilizing spatially modulated magnetic field patterns of magnetic regions for both stator and slider, allowing custom force curves over the range of motion. Also disclosed is a magnetic spring whose slider can be rotated relative to the stator on the axis, such that the alignment of the spatially modulated magnetic field patterns of the slider and the stator is altered, resulting in changeable force curve for the spring, selected by rotating the slider. | 12-26-2013 |
20140150985 | BIMETALLIC CASTING - A method of forming a casting includes providing a preform to a mold cavity. The preform is formed from one of a first metal and a second metal and defines an interface surface. A molten portion of the other of the first metal and the second metal is cast into the mold such that the molten portion proximately contacts the interface surface of the preform. An interface layer at the interface surface, a first portion defined by the mold cavity and the interface layer, and a second portion defined by the interface layer, are formed during casting. The interface layer may define a metallurgical bond between the first portion and the second portion. In the non-limiting example provided herein, the first portion is substantially comprised of aluminum and the second portion is substantially comprised of magnesium. In a non-limiting example, the casting may be configured as a vehicle wheel. | 06-05-2014 |
20140193608 | STRUCTURAL COMPOSITE PANEL WITH METALLIC FOAM CORE - A structural panel includes a closed-cell foam core formed of a metallic material; a first carbon-fiber panel bonded to a first side of the closed-cell foam core; and a second carbon-fiber panel bonded to a second side of the closed-cell foam core such that the foam core is disposed between the first carbon-fiber panel and the second carbon-fiber panel. | 07-10-2014 |
20140196272 | METHOD OF ISOLATING METALLIC FASTENERS IN COMPOSITE PANELS - A method of isolating a metallic fastener from a carbon-fiber composite panel includes inserting the metallic fastener within an electrically isolating annular collar; inserting the metallic fastener and electrically isolating annular collar within a hole defined by the carbon-fiber composite panel; and securing the metallic fastener to the carbon-fiber composite panel. The annular collar may be circumferentially disposed about the metallic fastener such that the annular collar separates and electrically isolates the entire metallic fastener from the carbon-fiber composite panel. As such, the annular collar may minimize the galvanic reaction between the fastener and the carbon-fiber composite panel. | 07-17-2014 |
20140196837 | METHOD OF INTEGRALLY FORMING RIBS IN A COMPOSITE PANEL - A method of integrally forming a composite rib structure includes positioning a first fiber sheet on a pre-preg mold, the pre-preg mold including a first channel and a second channel separated by a wedge-shaped protrusion, and the fiber sheet including a plurality of fibers oriented along a first common direction. The method further including extending the wedge-shaped protrusion through the first fiber sheet such that a subset of the plurality of fibers are displaced about the protrusion and into each of the respective first channel and second channel; applying a resin within each of respective first channel and second channel to the plurality of fibers; pre-curing the resin to form a pre-preg rib structure within the channels; and removing the pre-preg rib structure from the pre-preg mold. | 07-17-2014 |
20140197569 | METHOD OF FABRICATING A HOLE IN A COMPOSITE PANEL - A method of forming a hole in a composite panel includes positioning a first fiber sheet on a layup table, where the layup table has a forming tool extending outward from a portion of the table, and the fiber sheet includes a plurality of fibers oriented along a first common direction. The method further includes extending the forming tool through the first fiber sheet such that a subset of the plurality of fibers are displaced about the forming tool: applying a resin to the sheet of fibers; pre-curing the resin to form a pre-preg part defining a hole about the forming tool; and removing the pre-preg part from the layup table. | 07-17-2014 |
20140232500 | OBJECT RETENTION ON INTERIOR VEHICULAR COMPONENTS UTILIZING CODED MAGNETS - A method of and attachment system for securing and manipulating attractive objects upon an interior vehicular surface, utilizing at least one coded magnet to selectively attach/retain the objects, and provide various other functions, including aiding in alignment, orientation, and retrieval of the objects, and activating an associated sub-system. | 08-21-2014 |
20140265414 | LOW MASS TRUCK END GATE UTILIZING ALUMINUM STAMPINGS AND EXTRUSIONS - A number of variations may include a product including an extruded support beam constructed and arranged to be used as an inner support for a vehicle end gate. | 09-18-2014 |
20150086791 | APPLICATIONS OF A REVERSIBLE DRY ADHESIVE SYSTEM - One variation includes a method including using a reversible dry adhesive system to reversibly couple a first substrate to a second substrate. One variation includes a method including using a reversible dry adhesive system to reversibly couple a first substrate to a second substrate during building or reconfiguring a product. | 03-26-2015 |