Patent US5208979A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5208979A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Prefracture laser formation of a stress riser groove
Assignee: FCA US LLC
•
Filing: 1992-09-25
•
Granted: 1993-05-11
•
Expires: 2012-09-25
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard Schmidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:12
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C9/00; F16C9/04; F16C9/045; B; B23; B23D; B23D31/00; B23D31/002; B23D31/003; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/36; B23K26/362; B23K26/364; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T225/00; Y10T225/10; Y10T225/12; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49229; Y10T29/49288; Y10T29/49789; Y10T29/4979; Y10T29/49792; Y10T29/49796; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2142; Y10T74/2162; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/02; Y10T83/0304
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method set forth in claim 1 in which the width and depth of the resultant laser cut groove is 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method set forth in claim 1 in which the ratio of the width to the depth of the laser cut stress riser groove is about 5:8.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said laser is a pulsed type laser which is operated at about 400 watts with a pulse rate of about 10 Hz and a pulse width of about 2.0 milli-seconds, and the beam is moved at about 76 cm/minute.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
136 words
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.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
136 words
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.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method set forth in claim 5 in which the width and depth of the resultant laser cut groove is 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method set forth in claim 5 in which the ratio of the width to the depth of the laser cut stress riser groove is about 5:8.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method set forth in claim 5 wherein said laser is a pulsed laser which is operated at about 400 watts, with a pulse rate of about 10 Hz and a pulse width of about 2.0 milli-seconds, and the beam is moved at about 76 cm/minute.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1630759A
Cited
US2553935A
Cited
US3818577A
Cited
US3994054A
Cited
US4224101A
Cited
US4355457A
Cited
US4665607A
Cited
US4569109A
Cited
US4684267A
Cited
US4693139A
Cited
US4970783A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-10 | 1996-11-09 | 1997-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-10 | 2000-11-09 | 2001-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-10 | 2004-11-09 | 2005-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |