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US4881355A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cold roll-formed structures and method and apparatus for producing same

Assignee: USG Interiors LLC
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Filing: 1988-05-23
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Granted: 1989-11-21
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Expires: 2008-05-23
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Abstract

Abstract A cold-forming method is disclosed for thinning localized, longitudinally extending portions of sheet metal by lateral shear deformation without any substantial longitudinal deformation. With such method, it is possible to produce elongated members which are thinned in zones of low stress and are thicker in zones of higher stress so as to provide high metal use efficiency. The method is performed by an apparatus including a rotating mandrel providing opposed conical surfaces and pressure rolls operable to apply forces substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the mandrel to cause a portion of the sheet metal to yield in shear to reduce the thickness of longitudinally extending portions of the sheet metal. The forces are applied in a plane normal to the length of the strip in order to avoid longitudinal elongation.

Inventors

  • 👤 George F. Bosl
  • 👤 Patrick M. Kelly
  • 👤 Dennis A. Alvarez
  • 👤 Gale Sauer
  • 👤 Joseph A. Hocevar

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 01:59
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04C; E04C2/00; E04C2/02; E04C2/08; B; B21; B21D; B21D5/00; B21D5/06; B21D5/08; E04C2/30; E04C2/32; E04C2/322; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12389

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 109 words
A substantially straight elongated strip of sheet metal formed by cold-rolling from a strip of sheet metal having a substantially uniform first thickness, comprising a first longitudinal portion spaced from at least one lateral edge of said strip, and a second longitudinal portion interconnected between said first longitudinal portion and said at least one edge of said strip, said second longitudinal portion including a plurality of narrow shear-deformed laterally adjacent separately formed bands of reduced thickness cooperating to provide said second longitudinal portion with a thickness substantially less than the thickness of said first portion and a width substantially equal to the sum of the width of said bands.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 109 words
A substantially straight elongated strip of sheet metal formed by cold-rolling from a strip of sheet metal having a substantially uniform first thickness, comprising a first longitudinal portion spaced from at least one lateral edge of said strip, and a second longitudinal portion interconnected between said first longitudinal portion and said at least one edge of said strip, said second longitudinal portion including a plurality of narrow shear-deformed laterally adjacent separately formed bands of reduced thickness cooperating to provide said second longitudinal portion with a thickness substantially less than the thickness of said first portion and a width substantially equal to the sum of the width of said bands.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
An elongated strip as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bands are sequentially formed with each band formed adjacent to the preceding band until said second longitudinal portion having a width substantially greater than the width of each of said bands is produced.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 38 words
An elongated strip as set forth in claim 1 wherein said strip includes fourth and fifth portions having said first thickness and being respectively located on the sides of said third and fourth portions opposite said first portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 66 words
An elongated strip as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second and third portions are inclined relative to said first portion and are inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the first portion by an angle A, and the thickness of said second and third portions is at least as great as the thickness of the first portion times the sine of angle A.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
An elongated strip as set forth in claim 4, wherein the thickness of said second and third portions is substantially equal to the thickness of said first portion times the sine of angle A.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 38 words
An elongated strip as set forth in claim 4, wherein said strip includes fourth and fifth portions having said first thickness and being respectively located on the sides of said second and third portions opposite said first portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 37 words
An elongated strip as set forth in claim 6, wherein the said fourth and fifth portions are laterally spaced from said first portion, said second and third portions being harder than said first, fourth, and fifth portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 142 words
An elongated cold-rolled member formed from an elongated strip of metal having a substantially uniform first thickness (T 1 ) comprising a longitudinally extending first portion having a thickness substantially equal to said first thickness (T 1 ) and a pair of inclined walls extending lengthwise of said member and joined along adjacent edges of said first portion, said inclined walls being inclined with respect to each other by twice a predetermined angle A, said walls having a thickness (T 2 ) substantially equal to ( T 1 ) times the sine of A, said walls including a plurality of narrow shear deformed laterally adjacent separately formed bands of reduced thickness cooperating to provide said walls with a thickness substantially less than the thickness of said first portion and a width substantially equal to the sum of the widths of said bands.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 142 words
An elongated cold-rolled member formed from an elongated strip of metal having a substantially uniform first thickness (T 1 ) comprising a longitudinally extending first portion having a thickness substantially equal to said first thickness (T 1 ) and a pair of inclined walls extending lengthwise of said member and joined along adjacent edges of said first portion, said inclined walls being inclined with respect to each other by twice a predetermined angle A, said walls having a thickness (T 2 ) substantially equal to ( T 1 ) times the sine of A, said walls including a plurality of narrow shear deformed laterally adjacent separately formed bands of reduced thickness cooperating to provide said walls with a thickness substantially less than the thickness of said first portion and a width substantially equal to the sum of the widths of said bands.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 30 words
An elongated member as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first portion is substantially planar and the adjacent edges of said inclined walls are laterally spaced from each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 36 words
An elongated member as set forth in claim 8, wherein said strip of material is provided with a coating which has a first thickness along said first portion and a reduced thickness along said inclined walls.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 36 words
An elongated member as set forth in claim 8, wherein said member also includes oppositely extending flange portions with one joined to each of said inclined wall along the edge thereof spaced from said first portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 33 words
An elongated member as set forth in claim 11, wherein said first portion joining said inclined walls is substantially planar and said flanges are substantially perpendicular to the associated of said inclined walls.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 154 words
A grid tee for suspension ceilings comprising a one-piece single sheet of metal bent is provide a central web, a stiffening bulb on one edge of said web, and a flange along the opposite edge of said web, said bulb and flange being formed of homogeneous metal having a substantially uniform first thickness and said web being formed of homogeneous metal having a substantially uniform second thickness less than said first thickness, said single sheet being formed with said second thickness by shear deformation of the metal forming said web that includes a plurality of narrow shear deformed laterally adjacent separately formed bands of reduced thickness cooperating to produce a web with a thickness substantially less than the thickness of said bulb and flange and having a width substantially equal to the sum of the widths of said bands, the metal of said web being harder than the material of said bulb and flange.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 154 words
A grid tee for suspension ceilings comprising a one-piece single sheet of metal bent is provide a central web, a stiffening bulb on one edge of said web, and a flange along the opposite edge of said web, said bulb and flange being formed of homogeneous metal having a substantially uniform first thickness and said web being formed of homogeneous metal having a substantially uniform second thickness less than said first thickness, said single sheet being formed with said second thickness by shear deformation of the metal forming said web that includes a plurality of narrow shear deformed laterally adjacent separately formed bands of reduced thickness cooperating to produce a web with a thickness substantially less than the thickness of said bulb and flange and having a width substantially equal to the sum of the widths of said bands, the metal of said web being harder than the material of said bulb and flange.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 41 words
An grid tee as set forth in claim 13, wherein a coating extends along at least the outer surface of said grid tee, said coating having a first thickness along said bulb and flanges and a lesser thickness along said web.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 74 words
A grid tee for suspension ceilings providing a single strip of sheet metal bent to provide a central web, a bulb along one edge of said web and oppositely extending flanges along the opposite edge of said web, and a coating along at least the outer surfaces of said grid tee, said bulb and said flanges providing metal and said coating of first thicknesses, and said web providing metal and coating of reduced thicknesses.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 74 words
A grid tee for suspension ceilings providing a single strip of sheet metal bent to provide a central web, a bulb along one edge of said web and oppositely extending flanges along the opposite edge of said web, and a coating along at least the outer surfaces of said grid tee, said bulb and said flanges providing metal and said coating of first thicknesses, and said web providing metal and coating of reduced thicknesses.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 91 words
A sheet of corrugated metal comprising first laterally spaced substantially parallel first portions contained within a first plane, second laterally spaced longitudinal second portions contained in a second plane substantially parallel to said first plane, and angulated web portions joining adjacent edges of said first and second portions, said web portions being angulated with respect to a plane perpendicular to said first and second portions by an angle A, and having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of said first and second portions times the sine of the angle A.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 91 words
A sheet of corrugated metal comprising first laterally spaced substantially parallel first portions contained within a first plane, second laterally spaced longitudinal second portions contained in a second plane substantially parallel to said first plane, and angulated web portions joining adjacent edges of said first and second portions, said web portions being angulated with respect to a plane perpendicular to said first and second portions by an angle A, and having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of said first and second portions times the sine of the angle A.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB355244A Cited
US1927442A Cited
FR762500A Cited
US4206578A Cited
US4241146A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-11-20 1993-05-22 1993-11-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-11-20 1997-05-22 1997-11-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-11-20 2001-05-22 2001-11-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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