Pre-crush die assembly and method

A pre-crush die assembly for controlled deforming of at least a portion of a tubular member to be used in a subsequent hydroforming operation, the tubular member having a centerline extending therethrough and the pre-crush die assembly comprising:

• a support table for supporting the tubular member relative therewith;
• and,
• a closed loop sub-assembly mounted to the support table for movement relative thereto, the closed loop sub-assembly comprising:
• a first set of rails adapted to slide relative to the support table;
• a second set of rails interspaced with the first set of rails adapted to slide relative to the support table in directions opposite to those of the first rails;
• a first mounting plate connected for movement with the second set of rails;
• a second mounting plate connected for movement with the first set of rails spaced along the first and second rails from the first mounting plate;
• at least one first hydraulic cylinder mounted to the first mounting plate;
• at least one second hydraulic cylinder mounted to the second mounting plate;
• at least one first die mounted to the first set of rails between the first and second mounting plates and coupled with the first hydraulic cylinder;
• at least one second die mounted to the second set of rails between the first and second mounting plates and coupled with the second hydraulic cylinder, the at least one first die and the at least one second die being positioned on opposing sides of the tubular member in an open position spaced in non-contacting relation to the tubular member equidistant from the centerline of the tubular member adjacent the portion of the tubular member to be deformed;
• and
• the first and second hydraulic cylinders adapted to expand and contract, and causing, during expansion, the first and second dies to move interdependently, via the first and second mounting plates and the first and second rails, in opposing directions towards each other into a closing position engaging and deforming the tubular member whereby the first and second dies remain equidistant from the centerline of the tubular member adjacent the portion of the tubular member being deformed as the first and second dies move from the open position to the closing position.

A pre-crush die assembly for controlled deforming of at least a portion of each of first and second tubular members to be used in a subsequent hydroforming operation, the first and second tubular members each having a centerline extending therethrough and the pre-crush die assembly comprising:

• a support table for supporting the first and second tubular members relative therewith;
• and,
• a closed loop sub-assembly mounted to the support table for movement relative thereto, the closed loop sub-assembly comprising:
• a first set of rails adapted to slide relative to the support table;
• a second set of rails interspaced with the first set of rails adapted to slide relative to the support table in directions opposite to those of the first rails;
• a first mounting plate connected for movement with the second set of rails;
• a second mounting plate connected for movement with the first set of rails spaced along the first and second rails from the first mounting plate;
• at least one first hydraulic cylinder mounted to the first mounting plate;
• at least one second hydraulic cylinder mounted to the second mounting plate;
• a first master die and a first slave die mounted to the first set of rails between the first and second mounting plates and the first master die being directly coupled with the first hydraulic cylinder;
• a second master die and a second slave die mounted to the second set of rails between the first and second mounting plates and the second master die being directly coupled with the second hydraulic cylinder,
• the first master die and the second slave die being positioned on opposing sides of the first tubular member in an open position spaced in non-contacting relation to the first tubular member equidistant from the centerline of the first tubular member adjacent the portion of the first tubular member to be deformed;
• the second master die and the first slave die being positioned on opposing sides of the second tubular member in the open position spaced in non-contacting relation to the second tubular member equidistant from the centerline of the second tubular member adjacent the portion of the second tubular member to be deformed;
• the first and second hydraulic cylinders adapted to expand and contract, and causing, during expansion:
• the first master die and the second slave die to move interdependently, via the first and second mounting plates and the first and second sets of rails, in opposing directions towards each other into a closing position engaging and deforming the first tubular member whereby the first master die and second slave die remain equidistant from the centerline of the first tubular member adjacent the portion of the first tubular member being deformed as the first master die and second slave die move from the open position to the closing position, and
• the second master die and the first slave die to move interdependently, via the first and second mounting plates and the first and second sets of rails, in opposing directions towards each other into the closing position engaging and deforming the second tubular member whereby the second master die and first slave die remain equidistant from the centerline of the second tubular member adjacent the portion of the second tubular member being deformed as the second master die and first slave die move from the open position to the closing position.