초록 ▼

A sheet metal blank positioned upon a lower die is wrapped around an upper die as the upper die is moved down to a closed position by an outer slide, the blank being clamped between the upper and lower dies whereby the periphery of the blank is gripped between a male and female bead mounted all arou

A sheet metal blank positioned upon a lower die is wrapped around an upper die as the upper die is moved down to a closed position by an outer slide, the blank being clamped between the upper and lower dies whereby the periphery of the blank is gripped between a male and female bead mounted all around a part print cavity in the upper and lower dies, respectively. The outer slide then dwells while an inner slide moves down, engaging and actuating cylinder assemblies, causing hydraulic fluid to be forced into a region between the clamped blank and the lower die, the blank being formed into a part print cavity defined in the upper die. The male bead exerts varying control on the sheet to allow it to stretch across portions of the cavity while flowing into other portions of the cavity. A locking mechanism prevents the bending of the dies and holds the dies in a closed position thereby assisting the engagement of the male bead with the female bead. As a safety feature, the mechanism is configured to automatically open when the die cavity is moved up. The locking mechanism allows the use of high pressures to make large parts, such as car hoods, doors, deck lids, and quarter panels in conventional currently available double action presses.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for forming sheet metal using a liquid to directly form the metal comprising: a die having a part print for a part to be formed; a holder for holding the sheet metal across the die where a space is created between one surface of the metal and the pan print formed in the die, said holder

An apparatus for forming sheet metal using a liquid to directly form the metal comprising: a die having a part print for a part to be formed; a holder for holding the sheet metal across the die where a space is created between one surface of the metal and the pan print formed in the die, said holder including beads having different radiuses of curvatures for providing a desired amount of controlled flow of said sheet metal into the space while maintaining a fluid tight seal; hydraulic cylinders for applying liquid directly against the sheet metal at a pressure great enough to force the metal to travel through the space and contact the part print defined in the die; and means to actuate said hydraulic cylinders: wherein said holder exercises control on the metal to allow portions of the metal to stretch across the part print while other portions of the metal are allowed to flow into the pan print.