Apparatus and method for producing shear deformation

Abstract

An apparatus for producing shear deformation in a work piece, the apparatus comprising: a processing channel through which the work piece passes, the processing channel including first and second channel sections which intersect at an angle to each other; a plurality of drive members configured to engage sides of the work piece to drive it through the processing channel so that the work piece passes from the first channel section to the second channel section to produce shear deformation in the work piece; and a drive surface disposed at an intersection of the first and second channel sections, the drive surface being configured to engage the work piece and advance it through the intersection, wherein opposing sides of the first channel section are defined by a pair of die faces relative to which the drive members are rotatably fixed, the separation of the die faces being variable in response to thickness variations of the work piece to maintain drive of the work piece through the processing channel.

1 . An apparatus for producing shear deformation in a work piece, the apparatus comprising:
 a processing channel through which the work piece passes, the processing channel including first and second channel sections which intersect at an angle to each other;   a plurality of drive members configured to engage sides of the work piece to drive it through the processing channel so that the work piece passes from the first channel section to the second channel section to produce shear deformation in the work piece; and a drive surface disposed at an intersection of the first and second channel sections, the drive surface being configured to engage the work piece and advance it through the intersection,   wherein opposing sides of the first channel section are defined by a pair of die faces relative to which the drive members are rotatably fixed, the separation of the die faces being variable in response to thickness variations of the work piece to maintain drive of the work piece through the processing channel.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for producing shear deformation in a work piece, the apparatus comprising:
 a processing channel through which the work piece, passes, the processing channel including first and second channel sections which intersect at an angle to each other;   a plurality of drive members configured to engage sides of the work piece to drive it through the processing channel so that the work piece passes from the first channel section to the second channel section to produce shear deformation in the work piece; and a drive surface disposed at an intersection of the first and second channel sections, the drive surface being configured to engage the work piece and advance it through the intersection,   wherein opposing sides of the first channel section are defined by a pair of die faces relative to which the drive members are rotatably fixed, the separation of the die faces being variable in response to thickness variations of the work piece so that the pressure imparted by the drive members on the work piece is maintained at a substantially constant level.   
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each die face includes a plurality of drive members each separated by a guide plate. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an external surface of the drive members extend into the first channel section to impart pressure on the work piece. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each drive member is in the form of a roller, an external surface of which forms part of the die face. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the rollers of a respective die face are disposed within a die block, an outer surface of which forms the die face. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the die block is slidably supported on a plurality of shafts which are disposed perpendicular to the first channel section so as to allow the separation of the die faces to vary. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the die block is movable under the action of a hydraulic system. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive members include a plurality of opposing clamping elements. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the clamping elements are disposed around a pair of endless drive members, the clamping elements engaging the work piece as they travel around a straight portion of each endless drive member. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein a surface of the clamping elements which is arranged to engage the work piece is grooved, the grooves configured to accept corresponding protrusions on a support member so that as the clamping elements pass around a curved portion of an endless drive member, contact with the work piece passes from the clamping elements to a respective support member. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the support member is fixed relative to the apparatus and an outer face of the support member forms a part of the first channel section. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , further including a plurality of drive members disposed in the second channel section to pull the work piece through the processing channel. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the drive members are configured so that a combined contact area of the drive members acting on the work piece in the first channel section is substantially equal to a combined contact area of the drive members acting on the work piece in the second channel section. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further includes a roller at an inner corner of the intersection of the first and second channel sections, the roller being disposed across the processing channel from the drive surface. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the radius of the roller is less than half the thickness of the work piece. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method for processing metals, including driving a work piece to be treated through a processing channel, the processing channel having first and second channel sections which intersect and are disposed at an angle to each other, the work piece undergoing shear deformation at the region of intersection between said first and second channels, wherein the work piece is driven through the first channel section by engagement of the work piece with a plurality of drive members, the method including varying a separation of the drive members in response to thickness variations of the work piece to maintain drive of the work piece. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the work piece is driven through an angle of approximately 90 degrees when passing through the intersection. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the drive members engage the work piece in both the first and second channel sections, the contact area of engagement in the first channel section being substantially equal to the contact area of engagement in the second channel section. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 24 , further including the steps of twisting a leading edge of the work piece after it exits the second channel, fixing it to a trailing edge of the work piece to form a continuous mobius strip and feeding it back into the first channel. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled)