# US 8,739,590 B2 · Electro-hydraulic flanging and trimming

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- Number: US 8,739,590 B2
- Document ID: US8739590B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/352,624
- Filed: 2009-01-13
- Published: 2010-07-15
- Granted: 2014-06-03
- Earliest claimed: 2009-01-13
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Sergey Fedorovich Golovashchenko
- Inventors: Sergey Fedorovich Golovashchenko
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739590B2

## CPC

- B21D 19/00: Flanging or other edge treatment, e.g. of tubes (connecting by making use of folds B21D39/00; flaring-out tube ends B21D41/02)
- B21D 24/16: Additional equipment in association with the tools, e.g. for shearing, for trimming
- B21D 26/021: Deforming sheet bodies
- B21D 26/023: including an additional treatment performed by fluid pressure, e.g. perforating
- B21D 26/12: initiated by spark discharge
- B21D 28/14: Dies (ejecting or stripping-off devices arranged in punching machines or tools B21D45/00)
- B23D 15/14: actuated by fluid or gas pressure
- B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F)
- B23D: PLANING; SLOTTING; SHEARING; BROACHING; SAWING; FILING; SCRAPING; LIKE OPERATIONS FOR WORKING METAL BY REMOVING MATERIAL, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (making toothed gears or the like B23F; cutting metal by applying heat locally B23K; arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)

## Abstract

A method of flange trimming a sheet metal panel to form a part including flanges for subsequent hemming or weld operation is disclosed. The method utilizes an electro-hydraulic forming (EHF) tool to form a channel within which a flange is cut out in a trimming operation. A combined flange/trim die may be provided in which both a channel forming operation and a flange trimming operation may be performed. A manufacturing system for fabricating a part by forming a channel in a peripheral portion and cutting the channel area to form a flange. The method also relates to a die for an EHF tool that defines a channel-shaped recess and has a trim edge for cutting a flange into the channel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of flanging and trimming a sheet metal panel including a part shaped portion disposed inside a peripheral edge portion, comprising:
placing the panel in a one-sided flange forming die in a first electro-hydraulic forming (EHF) machine;
discharging the first EHF machine to form a channel in the peripheral edge portion in a first operation wherein the channel includes at least one side wall that extends in a transverse direction relative to the peripheral edge portion and a base wall that is offset relative to the peripheral edge portion; and
trimming the panel within the channel in a one-sided trimming die in a second operation in a second EHF machine to trim a flange in the previously formed channel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of forming the channel and trimming the panel are both performed in a one-sided die that has a movable insert that provides a forming surface in a first location, wherein the method further comprises moving the insert to a second location to provide a recess that is adjacent to a cutting edge and discharging the EHF machine to force the panel against the cutting edge to trim the panel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein the insert is an elastomeric member and the step of forming a channel also includes compressing the elastomeric member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the side wall is cut in the trimming step to form a hem flange.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the base wall is cut in the trimming step to form a weld flange.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the side wall is cut in the trimming step to form a hem flange.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the first EHF machine includes an EHF tool and the one-sided flange forming die, in combination, and the second EHF machine includes the EHF tool and the one-sided trimming die, in combination.