Method of forming extruded tubing for vehicle body component
US-10357817-B2 · Jul 23, 2019 · US
System and methods to radially orient extruded tubing for vehicle body component
US10906080B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-10906080-B2 |
| Application number | US-201815953638-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Apr 16, 2018 |
| Priority date | Apr 16, 2018 |
| Publication date | Feb 2, 2021 |
| Grant date | Feb 2, 2021 |
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- Title
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Abstract
Official abstract text for this publication.
A method of orienting a weld seam in an aluminum vehicle body tube is provided. The method may include measuring a periphery of a first end of the tube to locate a position of a pip disposed on a wall of the first end of the tube and rotating the tube so that the weld seam is positioned in a predetermined location suitable for tube forming.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
What is claimed is: 1. A method of hydroforming an extruded circular tube comprising: measuring an inner periphery of first and second ends of the tube to identify first and second circumferential positions of a pip disposed on a wall at each end of the tube, wherein the pip is a recessed channel defined by and extending along a length of the wall, wherein first and second circumferential positions are measured on the inner periphery of the first and second ends of the tube by directing a laser-displacement sensor to the inner periphery of the first and second ends of the tube; comparing a positional difference between the first and second circumferential positions against a predetermined threshold deforming the tube to produce a formed tube; remeasuring a surface profile of an inner periphery on at least one end of the formed tube to locate a circumferential position of the pip at the at least one end of the tube; and comparing a positional difference between the circumferential position of the pip at the at least one end of the formed tube and a predetermined circumferential position against a predetermined-upper threshold and a predetermined-lower threshold-. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: aligning the tube in a bending tool to place weld seams, circumferentially spaced from the pip, in a predetermined location relative to a bending tool. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein measuring the inner periphery of the first and second ends of the tube includes rotating the tube while applying the laser-displacement sensor to the inner periphery of the first and second ends of the tube. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein measuring the inner periphery of the first and second ends of the tube includes measuring a surface profile of the inner periphery. 5. A method of hydroforming an extruded circular tube comprising: measuring an inner periphery of first and second ends of the tube to identify first and second circumferential positions of a pip disposed on a wall at each end of the tube, wherein the pip is a recessed channel defined by and extending along a length of the wall; comparing a positional difference between the first and second circumferential positions against a predetermined threshold deforming the tube to produce a formed tube; remeasuring a surface profile of an inner periphery on at least one end of the formed tube to locate a circumferential position of the pip at the at least one end of the tube; and comparing a positional difference between the circumferential position of the pip at the at least one end of the formed tube and a predetermined circumferential position against a predetermined-upper threshold and a predetermined-lower threshold.
Assignees
Inventors
Classifications
Making tubes (B21C23/10 take precedence) · CPC title
- B21D26/033Primary
Deforming tubular bodies (corrugating tubes by applying fluid pressure B21D15/03, B21D15/10) · CPC title
other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards · CPC title
Control devices for metal extruding, e.g. for regulating the pressing speed or temperature of metal (B21C25/08 takes precedence); Measuring devices, e.g. for temperature of metal, combined with or specially adapted for use in connection with extrusion presses · CPC title
internal diameters · CPC title
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Frequently asked questions
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- What does patent US10906080B2 cover?
- A method of orienting a weld seam in an aluminum vehicle body tube is provided. The method may include measuring a periphery of a first end of the tube to locate a position of a pip disposed on a wall of the first end of the tube and rotating the tube so that the weld seam is positioned in a predetermined location suitable for tube forming.
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Ford Motor Co
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification B21D26/033. Mapped technology areas include Operations & Transport.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue Feb 02 2021 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 4 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).