The Budd Company

Mark C Handley

Richard B Freeman

Donald L Flagg

A forming device including discreet heating zones along the axial length and circumferential portion of a mold cavity. One zone can be heated to cause the heated tube portion to become more elastic than the non-heated tube portions. As a result, less axial force and radial pressures are required in order to provide the necessary metal deformation against the mold halves. Preferably, the heating zones are provided by way of a series of induction coils disposed along the axial length and circumferential portion of the tube. Each induction coil can be individually energized so that select portions of the tube are heated in a controlled manner.

Forming technique using discrete heating zones

A one-piece cast suspension mounting spring pocket having a circular, radially contoured disk portion and having a plurality of flanges is disclosed. The disk portion serves as a spring pocket and prevents a spring from radial movement. The flanges are parallel to and spaced from one another, and are generally perpendicular to the disk portion of the one-piece cast member. One or more of the flanges intersects a frusto-conical formation which is radially centered in the disk portion, the intersecting flange conforming to and bowing with the frusto-conical formation. The structural integrity of the one-piece cast spring pocket is improved when compared to the currently produced multi-piece spring pockets by having the flange intersect the frusto-conical section.

Growing community of inventors

Beverly Hills, MI, United States of America

Mark C Handley