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US 6,418,607 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for fabricating a hollow body
AssigneeDr. Meleghy Hydroforming GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsMichael Seifert, Thomas Werle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a method and apparatus for fabricating a hollow body, preferably of sheet metal, such as for example automobile hoods and doors, at least two blanks are held sealingly together and the hollow body is then shaped by internal hydroforming.
Claims9
A method of fabricating a hollow body, comprising the steps of:
- sealingly holding together at least two sheet metal blanks along a substantially closed line;
- clinching the sealingly held blanks;
- and
- forming the hollow body of the at least two, sealingly held together ,blanks, by using an internal hydroforming process, wherein the forming step comprises placing the at least two, sealingly held together blanks in an internal hydroforming tool, and wherein the method further comprises the step of one of flanging and edge folding of the at least two blanks before they are placed in the internal hydroforming tool.
1 more element
A method of fabricating a hollow body, comprising the steps of:
- sealingly holding together at least two sheet metal blanks along a substantially closed line;
- clinching the sealingly held blanks;
- forming the hollow body of the at least two, sealingly held together, blanks, by using an internal hydroforming process;
- and
- providing at least one pressure medium supply system for introducing medium into a space between the at least two sealingly held together blanks and including one of a lance and a mandrel, wherein the providing step includes pressing the one of a lance and a mandrel from outside through at least one of the at least two blanks.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.