Process for manufacturing a hollow body from two metal bars

Abstract

A process for manufacturing a hollow body made of two mutually welded together metal bars which are flatly disposed on one another. Within an internal high-pressure forming tool in a closed position, the metal bars are widened by introducing a pressure fluid under a high pressure into the parting line existing between the metal bars, until they are placed on the die sinking of the forming tool defining the final contour while forming the hollow body. The metal bar composite is trimmed by a cutting operation, and the pressure fluid inlet area of the metal bar composite is cut off after the widening has taken place. In order to reliably manufacture a flangeless hollow body in a simple manner from two metal bars, the metal bars are seam-welded before entering into the forming tool, and the resulting metal bar composite is then trimmed by a beam welding process in the weld seam. Then for the expanding forming, the metal bar composite is charged into the forming tool such that its trimmed edges are situated within the die sinking of the forming tool, with the metal bar composite being clamped in only in the area of the pressure fluid inlet.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.