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US 9,211,598 B2Granted
Electro-hydraulic trimming of a part perimeter with multiple discrete pulses
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorAlan John Gillard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A trim tool for trimming a part having a complex shape. The trim tool defines a plurality of electro-hydraulic cavities that are separated by walls in a lower die of the trim tool. Electrodes are discharged in the electro-hydraulic cavities to drive the panel into engagement with a trim steel edge. The discharge of the electrode severs the panel above the cavity and also across a portion of a wall separating adjacent cavities. Discharging an electrode in an adjacent cavity completes the trim operation above the wall.
Claims7
A tool for trimming a panel comprising:
- a lower die having plural adjacent cavities disposed around the panel and separated by walls, each cavity containing a liquid and an electrode;
- an upper die having a cutting edge extending around the panel and bridging the walls between adjacent cavities, the panel being trimmed above each cavity and partially across the walls of each cavity by the cutting edge when stored charges are discharged through the electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.