Apparatus and method for forming an article and performing a secondary operation in-situ
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsPeter Friedman, Richard Allor, George Luckey Jr., Warren Copple
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for forming an article and performing a secondary operation on the article in-situ. The apparatus includes a closure and a die having a cavity. A source of pressurized gas forces a portion of a sheet into contact with a forming surface having a predetermined shape. A tool is movably connected to the apparatus and is configured to engage the sheet to perform a secondary operation while the sheet is held in compression between the closure and the die.
Claims20
An apparatus for superplastic forming an article and performing a secondary operation on the article in-situ, the apparatus comprising:
- a die having a cavity, the cavity having a forming surface of a predetermined shape;
- a closure disposed opposite the cavity, the closure sealing the cavity;
- a source of pressurized gas being supplied to the closure to exert force against an exterior surface of a sheet located between the cavity and closure to form a portion of the sheet against the forming surface;
- and
- a tool movably connected to the apparatus and configured to perform a secondary operation on the sheet;
- wherein the tool is advanced to perform the secondary operation while the sheet is held in compression between the cavity and closure and in contact with the forming surface.
An apparatus for shaping an article made from a metal sheet and performing a secondary operation on the article in-situ, the apparatus comprising:
- a first die member having a first cavity defining a predetermined shape and an aperture;
- a tool disposed in the aperture and slidably engageable with the article;
- a source of pressurized gas;
- and
- a second die member having an inlet for providing pressurized gas into a second cavity disposed between the second die member and an exterior surface of the sheet to force the metal sheet against the first cavity to shape the article;
- wherein the tool is advanced to perform a secondary operation on the article after the article is shaped and before the article is removed from the first cavity.
A method for making an article with a superplastic forming apparatus, the method comprising:
- securing a metal sheet between a die defining a cavity and a closure;
- superplastic forming a portion of the metal sheet into a predetermined shape corresponding to the cavity in the die;
- advancing a tool to engage the article and perform a secondary operation on the article when the article is secured between the die and the closure;
- retracting the tool;
- moving the die and the closure apart;
- and
- removing the article from the die.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.