Patent ID: 7256373
Filing Date: 2007-08-14
Classification: B21D,B23K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for forming a driveshaft having a shaft and a coupling end part of radial dimensions larger than those of the shaft, the apparatus comprising: one or two forming assemblies for forming one end or two ends of a driveshaft, respectively; the one or two forming assemblies comprising each a holder and a forming unit; the holder is adapted to receive and hold a driveshaft end part pre-assembly; the pre-assembly consisting of two components, of which one is an end section of an elongated shaft that defines an axis, and the other is a coupling end part member, either the shaft end section or a portion of the end part member having a generally cylindrical shape with an axial cylindrical cavity that accommodates an axial cylindrical portion of the other snugly fitted therewithin, the end section and said portion defining together a cylindrical joining section of the two components; the forming unit comprising a forming coil device defining a forming space for accommodating said joining section and a current generating unit for generating a current pulse within the forming coil unit to yield a pulsed magnetic force (PMF) sufficiently strong to yield joining of the two parts of the joining section; the forming coil device being assembled from two or more coil sections attached to one another at attachment faces thereof, which can be disassembled to permit release of the so formed driveshaft end part, wherein said current pulse is delivered only through an unbroken conductor, and wherein at least one of said coil sections of said forming coil device contributes to said PMF through inductively generated current.