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US 10,589,335 B1Granted
Apparatus and method of shaping metal product
AssigneeCapital One Services, LLC
InventorDavid Kelly Wurmfeld
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for shaping a blank comprising a metal includes a step of loading the blank onto a first die, a step of bringing the first die and a second die together, a step of forming a seal around the blank, and a step of injecting a pressurized molten salt into a space in the blank to supply a hydraulic pressure to the blank.
Claims20
A method of shaping a blank comprising metal, the method comprising:
- preheating a blank by placing the blank onto a surface of a molten salt reservoir;
- after preheating, loading the blank onto a first die;
- bringing the first die and a second die together to define a space between the blank and at least one of the first or second dies;
- forming a seal around the blank;
- and
- injecting a pressurized molten salt into the space to supply hydraulic pressure to the blank so as to force the blank against inner surfaces of the first and second dies,
- wherein a temperature of the molten salt is greater than 800° C.
4 more elements
An apparatus for shaping a blank comprising a metal, the apparatus comprising:
- a first die and a second die, the first and second dies:
- defining a space between the blank and at least one of the first or second dies, and
- forming a seal around the blank;
- and
- a molten salt reservoir configured to supply a pressurized molten salt into the space to provide a hydraulic pressure to the blank and force the blank against inner surfaces of the first and second dies,
- wherein a temperature of the molten salt is greater than 800° C., and
- wherein the blank is preheated by placing the blank onto a surface of the molten salt reservoir before loading.
4 more elements
A metal product formed by:
- preheating a blank made of metal by placing the blank onto a surface of a molten salt reservoir;
- after preheating, loading the blank onto a first die of a hydroforming apparatus;
- bringing the first die and a second die of the hydroforming apparatus together so as to:
- define a space between the blank and at least one of the first or second dies;
- and
- form a seal around the blank;
- and
- injecting pressurized molten salt into the space to supply a hydraulic pressure to the blank and force the blank against inner surfaces of the first and second dies,
- wherein the metal product is made of a metal or a metal alloy having a low formability, and a temperature of the molten salt is greater than 800° C.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.