Abstract: An apparatus for high-pressure bulge forming of tubular workpieces has an upper die plate facing generally downward and extending at an acute angle to the vertical and a lower die plate generally parallel to and confronting the upper die plate. One of the plates is movable along an axis generally perpendicular to the plates toward and away from the other die plate. Respective upper and lower die halves carried on the die plates can fit together to form a die cavity having open ends and are adapted to receive a one of the workpieces with ends of the workpiece exposed at the open ends of the die cavity. The one die plate and the respective die half are displaceable toward and away from the other die plate. Respective actuators on the upper die plate have heads engageable with the ends of the workpiece in the die cavity and one head is formed with a passage for internally pressurizing the workpiece in the die cavity for bulge-deforming the workpiece.

Abstract: In the internal pressure shaping of a tubular workpiece into a hollow body in a surrounding die, an opening can be formed in a wall of the workpiece by advancing a plunger while the maximum internal pressure is maintained to partially cutout a piece of the wall corresponding in shape to the plunger. That piece remains attached by a portion of the thickness of the wall. Their upon the internal pressure is reduced and the plunger is retracted until the cutout portion is pressed fully from the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for hydraulically shaping a hollow body has a stationary base, a die fixed on the base and formed with a cavity having an inner surface and axially oppositely open ends so that a tubular workpiece can be held in the cavity with ends of the workpiece exposed at the ends of the cavity, and a pair of pistons fittable with the workpiece ends. Respective actuators can displace the pistons toward each other and against the ends of the workpiece in the cavity. A hydraulic liquid is fed at high pressure through one of the pistons to an interior of the workpiece in the cavity to deform the workpiece. Respective first guides support the pistons on the base for vertical movement thereon, respective second guides support the pistons on the base for horizontal movement thereon, and respective third guides support the pistons on the base for pivotal movement about respective centers.