Hydroforming apparatus and method of assembling same
AssigneeMagna International Inc.
InventorJohn DiCesare
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydroforming apparatus includes a hydroforming die member and a hydroforming press. A fastener couples the press to the die member, the fastener having a shaft and a shoulder. A spacer positioned on the fastener spaces the die member from the press. The shaft is secured to the press housing. The shoulder is positioned within a slot in the die member configured to receive the shoulder as the shoulder is inserted into the slot in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fastener.
Claims19
A hydroforming apparatus (10) comprising:
- a hydroforming die member (14);
- a hydroforming press (16, 18) having a housing (22);
- a fastener assembly (37) comprising a fastener (24) having a shaft (30) terminating at a shoulder (32), the shoulder forming a head (33), and a spacer (29) disposed about the fastener (24);
- the fastener (24) secured to the press housing (22) at one end of the shaft (30) and the shoulder (32) of the fastener (24) received within a slot (28) formed in the die member (14) for connecting the die member (14) and press (16, 18).
A hydroforming apparatus (10) comprising:
- a hydroforming die member (14);
- a hydroforming press (16, 18) having a housing (22);
- a fastener assembly (37) comprising a fastener (24) having a shaft (30) terminating at a shoulder (32), the shoulder forming a head (33), and a spacer (29) disposed about the fastener (24) and spacing the die member (14) relative to the press housing (22);
- the fastener (24) secured to the housing (22) at one end of the shaft (30) and, the slot (28) being configured to receive the shoulder (32) when inserted into the slot (28) in a direction that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fastener (28).
A method of attaching a hydroforming press (16, 18) to a hydroforming die member (14), comprising:
- providing a hydroforming die member (14);
- providing a hydroforming press (16, 18) having a housing (22);
- providing a fastener assembly (37) comprising a fastener (24) having a longitudinal axis and a shaft (30) terminating at a shoulder (32), the shoulder forming a head (33), and a nut (36);
- providing the die member (14) with a slot (28) configured to receive the shoulder (32) in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fastener (24)
- providing a spacer (29) disposed about the fastener (24) to space the die member (14) relative to the press housing (22);
- securing the shaft (30) of the fastener (24) to the housing (22);
- and
- positioning the shoulder (32) of the fastener (24) within the slot (28) in the die member (14) by moving the shoulder (32) and the fastener (24) in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fastener (24).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.