Method of Calibrating an Extruded Straight Tube
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsS. George Luckey, JR., Andrey M. Ilinich, John Joyce
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and tool for calibrating an extruded tube for use in a manufacturing operation. According to the method, the tube is stretched while in a clamping tool by approximately 3%. The tool encloses the tube while a stretching mechanism is clamped to opposite longitudinal ends of the tube and applies a stretching force to opposite ends of the tube. The tool includes a clamping mechanism that clamps the tube into a cavity and a stretching mechanism with clamps that are attached to opposite longitudinal ends of the tube to calibrate the tube by longitudinally stretching the tube.
Claims18
A method comprising:
- opening a tool that defines a cavity;
- placing an extruded tube in the cavity;
- closing the tool over the tube, wherein the tube and the cavity define a clearance between the tube and the cavity;
- applying a first clamp to a first end of the tube and a second clamp to second end of the tube;
- and
- stretching the tube in a longitudinal direction to minimize deformations in the tube.
A calibration tool for straightening a linear extruded tube, comprising:
- a first part of the tool defining a first part of a cavity;
- a second part of the tool defining a second part of the cavity;
- a clamping mechanism opens the tool to permit the tube to be placed in the cavity and closes the tool to clamp the tube between the first part and second part of the tool;
- and
- a stretching mechanism grips two ends of the tube and stretches the tube longitudinally with the clamping mechanism closed.
A method of making a tubular blank for a manufacturing operation comprising:
- extruding an aluminum alloy through a die to form a extruded tube;
- cutting the tube to a length;
- opening a tool that defines a cavity, wherein the tool has an open position and a closed position;
- loading the tube into the tool in the open position;
- closing the tool over the tube, wherein the tube and the cavity define a clearance space between the tube and the cavity;
- applying a first clamp to a first end of the tube and a second clamp to second end of the tube;
- and
- stretching the tube in a longitudinal direction to minimize twists in the tube and form the tubular blank to a calibrated straight shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.