Punch and method for piercing holes with a retention structure
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsStephen Kernosky, Kiran Kumar Mallela
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A punch including a shearing edge formed on an outer periphery of the punch, a cutting edge formed on the distal end of the punch and at least two ramp surfaces provided between the shearing and cutting edges. Each of the ramp surfaces extend at an angle from the distal end to a recessed portion of the shearing edge. The shearing edge, cutting edge and ramp surfaces cooperate to partially form a hole in a part and retain a slug in the hole. A method of forming a hole and a slug control system for a hydro-piercing operation is disclosed.
Claims15
A punch for a hydro-forming tool comprising:
- a shearing edge formed on an outer periphery of the punch that is partially recessed from a distal end of the punch;
- a cutting edge formed inboard of the shearing edge, wherein the cutting edge is disposed at the distal end of the punch;
- and
- at least two ramp surfaces provided between the shearing edge and the cutting edge, wherein each ramp surface extends about a portion of a periphery of the punch and extends at an angle from the distal end to a recessed portion of the shearing edge, wherein the distal end includes a central portion and at least two outer portions extending outwardly from the central portion to a periphery of the punch, each of the outer portions including a cut-off face extending between the cutting edge disposed on the outer portion and the ramp surface proximate the recessed portion of the shearing edge.
A method of forming a hole comprising:
- punching a part with a punch that has a cutting edge for cutting a slug;
- shearing a portion of the part to form an outer periphery of the hole outboard of the slug, wherein arms are formed that connect the slug to the outer periphery of the hole;
- and
- bending the arms while shearing the part to hold the slug in a recessed location on the part.
A slug control system for a hydro-formed part comprising:
- a hydro-forming tool for forming the hydro-formed part;
- a hydro-piercing punch operable to form a hole having a predetermined periphery in the part;
- a slug formed in the part by the hydro-piercing punch, the slug having a first arm and a second arm connecting a central portion of the slug to the periphery of the hole, wherein the first and second arms are partially severed from the part and extend along the periphery of the hole, wherein the arms extend from the periphery of the hole to the central portion, and wherein the central portion, the first arm, and the second arm are retained in a recessed position on the part;
- and
- a tool configured to remove the slug from the part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.