Method and apparatus for forming double curvature corrugated and surface textured panels
AssigneeTirnaform Limited
InventorAlan Leacock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of stretch forming a double curvature panel having corrugations or other surface features formed therein includes providing a reconfigurable forming surface defined by a flexible interpolator sheet mounted on an array of height adjustable pins, the interpolator sheet having a profiled upper surface adapted to form corrugations or other surface features in a workpiece as it is stretched over the forming surface, adjusting the height of each pin to suit the shape of the panel to be produced, placing a workpiece onto the forming surface, and stretching the workpiece over the forming surface such that the profiled upper surface of the interpolator sheet forms the desired corrugations or other surface features in the workpiece.
Claims20
A method of stretch forming a double curvature panel having corrugations formed therein, comprising:
- providing a reconfigurable forming surface defined by a flexible interpolator sheet mounted on an array of height adjustable pins, the interpolator sheet having a profiled upper surface adapted to form corrugations in a workpiece;
- adjusting the height of each pin to suit the shape of the panel to be produced;
- placing the workpiece onto the forming surface;
- and
- stretching the workpiece to draw the workpiece against the forming surface such that the profiled upper surface of the interpolator sheet forms the desired corrugations in the workpiece;
- wherein the interpolator sheet is mounted on the array of pins such that a major profile of the corrugations defining the profiled upper surface of the interpolator sheet are substantially aligned with the direction in which the workpiece is stretched over the forming surface.
A reconfigurable stretch forming apparatus, comprising:
- an array of pins adapted to be individually adjustable in height;
- a flexible interpolator sheet mounted on top of the array of pins to define a reconfigurable forming surface;
- a pair of workpiece gripping devices being provided on opposite sides of the array of pins, each gripping device having a support surface for supporting a workpiece and a clamping member for clamping a work piece against the support surface;
- a drive device operable to displace the gripping devices in opposing directions and/or operable to raise the array of pins to stretch the work piece over the forming surface;
- and
- the interpolator sheet having a profiled upper surface adapted to form corrugations in the workpiece as it is stretched while being drawn against the forming surface defined by the interpolator sheet;
- wherein the profiled upper surface of the interpolator sheet defines a plurality of substantially parallel ribs adapted to form the corrugations in the workpiece, and wherein the substantially parallel ribs are aligned with the direction in which the work piece is stretched.
A reconfigurable stretch forming apparatus, comprising:
- an array of pins adapted to be individually adjustable in height;
- a flexible interpolator sheet mounted on top of the array of pins to define a reconfigurable forming surface;
- a pair of workpiece gripping devices being provided on opposite sides of the array of pins, each gripping device having a support surface for supporting a workpiece and a clamping member for clamping a work piece against the support surface;
- a drive device operable to displace the gripping devices in opposing directions and/or operable to raise the array of pins to stretch the work piece over the forming surface;
- and
- the interpolator sheet having a profiled upper surface adapted to form corrugations in the workpiece as it is stretched while being drawn against the forming surface defined by the interpolator sheet;
- wherein the interpolator sheet is mounted on the array of pins such that a major profile of the corrugations defining the profiled upper surface of the interpolator sheet are substantially aligned with the direction in which the workpiece is stretched over the forming surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.