With Actuated Tool Engaging Work Patents (Class 72/57)
  • Patent number: 5715718
    Abstract: Apparatus for mechanically and hydroform reconfigurating an elongated tubular workpiece in an elongated cavity between upper and lower tool subassemblies each composed of a plurality of independent tool segments movable axially, relative to the cavity axis, together or spaced from each other, and independently movable transversely of the cavity, usually vertically, in sequence, to grip the end portions of the workpiece while its ends are flared with tapered mandrels, and after the workpiece is filled with liquid, offset deform one workpiece portion while the tool segments are spaced apart and with axial infeed of workpiece material, then offset deform another portion with further axial infeed of workpiece material. Hydroforming pressure is then applied to partially expand the workpiece. Then after withdrawing segment spacing stops, forcing the tool segments together, and totally closing the tool, a greater hydroforming pressure is applied in the workpiece to expand it to the specific cavity configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Benteler Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Donald R. Rigsby, Jerome C. Abbott
  • Patent number: 5709116
    Abstract: A bolt and keeper assembly including a crimper for crimping a portion of the keeper into pockets formed in an upper portion of the bolt head are described. The crimper includes a hydraulic cylinder for carrying hydraulic fluid under pressure and a crimper body having a bore extending therethrough. The bore has first and second end portions and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second end portions. The first end portion of the crimper body bore is configured to receive an end portion of the hydraulic cylinder, and the second portion of the crimper body bore is configured to receive at a least a portion of the bolt head and keeper assembly. When assembled, an upper portion of the bolt head and keeper assembly extends into the intermediate bore portion. A compressible ring is positioned in the intermediate portion of the crimper body bore at a location to engage the keeper and for crimping sections of the keeper into the bolt head pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frank W. Rieger, David Lee Rousar
  • Patent number: 5706685
    Abstract: An elastic matrix forming press comprising a frame including at least a bottom beam and a top beam united by link means, an actuator bearing against the bottom beam, and a forming assembly comprising an anvil resting on the piston of the actuator, a tool-carrier table, and a container including an elastic cushion engaged against the top beam, wherein said forming assembly: anvil, tool-carrier table, container, and elastic cushion, includes means enabling it to be exchanged for another having a tool-carrier table of different area, the section of said tool-carrier table corresponding to the inside section of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom ACB
    Inventor: Philippe Chedru
  • Patent number: 5575172
    Abstract: A device for producing a hollow body according to an internal high pressure metal forming process has a tool which is divided along a mold joint into a stationary tool part and a liftable tool part. The tool has an impression for receiving a tube-shaped blank. A press opens and closes the tool. An axially movable slide is attached to an open end of the blank, through which a pressure medium is introduced into the blank. A hydraulic working cylinder which is angularly and vertically adjustable on a support member has a piston rod which holds the slide and which displaces the slide axially. A pair of pull rods connect the tool and the working cylinder and are arranged on opposite sides of the piston rod at the same level as the piston rod, each pull rod extending into the end-side portion of the mold joint and being releasably anchored to each of the stationary tool part and the liftable tool part in a form-locking manner in corresponding recesses along the mold joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz
    Inventors: Pierre Bonny, Thoralf Nehls
  • Patent number: 5490407
    Abstract: A press for forming an annular membrane of stainless steel strip joined at its ends, utilizes a rubber ram which is compressed by the pressing force between upper and lower plate of the press. The vertical force applied to the rubber ram is converted into a horizontal expansion of the latter to displace the membrane blank into a die having a bellows shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Umformtechnik Stade GmbH
    Inventor: Ingolf Doose
  • Patent number: 5485737
    Abstract: A hydroforming process and apparatus for manufacturing components of a vehicle exhaust or intake manifold. The hydroforming process is utilized to form a tubular member to the desired configuration for use in a manifold. The tubular member is loaded into a hydroform press and filled with a suitable liquid. The liquid within the tube is pressurized in order to maintain a predetermined internal fluid pressure which prevents collapse and crimping of the tube during forming. The hydroform press includes two sets of dies to form a compound bend in the pressurized tube. Upper and lower dies close on the tube first to bend the tube in a vertical plane. Horizontal dies are wedged inwardly spreading the first die set and bending the tube in a horizontal plane. As a result, a compound configuration may be placed on the tube making it suitable for use in a vehicle manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Mascotech Tubular Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Devere C. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 5471857
    Abstract: A hydroforming process and apparatus for manufacturing components of a vehicle exhaust or intake manifold. The hydroforming process is utilized to form a tubular member to the desired configuration for use in a manifold. The tubular member is loaded into a hydroform press and filled with a suitable liquid. The liquid within the tube is pressurized in order to maintain a predetermined internal fluid pressure which prevents collapse and crimping of the tube during forming. The hydroform press includes two sets of dies to form a compound bend in the pressurized tube. Upper and lower dies close on the tube first to bend the tube in a vertical plane. Horizontal dies are wedged inwardly spreading the first die set and bending the tube in a horizontal plane. As a result, a compound configuration may be placed on the tube making it suitable for use in a vehicle manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: MascoTech Tubular Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Devere C. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 5419791
    Abstract: This is a method for heat assisted forming, annealing, and hardening 360.degree. sheet metal shapes in a clean environment in a single facility that results in dimensionally correct, cost-effective, contaminant free parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Inventor: Carroll W. Folmer
  • Patent number: 5415021
    Abstract: A method for augmenting an apparatus with pumps and a high pressure multiplier in such a manner that the apparatus can be altered to perform as a draw die press, hydroform press, tube bender, and as a hydraulic bulge form press by utilizing appropriate quick change platens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Inventor: Carroll W. Folmer
  • Patent number: 5396786
    Abstract: A machine for forming a metallic tubular section in which the tubular section is located, retained, has at least one end formed, filled with fluid that is then pressurized within the tube section, and bend formed into a predetermined shape, all at a single station of the machine. A second station, either coupled with or independent from the first station functions to locate a tube section, retain it, cut off a portion of the tube section, form at least one end of the tube section, and provide for removal of the tube section therefrom. The tube sections are preferably crossover fittings. The present invention further comprises a method of manufacturing a full crossover fitting and a method of manufacturing a half crossover fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Mueller Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Bartholomew, John J. DeRuiter
  • Patent number: 5392625
    Abstract: A method of forming a non-planar article such as an automotive heat shield from a preform comprising planar sheets superposed upon one another and bonded to one another at selected locations using a roll bond process. The preform is positioned between a male tool and a female tool, the male tool having a protuberant portion and the female tool defining a cavity adapted to accomodate the protuberant portion of the male tool. The preform is then deformed by pushing the protuberant portion against the preform and pressurized fluid is thereafter introduced between the sheets to space them from one another on the unbonded portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Anthony J. Cesaroni, Clarence W. Fulton
  • Patent number: 5361617
    Abstract: The device having a die formed by a cushion (2) composed of an elastically yieldable material, such as for example an elastomer, disposed in a retaining box (1), a mechanism for predrawing a sheet blank (6), constituted by an outer slide carrying an upper blank holder (4a), a mechanism for finally drawing said sheet blank (6), constituted by a central slide acting on a plunger (5), and a first mechanism (10) for absorbing excess volume of the cushion (2) relative to the volume determined by the surface of the finished part to be obtained in the course of the final drawing of the part. The device further comprises at least one second mechanism (20) for compensating for the excess volume of the cushion (2) due to variations in physical characteristics of the material of the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Isoform
    Inventor: Michel Dittlo
  • Patent number: 5353618
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a frame member for an automobile from a tube blank applies internal hydraulic pressure to the blank, tangent bends and preforms the internally pressurized blank into a preformed tube having a desired horizontal profile configuration, then forms the preformed tube into a finally formed frame member having a desired vertical profile configuration and a desired, varying cross-sectional configuration by placing the preformed tube in a stuffing ledge apparatus having a lower die with an upwardly facing ledge and vertically extending, punch engaging surfaces and a punch having a downwardly facing ledge and vertically extending, die engaging surfaces, internally pressurizing the tube, and then ramming the punch downwardly to form the tube into the finally formed frame member, the ledges and vertically extending surfaces substantially completely enclosing a portion of the tube before and while the punch and die come together to form the tube into the finally formed frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignees: Armco Steel Company, L.P., Price Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ralph E. Roper, Gary A. Webb, Douglas W. Tyger
  • Patent number: 5272898
    Abstract: A device is provided for stamping materials in sheet form, especially sheet metal blanks (5), on a single-acting press. The device includes a cushion (2) made from an elastic material, forming a punch and housed in a retention dish (1) and means for preforming and permanently forming the sheet metal blank (5). The preforming and permanent forming means are arranged in a die (6) including a framework (8), an upper peripheral blank-clamp (9) connected to the framework (8) by at least on elastic member (11) for reaction, strain relief and retention and a die bottom (10) arranged in the upper peripheral blank-clamp (9). The upper peripheral blank-clamp (9) and the die bottom (10) are mounted so as to slide relative to one another and include means (13) for instantaneously linking them together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Isoform
    Inventors: Michel Dittlo, Gabriel De Smet
  • Patent number: 5255550
    Abstract: A device is provided for drawing sheet materials, in particular, sheet blanks. The device includes a cushion of elastic material disposed in an enclosure, a die for forming the sheet blank, the die having a peripheral portion constituting an upper blank holder. The device also includes a lower blank holder for supporting and maintaining at least a portion of the sheet blank which is placed directly on the cushion of elastic material and cooperates with the upper blank holder for clamping the sheet blank in at least localized zones. The lower blank holder bears against a slidable element disposed around lateral faces of the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Isoform
    Inventor: Michel Dittlo
  • Patent number: 5205146
    Abstract: There is provided a punch for use in cold forming hollow metal articles in a die without wrinkling. The punch is provided with a head portion composed of resiliently deformable material, such as an elastomer, with cavities located in the head portion to permit controlled collapse of the head portion under transverse forces exerted during a forming operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Lawson Mardon (MI) Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas H. Wilkins, Frederick B. M. Page
  • Patent number: 5201207
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thimble of contact fingers from a blank constituted by a tube of material having good conductive properties and good elasticity, the tube including a thin-walled portion provided with longitudinal parallel slots and terminated by a ring of material having good electrical conductivity and that is good at withstanding the effects of electrical arcing, wherein the method comprises the following operations: the said blank is placed around a cylindrical core of diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the blank and of length equal to the length of the blank, the end of the core coming into abutment against the ring; an annular section block is disposed around the blank over the slots, the inside diameter of the block being close to and slightly greater than the outside diameter of the blank and the axial length of the block being substantially equal to the axial length of the slots, the block being made of an elastomer material; and pressure is exerted on the end surfaces of said
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Inventors: Henri Organi, Roger Sauvat
  • Patent number: 5119658
    Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a method for forming a sheet-metal blank (1), in particular in order to make a cathode ray tube mask, on a press, according to which the central part (1a) of the sheet-metal blank (1) is formed with a specified curvature under the effect of a punch (20) which deforms, in a mould (12), the upper die part (14), the load exerted on the punch (20) being distributed over the entire surface of the base (24) of the punch (20), and according to which, after the curving of the central part of the sheet-metal blank, a mechanical action is exerted on a peripheral forming member (30) so as to apply pressure to a ring (36), the ring (36) is deformed and presses against the free part (1b) of the sheet-metal blank (1) in order first to effect a controlled bending of the said free part, and then the said free part (1b) is applied, still under the action of the ring (36), along the side walls of the punch (20) in order to form the flanged edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Sollac
    Inventor: Gabriel F. de Smet
  • Patent number: 5085099
    Abstract: A cam shaft assembly (10) constructed from a plurality of lobes (14) spaced along the longitudinal axis of a tubular shaft member (12). Each lobe (14) is defined by a body portion (16) and a camming portion (20). The lobes (14) define a pair of oppositely facing radially extending side surface (22) which have axially extending shoulders (24) thereon. The shoulders (14) are for mating engagement with a gauging surface (44) to positively position the lobe (14) angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis while the lobes (14) are being secured to the tubular shaft member (12). The assembly (10) also includes bearing journals (18) on the tubular shaft member (12). A method and apparatus for making the cam shaft assembly (10) are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Inventor: Robert W. Hughes
  • Patent number: 5081859
    Abstract: Pressing sheet material with a device comprising a cushion (6) composed of an elastic material, comprising disposing a sheet blank (3) to be formed on a support constituting a lower peripheral blank holder (2a), applying an upper blank holder (1a) on the peripheral portion of the sheet blank (3) for preforming the blank, then applying a punch (4) on the central portion of the sheet blank (3) for effecting the final forming, wherein, in the course of the final forming, the excess volume of the elastic cushion (6), produced by the application of the punch (4), relative to the volume determined by the surface area of the finished part to be obtained, is absorbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Isoform
    Inventor: Gabriel De Smet
  • Patent number: 5070717
    Abstract: The method of forming a flanged tubular member is accomplished by sizing the tubular blank to the largest cross section circumferential measure of the desired end product and then using a hydro-forming die and process to expand any excess circumferential measure into a flange defining portion of the die cavity to thereby enable the formation of a cross section of lesser cross sectional circumferential measure than the largest cross section. The flange may be trimmed as desired to shorten the length of the flange, in which case, welding or other suitable attachment process may be employed to join the flanges together to strengthen the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David T. Boyd, Charles J. Cueny
  • Patent number: 5067336
    Abstract: Device for pressing sheet material blanks, in particular sheet metal blanks (10), comprising a cushion (2) composed of an elastic material disposed in a retaining box (1), an arrangement for performing the sheet blank constituted by an outer slide carrying an upper blank holder (6), and an arrangement for finally forming the sheet blank constituted by a central slide acting on a punch (8), the device further comprising a lower blank blank holder constituted by an element (3) for supporting and maintaining at least a portion of the sheet blank (10), placed directly on the elastic cushion (2) and cooperative with the upper blank holder (6) for gripping the sheet blank in at least localized region of the blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Isoform
    Inventor: Gabriel de Smet
  • Patent number: 5056346
    Abstract: A bellows pipe is manufactured, with an elastic body pinched between a collar and a stopper inside a raw pipe being deformed, by pressing the elastic body as to expand radially such that a circumferential portion of the pipe changes to an annular convex portion, pinching and compressing the annular convex portion by a chuck and a punch to form a bellows portion, and shifting the pipe a given distance while pinching the bellows portion by the chuck. A plurality of bellows portions are successively formed in the pipe by repeating the foregoing deforming steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Usui Kikusai Sangyo Kaisha, Limited
    Inventor: Mitsumasa Ohtaka
  • Patent number: 5018268
    Abstract: Forming a metal shield on a cable core in which a frusto-conical forming surface for the shield has a plurality of former sections disposed side-by-side from a downstream end of the former. The sections are removable, in order, from the downstream end to increase the downstream end diameter of the forming surface and may be replaced, in order, so as to decrease the diameter at the downstream end for the purpose of applying shields to cable cores of different diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited
    Inventors: Mohamed Chabane, J. Raymond Boucher, Ali Pan
  • Patent number: 5016458
    Abstract: Method for pressing sheet material, in particular sheet metal, on a press by way of a cushion (12) composed of an elastic material, comprising disposing a sheet blank (20) to be formed on a support whose peripheral part forms a lower blank holder (2) and whose central part constitutes a die (3), applying, under the action of an outer slide, an upper blank holder (9) on the peripheral portion of the sheet blank (20), then applying a punch (11) under the effect of a ram, the method further comprising, in the course of a first step, applying, under the action of the ram, the cushion (12) on the sheet blank (20) for preforming the sheet blank in such manner as to impart thereto a surface area substantially equal to the surface area of the finished part to be obtained, then, in the course of a second step, continuing, under the action of the ram, the descent of the elastic cushion (12) and simultaneously displacing all or a part of the bottom of the die (3) for achieving the final shaping of the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Isoform
    Inventor: Gabriel De Smet
  • Patent number: 5007267
    Abstract: A bellows pipe is manufactured from a raw pipe, with an elastic body pinched between a movable core and a fixed core inside the raw pipe, by compressing the elastic body by axially moving the movable core to form an annular convex portion in the raw pipe, changing the annular convex portion to a bellows portion by axially moving a punch to press the annular convex portion, pinching the bellows portion between a chuck and a chuck inner block assembled therein, shifting the pipe a given distance by axially moving the chuck and chuck inner block holding the bellows portion therebetween, and repeating the foregoing steps. Therefore, a small-diameter raw pipe of smaller than 16 mm diameter can be deformed, the outer diameter, pitch, etc. of a bellows portion can be freely set, the elastic body is worn little.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Limited
    Inventors: Katsushi Washizu, Mitsumasa Ohtaka
  • Patent number: 5000029
    Abstract: Resilient, crosslinked silicone elastomers shaped as elastoforming dies or form blocks for the stamping of sheet material workpieces, e.g., ultra-thin sheet metal, and well adopted for applications in the automotive industry, comprise a crosslinked fluid organopolysiloxane including at least one silicone-compatible organic or inorganic plasticizer within the crosslinked network thereof, said at least one plasticizer being stable and nonmigrating under elastoforming stamping conditions, and said at least one plasticizer being present in such amount that said plasticized silicone elastomer has a Shore 00 hardness of less than about 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc Chimie
    Inventors: Claude Laurent, Paul Rostaing, Rene Lyobard
  • Patent number: 4970886
    Abstract: A method for stretch shaping an elongated metallic extrusion is disclosed comprising the steps of applying axial tension to an elongated metallic extrusion in an amount sufficient to equal or exceed the yield strength of the extrusion. An external shaping die is applied against a perimetric portion of the outside surface of the extrusion. The die has working faces conforming substantially to a finished cross-sectional shape for the extrusion. While maintaining such tension the die is advanced along a length of the extrusion. An apparatus for stretch shaping an elongated metallic extrusion is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Joseph R. Sikora, Richard B. Jacobus, Thomas J. Rodjom, William R. Arthur
  • Patent number: 4953376
    Abstract: In a metal spinning process and apparatus for necking down a container having an open end, a closed end and generally cylindrical inner and outer surfaces, a resilient pressure bladder is inserted into the container prior to the necking down operation. Pressure is maintained in the bladder throughout the operation to prevent crumpling of the container body. The invention is particularly useful on thin walled, deep drawn steel containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Inventor: John C. Merlone
  • Patent number: 4926673
    Abstract: Resilient, crosslinked silicone elastomers shaped as elastoforming dies or form blocks for the stamping of sheet material workpieces, e.g., ultra-thin sheet metal, and well adopted for applications in the automotive industry, include a crosslinked fluid organopolysiloxane having at least one silicone-compatible organic or inorganic plasticizer within the crosslinked network thereof, said at least one plasticizer being stable and nonmigrating under elastoforming stamping conditions, and said at least one plasticizer being present in such amount that said plasticized silicone elastomer has a Shore 00 hardness of less than about 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc Chimie
    Inventors: Claude Laurent, Paul Rostaing, Rene Lyobard
  • Patent number: 4833903
    Abstract: A sheet of metal of given thickness is press-formed to provide a part having a substantially constant thickness on a double action press. The sheet to be formed is disposed on a support. A first outer slide, or blank holder is applied on the peripheral portion of the sheet. A second central slide is applied on the central portion of the sheet. The peripheral portion of the sheet is formed while allowing it to slide under the blank holder, by displacing relative to said support at least one active part of the outer slide so as to compensate, in certain regions of the finished part, for excess areas of the sheet, for the given thickness of said sheet, relative to the volume of metal to be formed, and displacing simultaneously with the displacement of the part the central slide so as to shape angular volumes of the central portion of the sheet by application of the sheet against the surfaces of the central part of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Union Siderurgique du Nord et de l'est de la France (USINOR)
    Inventor: Gabriel de Smet
  • Patent number: 4829807
    Abstract: A press frame has an upper frame member, a lower frame member, a platen having a tool mounted thereon and disposed at the lower frame member, a working piston-and-cylinder unit disposed at the upper frame member and centered on an upright axis, the piston of the working piston-and-cylinder unit being displaceable and formed with a chamber in alignment with the platen and adapted to receive the tool, an elastomeric pad disposed in the chamber for evenly distributing pressing forces acting on a workpiece on the tool upon the supply of a hydraulic medium under pressure to the piston, whereby an outward force from the chamber is applied to the piston, with means forming a ring space between the piston and cylinder of the working unit at least in part peripherally surrounding the chamber, and means for supplying the ring space with the pressurized hydraulic medium, whereby a pressing force is applied to the piston to counterbalance the outward force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Siempelkamp Pressen Systeme GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Erich Nacke
  • Patent number: 4815308
    Abstract: An extrusion former includes tension cylinders for holding an extrusion by its opposite ends under tension in jaws which are free to pivot in tangent relation as a centrally positioned die is urged against the extrusion to form it into a predetermined shape whereupon tension upon the extrusion is released, the hold by the jaws on the extrusion is released and formed extrusion is removed from the extrusion. A locking device locks the tension cylinders at the exact tangent position at which the extrusion is properly and completely formed to permit removal of the extrusion from the hold of the jaws without binding or kinking of the extrusion in the jaws caused by residual tension in the extrusion after forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: The Cyril Bath Company
    Inventor: Edward E. Moroney
  • Patent number: 4803878
    Abstract: The apparatus forms an elongate tubular member into a predetermined shape while preventing crimping of the walls of the member and comprises jaws for holding the member at its opposing ends and a pressurizer for pressurizing the interior of the member to a predetermined pressure greater than atmospheric pressure while being held sufficient to provide increased effective regidity and crimp resistance to the walls of the member. A die exerts a force against the member sufficient to form the member into a predetermined shape while pressurized. The pressure within the member is released after the member has been formed into its desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: The Cyril Bath Company
    Inventor: Edward E. Moroney
  • Patent number: 4782679
    Abstract: A process for the production of flanges or collars on hollow parts by lateral extrusion in which the hollow part is supported internally during lateral extrusion, and the support is provided by an elastic and/or plastic medium inserted in the hollow space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Gesenkschmiede Schneider GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Bogel
  • Patent number: 4770015
    Abstract: Process for press-forming sheet materials and in particular metal sheets on a double-action press of the type comprising a cushion (5) of an elastically yieldable material, the process comprising disposing the sheet on a support, applying a first outer slide (1) on the peripheral portion of the sheet (4), then applying a second central slide (10) on a central portion of the sheet, the process further comprising disposing the peripheral portion of the sheet on a lower blank holder (3) forming a tank for the cushion (5) and having an upper surface (6) for maintaining the sheet and located at a higher level than the level of the working surface (7) of the cushion (5), applying the first outer slide, which has a body (8) having a cross-section less than the lower blank holder (3) and includes on its periphery an upper blank holder (2) cooperative with the lower blank holder (3) for gripping the sheet (4), continuing the descent of the outer slide (1) against the cushion for turning up an edge portion (20) of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Usinor Aciers
    Inventor: Gabriel De Smet
  • Patent number: 4765166
    Abstract: A press for shaping a sheet metal blank in a cavity with a forming tool which determines the shape of the finished product. The sheet is pressed against the tool by a diaphragm which is influenced by a pressure medium on the side facing away from the cavity. The forming tool consists of an inexpensive casting material supported in a cup-shaped container. The space between the bottom and sides of the container and the bottom and sides of the cavity is filled with an elastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: ASEA Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Carl Bergman, Lennart Svensson
  • Patent number: 4763503
    Abstract: A cam shaft made from lobes having irregularly shaped apertures spaced along the longitudinal axis of a hollow tubular shaft. The method of making the cam shaft includes the steps of: inserting a hollow tubular shaft through the apertures of a plurality of the lobes axially and radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The method is characterized by flaring at least a first end of the shaft and backing the exterior of the first flared end to prevent axial radial movement thereof. In addition, a plug means is inserted into fluid sealing engagement with the interior of the first flared end to sandwich the flared end against the backing of the exterior thereof. The hollow shaft is filled with liquid and the opposite ends of the shaft are clamped between the plug means at the first flared end and a fluid sealing means at the opposite end of the hollow shaft. Hydraulic force is then applied to the interior of the shaft to expand the hollow shaft into engagement with the apertures of the lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Inventors: Robert W. Hughes, Robert H. Brisson, Glenn R. Brisson
  • Patent number: 4748837
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a spherical shell from a blank utilizing dies, comprising the steps of forming and clamping a flange portion of the blank by pressing with the dies and applying fluid pressure to an elastic diaphragm or flat metal sheet to cause the diaphragm or sheet to bulge the blank so as to form a curved shell surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kurosawa, Izumi Ochiai, Yoshio Asahino
  • Patent number: 4742704
    Abstract: A highly compact, bench mounted, fast cycle, high tonnage and soft punch type of hydraulic press designed to form thin metal blanks into a wide variety of artifacts such as jewelry. The under surface of the piston incorporates a counterbore containing a resilient urethane forming pad which, under very great pressure applied by the piston, imparts very fine detail, laterally as well as vertically, to the blank being formed into or over the die as the counterbore tightly envelopes the die. A rapid manually operated die shuttling device which provides for one die to be un-loaded and loaded as the blank of the other die is being pressed, and a rapid manually operated hydraulic valve actuating device, in combination with the piston's very short pressing stroke, effect a fast and safe operating cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Rio-Grande-Albuquerque, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wellington, Louis Bell
  • Patent number: 4742707
    Abstract: For the production of coaxial corrugations in the walls of thin-walled tubes with very tight tolerances, the invention provides a device having jaws adapted to be moved equally in opposite directions and which press against the ends of the tube so as to have a corrugation formed therein so as to feed the tube wall axially towards the corrugation in the process of being generated. The jaws are moved by means of a central lead screw with screw threads of opposite hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: MAN Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Maximilian Hammer, Johann Munich, Ludwig Rohrl
  • Patent number: 4729806
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture for the tubes or shafts of a composite material and having a low weight, whereby a blank of a material that can be pressformed and which has a substantially even thickness of material is subjected to isostatic pressing on or in a formation tool thereby providing a shell or a liner (15) of an intended shape and profile and having a mainly by substantially thickness of material, and on or in said shell or liner (15) another material is applied and is bound, for instance a highstrength material like glassfiber, carbon fiber or aramide fiber, so that the liner (15) and said other material (17) provide a solid integral composite tube or composite shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Affarsverket FFV
    Inventor: Bengt Stein
  • Patent number: 4704886
    Abstract: A novel and improved method of deforming elongated hollow members so as to maintain uniform cross-sectional profile, uniform section thickness reduction, and minimal springback characteristics which includes superimposing in the forming process an internal fluid pressure support for the hollow member which imposes a circumferential tension thereon, a longitudinal tension which plastically elongates the member, and a transverse bending load which plastically bends the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Robert P. Evert, James A. Miller
  • Patent number: 4689979
    Abstract: A method of pressing a blank comprises the steps of pressing the blank between a die assembly having a cavity with a highly viscous substance contained therein and a punch, inserting the punch into the cavity to increase a pressure of the highly viscous substance in the cavity, and pressing the blank against a surface of the punch under the pressure of the highly viscous substance. The pressing method can form pressed product of complex shape highly accurately and free from cracks, wrinkles, or other damages. There is also disclosed a punch and die press suitable for effecting the abovesaid pressing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Otsuka, Atsuo Kasuya, Yusho Nakayama, Masayuki Kumashiro, Tamio Furuya, Shigeo Kaiho
  • Patent number: 4516422
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a rack for a variable ratio rack and pinion steering gear, having a preforming process for preparing a rack blank having a plurality of teeth which are formed to a shape corresponding approximately to the shape desired in the finished rack and a finishing process for converting the teeth to the finished shape by cold forming in a die having a shape which is the exact counterpart of the finished shape, the preformed rack teeth are shaped to have top lands which are level with those in the finished shape and bottom lands that are deeper than those of same. The rack teeth in the preformed shape are all wider at the top areas than in the finished shape, and the ratio of the widths at the root areas of the rack teeth in the preformed shape to those in the finished shape varies in proportion to the variation of the steering ratio such that a rack tooth for a higher steering ratio is given the above-mentioned ratio that is larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Morikawa, Megumu Higuchi, Tokiyoshi Yanai
  • Patent number: 4510780
    Abstract: A rotating die system for cold forming of sheet metal wherein a male die rotates relative to both an hydraulically supported resilient diaphragm backing the sheet metal blank and the driving force on the male die. The male die is pivotly connected to both a draw ring and the transmitted driving force. A sheet of metal to be formed is held in place on the upper surface of a draw ring die over a forming aperture. The male die is caused to rotate within the aperture against the sheet metal to accomplish the desired forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: Rohr Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gilbert C. Cadwell
  • Patent number: 4494393
    Abstract: A female die for use in press forming workpieces comprises a longitudinally hingeable plank which hinges under the action of a male die to wrap the workpiece around the male die to conform to the shape thereof. The plank is provided with reinforcing ribs at a portion thereof whereby they do not interfere with a bearing surface for the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Inventor: George T. Bruce
  • Patent number: 4472955
    Abstract: A punch is pressed on a blankpiece into a die. The die is filled with liquid therein, whereby hydraulic counterpressure is generated by said pressing. The pressed blankpiece is forcibly followed in shape around the punch by hydraulic counterpressure, while part of the hydraulic counterpressure is automatically supplied to an outer circumference of the blankpiece via bypath passage. In case, the blankpiece is a plate, said supplied hydraulic pressure serves as compression force from the outer circumference of the flange to the radius direction. In case, the blankpiece is a product formed by a first drawing, said pressure serves as pressing force toward axial direction of a side wall of the product. When the supplied hydraulic pressure flows out from a space between the punch and a blank holder, the liquid serves as lubrication on an upper and lower surfaces of the blankpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: Amino Iron Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nakamura, Takeo Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 4470287
    Abstract: A press for manufacturing hollow articles by deep drawing comprising a high pressure vessel (1) accommodating a die (3) with a punch (4). A blank (14) is accommodated in an annular high pressure chamber (16) communicating with a high pressure chamber (19) of an intensifier (20). The press also comprises a device (27) for regulating pressure in the annular chamber to control pressure acting upon the peripheral portion of a blank in accordance with a preset law, an appliance (39) for setting pressure in the annular chamber is made in the form of a tracer whose profile is equidistant with the curve characterizing the alteration of pressure in the annular chamber (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Inventors: Evgeny A. Antonov, Anatoly S. Matveev, Nikolai I. Nikonov, Boris N. Leonov, Anatoly V. Razhev, Vyacheslav I. Prokofiev
  • Patent number: 4458516
    Abstract: An improved method of manufacturing a rupture disk containing one or more scores or perforations from a sheet metal section comprising the steps of cutting the sheet metal section into a disk, forming a concave-convex dome in the disk by applying pressurized fluid to one side thereof, and then forming one or more scores or perforations in the concave-convex dome of the disk while continuing to apply pressurized fluid thereto. Automated apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: BS&B Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo J. Naumann