Method of forming a tubular blank into a structural component and die therefor
AssigneeHot Metal Gas Forming Intellectual Property, Inc.
InventorsGeorge D. Pfaffmann, William C. Dykstra, Marc R. Matsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of forming an elongated metal blank into a structural component having a predetermined outer configuration. The method includes providing a shape imparting cavity or shell section formed from a rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, placing the metal blank into the cavity or shell section, and forming the metal blank into the component by heating axial portions of the metal blank and forcing a fluid at a high pressure into the metal blank until the metal blank at least partially conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the cavity or shell section to form the structural component.
Claims30
A method of forming a formable blank into a structural component having a predetermined shape, said method comprising:
- (a) providing a shape imparting shell formed from a rigid material, said shell being in the form of at least a first shell section and a second shell section, each of which includes an inner surface defining said predetermined shape, an outer support surface and spaced lateral edges which edges define a parting plane between said two shell sections when said two shell sections are brought together to at least partially form said shell;
- (b) providing a first compression force transmitting material with an upper side and a lower side to support said first shell section, said first compression force transmitting material having different physical properties than said first shell section;
- (c) providing a second compression force transmitting material with an upper side and a lower side to support said second shell section, said second compression force transmitting material having different physical properties than said second shell section;
- (d) placing said formable blank at least partially into said second shell section;
- (e) moving said shell sections together to at least partially capture said formable blank in said shape imparting shell;
- and,
- (f) at least partially heating at least a portion of said formable blank by at least one heating element until said formable blank at least partially conforms to at least a portion of the inner surfaces of said first and second shell sections to form said structural component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.