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:
Nov. 12, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1999
Richard A. Marando, Mohrsville, PA (US);
John L. Kichline, Jr., Reading, PA (US);
Richard L. Stuck, Stevens, PA (US);
Dana Corporation, Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for initially performing a heat treatment process on a closed channel structural member to facilitate the subsequent performance of a magnetic pulse welding process so as to manufacture a vehicle frame component or a portion of a vehicle frame assembly. Initially, a workpiece is provided that is preferably formed from a closed channel structural member having a circular or box-shaped cross sectional shape. The workpiece is subjected to a scanning heat treatment process, wherein the workpiece is heat treated in a continuous and longitudinal manner from one end to the other. Preferably, the workpiece is supported vertically during the scanning heat treatment process to prevent the shape thereof from becoming distorted. The scanning heat treatment process is preferably a retrogression heat treatment process, wherein the workpiece is rapidly heated to a sufficient temperature that provides for full or partial softening thereof, followed by relatively rapid cooling. In a third step of the method, a deforming process is performed on the workpiece during the period of time following the retrogression heat treatment process in which the workpiece retains the full or partial softening characteristics. In a fourth step of the method, a magnetic pulse welding operation is performed to secure two workpieces together so as to manufacture a vehicle frame component or a portion of a vehicle frame assembly. At least one of the two workpieces is subjected to the scanning heat treatment process to facilitate the magnetic pulse welding process.