Advanced feed device for a superplastic press forming system
AssigneeAirbus France
InventorValerie Frustie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A feed device for a superplastic press-forming press has a slide that moves vertically and a base between which is held a tool having a cover and a bottom die enclosing a forming tool, which includes at least one heating shuttle to transport the bottom die, equipped with the forming tool and a cover, with the heating shuttle adapted to complete the press and constitute the base of the press during a hot-press forming operation.
Claims10
A device for feeding a superplastic forming press having a slide that moves vertically and a base between which there is a tool with a cover and a bottom die enclosing a forming tool, comprising at least one heating shuttle to transport the bottom die, equipped with a forming tool, and a cover;
- said heating shuttle is adapted to complete the press and constitute the base of said press during a hot-pressing operation and it includes a track for the shuttle extending under the press and continuing outside the press on at least one side of the press in at least one parking area of said shuttle.
A process for feeding a superplastic hot-forming press having a feed device with at least one heating shuttle to transport a die holding a forming tool;
- said heating shuttle is adapted to complete the press and constitute the base of said press during a hot-pressing operation;
- the feed device has a track for the shuttle extending under the press and continuing to the outside of the press in at least two shuttle parking areas, for which, during production cycles for pieces, at least one first shuttle is positioned in a parking area;
- it is equipped with a first forming tool for making the first pieces;
- the forming tool is pre-heated in the first shuttle, while a second shuttle equipped with a second forming tool to make the second pieces completes the press to make said second pieces.
The process for feeding a superplastic hot-forming press having a feed device with a plurality of heating shuttles to transport dies holding forming tools;
- said heating shuttles are adapted to complete the press and constitute the base of said press during a hot-pressing operation;
- the feed device includes a shuttle track extending under the press and continuing to the outside of the press along a plurality of branches in at least three shuttle parking areas, for which, during a production cycle for the pieces, a first shuttle, equipped with a first forming tool, completes the press to make the first pieces, a second shuttle equipped with a second tool to make the second pieces is located in a first parking area and pre-heated;
- a third shuttle is placed in a second parking area and cooled to permit a tool change;
- a third parking area is free to take the first shuttle at the end of the production cycle for the first pieces and let said second and third shuttles take its place.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.