# US 11,440,074 B2 · Forming device, forming method, and metal pipe

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- Number: US 11,440,074 B2
- Document ID: US11440074B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/015,898
- Filed: 2020-09-09
- Published: 2020-12-31
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-09
- Assignees: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
- Applicants: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
- Inventors: Akihiro Ide; Masayuki Ishizuka; Norieda Ueno; Kimihiro Nogiwa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440074B2

## CPC

- B21D 19/08: by single or successive action of pressing tools, e.g. vice jaws
- B21D 26/033: Deforming tubular bodies (corrugating tubes by applying fluid pressure B21D15/03, B21D15/10)
- B21D 22/022: {by heating the blank or stamping associated with heat treatment (C21D takes precedence)}
- B21D 22/025: {for tubular articles}
- B21D 26/047: Mould construction (B21D26/037 - B21D26/045 take precedence)
- B21D 37/16: Heating or cooling
- F16L 9/006: {specially profiled (F16L9/003 takes precedence)}
- F16L 9/02: of metal (F16L9/16 - F16L9/22 take precedence)
- B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F)
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A forming device which expands a metal pipe material to form a metal pipe having a pipe portion and a flange portion includes a hardness lowering portion which lowers a hardness of the flange portion to be lower than a hardness of the pipe portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A forming device that expands a metal pipe material to form a metal pipe having a pipe portion and a flange portion, the forming device comprising:
a gas supply unit configured to supply a gas into the metal pipe;
a first die and a second die that are paired with each other,
wherein each of the first die and the second die comprises:
a pipe forming surface configured to form the pipe portion,
a flange forming surface configured to form the flange portion, and
a hardness lowering portion configured to lower a hardness of the flange portion to be lower than a hardness of the pipe portion, and
wherein the hardness lowering portion comprises:
a temperature control portion configured to make a temperature of the flange forming surface at a time of formation higher than a temperature of the pipe forming surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The forming device according to claim 1,
wherein the temperature control is configured to bring the flange forming surface to a temperature of about 500 to 1000° C. at the time of formation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The forming device according to claim 1,
wherein the temperature control portion is formed on a region outward of a base end side edge portion of the flange forming surface in a width direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The forming device according to claim 1,
wherein the temperature control portion is not formed on a region of the flange forming surface to form an edge portion near a tip of the flange portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The forming device according to claim 1,
wherein each temperature control portion comprises a member that is embedded in the flange forming surface, and
wherein the member is formed of a material different from a material of the first die and the second die.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The forming device according to claim 5,
wherein an electric resistance of the member is higher than that of the material of the first die and the second die.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The forming device according to claim 5,
wherein a cooling rate of the member is lower than that of the material of the first die and the second die.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The forming device according to claim 1,
wherein the temperature control portion is located at intermittent positions at the flange forming surface along a longitudinal direction of the flange forming surface.