Prefracture laser formation of a stress riser groove
OwnerHoward Schmidtinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of manufacturing a multiple part component such as a connecting rod by integrally forming the connecting rod in one piece, laser cutting a stress riser along a surface of the connecting rod characterized by a deep and narrow groove and applying a tension force to separate the connecting rod into two parts, a main body and a bearing cap.
Claims8
A method of manufacturing a multiple part metal component by using a beam of a laser comprising the steps of integrally forming the respective parts of the multiple part component as a single piece of steel;
- machining the component to approximately final dimensions;
- focusing the laser beam at an oblique angle with respect to the surface of the component;
- energizing the laser and moving the focused beam in a direction parallel to the surface of the component to produce a linear stress riser groove;
- applying a sufficient tension force normal to the stress riser groove so as to fracture the component into its parts.
A method of manufacturing a two part connecting rod for an engine by using a beam of a laser comprising the steps of:
- integrally forming the respective parts of the connecting rod as a single piece of steel with a substantially annularly shaped large end;
- machining the large end of the connecting rod to approximately final dimensions;
- focusing the laser beam at an oblique angle with respect to a surface of the large end;
- energizing the laser and moving the focused beam in a direction parallel to the surface to produce a linear stress riser groove in the surface;
- applying a sufficient tension force normal to the stress riser groove so as to fracture the large end into two parts, a main body and a bearing cap of the connecting rod, with a bearing formed therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.