Patent US5340777A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3668918A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for manufacturing shafts for vehicles
Assignee: Benteler Deutschland GmbH
•
Filing: 1969-10-02
•
Granted: 1972-06-13
•
Expires: 1989-10-02
Abstract
Abstract A shaft for automotive vehicles or the like, formed as a tube tapered at both ends, wherein the tube wall is peripherally thickened at one or more points extending beyond the reinforcement obtained by the tapering.
Inventors
- 👤 Helmut Benteler
- 👤 Franz-Josef Hartmann
- 👤 Heinz Hefendehl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:36
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B35/00; B60B35/02; B60B35/04; B21; B21K; B21K1/00; B21K1/06; B21K1/10; B60B35/08; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S72/00; Y10S72/713
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
In a method for manufacturing a shaft, the steps of introducing into at least one end region of a hollow metal tube having predetermined inner and outer diameters a mandrel having a diameter smaller than said predetermined inner diameter, radially compressing said end region for reducing the outer diameter of the tube at the end region thereof which surrounds said mandrel, while the latter remains in said end region so as to determine the extent to which the predetermined inner diameter of the tube is reduced simultaneously with the reduction in the outer diameter thereof at said end region, maintaining said tube under axial compression simultaneously with the radial compression thereof at said end region, with a force of axial compression at least great enough to prevent the length of the tube from increasing during reduction in the outer diameter of the tube, and heating the tube at said end region thereof simultaneously with the reduction in the outer and inner diameters therEof at said end region and simultaneously with the axial compression of the tube, so that in one operation said end region of said tube has its inner and outer diameters reduced while the thickness of the tube has a maximum value at a transition region between said end region of said tube and an immediately adjoining region of the tube where said predetermined inner and outer diameters remain unchanged.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
In a method for manufacturing a shaft, the steps of introducing into at least one end region of a hollow metal tube having predetermined inner and outer diameters a mandrel having a diameter smaller than said predetermined inner diameter, radially compressing said end region for reducing the outer diameter of the tube at the end region thereof which surrounds said mandrel, while the latter remains in said end region so as to determine the extent to which the predetermined inner diameter of the tube is reduced simultaneously with the reduction in the outer diameter thereof at said end region, maintaining said tube under axial compression simultaneously with the radial compression thereof at said end region, with a force of axial compression at least great enough to prevent the length of the tube from increasing during reduction in the outer diameter of the tube, and heating the tube at said end region thereof simultaneously with the reduction in the outer and inner diameters therEof at said end region and simultaneously with the axial compression of the tube, so that in one operation said end region of said tube has its inner and outer diameters reduced while the thickness of the tube has a maximum value at a transition region between said end region of said tube and an immediately adjoining region of the tube where said predetermined inner and outer diameters remain unchanged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein all of said operations are simultaneously performed at both end regions of said tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein forging tools are applied to the exterior of said tube at said end region thereof for reducing the outer diameter of the tube at said end region thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
In a method as recited in claim 3 and wherein a burner applies a flame to an exterior surface of said tube at said end region thereof accessible between the forging tools for heating the end region of the tube simultaneously with the reduction in the outer and inner diameters thereof and simultaneously with the application of axial compression to the tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a method as recited in claim 4 and wherein said tube is rotated with respect to the forging tools and burner for distributing the radial compressive forces of the forging tools and the heat of the burner circumferentially about the axis of the tube at said end region thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a method as recited in claim 4 and wherein said forging tools and burner are rotated about the axis of the tube while the latter is maintained stationary for distributing the radial compressive forces of the forging tools and the heat of the burner circumferentially about the axis of the tube at said end region thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a method as recited in claim 4 and wherein said axial compressive force applied to said tube is sufficiently great to reduce the length of the tube and said forging tools and burner being axially displaced from said one end region toward an opposed end region of said tube for continuing the reduction in the inner and outer diameters of the tube and the heating of the tube at said end region thereof simultaneously with the reduction in the length of the tube by said axial compressive forces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
In a method as recited in claim 7 and wherein the forging tools also provide an axial thrust on said tube which augments the axial compressive forces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein the axial compression applied to the tube is sufficiently great to reduce the length thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2165472A
Cited
US2256065A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |