Elongated Profile Forming with Pre-Trimming for Offset Sections

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing method for producing elongate profile parts with height offsets and different cross-sections requires high accuracy in trimming, leading to increased manufacturing tolerances, energy inefficiency, and tool wear, while also compromising the stability of the profile part due to material removal and complex embossing processes.

Innovation Solution

Trimming the flat strip before profiling and embossing simplifies the process, reduces the need for high embossing forces, and allows for symmetrical trimming to enhance reproducibility and energy efficiency, with the embossing step being divided into multiple stages and using hold-down devices to prevent waviness, and a control system to adjust for dimensional accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If trimming is carried out after embossing to create different cross-sections for offset longitudinal sections, then the desired profile shape is achieved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to increased sensitivity to positioning accuracy and manufacturing tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofile shape with different cross-sectionsVSAvoiddimensional accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by trimming the flat strip before profiling and embossing operations. The trimming device removes material from the flat strip to create different cross-sections in advance, so that subsequent embossing operates on pre-prepared material with reduced force requirements and improved dimensional accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Shape

If high embossing forces are used to offset longitudinal sections, then the desired profile configuration is achieved, but energy efficiency deteriorates and tool wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoffset longitudinal sectionsVSAvoidenergy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The trimming device performs preliminary material removal to create different cross-sections before embossing. This preliminary action reduces the amount of material that needs to be displaced during embossing, thereby reducing the embossing forces required and improving energy efficiency while decreasing tool wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Shape

If material is removed from the profiled strip during trimming after embossing, then different cross-sections are achieved, but stability deteriorates due to weakening of the profile part

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedifferent cross-sectionsVSAvoidstability of profile part
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The trimming operation is performed on the flat strip before profiling and embossing. By removing material in advance from the flat strip rather than from the already-formed profiled strip, the structural integrity and stability of the final profile part are preserved while still achieving the required different cross-sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of manufacture

If trimming is performed after profiling and embossing, then the process sequence is simple, but reproducibility deteriorates due to increased influence of manufacturing tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidreproducibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The trimming device operates on the flat strip before profiling and embossing operations. This preliminary trimming establishes precise dimensional relationships early in the process, making the subsequent forming operations more reproducible and less sensitive to accumulated tolerances, thereby improving overall process reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach results in a more reproducible, energy-efficient, and cost-effective method for producing highly resilient elongate profile parts with improved dimensional accuracy and reduced tool wear, enabling stable and precise production of profile parts.

Implementation Method 1

a profiled strip is produced from a flat strip, in particular metal strip, by rolling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Implementation Method 2

the profiled strip is embossed in sections, as a result of which at least one longitudinal section of the profiled strip is opposite to at least one other longitudinal section is offset

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Implementation Method 3

the strip is trimmed in such a way that after embossing the offset longitudinal sections have different cross-sections

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMaterial removal:

Data Source

PatentEP3034191B2Device and method for producing an elongated profile
Publication Date: 2022.01.26 VOESTALPINE KREMS
  • EP3034191B2 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3034191B2 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP3034191B2 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A device (12) and a method for producing an elongated profile section (1) are shown, in which a profiled strip (14) is produced from a flat strip (14), in particular a metal strip, by rolling, and the profiled strip (14) is embossed section by section, whereby at least one longitudinal section (3) of the profiled strip (14) is offset relative to at least one other longitudinal section (2) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the profiled strip (14), and in which method the strip (14) is trimmed such that, after embossing, the offset longitudinal sections (2, 3) have different cross-sections (8, 9). To increase the reproducibility of the method, it is proposed that the flat strip (14) be trimmed before profiling such that, by embossing the trimmed and profiled strip (14), the offset longitudinal sections (2, 3) have different cross-sections (8, 9).