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US 2016/0236259 A1Published application
Method and Apparatus for Attaching a Nut in a Hydro-Forming Tool
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorDragan B. STOJKOVIC
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method, a punch and a tool are disclosed for forming a hydro-formed assembly. A first opening is punched in a first wall of a tubular part with an outer punch. A second opening is punched in a second wall of the tubular part with a nut retainer that holds a nut with a clinching feature that is concentric with the outer punch. The nut is clinched by the nut retainer to an inner surface of the second wall of the tubular part.
Claims14
A method of making a hydro-formed assembly comprising:
- punching a first opening in a first wall of a tubular part with an outer punch;
- securing a nut to an inner surface of a second wall of the tubular part;
- and
- punching a second opening in the second wall of the tubular part with a clinching feature formed on the nut.
1 more element
A tool for hydro-forming a part comprising:
- a hydro-forming die retained in a hydro-forming tool;
- and
- a dual action punch operated by the tool and received in the die, the dual action punch including an outer punch and a nut retainer disposed inside the outer punch, wherein the hydro-forming die defines a recess on an opposite side from the dual action punch, and a nut is secured to an inner surface of the part.
A punch assembly for attaching a nut to a part in a hydro-forming tool comprising:
- an outer punch for forming a first opening in the part;
- and
- a retainer received within the outer punch that retains the nut having a clinching feature that forms a second opening in the part that is coaxially aligned with the outer punch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.