Hydroforming device and method
OwnerDavid E. Guzainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus (10, 110) and method to form a workpiece (32, 132) into a useful product (28, 128) using a pressurized fluid (14), also termed as “hydroforming”. The workpiece may be a tube or may be one or a plurality of sheets of a material. The apparatus has a chamber (12) adapted to contain a quantity of a fluid, a hydroforming means positioned within the chamber, and means for substantially immersing the workpiece in the fluid before, during and after the hydroforming operation. Dies (16, 18) enclose the workpiece and provide a cavity of desired shape against which the workpiece is expanded by the pressurized fluid. The chamber may be open or closed to the atmosphere during operation and the fluid temperature and/or level may be controlled.
Claims23
An apparatus for hydroforming a workpiece into a product, the apparatus comprising:
- a chamber adapted for containing a quantity of an incompressible fluid;
- a means for maintaining the fluid at a controlled temperature, and
- a means for hydroforming the workpiece, the means situated in said chamber such that said workpiece is substantially immersed in said incompressible fluid during the hydroforming operation thereupon.
A method for hydroforming a workpiece into a product, comprising the steps of:
- immersing the workpiece in a bath of an incompressible fluid maintained at a controlled temperature, the bath also having a die with a cavity positioned therein;
- moving said workpiece into the cavity;
- closing said die upon said workpiece and maintaining a pressure thereupon;
- expanding said workpiece plastically in said die to fill said cavity by injecting a pressurized incompressible fluid into an interior thereof, thereby forming said product;
- and
- opening said die and removing said product therefrom.
An apparatus for hydroforming a pair of sheets into a product, the apparatus comprising:
- a chamber adapted for containing a quantity of an incompressible fluid;
- a means for hydroforming the pair of sheets, the hydroforming means comprising:
- a first and a second die situated in the chamber, each sheet registrable between the dies with each sheet substantially immersed in the incompressible fluid during the hydroforming operation thereupon;
- a means for sealing a periphery of each sheet in the hydroforming means with a first side of the first sheet facing the first die;
- and a first side of the second sheet facing the second die;
- a means for injecting and pressurizing a fluid suitable for hydroforming into a sealed cavity between the second sides of the sheets;
- and
- a means for venting the incompressible fluid between each first side and the respective die as the each sheet expands against the respective die.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.