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:
Jan. 23, 2007
Filed:
Jul. 25, 2005
James G. Schroth, Troy, MI (US);
Richard H. Hammar, Utica, MI (US);
Paul E. Krajewski, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Leonard L. Pollum, Lapeer, MI (US);
Susan Elizabeth Hartfield-wunsch, Livonia, MI (US);
James G. Schroth, Troy, MI (US);
Richard H. Hammar, Utica, MI (US);
Paul E. Krajewski, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Leonard L. Pollum, Lapeer, MI (US);
Susan Elizabeth Hartfield-Wunsch, Livonia, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
Work hardened sheets of formable metal are annealed by thermal conduction and heated to a forming temperature. In a preferred embodiment, the sheet is placed on a flat surface of a heated lower platen to partially heat and soften the sheet and an opposing heated upper platen is brought close enough to the sheet to contribute heat but not to constrain the sheet as it expands. The platens are then both brought close to the sheet to heat it to its forming temperature largely by thermal conduction.