Forming device and forming method

A forming device for forming a metal pipe, the forming device comprising:

• a drive mechanism configured to move a first die towards a second die, when a metal pipe material comprising a pipe portion and a flange portion is between the first die and the second die, in a manner that causes the metal pipe material to come into contact with the first die and the second die;
• a gas supply unit configured to supply, into the metal pipe material that is in contact with the first die and the second die, a gas that forms the metal pipe material by expanding the metal pipe material;
• a cooling apparatus configured to cool, after the gas expands the metal pipe material, the metal pipe material that is between the first die and the second die;
• a controller configured to control, while the cooling apparatus cools the metal pipe material, the gas supply unit in a manner that causes the gas supply unit to maintain the gas at an operating pressure for a period of time;
• and
• a heater configured to heat the metal pipe material,
• wherein the gas supply unit comprises gas storage means for:
• storing the gas, and
• supplying the gas stored in the gas storage means into the metal pipe material so as to maintain the pressure of the gas in the metal pipe material at a first pressure or a second pressure,
• wherein the first die and the second die constitute:
• a first cavity portion for forming the pipe portion, and
• a second cavity portion for forming the flange portion,
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• control the gas supply of the gas supply unit to expand a portion of the metal pipe material so as to form the flange portion in the second cavity portion, and
• control the gas supply of the gas supply unit so as to maintain the pressure of the gas in the metal pipe material at the second pressure lower than the first pressure.

A forming device for forming a metal pipe, the forming device comprising:

• a drive mechanism configured to move a first die towards a second die, when a metal pipe material comprising a pipe portion and a flange portion is between the first die and the second die, in a manner that causes the metal pipe material to come into contact with the first die and the second die;
• a gas supply unit configured to supply, into the metal pipe material that is in contact with the first die and the second die, a gas that forms the metal pipe material by expanding the metal pipe material;
• a cooling apparatus configured to cool, after the gas expands the metal pipe material, the metal pipe material that is between the first die and the second die;
• and
• a controller configured to control, while the cooling apparatus cools the metal pipe material, the gas supply unit in a manner that causes the gas supply unit to maintain the gas at an operating pressure for a period of time,
• wherein the first die and the second die constitute:
• a first cavity portion for forming the pipe portion, and
• a second cavity portion for forming the flange portion,
• wherein the gas supply unit is configured to supply, at a pressure lower than the operating pressure, the gas into the metal pipe material so as to expand a portion of the metal pipe material in the second cavity portion in a state where the first die and the second die are not closed.