Method of and apparatus for the production of profile members and hollow bodies from a plurality of metal strips of constant thickness

Apparatus for the manufacture of profile members, hollow bodies or the like from a plurality of band-like metal strips, each of said band-like metal strips being of substantial width relative to its thickness and having a constant wall thickness across its entire width as viewed in cross-section and a portion of the width of each of said band-like metal strips having a flat surface, comprising:

• (a) means for continuously feeding without interruption said plurality of continuous band-like metal strips along separate paths, said paths converging and being contiguous at at least one location therealong and being such that said flat surfaces of said contiguous band-like metal strips at said location are aligned;
• (b) means along each of said paths for continuously heating to a welding temperature only said portion of the width of each of said band-like metal strips;
• (c) press-welding means at said location along said path downstream of said heating means arranged to contact surfaces of said continuously moving contiguous heated portions of said band-like metal strips and compress and press-weld said heated portions together to form a combined continuous member having an integrated portion including a bead-like formation and shaping means downstream of said press-welding means to shape said bead-like formation into a predetermined configuration;
• and
• (d) means along at least one of said paths for continuously altering the shape of a further portion of the width of at least one of said band-like metal strips;
• (e) whereby profile members, hollow bodies or the like may be formed from an assembly of band-like metal strips and in which the press-welded portion thereof is of greater thickness than said constant wall thickness of said band-like metal strips.

A method for manufacturing profile members, hollow bodies or the like from a plurality of metal strips comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of sources of continuous band-like metal strips, each of said metal strips being of substantial width relative to its thickness;
• (b) continuously feeding without interruption said plurality of continuous metal strips along respective paths, at least the downstream portions of said paths forming a consolidated single path;
• (c) continuously heating to a welding temperature at least one portion of the width of each of said metal strips such that surfaces of said heated at least one portion of said metal strips are in contiguous relationship while passing along said consolidated single path;
• and
• (d) passing the contiguous heated portions of said metal strips through press-welding and shaping means along said consolidated single path, said press-welding and shaping means contacting surfaces of said continuously moving heated portions of said metal strips and compressing and press-welding said heated portions together to form a combined continuous member having at least one integrated portion including a bead-like formation and subsequently shaping the at least one bead-like formation into a predetermined configuration;
• (e) whereby profile members, hollow bodies or the like are formed from an assembly of band-like metal strips.

Apparatus for the manufacture of profile members, hollow bodies or the like from a plurality of band-like metal strips, each of said metal strips being of substantial width relative to its thickness;

• (a) means for continuously feeding without interruption a plurality of continuous metal strips along respective paths, at least the downstream portions of said path forming a consolidated single path;
• (b) means along each of said paths for continuously heating to a welding temperature at least one portion of the width of each of said metal strips such that surfaces of said heated at least one portion of said metal strips are in contiguous relationship while passing along said consolidated single path;
• and
• (c) press-welding means along said consolidated single path adapted for contacting surfaces of said continuously moving heated portions of said metal strips and compressing and press-welding said at least one heated portion of said metal strips together to form a combined continuous member having at least one intergrated portion including a bead-like formation and shaping means downstream of said press-welding means for shaping the at least one bead-like formation into a predetermined configuration;
• (d) whereby profile members, hollow bodies or the like may be formed from an assembly of band-like metal strips.