Patent ID: 8959974
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: B21C,B21D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of making a composite tube-shaped fabrication structure member comprising the steps of: providing a first coil of a strip of a first planar member having a desired cross-sectional shape and a desired first set of mechanical properties suitable to form a flange of a tube-shaped fabrication structure member; providing a second coil a strip of a second planar member having a desired second cross-sectional shape and a desired second set of mechanical properties different from the first planar member suitable to form a web portion of a tube-shaped fabrication structure member; providing a third coil a strip of a third planar member having a desired third cross-sectional shape and a desired third set of mechanical properties different from the second planar member suitable to form a portion of a flange of the tube-shaped fabrication structure member; uncoiling and passing through accumulators the strip of the first planar member, the strip of the second planar member, and the strip of the third planar member, the accumulators allowing sufficient delay to permit for welding of end portions of the strips to enable continuous flow of the strip of first planar member from the first coil, the strip of the second planar member from the second coil, and the strip of the third planar member from the third coil; delivering the strip of the first planar member, the strip of the second planar member, and the strip of the third planar member to a strip aligner to provide aligning respective side portions of the strip of the first planar member and the strip of the second planar member for attachment to the respective side portions of the strip of the first planar member and the strip of the second planar member and aligning the second planar member for attachment to the strip of the third planar member from the third coil to the opposite side portions of the second planar member; delivering the strip of the first planar member, the strip of the second planar member, and the strip of the third planar member to a weld apparatus having multiple welding stations to provide attaching respective side portions of the strip of the first planar member from the first coil and side portion of the strip of the third planar member from the third coil to respective side portions of the strip of the second planar member from the second coil by welding to form a composite intermediate product as a continuum suitable for forming a tube-shaped fabrication structure member; and delivering the composite intermediate product to a cold-forming apparatus to provide cold-forming the composite intermediate product to form a tube-shaped fabrication structure member.