초록 ▼

A self-contained apparatus for forming metal sheet is adapted for operation within a standard double action press having a base and outer and inner vertically reciprocating slides and includes a basic die mountable to the press and specific tooling replaceably mountable to the basic die. The basic d

A self-contained apparatus for forming metal sheet is adapted for operation within a standard double action press having a base and outer and inner vertically reciprocating slides and includes a basic die mountable to the press and specific tooling replaceably mountable to the basic die. The basic die includes an upper shoe mountable to the outer slide, a reservoir pan mounted atop the base, and hydraulic cylinder assemblies mounted with the pan and mechanically actuatable by the inner slide for providing pressurized fluid to the specific tooling. The specific tooling includes mating upper and lower dies connected to the upper shoe and base, respectively, and movable between open and closed positions. A sheet metal blank positioned upon the lower die is wrapped around the lower die as the upper die is moved down to a closed position by the outer slide, the blank being clamped between the upper and lower dies whereby the periphery of the blank is securely gripped by gripper steels mounted all around a part print cavity in the upper die. The outer slide then dwells while the inner slide moves down, engaging and actuating the cylinder assemblies, causing hydraulic fluid to be forced into a region between the clamped blank and the lower die, the blank being 100% stretch formed into the part print cavity defined in the upper die.

대표청구항 ▼

A self-contained apparatus for stretch forming, without drawing, sheet metal using fluid to act directly on the sheet metal, said apparatus capable of being used within a double action conventional press having a base and outer and inner vertically reciprocating slides, said apparatus comprising: a

A self-contained apparatus for stretch forming, without drawing, sheet metal using fluid to act directly on the sheet metal, said apparatus capable of being used within a double action conventional press having a base and outer and inner vertically reciprocating slides, said apparatus comprising: a basic die mountable to the press and including an upper shoe mountable to the outer slide and hydraulic means connectable to a lower die, mechanically actuatable by the inner slide and for providing pressurized fluid to specific tooling; specific tooling including upper and lower dies moveable between open and closed positions, said upper die being replaceably mounted to said upper shoe and having a downwardly facing, die mating surface which defines a part print cavity, and said lower die being replaceably mountable atop the base and having an upwardly facing bind surface aligned below the die mating surface, said upper and lower dies being adapted to receive and clamp a sheet metal blank between the die mating surface and the bind surface, said lower die including first passageway means for transmitting pressurized fluid from said hydraulic means to said bind surface so as to stretch form the sheet metal blank against said die mating surface without drawing said blank wherein said hydraulic means includes at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly having a reciprocating piston rod adapted to be depressed by the downward stroke of the inner slide and said hydraulic means includes a fluid reservoir pan mountable atop the base and adapted to collect fluid spilling from said dies, said reservoir supplying fluid for said at least one cylinder assembly and wherein said lower die sits within said pan.