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:
Jun. 04, 1996
Filed:
Apr. 19, 1995
Norina A Simon, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI (US);
U.S. Manufacturing Corporation, Fraser, MI (US);
Abstract
A process for cold forming tubular axles comprises placing a tubular blank within an open ended die having a constricted die throat, and pushing the blank through the die throat with a punch. The punch is provided with a portion that presses the blank axially through the die throat. In addition, the punch has at least one extension which is closely fitted within the blank so that as the punch pushes a portion of the tube axially through the die throat, the extension is arranged within the die throat to form an annular space between the extension and the die throat. The punch extension is substantially elliptical in cross-section while the die throat is substantially circular in cross-section. Thus, the portion of the blank extruded through the space is formed with a substantially circular exterior wall and a substantially elliptical interior wall which provides diametrically opposing thicker wall sections and diametrically opposing thinner wall sections that are 90.degree. offset relative to the tubular wall sections in the tubular axle. This provides an axle which may be arranged to correlate its thicker and thinner wall portions to the anticipated loads applied to the axle for reducing the weight of the axle without reducing its strength to accommodate such loads.