Abstract: A forming press for forming a sheet-like blank has a first thermally insulated frame part having a die with a negative engraving and a second thermally insulated frame part defining a chamber and having a punch movably disposed in the chamber. The sheet-like blank rests in a sealing manner on the second frame part and covers the punch so as to define a pressure chamber with the punch therein. A pressure generator provides a pressurized gas to the pressure chamber during a forming process.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a flat metal blank as a workpiece in a forming die.

Abstract: A forming press for forming a sheet-like blank has a first thermally insulated frame part having a die with a negative engraving and a second thermally insulated frame part defining a chamber and having a punch movably disposed in the chamber. The sheet-like blank rests in a sealing manner on the second frame part and covers the punch so as to define a pressure chamber with the punch therein. A pressure generator provides a pressurized gas to the pressure chamber during a forming process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tool for shaping hollow parts or metal sheets with the aid of a pressurized gas or fluid. Said shaping tool comprises at least two contour blocks which form a cavity. At least one of the contour blocks can be heated. The contour blocks (20, 25; 120, 125) are disposed in a two-piece tool housing (1) which is provided with insulation (10) for the contour blocks (20, 25; 120, 125). The load distribution plate (8,9) is connected to the tool housing (1).

Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention is a method of manufacturing, in a tool mold provided with a final contour as desired, a hollow metal body the cross-sectional shape of which varies in the longitudinal direction, an internal pressure being applied to a tubular hollow body with approximately uniform initial wall thickness, the tubular hollow body having the highest temperature in the zones of greatest deformation, the temperature in these zones being reduced once the hollow body fits against the wall of the tool mold, the temperature being subsequently increased in zones with lower degrees of deformation.

Abstract: A process for forming a tubular component including at least a first tubular element connected end to end with a second tubular element, the process including location an end portion of the first tubular element within an end portion of the second tubular element to thereby define respective inner and overlapping end portions, hydro-forming the overlapping end portions to radially expand the inner end portion into face to face contact with the outer end portion and in the region of the expanded overlapping end portions, mutually deforming the inner and outer end portions to define one or more mechanical lock formations for preventing relative axial movement between the first and second tubular elements.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a hollow shaft with power transmission members such as cams of a camshaft, crown gears of a gear shaft or journals of a crankshaft disposed one behind the other in an axial direction, the power transmission members being configured to be at least partially hollow, said power transmission members being configured integral with the hollow shaft and the material being hardenable at least in the region of the power transmission members.

Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention is a method of manufacturing, in a tool mold provided with a final contour as desired, a hollow metal body the cross-sectional shape of which varies in the longitudinal direction, an internal pressure being applied to a tubular hollow body with approximately uniform initial wall thickness, the tubular hollow body having the highest temperature in the zones of greatest deformation, the temperature in these zones being reduced once the hollow body fits against the wall of the tool mold, the temperature being subsequently increased in zones with lower degrees of deformation.

Abstract: A shaft coupling for a drive shaft (3), with a driving and a driven coupling component in which the driving or the driven coupling component is configured to form a cylindrical hollow coupling outer member (8) and the other coupling component configured to form a cylindrical coupling inner member (9), said two members being disposed so as to be coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the shaft coupling, and in which axially parallel grooves (27, 28) that are provided with right- and left-sided side walls (19, 20, 21, 22) are formed on the inner circumference of the coupling outer member (8) and on the outer circumference of the coupling inner member (9) for receiving rolling members (11) that drivingly and axially slidably interconnect the coupling outer member (8) and the coupling inner member (9),whereby the right- and left-sided side walls (19, 20, 21, 22) of the coupling inner member (8) and of the coupling outer member (9) are disposed side by side and mesh together thereby in such a manner that, together

Abstract: A process for forming an elongate structural element of desired shape being of large and small cross-sectional dimensions at spaced locations along its length, the process including the steps of: (i) selecting a first tube for forming a first selected length of the element having cross-sectional dimensions within a first range of relatively small cross-sectional dimensions within the hydro-forming-elongation ratio capabilities of the material from which the first tube is formed, said first tube being of a first constant cross-sectional dimension along its length, (ii) selecting a second tube for forming a second selected length of the element adjacent to the first length, the second length of the element having cross-sectional dimensions within a second range of relatively large cross-sectional dimensions within the hydro-forming elongation ratio capabilities of the material from which the second tube is formed, said second tube being of a second constant cross-sectional dimension along its length which is

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hollow body made of metal whose cross sectional shape changes in longitudinal direction, a tubular slug being sealed at its end and being placed into a mold that corresponds to the desired shape and that is placed in a tool, said slug being then put under high pressure from the inside by means of a pressure means, whereas the two ends of the tube are pressed against each other in axial direction during the process of deformation, the slug being submitted during deformation to a higher temperature in the area of these great deformations than in the area of smaller deformations in order to produce areas with great deformations in its cross sectional shape.

Abstract: The invention relates to a driveshaft and to a method of producing the driveshaft having three components a first attaching element 1 and a second attaching element 13 and a tube element 8 arranged therebetween. The tube element 8 is provided with a first end face 9 and a second end face 12. Both attaching elements 1, 13 comprise cylindrical receiving faces 4, 16 whose diameter is smaller than that of the tube bore 10 of the tube element 8. This permits a radial adjustment of the elements relative to one another with reference to a longitudinal reference axis 25 in order to keep any out-of-balance minimized. In the axial direction, close tolerances can be observed in that a first reference face 6 of the first attaching element 1 is set relative to the first end face 9 of the tube element at a fixed distance 7.

Abstract: A space frame including at least two elongate structural frame elements arranged side by side and being interconnected by a plurality of elongate struts spaced along the length of the elements, each structural frame element comprising an elongate hollow body having one or more strut connection nodes located along its length at predetermined positions, each connection node being in the form of a socket extending internally of the element, the socket comprising a socket wall depending from one side wall of the hollow body, the socket wall defining a socket recess and being formed by hydro-forming from said one side wall of the hollow body, each opposite end of each strut being in the form of a plug received within the socket defined by a co-operating respective connection node. The hydro-forming process may include the use of any type of pressurised hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: A process for hydroforming an elongate tubular structural member in a mould die, the structural member having portions spaced along its length which have different circumferential dimensions, a first of said portions having a first cross-sectional shape defining a minimum outer circumferential dimension C.sub.1 and a second of said portions having a second cross-sectional shape defining a maximum outer circumferential dimension C.sub.2, the process including the steps of: (i) selecting a precursor tube of constant cross-sectional shape and constant outer cross-sectional dimension along its length and having an outer circumferential dimension C.sub.0 which is greater than or equal to C.sub.1 and being of a cross-sectional shape which can be located within said first cross-sectional shape, and selecting the wall thickness S.sub.0 of the precursor tube so as to fall within the range S.sub.0 .ltoreq.S.sub.1 and S.sub.0 .gtoreq.S.sub.2 wherein S.sub.

Abstract: A hydroforming process for forming a component from an elongate tubular blank comprised of a deformable metal, the process including placing the blank in a die and sealing opposed ends of the tubular blank, heating the blank to a predetermined deformation temperature which is greater than 350.degree. C. but less than the melting point of the metal, supplying a gas at a predetermined pressure to the interior of the sealed tubular blank to cause deformation of said tubular blank at predetermined regions by drawing/stretching of the metal.

Abstract: A camshaft assembly for valve-controlled internal combustion engines, having two shaft elements, an inner shaft and an outer shaft, which are positioned one inside the other, which are supported one inside the other and which are rotatable relative to one another by a limited axial distance, with first cams referred to as inner cams, especially for the inlet valves, being connected to the inner shaft and with second cams referred to as outer cams, especially for the outlet valves, being connected to the hollow outer shaft, the outer shaft comprising wall apertures associated with fixing elements or fixing portions of the inner cams, and the inner cams forming axially open slots or recesses which are shaped like a sector of a circle and which are engaged by axial finger regions of the outer shaft, with the inner cams being connected to the inner shaft by form-fitting mechanisms and with the outer cams being connected to the outer shaft by form-fitting mechanisms and with at least the outer shaft consisting of

Abstract: A cam shaft for valve operation in an internal combustion engine comprises two shaft elements of which the first (101, 201) is disposed inside the second (102, 202) and can be moved relative thereto angularly and/or axially. First cam elements (107, 207) provided on the first shaft element have at least lobe portions which extend radially outwardly through slots in the second shaft element to provide a cam surface, while second cam elements are provided on the second shaft element. The first and/or the second shaft element may comprise a number of individual tubular sections joined to one another.

Abstract: A driveshaft (6, 8, 9, 11) for a vehicle (1) which is firmly attached to a damping sleeve (17) slid on the central tube region (R.sub.m). The damping sleeve (17) changes the natural and torsional frequencies of the driveshaft (6, 8, 9, 11) thereby permitting the natural frequencies to be moved into the region of low external excitation energy.

Abstract: The invention has a driveshaft (6, 8a, 8b and 10), especially used in the drive line of a motor vehicle (1), with a tubular shaft which has a central tube region (R.sub.m) and end pieces (11 and 12) formed on both ends. For optimizing the torsional characteristics of the driveshaft (6, 8a, 8b and 10), it includes at least one mass element (13) which is formed by reducing the inner diameter (D.sub.i) and/or increasing the outer diameter (D.sub.a) of the shaft wall. These additional mass elements (13) may be arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically in the axial direction of the driveshaft (6, 8a, 8b and 10). If the additional mass elements are arranged asymmetrically, the center of gravity is displaced, thereby optimizing the driveshaft 6, 8a, 8b and 10) of certain vehicle types with respect of its natural frequencies.

Abstract: A differential gear system for use in the driveline of a motor vehicle, having a differential carrier (1) rotating in bearings of a differential housing (1) and driven via a driving gear tooth configuration; two axle shaft gears (10, 11) rotating in bearings of the differential carrier, which are coaxial relative to each other; and compensating gears (12, 13) eccentrically supported in, and rotating with, the differential carrier, where each of the compensating gears is in one part meshed with the one axle shaft gear (10) and in another part, with the other axle shaft gear (11), while engaging each other at least indirectly, and where the axle shaft gears (10, 11) have a tooth design which, when under torque, generates an axial thrust, and where friction-reducing means are provided at all face areas of at least the axle shaft gears (10, 11) that are subjected to loads during coasting of the motor vehicle, opposite the mating surfaces of the differential carrier (1) or the respective other axle shaft gear.