Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P.
Axial member with flange, connection member and production methods thereof
A target tubular member with flange, such as a bumper stay, has a flange having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of an axial section and is formed by electromagnetic forming without excessive expansion. The tubular member with flange includes an axial member made of a tubular aluminum alloy extrudate and a flange member joined to an end of the axial member. The axial member has an end flange being integrated at its end and having an area smaller than that of the flange member. The flange member has a hole, and a cylindrical hole flange at the edge of the hole. The axial member fits in the hole of the flange member, the end flange is in intimate contact with the flange member, and the outer periphery of a small-diameter portion of the axial member is in intimate contact with the inner periphery of the hole flange. The hole flange is held between the end flange and a protrusion. The tubular member with flange may be produced by inserting an untreated pipe into the hole of the flange member and expanding the untreated pipe by electromagnetic forming.
Kobe Steel, Ltd.
B B B
B60R B21D B21D
inventional inventional inventional
Masatoshi Toru Yoshihaya Hiroyuki Kazumori Narikazu Satoshi
Yoshida Hashimura Imamura Yamashita Horiguchi Hashimoto Nimura