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Method and device for producing metal rings

Method and device for producing metal rings description/claims

This is a continuation of International Patent App. No. PCT/EP2006/005695 filed on Jun. 14, 2006, and also claims priority to German Patent App. No. 10 2005 028 828.6 filed on Jun. 15, 2005. The entire contents of both prior-filed patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a method and assembly for producing rings from a tube made of a metallic material, wherein the rings are provided with an axially continuous inner profile at their inner circumference and with a radial outer profile at their outer circumference.

Such a method is, for example, known from DE 102 19 441 C1. The method described in DE 102 19 441 C1 serves to produce rings that are profiled inside and outside (e.g., rolling bearing rings and transmission rings) from tubular or solid materials, and in a state completely ready for grinding. A radial outer profile can be formed by radial-axial-profile tube rolling. Therein, a tube section is processed from the outside by using a rolling tool. The flow of material generated therewith is influenced by a counterforce tool which acts on the processed tube section in an axial direction. The flow of material may be controlled in axial and radial directions, such that the evading material may be involved in formation of the profile.

For manufacturing such products as, for example, synchronizer rings, a radial inner profile may be formed simultaneously. For the production of shifting sleeves, it is proposed to machine the required inner teeth (i.e., axial profile) in a separate working step after the outer contour has been rolled completely ready for grinding.

In view of the above, it is an object of the invention to provide an enhanced method for producing rings from a metallic material, and starting from a raw material, wherein in particular axial profiles can be produced with greater ease.

This object is solved by a method for producing rings from a metallic material, wherein the rings are provided with an axially continuous inner profile at an inner circumference and with a radial outer profile at an outer circumference, and wherein the method comprises the steps of providing a tube having a tube section from which rings are to be produced; forming an inner profile of the tube section by swaging, wherein a first profile mandrel is arranged in the tube, the outer profile of the mandrel corresponds to the inner profile to be formed, and the tube section is processed from the outside by using a swaging tool; and forming a radial outer profile by rolling.

Similarly, the above object is solved by an assembly for producing rings from a metallic material (such as in performing the aforementioned method), wherein the assembly comprises: a swaging device for forming an inner profile, wherein the swaging device has a first profile mandrel arranged in the tube and having an outer profile corresponding to the inner profile of rings to be formed, and wherein the swaging device includes a swaging tool which processes the tube section from outside in order to form a tube section being profiled inside; and a rolling device for forming the outer profile.

With the inventive method and the inventive production assembly, the axial inner profile of the rings can be produced at considerably lower costs, i.e. by swaging. Since the metallic material used for producing the rings is capable of flowing to a certain extent due to the rolling method used for producing the radial outer profile, the swaging method for producing the axial inner profile is generally applicable.

As used herein, the term “swaging” has a broad meaning in this context, and includes all similar and alternative methods in which material is pressed into a profile of the profile mandrel by radial and/or axial pressure (e.g., intermittently, in some embodiments).

The axial inner profile produced in the manner described herein is surprisingly not influenced or is only slightly influenced in the subsequent rolling step for producing the radial outer profile, such that, in some cases, post-processing of the axial inner profile after the rolling step is not required.

The rings produced in the manners described and illustrated herein may in particular be shifting sleeves or clutch bodies, such as those used in transmissions.

In an alternative embodiment of the production method, the individual rings can be separated from the internally profiled tube section before the rolling step described above.

In this embodiment, it is preferred that, in the rolling step, the flow of material is controlled possibly from both axial sides near the rolling tool.

In an alternative embodiment, the rolling step described above is performed at the internally profiled tube section, wherein the finished rings are subsequently cut off.

Handling of the worked product is advantageous in this context, since a large number of single parts is not generated until the rings are finished.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the tube is moved in an axial direction with respect to the swaging tool in the swaging step described above.

In this embodiment, the axial inner profile may be formed in a continuous working step upon the tube section. As an alternative, it is possible to move the swaging tool with respect to the tube.

It is also advantageous in some embodiments if the outer profile of the first profile mandrel is shorter than the length of the tube section, wherein the first profile mandrel is supported in a floating fashion, and wherein the tube section is moved in the axial direction with respect to the first profile mandrel in the swaging step.

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