Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for forming a tubular member

US5481892A · kind A · utility

53Cited by

31References

19Claims

0Family size

Inventors

Ralph E. Roper · Indianapolis, US
Gary A. Webb · Beverly Hills, US
Douglas W. Tyger · Sharonville, US
Donald F. Lowen · Beverly Hills, US

Key dates

Filing date	Jul 29, 1993
Grant date	Jan 9, 1996
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jul 29, 2013

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY10T29/49805
WIPO fieldMachine tools
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and method for forming a one-piece, complex-shaped tubular member from a tubular blank is provided. The tubular blank is placed in a die cavity defining a tube having at least two expanded portions and a bend therein. As the die cavity is closed around the tubular blank to form the bend, the interior of the tubular blank is pressurized to expand the tubular blank into the at least two expanded portions defined by the die cavity. When the bent and expanded tubular blank is removed from the die cavity, the ends of the tubular blank are cropped to form the finished tubular member.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.