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:
Apr. 14, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 19, 2007
Method and apparatus for forming a blank as a portion of the blank receives pulses of direct current
Sergey Fedorovich Golovashchenko, Beverly Hills, MI (US);
Albert Krause, Plymouth, MI (US);
John T. Roth, Erie, PA (US);
Sergey Fedorovich Golovashchenko, Beverly Hills, MI (US);
Albert Krause, Plymouth, MI (US);
John T. Roth, Erie, PA (US);
Penn State Research Foundation, University Park, PA (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A method is provided for forming a sheet metal blank or tubular blank in a metal forming tool, such as a sheet metal press or a media forming tool. The sheet metal press has an upper die and a lower die that are moved by a press to form the metal blank. The forming tool has a plurality of electrodes that are connected in an electrical circuit to a source of direct current. The electrodes provide pulses of the electric current to at least a portion of the blank. The method comprises loading the blank into the forming tool and closing the upper die and the lower die. The electrical circuit is completed between multiple electrodes through one or more portions of the blank. Electrical current is pulsed intermittently through the blank in a plurality of pulses.