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US 5,104,026 AGranted
Apparatus for roll-forming an automotive bumper
AssigneeShape Corp.
InventorsPeter Sturrus, Richard Heinz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bumper bar for vehicles formed from rolled sheet steel having a closed tubular profile designed to have a high impact resistance, high strength-to-weight ratio, and a low cost of manufacture. The bar is preferably swept along its longitudinal axis to create a curvature consistent with modern automotive design.
Claims13
An apparatus for making bumpers comprising:
- a first roller means for roll-forming a sheet of high tensile strength steel having side edges to cause said side edges to abut one another;
- means for welding said side edges together to form an integral tube;
- a means for forming a sweep in said integral tube;
- said first roller means being adapted to form at least one irregular surface in said tube;
- second roller means downstream of said first roller means and upstream of said means for forming a sweep;
- said second roller means shaped to extend into and engage at least portions of said irregular surface in the tube;
- and
- said shape of said second rollers by engaging at least portions of said irregular surface being adapted to advance the tube in the means for forming a sweep.
5 more elements
An apparatus for making bumpers comprising:
- a first roller means for roll-forming a sheet of high tensile strength steel having side edges to cause said side edges to abut one another;
- a means for welding said sides edges together to form an internal tube;
- a means for forming a sweep in said integral tube;
- elongated support means extending a distance upstream of the welding means to a predetermined position wherein said side edges are spaced one from the other;
- said elongated support means supporting said means for forming a sweep in said integral tube;
- an anchoring structure supporting said elongated support means at said position;
- said first roller means being located upstream of said means for forming said sweep and shaped to form an irregular surface in the tube;
- and
- a second roller means located downstream of said first roller means and shaped to engage at least portions of said irregular surface to thereby advance the tube into the means for forming a sweep.
6 more elements
An apparatus for making bumpers comprising:
- a first roller means for roll-forming a sheet of high tensile strength steel having side edges to cause said side edges to abut one another;
- a means for welding said side edges together to form an integral tube;
- a means for forming a sweep in said integral tube;
- said means for welding being an induction welder located upstream of said means for forming a sweep in said integral tube, said induction welder generating heat in the tube which assists the sweep forming means in forming said sweep;
- said first rollers being located upstream of said means for forming a sweep and shaped to form an irregular surface in the tube;
- and
- a second roller means shaped for engaging at least portions of said irregular surface to thereby advance the tube into the means for forming a sweep.
4 more elements
An apparatus for making bumpers comprising:
- a roller means for roll-forming a sheet of high tensile strength steel having side edges to cause said side edges to abut one another;
- a means for welding said side edges together to form an integral tube;
- a means for forming a sweep in said integral tube;
- said means for forming a sweep including a mandrel means attached to be received within a tube formed by said roller means;
- an elongated support means adapted to extend inside a tube, formed by said roller means, a distance upstream of the welding means to a predetermined position wherein said side edges are spaced one from the other;
- said elongated support means supporting said mandrel means in said integral tube;
- an anchoring structure supporting said elongated support means at said position;
- said mandrel means including a series of short mandrels spaced but connected together.
5 more elements
Apparatus for forming a bumper bar for a vehicle comprising roller means for continuously roll-forming a sheet of high tensile strength steel having side edges to cause the side edges to abut one another;
- means for welding said side edges together to form an integral tube;
- sweep forming means for providing a sweep, said sweep forming means having curvilinear external mandrel means and curvilinear internal mandrel means;
- support means for supporting said internal and external mandrel means in relatively stationary spaced relationship one from the other to provide a passageway therebetween for receiving said integral tube therebetween, said support means including an elongated member attached to the internal mandrel means and extending therefrom to a support member extending through an opening located upstream of said sweep forming means where the side edges of said sheet are not abutting;
- means for causing said integral tube to pass through said passageway while said roll-forming of said sheet upstream of said external and internal mandrel means takes place and said upstream sheet connected to the integral tube is being roll-formed;
- said internal and external mandrel means adapted when said tube is passed through said passageway to produce a predetermined sweep in said tube as determined by the shape of said passageway;
- and
- cutting means located downstream of said sweep forming means for cutting said swept integral tube at predetermined lengths whereby a series of bumper bars can be continuously formed in succession during the roll-forming of said sheet upstream of said sweep forming means.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.