Varying Width Metal Strip Profiling for Offset Sections

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing profiles with varying cross-sections, such as those in EP 1344583 B1, face difficulties in trimming complex profiles, leading to material deformation and unfavorable flow behavior, making the process labor-intensive and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

The method involves trimming the metal strip before profiling to create a varying width in the longitudinal direction, allowing for subsequent profiling processes to produce sections that are offset at regular intervals, eliminating the need for final trimming and reducing material deformation, with preferred embodiments including forming U- or V-profiles and subsequent bending or rolling to achieve desired shapes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If trimming is performed after profiling to create varying cross-sections, then the profile can achieve the desired shape, but the process becomes labor-intensive and causes material deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofile cross-section accuracyVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The metal strip is trimmed before the profiling process to create a varying width profile. This preliminary trimming action eliminates the need for subsequent trimming operations after profiling, reducing process complexity and avoiding material deformation that would occur with post-profiling trimming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of trimming the profile after shaping to achieve varying cross-sections, the method inverts the sequence by trimming the metal strip before profiling. This reversal of the conventional sequence simplifies the overall process and avoids the harmful effects of post-profiling trimming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Shape

If complex profiles are trimmed after profiling, then the desired cross-sectional shape is achieved, but material deformation and unfavorable flow behavior occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofile cross-section shapeVSAvoidmaterial deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The metal strip is trimmed before profiling to create the varying width configuration. This preliminary action ensures that the subsequent profiling process works with pre-shaped material, avoiding the material deformation and unfavorable flow behavior that result from trimming complex profiles after they have been formed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Shape

If continuous cross-sectional changes are produced using roll forming, then smooth transitions are achieved, but abrupt cross-sectional changes cannot be produced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-section continuityVSAvoidcross-section variation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The metal strip is trimmed before profiling to create specific width variations. This preliminary trimming enables both continuous and abrupt cross-sectional changes to be achieved in the final profile, overcoming the limitation of roll forming which can only produce continuous transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2875877B1Method for producing a profile having varying a cross-section
Publication Date: 2018.04.25 WELSER PROFILE AUSTRIA GMBH
  • EP2875877B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2875877B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2875877B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for producing an elongated profile (1) with a longitudinally varying cross-section. In the method, an elongated metal strip (2) having two strip edges (3) is profiled into a semi-finished profile (10) in a first profiling operation. Subsequently, in a second profiling operation, the semi-finished profile (10) is embossed section by section such that at least two sections (4, 5) are offset from each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the semi-finished profile (10). According to the invention, the metal strip (2) is trimmed before the first profiling operation such that it has a longitudinally varying width.