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AssigneeTenaris Connections Limited
InventorsEdgardo Oscar López, Lorenzo Vito Caserta, Hernán Juan Desimone, Cuauhtémoc Martinez Salazar
Estimating the term…
A method for producing a tubular bar, more particularly a stabilizer bar, is provided. The method comprises providing a tubular bar of desired size having an outer and inner surface, heating the bar to an elevated temperature, quenching the bar by application of a cooling fluid to the surfaces of the bar, and forming the tube to a desired shape without annealing. The method further provides for the composition of a high-strength, high formability carbon steel alloy to be used in conjunction with the method. Advantageously, the bar is formable without thermal processing subsequent to quenching. In this fashion, metal tubular bars, such as stabilizer bars, may be formed at reduced cost.
A tubular bar, comprising:
A tubular bar suitable for cold forming, comprising:
A vehicular stabilizer bar, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Between wheels on the same axle but on different sides of the vehicle, i.e. the left and right wheel suspensions being interconnected: stabiliser bars
Stabiliser bars: mounting means therefor
Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor: for tubular bodies or pipes
With lateral arms: with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
Term ended 14 Mar 2026 (estimated)
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to metal production and, in certain embodiments, relates to methods of producing metallic tubular bars having high strength and improved formability, and metal bars, particularly vehicular stabilizer bars, made by the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1A is a top down view of one embodiment of an automobile stabilizer bar;
FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an automobile stabilizer bar attached to a vehicle suspension;
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the manufacture of stabilizer bars, especially for motor vehicles. However, the embodiments of the invention may be applied to the manufacture of any suitable tubular bar where high strength and formability are needed to obtain the final shape of the bar. Examples include, but are not limited to, structural frames and pipes for transmission of gas, liquids, and finely divided solids.
The term “bar” as used herein is a broad term and includes its ordinary dictionary meaning and also refers to a generally hollow, elongate member which may be straight or may have bends or curves and be formed to a predetermined shape, and any additional forming required to secure the formed tubular bar in its intended location. The bar may be tubular, having a substantially circular outer surface and inner surface, although other shapes and cross-sections are contemplated as well. As used herein, the term “tubular” refers to any elongate, hollow shape, which need not be circular or cylindrical.
A bar formed through embodiments of the methods described in detail below possesses strength and formability suitable for applications such as automobile stabilizer bars. Advantageously, however, the method of fabricating the bar avoids heat treatment subsequent to a quenching operation, while maintaining the strength of the bar, which significantly reduces the fabrication cost.