Patent Grant
7040131
The present application is a National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/FR02/02821, filed Aug. 7, 2002, which published as WO 03/013758 on Feb. 20, 2003. Further, the present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of French Patent Application No. 01/10551 filed on Aug. 7, 2001.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to tools for cold forming parts from metallic blanks by revolution, in particular for forming grooves or a knurling.
2. Discussion of Background Information
“Cold forming” means a deformation of the metal of the blank at ambient or semi-hot temperature (up to a temperature of 300–500° C. depending on the metal of the blank), below its melting point.
To form the part from a blank, one generally proceeds according to a so-called “penetration step” during which the blank is engaged with at least one (generally two) forming tool. This penetration step is followed by a second so-called “calibration step” during which the blank is finally calibrated to the desired dimensions for the formed part. During these two steps; the blank is displaced in a relative rotation with respect to the tool, while maintaining the blank under pressure against the tool.
The useful surface of the tool has a plurality of trapezoidal or prismatic teeth having straight or curvilinear sides, and capable of forming grooves or other desired part profile. The teeth of the tool are regularly spaced over a surface of the tool called the “tooth gullet.” They can have different heights in relation to the tooth gullet. The tooth gullet itself can have a variable height in relation to a forming reference axis or plane on the tool, which usually defines the positioning and/or displacement of the tool in relation to the blank to be formed.
These variations in height define the overall profile of the tool, which generally has a first zone, so-called “penetration zone,” for the first step, followed by a second zone, so-called “calibration zone,” for the second step. In known tools, the penetration zone has teeth, the height of which increases with respect to the forming reference axis. During the displacement of the blank in relation to the tool, a slip may occur due to a loss of contact between the surface of the blank to be formed and the tips of the first teeth of the tool. Furthermore, the Applicant has noted a frequent wear on the first teeth.
The present invention improves the situation.
The invention in particular relates to a cold forming tool, adapted to form a part by revolution, with substantially no axial displacement; i.e., a blank is rotated and formed by the tool without this being accompanied by a helical movement of the blank, which would comprise a significant axial component. The forming tool has regularly-spaced teeth on a tooth gullet defining, with respect to a forming reference axis which the tool comprises, at least one penetration zone followed by a calibration zone.
According to a first characteristic, the teeth of the tool have a height that increases substantially from the penetration zone to the calibration zone, whereas the tooth gullet is located at a decreasing distance from the forming reference axis.
According to a second characteristic, the increase in the tooth height is more rapid than the decrease in the distance from the tooth gullet to the forming reference axis. Thus, the tips of the teeth are separated from the forming reference axis by a substantially increasing distance, and this from the penetration zone to the beginning of the calibration zone.
According to a third characteristic, the tool comprises a plate that is wider than the teeth at the beginning of the penetration zone. By “plate” is meant a surface that demarcates the beginning of the penetration zone, and which may be planar, particularly for a tool of the rack type, or incurved, particularly for a tool of the knurl type.
Preferably, the tooth gullet has this plate, and the first teeth of the penetration zone follow the plate.
Preferably, the distance between the plate and the forming reference axis is substantially equal to a mean distance from the teeth, at mid-height, in relation to the forming reference axis.
According to an advantageous optional characteristic, the teeth, at mid-height, and the forming reference axis are separated by a substantially constant distance, at least in the penetration zone.
According to another advantageous optional characteristic, the tooth gullet is at a maximum distance from the forming reference axis at the beginning of the penetration zone.
According to yet another advantageous optional characteristic, the distance from the tooth gullet to the forming axis varies in a substantially continuous manner, at least from the beginning of the penetration zone (A) up to the beginning of the calibration zone (B).
According to another advantageous optional characteristic, the height of the teeth varies in a substantially continuous manner, at least in the penetration zone.
According to another advantageous optional characteristic, the tool further comprises a starting zone that precedes the penetration zone and comprises a bottom line at an increasing distance with respect to the forming reference axis.
Preferably, the starting zone is formed substantially by a lead chamfer, and it immediately precedes the penetration zone, so that the bottom line and forming reference axis, at the end of the starting zone, on the one hand, and the tooth gullet and the forming reference axis, at the beginning of the penetration zone, on the other hand, are separated by substantially equal respective distances.
According to another advantageous optional characteristic, the tooth height is substantially constant in the calibration zone.
According to another advantageous optional characteristic, the distance from the tooth gullet to the forming reference axis is substantially constant in the calibration zone.
According to another advantageous optional characteristic, the teeth, at least in said penetration zone, have a substantially trapezoidal shape with straight or curvilinear sides.
According to another advantageous optional characteristic, the calibration zone is followed by a decompression zone in which, since the teeth, in principle, have a constant profile, the distance between a given point of the profile of each tooth and the forming reference axis is substantially decreasing, which can be more simply expressed in this case as follows: the distance between the teeth and the forming reference axis is substantially decreasing.
According to another advantageous optional characteristic, the tool comprises a substantially planar useful surface, of the rack type, whereas the forming reference substantially has the same direction as the larger side of the rack. The forming reference on a tool having a useful surface of the rack type can also be defined by a support plane of the rack.
In a variation, the tool comprises a substantially cylindrical useful surface, of the knurl type, whereas the forming reference axis coincides substantially with the axis of rotation of the knurl.
The present invention also aims at a cold forming machine that comprises at least one tool according to the invention.
Preferably, the machine comprises two tools, as well as an arrangement for displacing the tools in relation to one another, while maintaining the useful surfaces of the tools opposite one another.
In an embodiment where the tools comprise a substantially planar useful surface, of the rack type, the machine advantageously comprises an arrangement for the relative displacement of the tools, in translation and in opposite directions, along their respective reference axes.
In another embodiment where the tools comprise a substantially cylindrical useful surface, of the knurl type, the machine advantageously comprises an arrangement for the relative displacement of the tools, in rotation and in the same direction.
According to an advantageous optional characteristic, the arrangement for the relative displacement of the tools are arranged to be activated in concordance, such that the penetration and calibration zones of one tool coincide with the penetration and calibration zones, respectively, of the other tool.
Advantageously, the machine further comprises a secondary arrangement for distancing the tools from one another. The secondary arrangement is arranged to be activated at least after the calibration of the blank.
As a complement, or as a variation, the tool has a decompression zone in which the distance from the teeth in relation to the forming reference axis is substantially decreasing.
The present invention also provides for a method for cold forming a part blank, comprising the following process stages:
According to a first characteristic of the method, stage a) provides a tool according to the invention and, during stage c), the blank is first engaged with the beginning of the penetration zone of the tool.
According to a second characteristic of the method, the tooth gullet of the tool comprises a plate that is wider than the teeth at the beginning of the penetration zone, and, in stage c), the blank is first engaged with this plate.
Advantageously, the tool further comprises a starting zone that precedes the penetration zone and comprises a bottom line at an increasing distance in relation to the forming reference axis, and, in stage b), the blank is positioned opposite the starting zone of the tool.
Preferably, during stage a), a second homologous tool is provided, and, during stage c), the blank is engaged against the beginning of the respective penetration zones of the tools.
The invention also provides for a cold forming tool having a forming reference axis and a plurality of regularly-spaced teeth with tips wherein the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth project away from an outer surface. The cold forming tool comprises at least one penetration zone defined by the forming reference axis and comprising some of the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth. A calibration zone following the at least one penetration zone. The calibration zone is defined by the forming reference axis and comprises some of the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth. The plurality of regularly-spaced teeth have a tooth height that increases substantially from the at least one penetration zone to the calibration zone. A distance between the outer surface and the forming reference axis decreases from the at least one penetration zone to the calibration zone. A rate of increase in the tooth height between the at least one penetration zone and the calibration zone is greater than a rate of decrease in the distance between the outer surface and the forming reference axis between the at least one penetration zone and the calibration zone, whereby a distance between the tips and the forming reference axis increases substantially from a beginning of the at least one penetration zone to a beginning of the calibration zone, wherein the cold forming tool is adapted to form a part by rotating the part and ensuring that the part has substantially no axial displacement.
The may further comprise a plate region having a width that is greater than a width of the plurality of regularly spaced teeth located at the beginning of the at least one penetration zone. A distance between the outer surface and the forming reference axis may be the same as a distance between an outer surface of the plate region and the forming reference axis. The plate region may be arranged adjacent a beginning of the at least one penetration zone. The at least one penetration zone may be arranged between the plate region and the calibration zone. A mean distance between a mid-height of the plurality of teeth and the forming reference axis may be substantially equal to a distance between an outer surface of the plate region and the forming reference axis.
At least in the at least one penetration zone, a distance between a mid-height of each of the plurality of teeth and the forming reference axis may be substantially constant. The distance between the outer surface and the forming reference axis at a beginning of the at least one penetration zone may comprise a maximum distance between the outer surface and the forming reference axis. The distance between the outer surface and the forming reference axis may be greater at a beginning of the at least one penetration zone than in another portions of the at least one penetration zone and than in the calibration zone. The distance between the outer surface and the forming reference axis may vary in a substantially continuous manner at least between a beginning of the at least one penetration zone and a beginning of the calibration zone. The distance between the outer surface and the forming reference axis changes substantially continuously at least between a beginning of the at least one penetration zone and a beginning of the calibration zone.
The distance between the tips and the forming reference axis may change substantially continuously from a beginning of the at least one penetration zone to a beginning of the calibration zone. The tooth height may change substantially continuously from a beginning of the at least one penetration zone to a beginning of the calibration zone.
The tool may further comprise a starting zone defined by the forming reference axis. The at least one penetration zone may be arranged between the starting zone and the calibration zone. The starting zone may comprise an outer surface having an increasing distance with respect to the forming reference axis. The starting zone may comprise an outer surface whose distance from the forming reference axis increases between a beginning of the starting zone and an end of the starting zone arranged adjacent a beginning of the at least one penetrating zone. At the end of the starting zone, the distance between the outer surface of the starting zone and the forming reference axis may be substantially equal to the distance between the outer surface and the forming reference axis in the beginning of the at least one penetrating zone. The tooth height in the calibration zone may be substantially constant. The distance between the outer surface and the forming reference axis in the calibration zone may be substantially constant. Each of the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth may have a substantially trapezoidal shape in the at least one penetrating zone. The trapezoidal shape may comprise one or straight sides and curvilinear sides.
The tool may further comprise a decompression zone defined by the forming reference axis and comprising some of the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth. The calibration zone may be arranged between the at least one penetrating zone and the decompression zone. A distance between the tips and the forming reference axis may decrease substantially from a beginning to an end of the decompression zone.
The cold forming tool may comprise a substantially cylindrical part engaging surface. The substantially cylindrical part engaging surface may comprise a knurl surface. The forming reference axis may substantially coincide with an axis of rotation of the knurl surface.
The invention also provides for a cold forming machine comprising at least one cold forming tool as described above.
The invention also provides for a cold forming machine comprising two cold forming tools as described above wherein axes of the two cold forming tools are arranged parallel to one another.
The invention also provides for a cold forming tool having a substantially planar part engaging surface and a plurality of regularly-spaced teeth with tips wherein the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth project away from an outer surface. The cold forming tool comprises at least one penetration zone comprising some of the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth. A calibration zone is arranged adjacent the at least one penetration zone. The calibration zone comprises some of the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth. The plurality of regularly-spaced teeth have a tooth height that increases substantially from the at least one penetration zone to the calibration zone. A distance between the outer surface and a reference plane decreases from the at least one penetration zone to the calibration zone. A rate of increase in the tooth height between the at least one penetration zone and the calibration zone is greater than a rate of decrease in the distance between the outer surface and the reference plane between the at least one penetration zone and the calibration zone, whereby a distance between the tips and the reference plane increases substantially from a beginning of the at least one penetration zone to a beginning of the calibration zone. The cold forming tool is adapted to form a part by rotating the part and ensuring that the part has substantially no axial displacement.
The cold forming tool may comprises a cold forming rack.
The invention also provides for a cold forming machine comprising at least one cold forming tool as described above.
The invention also provides for a cold forming machine comprising two cold forming tools as described above wherein the substantially planar part engaging surfaces of the two cold forming tools are arranged parallel to one another.
The invention also provides for a cold forming machine comprising a first cold forming tool having a first part engaging surface and a plurality of regularly-spaced teeth with tips wherein the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth project away from a first surface. The first cold forming tool comprises at least one penetration zone comprising some of the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth, a calibration zone arranged adjacent the at least one penetration zone, the calibration zone comprising some of the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth, the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth having a tooth height that increases substantially from the at least one penetration zone to the calibration zone, a distance between the first surface and a first reference location decreasing from the at least one penetration zone to the calibration zone, and a rate of increase in the tooth height between the at least one penetration zone and the calibration zone being greater than a rate of decrease in the distance between the first surface and the first reference location between the at least one penetration zone and the calibration zone, whereby a distance between the tips and the first reference location increases substantially from a beginning of the at least one penetration zone to a beginning of the calibration zone. A second cold forming tool comprises a second part engaging surface and a plurality of regularly-spaced teeth with tips wherein the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth project away from a second surface. The second cold forming tool comprises at least one penetration zone comprising some of the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth, a calibration zone arranged adjacent the at least one penetration zone, the calibration zone comprising some of the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth, the plurality of regularly-spaced teeth having a tooth height that increases substantially from the at least one penetration zone to the calibration zone, a distance between the second surface and a second reference location decreasing from the at least one penetration zone to the calibration zone, and a rate of increase in the tooth height between the at least one penetration zone and the calibration zone being greater than a rate of decrease in the distance between the second surface and the second reference location between the at least one penetration zone and the calibration zone, whereby a distance between the tips and the second reference location increases substantially from a beginning of the at least one penetration zone to a beginning of the calibration zone. An arrangement for moving the first and second cold forming tools. The cold forming machine is adapted to form a part by rotating the part and ensuring that the part has substantially no axial displacement.
The first and second part engaging surfaces may be arranged opposite one another. The first reference location may comprise a first rotation axis of the first cold forming tool and the second reference location comprises a second rotation axis of the second cold forming tool. The first reference location may comprise a first reference plane and the second reference location comprises a second reference plane. The first and second part engaging surfaces may comprise substantially cylindrical part engaging surfaces. The first and second part engaging surfaces may comprise substantially planar part engaging surfaces.
The arrangement for moving the first and second cold forming tools may move the first and second tools relative to one another and in opposite directions. The arrangement for moving the first and second cold forming tools may move the first and second tools parallel to one another and in opposite directions. The arrangement for moving the first and second cold forming tools may cause the first and second tools to rotate. The arrangement for moving the first and second cold forming tools may rotate the first and second tools in opposite directions. The arrangement for moving the first and second cold forming tools may move, at the same time, the first and second tools into engagement with the part.
The machine may further comprise an arrangement for moving the first and second cold forming tools away from one another, whereby the arrangement for moving the first and second cold forming tools away from one another is adapted to be activated at least after a blank calibration stage is performed.
Each of the first and second cold forming tools may comprise a decompression zone. A distance between the tips and the first reference location may decrease substantially from a beginning to an end of the decompression zone of the first cold forming tool, and a distance between the tips and the second reference location may decrease substantially from a beginning to an end of the decompression zone of the second cold forming tool.
The invention also provides for a method for cold forming a blank, wherein the method comprises positioning at least one forming tool adjacent to the blank, the at least one forming tool comprising a penetration zone followed by a calibration zone and engaging the blank first with a beginning of the penetration zone and then with the calibration zone, wherein the blank moves during the engaging.
The at least one forming tool may further comprise an outer surface an a plurality of teeth projecting away from an outer surface. The at least one forming tool may further comprise a plate region having a width that is greater than a width of the plurality of teeth arranged in the beginning of the penetration zone. The engaging may comprise engaging the blank first with the plate region, then with the beginning of the penetration zone, and then with the calibration zone.
The at least one forming tool may further comprise a starting zone that precedes the penetration zone. The starting zone may comprise an outer surface whose distance from a forming reference axis increases between a beginning of the starting zone and an end of the starting zone arranged adjacent a beginning of the penetrating zone, and the engaging may comprise engaging the blank first with the starting zone, then with the penetration zone, and then with the calibration zone.
The positioning may comprise positioning two forming tools adjacent to the blank, each of the two forming tools comprising a penetration zone followed by a calibration zone and the engaging may comprise engaging the blank with the two tools first with a beginning of the penetration zones and then with the calibration zones. The two tools may be homologous.
The invention also provides for a cold forming tool having a plurality of teeth with tips wherein the plurality of teeth project away from an outer surface, wherein the cold forming tool comprises a penetration zone comprising some of the plurality of teeth. A calibration zone is arranged adjacent the penetration zone and comprising some of the plurality of teeth. Each adjacent tooth of the penetrating zone increases in height from a beginning of the penetration zone to a beginning of the calibration zone. A distance between the outer surface and a reference point decreases from a beginning of the penetration zone to at least a beginning of the calibration zone. A rate of increase in the tooth height between the penetration zone and the calibration zone is greater than a rate of decrease in the distance between the outer surface and the reference point between the penetration zone and the calibration zone, whereby a distance between the tips and the reference point substantially increases from a beginning of the at least one penetration zone to a beginning of the calibration zone. The cold forming tool is adapted to form a part by rotating the part and ensuring that the part has substantially no axial displacement.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings.
The following detailed description and drawings essentially contain elements with unquestionable characteristics. Therefore, they will not only help to better understand the description, but they will also contribute to the definition of the invention, if necessary.
Although the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinafter, tools enabling cold or semi-hot forming of grooves on revolving parts, as well as machines having such tools, are described here.
Reference is initially made to
In the case of a tool of the knurl type, the forming reference axis X corresponds to the axis of rotation of the knurl.
In the example shown, the tool is of the rack type. While the reference axis X, for a knurl, is its axis of rotation, the latter, for a rack in translation, is thrown into an infinite plane. For convenience, a plane substantially parallel to the larger side of the rack or yet to its direction of displacement is considered in this case as a forming reference. In a variation, to take mechanical effects into account, the profile of the tooth gullet F can also be defined with respect to the distance that separates it from a forming reference plane, this reference plane corresponding to a support plane of the rack (perpendicular to the plane of
In the example shown, the teeth have a substantially trapezoidal shape. In a variation, they can be substantially prismatic, with a triangular base. In particular, the teeth have a variable height h, but they remain substantially circumscribed in a trapezoid (shown in dotted line), such that the pitch p between the teeth remains substantially constant and the angles of the flanks of the teeth remain substantially constant with respect to the tooth gullet F.
In
Most often, this tooth thickness “s” is substantially constant in the penetration and calibration zones.
Reference is now made to
In the penetration zone, the profile of the tool therefore develops radially to penetrate progressively into the part. The forming itself ends in the calibration zone. In the decompression zone, the part finally formed comprises a profile corresponding to that of the tool.
The profile of the tool of the type shown in
In the so-called technique of “part forming by revolution,” two or more profiled tools are engaged against a blank to be shaped, between two contact zones that are diametrically opposed or yet circularly arranged. These tools are in contact with the blank, in rotation, without a slip, and exert on the latter a progressive and deforming pressure in order to create on the blank a profile conjugate with that of the tools. In the methods currently used for cold forming on the machines having progressive tools, the machines using cylindrical knurls with a progressive profile, the machines using rectilinear tools (racks) with a progressive profile, are implemented.
The forming of grooves lends itself to numerous applications, particularly in the automobile industry for the mass production of transmission parts, gear boxes, torsion bars, and more.
However, in this type of prior art tool, a slip is possible when the blank is rotated, this slip being due to the loss of contact between the first teeth of the tool and the blank, which, as a result, causes a quality defect in the tooth division.
Reference is now made to
However, the profile of the penetration zone A of the tool according to the invention is different from that of the prior art shown in
According to the invention, the height of the teeth D substantially increases in the penetration zone A (profile of the tip hp of the teeth shown in dotted line), whereas the tooth gullet F is separated from the forming reference axis X by a decreasing distance (to be compared to the distance separating the tooth gullet from the reference axis X in the calibration zone B shown in dotted line FC1). The increase in the height of the teeth is quicker (more substantial) than the decrease in the distance from the tooth gullet to the forming reference axis. The curve hp passing by the tips of the teeth is therefore separated from the forming reference axis X by an increasing distance, from the beginning of the penetration zone A up to the beginning of the calibration zone B.
The present invention can rely on the definition of the tooth height and of the tooth gullet level taken with respect to the reference axis or plane, or an element related to them.
Two principles of progressivity are defined:
These laws define a continuous progressivity, adjusted to each example of application, according to a mathematical law providing small variations in progressivity, for example a polynomial law, which can be linear in the simplest case.
At the beginning of the penetration zone A, the tooth height is practically zero, but the tooth gullet F has a plate PL (or a convex incurved surface) that immediately precedes the first teeth. Thus, the tooth gullet F is at a maximum distance from the forming reference axis X at the beginning of the penetration zone A.
At the same time, the characteristic according to which the tooth thickness s is substantially constant in the penetration and calibration zones can be preserved.
In the schematic illustrations of
According to one of the advantages procured by the present invention, the first teeth are more resistant, which makes it possible to ensure pressurizing on a shorter zone and thus to better distribute the load on the penetration teeth that follow. The useful life of the tool can thus be prolonged. Moreover, the reduction in the loss of contact between the first teeth (due to the acceleration of the pressurizing) makes it possible to improve the division quality of the rolled parts. Furthermore, the manufacture of the tools themselves makes it possible to reduce the tool machining time, up to 8% according to the tests conducted by the Applicant, since only the useful portion of the toothing must be machined here.
A tool of the rack type is known from the document WO94/20238 for cold forming gearwheels, and the profile of which begins with an increasing height of the gearwheel teeth and a tooth gullet of decreasing height. However, this beginning of the tool profile corresponds to both a penetration zone and a calibration zone, which are specific to the forming of gearwheels. In particular, to form gearwheels, according to this document, the teeth of the tool are defined to respect specific shapes and dimensions. In this case, the tooth height is selected for penetrating into the blank, as well as for calibrating in particular the tip and gullet of the teeth of the gearwheel to be formed. For the forming of grooves, in the sense of the present invention, only the flanks of the teeth must respect particular shapes and dimensions, and the invention takes advantage of the tooth height in the penetration zone, adapted progressively to the minimum necessary for the displacement of the material of the blank. In the invention, the first teeth of the tool have no particular function of calibrating the tooth gullet and tips.
Thus, the tool of the present invention is profiled such that the tooth gullet, in the penetration zone, does not deform the blank substantially and, therefore, does not contribute to its deformation.
Advantageously, the tool of the invention further has a starting zone AM, the profile of which is defined by a substantially increasing distance with respect to the reference axis X and joins the tooth gullet of the penetration zone A. In the example shown, the profile of the starting zone AM has the form of a lead chamfer CH, which is extended by the plate PL of the penetration zone A.
According to a first advantage procured by the present invention, the tool according to the invention can be used directly on one of the aforementioned machines, without modification of the latter.
Reference is now made to
Reference is now made to
In order not to crowd
Reference is now made to
In the example described, the penetration zone extends over an angular range of approximately 252°. The calibration zone extends over an angular range of 32°. The decompression zone extends over an angular range of 16°.
Referring to
It is noted that the profile of the tool is substantially continuous from the starting zone to the decompression zone. In particular, the distance from the tooth gullet to the forming axis varies in a substantially continuous manner, and the tooth height also varies in a substantially continuous manner, at least in the penetration zone.
In the calibration zone B, the teeth substantially have the same profile and are shown on scale in
As previously mentioned, the characteristic according to which the tooth thickness s is substantially constant in the penetration and calibration zones can be preserved at the same time.
However, in the decompression zone C, the teeth keep the same height as in the calibration zone, but the tooth gullet F is separated from the reference axis X by a decreasing distance, which advantageously makes it possible to progressively relax the material of the part formed.
In the variation of
Naturally, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described hereinabove by way of example; it extends to other alternative embodiments.
Thus, it is understood that the invention relates mainly to the profile of the penetration zone, and that the tool according to the invention can be without a decompression zone. In this alternative, its useful surface ends with a calibration zone.
The values referenced in
Furthermore, in the examples shown hereinafter, the penetration zone begins with a plate PL. Alternatively, it can begin with teeth of relatively low height, for example, less than 10% of the height of the teeth in the calibration zone.
Although advantageous, the starting zone including the lead chamfer CH can be eliminated in simplified tool versions.
In the examples described hereinabove, the teeth have a substantially trapezoidal shape with straight sides. Alternatively, their sides can be curvilinear.
In the examples shown, the teeth have a profile capable of engraving grooves in the parts to be formed. Naturally, the present invention encompasses other alternatives with respect to the specific profile of the forming teeth.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 10551 | Aug 2001 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR02/02821 | 8/7/2002 | WO | 00 | 2/5/2004 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO03/013758 | 2/20/2003 | WO | A |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 2886990 | Bregi et al. | May 1959 | A |
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| 3201964 | Walters | Aug 1965 | A |
| 3626733 | Zook et al. | Dec 1971 | A |
| 3651678 | Zook et al. | Mar 1972 | A |
| 3979859 | Miller | Sep 1976 | A |
| 4362045 | Mickas | Dec 1982 | A |
| 4610154 | Carene, Jr. | Sep 1986 | A |
| 4862718 | LaCroix | Sep 1989 | A |
| 5659955 | Plamper | Aug 1997 | A |
| 6324887 | Sharp | Dec 2001 | B1 |
| 6779270 | Sonti et al. | Aug 2004 | B1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 376875 | Sep 2004 | CN |
| 2424033 | Sep 2004 | DE |
| 9420238 | Sep 1994 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040173000 A1 | Sep 2004 | US |
