Patent ID: 9527120
Filing Date: 2016-12-27
CPC Classification: B21B,B21D,B60G

Claim Text:
1. A roll forming assembly for forming a tube into a transverse strut, comprising: a heater for heating the tube to a predetermined temperature; a roll former including a plurality of forming wheels for deforming the tube, at least one of said forming wheels having a non-complementary shape to the tube for changing a cross-sectional shape of the tube along at least a portion of the length of the tube, and said plurality of forming wheels including two pairs of forming wheels with said forming wheels in each pair opposing one another; an actuator operably coupled to at least one of said forming wheels of said roll former and configured to move the associated of said forming wheels in a radial direction to deform the tube into a transverse strut having a variable cross-sectional shape along the length of the transverse strut; and one of said forming wheels in at least one of said pairs having a convex rolling surface and the other of said forming wheels in the respective pair having a concave rolling surface such that operation of said actuator results in a portion of the transverse strut having a double walled and U-shaped cross-sectional shape.