The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 25, 2018
Filed:
Aug. 10, 2015
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Nia R. Harrison, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Suranjeeta Dhar, Novi, MI (US);
Patrice White-Johnson, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
FORD MOTOR COMPANY, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
Methods of processing an aluminum alloy component are disclosed. The method may include solution heat treating the component at a solution heat treatment (SHT) temperature of 500° C. to 535° C., quenching the component in a liquid quenching medium having a temperature of 75° C. to 95° C., and artificially aging the component at an artificial aging (AA) temperature of 200° C. to 250° C. to a yield strength of at least 200 MPa. The component may be a 6XXX series aluminum alloy, which may be (or have been) progressively stamped. The component may be artificially aged to an r/t ratio of less than 0.3. The liquid quenching medium may be water and may have a temperature of 82° C. to 88° C. The method may further include joining the aluminum alloy component to a second component with a self-piercing rivet. The disclosed methods may reduce distortion in the component while maintaining high strength and bendability.