US 5,485,737 AGranted

Apparatus for hydroforming a vehicle manifold

AssigneeMascotech Tubular Products, Inc.

InventorDevere C. Dickerson

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A hydroforming process and apparatus for manufacturing components of a vehicle exhaust or intake manifold. The hydroforming process is utilized to form a tubular member to the desired configuration for use in a manifold. The tubular member is loaded into a hydroform press and filled with a suitable liquid. The liquid within the tube is pressurized in order to maintain a predetermined internal fluid pressure which prevents collapse and crimping of the tube during forming. The hydroform press includes two sets of dies to form a compound bend in the pressurized tube. Upper and lower dies close on the tube first to bend the tube in a vertical plane. Horizontal dies are wedged inwardly spreading the first die set and bending the tube in a horizontal plane. As a result, a compound configuration may be placed on the tube making it suitable for use in a vehicle manifold.

Claims5

Dependent claims

An apparatus for manufacturing a tubular member of a vehicle manifold using hydroforming pressure to prevent deformation of said tubular member, said tubular member having a compound curvature for use in the manifold, the apparatus comprising:

a fluid bath formed by a pan having a predetermined volume of fluid therein;
a pair of hydraulically actuated cylinders disposed within said pan for sealingly retaining ends of a tubular blank, said cylinders including selectively extendable piston rods having seal plugs on the exterior ends of said piston rods for sealingly engaging the ends of said tubular blank;
means for increasing the internal fluid pressure within said tubular blank to a predetermined level;
a first die set disposed between said cylinders for stamping a curvature in said tubular blank along a first plane;
and
a second die set disposed between said cylinders for stamping a curvature in said tubular blank along a second plane.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/408,742Filed 22 Mar 1995 · division
Priority: 7 Mar 1994
Granted: 23 Jan 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B21D 9/15
Bending tubes using mandrels or the like: using filling material of indefinite shape, e.g. sand, plastic material
B21D 9/08
Bending tubes using mandrels or the like: in press brakes or between rams and anvils or abutments; Pliers with forming dies
Y10T 29/49398
Method of mechanical manufacture: muffler, manifold or exhaust pipe making
Y10T 29/49805
Method of mechanical manufacture: shaping by direct application of fluent pressure