1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forming tube blanks to achieve a desired shape. Specifically, the method involves the forming of tube blanks that have a variable wall thickness. More specifically, the forming process comprises hydroforming.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the automotive industry, various structural components are made from tubular blanks. Such blanks are usually formed into the desired component shapes using various forming technologies. One of such techniques that has become popular is hydroforming. In hydroforming, a tubular blank is placed within a die having a shape of the desired component. The ends of the tube are sealed and a pressurized fluid is applied to the interior of the blank. Such pressure expands the blank until it conforms to the shape of the die cavity. In the usual case, prior to hydroforming, the tube blank is bent to the desired shape and the hydroforming step is used to provide the desired cross sectional shape. Generally, the wall thickness of the tubular blank is generally maintained throughout the forming process, although a slight degree of reduction may be realized due to the stretching of the tube.
In certain cases, it is desired that the finished product or component have a variable thickness in order to, inter alia, reduce the overall weight of the final product or to reduce the cost of the materials used to form the component. In other cases, the final product is required to have localized reinforcing in regions that are subjected to stresses, such as bends etc. or, in other cases, regions of weakness so as to preferably facilitate the bending of such sections. Various methods have been suggested to provide such variable wall product. For example, the method taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,775 involves a number of tubular pieces of different wall thicknesses to be welded together to form the blank used in the hydroforming step. Although resulting in the required variable wall blank, and, therefore, formed product, this method includes various deficiencies. Firstly, the method involves the pre-forming step of creating the multiwall blank using a welding procedure, which adds a considerable amount to the total processing time. Secondly, the presence of welds may lead to weak spots in the formed product.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,111, another method is taught where a first tube, of a constant wall thickness, is provided at certain locations with a co-axial sleeve thereby resulting in a tubular blank with a variable wall thickness. Such blank is then subjected to a hydroforming process as discussed above. Although no welding steps are performed, this method results in a non-homogenous product.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,961 teaches a method wherein the tubular blank is provided with a constant outer diameter, and which is used in a hydroforming process. The wall thickness of the blank taught in this reference varies circumferentially but is constant in the longitudinal direction. In other words, the blank is provided with longitudinal grooves along the interior surface. As a result, the component formed according the the '961 method includes thin sections, at any given cross section, wherein such thin sections extend along the length of the component. This reference does not, however, teach a formed component having a constant cross sectional or circumferential wall thickness.
The present invention provides an improved method for providing a formed product having a variable longitudinal wall thickness that overcomes at least some of the deficiencies discussed above.
In one aspect, the invention provides a method of making a generally tubular structural member having a variable wall thickness that is constant circumferentially but variable longitudinally, the method comprising the steps of:
In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making a generally tubular structural member having a variable wall thickness that is constant circumferentially but variable longitudinally, the method comprising the steps of:
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of making a generally tubular structural member having a variable wall thickness that is constant circumferentially but variable longitudinally, the method comprising the steps of:
These and other features of the preferred embodiments of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:
It will be understood by persons skilled in the art that although two reduced thickness regions are illustrated in
The reduced thickness regions discussed above can be formed by any means known in the art. An example of such process is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,500.
In a preferred embodiment, the blank is formed by passing a tube of constant wall thickness through a die and mandrel assembly. The mandrel is preferably of a reciprocating type that can be inserted and withdrawn from the die using a control apparatus. The die is co-axial with the tube and is provided in the interior thereof. As is known in the art, the tube is pulled through the die resulting in a constant outer diameter. During this process, the mandrel is inserted into the die cavity at specific times so as to reduce the wall thickness of the tube at desired locations along its length. In this manner, a tubular blank is formed having the desired regions of reduced wall thickness. In another embodiment, the formed tube obtained from the die and mandrel process may be cut to a desired length to result in the tube blank to be used in the method of the invention.
An example of a die and mandrel assembly that can be used in the present invention is illustrated in
As shown, the mandrel 24 is positioned within the interior of the tube 30 and is generally co-axial therewith. If the mandrel is moved into the die cavity 22, the wall of the tube 30 passing through the die cavity 22 is constricted. If the mandrel is removed from the die cavity, such constriction is not effected. Therefore, by reciprocating the mandrel 24 in and out of the die cavity 22 while the tube 30 is drawn there-through, the resulting drawn tube 31 may be provided with regions of thinned walls along the length thereof, while maintaining a constant outer diameter. As illustrated in
Once the drawn tube 31 described above is obtained, it may be cut to the desired length, if needed, thereby resulting in the tube blank 10 of the invention. In another embodiment, the desired length may be cut prior to inserting into the die and mandrel assembly, whereby the drawn tube 31 comprises the tube blank itself. In either case, the blank is then further processed, where necessary, and formed to the desired final shape as described further below.
Normally, prior to the final forming stage, the blank 10 is first bent in the desired two or three dimensional shape. In such manner, the final forming stage, such a hydroforming stage, is used to impart the desired cross sectional shape or shapes.
In the forming stage, the tube blank is delivered to a forming station. In the preferred embodiment, such forming station comprises a hydroforming station as is commonly known in the art. An example of a typical hydroforming apparatus is illustrated in
As shown in
It will also be understood by persons skilled in the art that although the hydroforming process has been described, various other forming processes may also be used in method of the present invention.
As discussed above, prior to the hydroforming phase, the blank is first bent into the desired shape. In the preferred embodiment, prior to such bending, the blank is first subjected to a heat treatment, or stress relief process in order to impart the desired formability characteristics to the blank. Such a process prevents unwanted stress cracks and other damage to the blank during the bending process.
In the above discussion, reference has been made to a preferred embodiment wherein the tube blank is formed with a variable inside diameter but a constant outer diameter, as measured along the longitudinal axis. However, it will be understood that according to other embodiments, the method of the invention will be applicable to blanks having either a variable outer diameter or variable outer and inner diameters. The physical characteristics of the blank will depend upon the formed product that is desired.
In summary, the method of the invention includes, in one embodiment, the following steps:
In the hydroforming process, the following steps are used:
As will be understood, the pre-bending or pre-forming steps mentioned above may not be needed for all components.
With the method of the present invention, various advantages are realized. For example, as indicated previously, by reducing the tube wall thickness in specific areas, the weight and cost of the final product is reduced. Further, the present invention provides a formed component that is homogenous with respect to material properties and one that avoids the need for numerous welded joints.
The method of the present invention can be used to make any tubular structural member. More specifically, the method of the invention is particularly suited for the manufacture of tubular components in the automotive industry. Such components include: axles; twist axles engine cradles; side rails (frame); transmission cross members; suspension components; and instrument panel cross members. As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, various other components, for use in any type of industry, may be manufactured by the method of the invention.
The following example is provided to illustrate the present invention and is not meant to be restrictive in any way of the scope thereof.
An example of a component manufactured according to the method of the invention is illustrate in
In the example of
Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the claims appended hereto.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2342702 | Apr 2001 | CA | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/CA02/00464 | 4/4/2002 | WO | 00 | 5/4/2004 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO02/081115 | 10/17/2002 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20040200255 A1 | Oct 2004 | US |