Forming method and die assembly using a bead with a step
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsLiang Huang, Evangelos Liasi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary die assembly includes, among other things, a first die having a male bead, a second die having a female bead configured to receive the male bead to hold a workpiece between the first die and the second die, and a step in the male bead, the female bead, or both. An exemplary forming method includes, among other things, holding a workpiece between a male bead of a first die and a female bead of a second die, wherein the male bead, the female bead, or both have at least one step.
Claims27
A die assembly, comprising:
- a first die having a male bead with first and second sides that each extend from a primary workpiece holding surface of the first die to a leading surface of the male bead;
- a second die having a female bead configured to receive the male bead to hold a workpiece between the first die and the second die;
- and
- a step in the first side, the second side, or both,
- wherein at least one of the first die or the second die includes a cavity corresponding to a desired shape of the workpiece, and the male and female bead are spaced from the cavity.
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A forming method, comprising:
- providing a male bead of a first die and a female bead of a second die, the male bead including first and second sides that each extend from a primary workpiece holding surface of the first die to a leading surface of the male bead, the first and second sides each having at least one step;
- holding extra material of a workpiece between the male and female beads;
- and
- forming a desired shape in the workpiece during the holding, the desired shape and the extra material corresponding to separate and distinct areas of the workpiece.
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A forming method, comprising:
- moving a first and a second die relative to each other to hold extra material of a workpiece between a male bead of the a-first die and a female bead of the second die;
- forming a desired shape in an area of the workpiece that does not include the extra material;
- and
- restricting movement of the workpiece using at least one step in a side of the male bead, the side extending from a primary workpiece holding surface of the first die to a leading surface of the male bead.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.