Patent Application
20220032697
The invention relates generally to a method for manufacturing a forged part. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a high strength complex tow hook.
Tow hook assemblies are devices that are secured to vehicles allowing the vehicles to be towed and to tow. These assemblies need to be compact, designed to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible, and they need to be functional. To be functional, the tow hook assemblies must be strong enough to handle the forces generated in a towing event. As such, the tow hook assemblies must be strong.
A method for manufacturing a tow hook assembly begins with heating a first steel blank to within a range of 2200° F. and 2300° F. to create a first heated steel blank. A second steel blank is heated to within the range of 2200° F. at 2300° F. to create a second heated steel blank. The first heated steel blank is forged into a tow hook. The second heated steel blank is forged into a flange plate. The tow hook in the flange plate are welded together to form the tow hook assembly.
Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring to
Formed out of the operational end 20 is a hook 24. The hook 24 has a support end 26 that extends out from the operational end 20 in a generally co-planar manner. The hook 24 includes a transverse section 32. The transverse section 32 receives the forces generated from the towing activity. The transverse section 32 receives another hook, a rope, or towing straps (none shown) when the tow hook assembly 10 is being utilized. A retention end 34 extends out from the transverse section 32 in a direction back toward the main body 12 and is used to retain whatever is being coupled to the tow hook assembly 10 for operation from sliding off the transverse section 32.
Referring to
The flange plate 14 includes a top plate 40 and a connecting body 42 extending down from the top plate 40. The top plate includes two holes 44, 46 disposed adjacent to ends 50, 52, respectively. The two holes 44, 46 receive bolts (not shown) therein, whereby nuts threadingly engage the bolts and tighten the flange plate 14 to a support structure of the vehicle. The connecting body 42 extends down and engages the main body 12. The connecting body 42 includes an alignment recess 54 that receives the alignment boss 36 therein. This ensures that the flange plate 14 and the main body 12 are in alignment when fabricated.
Referring to
When heated, the first heated steel blank is then forged into the main body 12 (a tow hook) at 76. The second heated steel blank is forged into the flange plate 14 at 80. Steps 76 and 80 may be performed in parallel or in series and that is because the parts being fabricated are cooled after they are forged, so they can be made at the same time or at different times. In their formation, the alignment recess 54 is formed in the flange plate 14 and an alignment boss 36 is formed to extend out from the main body 12.
As stated above, the main body 12 and the flange plate 14 are cooled at 82 after they are formed. As stated above, the main body 12 in the flange plate 14 may be forged at the same time or they may be forged sequentially. This is because once the main body 12 in the flange plate 14 are forged, they are cooled to room temperature. Room temperature is defined as the temperature by which operators of the forging equipment can function.
The tow hook main body 12 and the flange plate 14 are aligned at 84. The flange plate 14 is placed over the main body 12 allowing the alignment boss 36 to be inserted into the alignment recess 54. Once aligned, the flange plate 14 is welded to the main body 12 to create the tow hook assembly 10 at 86. By forging the flange plate 14 independent of the tow hook main body 12, the tow hook assembly 10 is made in a process that reduces the amount of waste material being created when the tow hook assembly 10 is forged as a unitary product. The reduction of waste material is augmented by the use of round or cylindrical billet for the first steel blank. As it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the use of two steel blanks further reduces waste as opposed to forging the tow hook assembly 10 from a single billet. The method ends at 90.
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.
Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
