Punch device for piercing hydro-formed member

Abstract

A piercing device and method is provided which can be used to form apertures in formed members. In particular, it is believed that the present invention is particularly suited for forming apertures in hydro-formed members. The piercing device of the present invention advantageously occupies relatively little volume, allowing multiple piercing devices to be located within relatively small volumes about a hydro-forming die, or the like. The device and method can be used to perform complete pierces, wherein the slug is removed from the formed member, or to perform partial pierces, wherein the slug is maintained captive in place until removed by a subsequent manufacturing operation. The present invention also provides for a negative pierce to be achieved, during the hydro-forming process, prior to the pierce operation being performed. This negative pierce results in a reduction in the force required to perform the pierce operation and thus permits the use of a smaller hydraulic ram, or the like. In turn, this can result in a cost saving and can result in even denser mounting of adjacent piercing devices within a hydro-forming die or the like.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.