Ralph Edward Roper, JR
Engineers in Indianapolis, IN

6390457, May 21, 2002

Feb 14, 2001

09/783634

Ralph Roper - Indianapolis IN 46240

F16F 902

267119, 267130, 267 6411, 267 6426, 188281, 1882821, 18832213

A gas spring includes an outer tube; a base plate; a head plate; an inner tube mounted to extend between the head plate and the base plate; a piston/rod assembly mounted to reciprocate vertically in the inner tube between a retracted, compressed position and an extended, rest position; a valve ring coaxially mounted around the rod to reciprocate between the main piston and head plate; a primary gas chamber; a relief chamber; seals for preventing fluid flow from the primary and relief chambers; a passageway providing communication between the primary gas chamber and relief chamber; and, valve apparatus for controlling fluid flow between the primary and relief chambers. The valve apparatus operates to open and close the fluid flow as a function of the position and direction of travel of the piston/rod assembly.

5865054, Feb 2, 1999

Jun 5, 1995

8/463808

Ralph E. Roper - Indianapolis IN

Aquaform Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

B21D 2602, B21D 1503

72 58

An apparatus for forming a frame member for an automobile from a tube blank applies internal hydraulic pressure to the blank, tangent bends and preforms the internally pressurized blank into a preformed tube having a desired horizontal profile configuration, then forms the preformed tube into a finally formed frame member having a desired vertical profile configuration and a desired, varying cross-sectional configuration by placing the preformed tube in a stuffing ledge apparatus having a lower die with an upwardly facing ledge and vertically extending, punch engaging surfaces and a punch having a downwardly facing ledge and vertically extending, die engaging surfaces, internally pressurizing the tube, and then ramming the punch downwardly to form the tube into the finally formed frame member, the ledges and vertically extending surfaces substantially completely enclosing a portion of the tube before and while the punch and die come together to form the tube into the finally formed frame member. The forming components in each apparatus are submerged in an aqueous bath, allowing the blank and tube to automatically fill themselves, thereby facilitating sealing and pressurizing of the tube.

5372027, Dec 13, 1994

Jul 27, 1992

7/919968

Ralph E. Roper - Indianapolis IN
Gary A. Webb - West Bloomfield MI

Armco Steel Company, L.P. - Middletown OH
Price Enterprises, Ltd. - Madison Heights MI

B21D 2602

72 60

A sheet metal blank positioned upon a lower die is wrapped around an upper die as the upper die is moved down to a closed position by an outer slide, the blank being clamped between the upper and lower dies whereby the periphery of the blank is gripped between a male and female bead mounted all around a part print cavity in the upper and lower dies, respectively. The outer slide then dwells while an inner slide moves down, engaging and actuating cylinder assemblies, causing hydraulic fluid to be forced into a region between the clamped blank and the lower die, the blank being formed into a part print cavity defined in the upper die. The male bead exerts varying control on the sheet to allow it to stretch across portions of the cavity while flowing into other portions of the cavity. A locking mechanism prevents the bending of the dies and holds the dies in a closed position thereby assisting the engagement of the male bead with the female bead. As a safety feature, the mechanism is configured to automatically open when the die cavity is moved up.

4295357, Oct 20, 1981

May 19, 1980

6/150776

Ralph E. Roper - Indianapolis IN

General Tire & Rubber Co.

B21D 4500

72344

Process and apparatus for making a metal annular member of precise tolerances and desired surface finish. An external die has a continuous die surface of the configuration desired for the external surface of the metal annular member and an annular ridge surrounding the inside of the die for seating one end of an annular sheet metal blank. A first punch engages the sheet metal blank and drives it into the external die so as to reduce the external diameter of the blank and seat it against the ridge. The precise tolerance of the die surface of the external die determines both the external and at least a portion of the internal dimensions produced in the annular sheet metal blank. The first punch is axially movable to an endmost position wherein substantially all of the blank has been forced into the die. An ejector punch is positioned inside of the external die and operates to provide a portion of the forming die surfaces as well as to eject the completed workpiece.

5353618, Oct 11, 1994

Aug 23, 1993

8/077616

Ralph E. Roper - Indianapolis IN
Gary A. Webb - West Bloomfield MI
Douglas W. Tyger - West Chester OH

Armco Steel Company, L.P. - Middletown OH
Price Enterprises, Ltd. - Madison Heights MI

B21D 2602

72 58

An apparatus for forming a frame member for an automobile from a tube blank applies internal hydraulic pressure to the blank, tangent bends and preforms the internally pressurized blank into a preformed tube having a desired horizontal profile configuration, then forms the preformed tube into a finally formed frame member having a desired vertical profile configuration and a desired, varying cross-sectional configuration by placing the preformed tube in a stuffing ledge apparatus having a lower die with an upwardly facing ledge and vertically extending, punch engaging surfaces and a punch having a downwardly facing ledge and vertically extending, die engaging surfaces, internally pressurizing the tube, and then ramming the punch downwardly to form the tube into the finally formed frame member, the ledges and vertically extending surfaces substantially completely enclosing a portion of the tube before and while the punch and die come together to form the tube into the finally formed frame member. The forming components in each apparatus are submerged in an aqueous bath, allowing the blank and tube to automatically fill themselves, thereby facilitating sealing and pressurizing of the tube.

5533372, Jul 9, 1996

Aug 24, 1994

8/296053

Ralph E. Roper - Indianapolis IN
Gary A. Webb - West Bloomfield MI

AK Steel Corporation - Middletown OH

B21D 2602, B21D 3714

72 60

A self-contained apparatus for forming metal sheet is adapted for operation within a standard double action press having a base and outer and inner vertically reciprocating slides. A basic die is mountable to the press and specific tooling is replaceably mountable to the basic die. The basic die includes a riser, a manifold and hydraulic cylinder assemblies. A sheet metal blank is positioned on the lower die and is clamped between the upper and lower dies whereby the periphery of the blank is gripped between a male and female bead mounted all around a part print cavity. The cylinder assemblies cause hydraulic fluid to be forced into a region between the clamped blank and the lower die and form the blank in the part print cavity. The male bead exerts varying control on the sheet to allow it to stretch across portions of the cavity while flowing into other portions of the cavity. A locking mechanism prevents the bending of the dies and holds the dies in a closed position thereby assisting the engagement of the male bead with the female bead.

4238949, Dec 16, 1980

Aug 28, 1978

5/937278

Ralph E. Roper - Indianapolis IN

The General Tire & Rubber Company - Akron OH

B21D 2200

72358

Process and apparatus for making a metal annular member of precise tolerances and desired surface finish. An external die has a continuous die surface of the configuration desired for the external surface of the metal annular member and an annular ridge surrounding the inside of the die for seating one end of an annular sheet metal blank. A first punch engages the sheet metal blank and drives it into the external die so as to reduce the external diameter of the blank and seat it against the ridge. The precise tolerance of the die surface of the external die determines both the external and at least a portion of the internal dimensions produced in the annular sheet metal blank. The first punch is axially movable to an endmost position wherein substantially all of the blank has been forced into the die. An ejector punch is positioned inside of the external die and operates to provide a portion of the forming die surfaces as well as to eject the completed workpiece.

5802898, Sep 8, 1998

Jun 5, 1995

8/463664

Ralph E. Roper - Indianapolis IN

Aquaform, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

B21D 2602, B21D 1503

72 58

An apparatus for bending a tube blank having an outer diameter, comprising: an inner bending die having an arcuate outer surface which has a first radius from an axis; a wiper shoe having an inner surface, said shoe disposed and adapted to trap a tube blank between said inner surface and said outer surface; holding means for holding a first portion of the blank against said inner die; limiting means for limiting movement of said shoe to rolling about an arc around said axis, said arc having a second radius from said axis which is approximately between said first radius and said first radius plus said diameter; and, moving means for moving said shoe around said axis, and around the blank thereby bending a second portion of the blank around said outer surface; and sealing and pressurizing means for sealing the blank and for hydraulically pressurizing the interior of the blank to a sufficient pressure to allow moving means to bend a second portion of the blank around said outer surface, said pressurized liquid acting like a flexible mandrel to ensure uniform, non-buckling deformation of the tube, substantially without distorting the cross section of the second portion.

6068245, May 30, 2000

Sep 16, 1998

9/154132

Ralph Roper - Indianapolis IN

F16F 914, F16F 500

267 6415

A draw die operable within a straightside press includes a lower die shoe with a lower die; pressurized lift cylinders each having an upwardly extending piston rod and an axial resistance to compression; a generally ring-shaped cushion defining a central hole and a plurality of lock beads extending upwardly in spaced-apart relation surrounding the central hole, wherein the cushion surrounds the punch, is sized and configured to support a blank atop the beads and over the punch for draw forming the blank over the punch, and is supported by the lift cylinders; a plurality of cushion units held by the shoe and each having an upwardly extending piston rod and an axial resistance to compression; an upper die defining a second stamping shape which mates with the first stamping shape; a plurality of hydraulic shock absorbers held by the upper die and having an axial resistance to compression and a piston rod that extends downwardly toward the cushion. A ram mechanism moves the upper die downwardly where the shock absorbers engage the cushion and accelerate it downwardly, depressing the lift cylinders somewhat. Upon further downward movement of the upper die and cushion, the cushion cylinders become engaged and offer sufficient resistance as they are depressed to bind a blank between upper die and cushion and to draw form the blank between the two dies.

5481892, Jan 9, 1996

Jul 29, 1993

8/099484

Ralph E. Roper - Indianapolis IN
Gary A. Webb - West Bloomfield MI
Douglas W. Tyger - West Chester OH
Donald F. Lowen - West Bloomfield MI

B21D 915

72 61

An apparatus and method for forming a one-piece, complex-shaped tubular member from a tubular blank is provided. The tubular blank is placed in a die cavity defining a tube having at least two expanded portions and a bend therein. As the die cavity is closed around the tubular blank to form the bend, the interior of the tubular blank is pressurized to expand the tubular blank into the at least two expanded portions defined by the die cavity. When the bent and expanded tubular blank is removed from the die cavity, the ends of the tubular blank are cropped to form the finished tubular member.