Electro-hydraulic forming tool having two liquid volumes separated by a membrane
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsSergey Golovashchenko, Vyacheslav Mamutov, Andrey Ilinich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electro-hydraulic forming tool is disclosed in which a membrane is retained between two volumes of liquid that are separated by a membrane. Electrodes are provided with a high voltage impulse to create a shockwave in one of the volumes of fluid that is transferred through the membrane to the other volume of fluid. The shockwave is transmitted to a blank that is formed into a one-sided die. The blank is formed against the forming surface of the die. Air evacuation means are provided to remove air from the upper surface of one or both volumes of liquid.
Claims20
An electro-hydraulic forming tool for forming a sheet metal blank, the tool comprising:
- a vessel defining a first cavity containing a first liquid and having at least two electrodes disposed in the first liquid, the vessel having an opening on an upper end;
- a forming die disposed above the opening in the vessel, the forming die having a cavity that is partially defined by a forming surface;
- a blank holder that holds the blank in engagement with the forming die;
- a membrane attached to the vessel and the blank holder, wherein a second cavity is defined by the blank, the blank holder, and the membrane;
- a second liquid supplied to the second cavity on top of the membrane and below the blank, the membrane separating the first liquid in the vessel from the second liquid that forms the blank;
- and
- a source of high voltage operatively connected to the two electrodes by a control circuit that selectively provides a high voltage discharge to the electrodes, wherein the high voltage discharge produces a shock wave in the first liquid that passes through the membrane and through the second liquid to form the blank against the forming surface in the cavity.
An electro-hydraulic forming tool for forming a sheet metal blank, the tool comprising:
- a vessel defining a first cavity containing a first liquid and having at least two electrodes disposed in the first liquid, the vessel having an opening on a lower end;
- a forming die disposed below the opening in the vessel, the forming die having a cavity that is partially defined by a forming surface;
- a blank holder that holds the blank in engagement with the forming die;
- a membrane attached to the vessel and the blank holder, wherein a second cavity is defined by the blank, the blank holder, and the membrane;
- a second liquid supplied to the second cavity below the membrane and above the blank, the membrane separating the first liquid in the vessel from the second liquid;
- and
- a high voltage source operatively connected to the two electrodes by a control circuit that selectively discharges high voltage to the electrodes, wherein the high voltage discharge produces a shock wave in the first liquid that passes through the membrane and through the second liquid to form the blank against the forming surface in the cavity.
A method of forming a sheet metal blank in an electro-hydraulic forming tool that has a vessel defining a first cavity containing a first liquid and having at least two electrodes disposed in the first liquid, a forming die having a first cavity that is partially defined by a forming surface, a blank holder that holds the blank in engagement with the forming die, a membrane attached to the vessel and the blank holder, wherein a second cavity is defined by the blank, the blank holder, and the membrane, a second liquid supplied to the second cavity, the membrane separating the first liquid in the vessel from the second liquid in the second cavity, and a high voltage source operatively connected to the two electrodes by a control circuit, the method comprising:
- providing a high voltage discharge to the electrodes;
- producing a shock wave in the first liquid;
- transferring the shock wave through the membrane;
- passing the shock wave through the second liquid;
- directing shockwave through the second liquid to the blank;
- and
- forming the blank towards the forming surface in the cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.