# US 2017/0043388 A1 · Cost-reduced torque converter shrouds > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0043388 A1 - Document ID: US20170043388A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/118,596 - Filed: 2015-09-17 - Published: 2017-02-16 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-17 - Assignees: Szuba Consulting, Inc.; Value Extraction LLC - Applicants: Szuba Consulting, Inc.; Value Extraction LLC - Inventors: Joseph A. Szuba - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170043388A1 ## CPC - B21D 53/88: other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards - B21D 19/12: Edge-curling - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) ## Abstract A method of manufacturing an annular transmission component for a vehicle includes providing a tube defining an annular wall having a predetermined diameter. The tube is cut to a form a tube blank having a first end and a second end. The tube blank placed into a forming machine and the first end of the tube blank is rolled relative to the second end of the tube blank forming an annular U-shaped channel defined between the first and the second end. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-14. (canceled) ### Claim 15 A method of making an annular transmission component for a vehicle, the method comprising: placing a tube blank having first and second ends into a forming machine; and rolling the first end of the tube blank radially and axially relative to the second end thereby forming an annular, arcuate shaped channel between the first end and the second end. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein rolling the first end of the tube blank includes rolling the first end radially outward. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein rolling the first end of the tube blank includes rolling the first end radially inward. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the forming machine comprises at least one of a roll former, a die press, and an orbit forming machine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the tube blank comprises at least one of a high strength steel, a high-carbon steel, HSLA steel, or a high strength composite. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein after the rolling the first end has a first circumference and the second end has a second, different circumference. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein a difference between the first circumference and the second circumference corresponds to a length of the tube blank between the first end and the second end. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, comprising selecting the tube blank to have the length between the first end and the second end for forming the U-shaped channel with a desired surface length between the first end and the second end and the difference between the first circumference and the second circumference. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising using the forming machine for establishing notches along an edge at the first end or the second end. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the tube blank includes a seam extending axially along the tube blank between the first end and the second end. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising using the forming machine for establishing slots in a wall of the arcuate shaped channel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, comprising establishing the seam by at least one of welding edges of material of the tube, mechanically interlocking the edges of the material of the tube, and gluing the edges of material of the tube. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the tube blank has a metal grain having an alignment with an axial direction from the first end to the second end; and rolling the first end comprises maintaining the alignment of the metal grain from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first end and the second end have an initial diameter and the method comprises supporting the second end in the forming machine to maintain the initial diameter of the second end during the rolling; and changing the diameter of the first end during the rolling. ### Claim 27 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein rolling the first end comprises moving the first end into a position relative to the second end where the first end and the second end are in a single plane and the arcuate channel is a U-shaped channel. ### Claim 28 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein rolling the first end comprises moving the first end into a position relative to the second end where the first end and the second end are in separate planes and the arcuate channel is a J-shaped channel. ### Claim 29 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the rolling is accomplished during a single movement of a die member of the forming machine. ### Claim 30 A method of making an annular shroud, the method comprising: situating a tube in a forming machine, the tube having a first end, a second end and an annular wall of a generally constant initial diameter between the first end and the second end; roll forming the tube to cause the first end of the tube to have a different diameter than the initial diameter and to shape the annular wall to have an arcuate shape between the first end and the second end; and supporting the second end in the forming machine to maintain the initial diameter near the second end. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein roll forming the tube comprises rolling the first end radially and axially relative to the second end. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the roll forming is accomplished during a single movement of a die member of the forming machine. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the tube has a metal grain having an alignment with an axial direction from the first end to the second end; and the roll forming comprises maintaining the alignment of the metal grain from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the different diameter of the first end is larger than the initial diameter.