초록 ▼

A method of manufacturing a fuel rail for use in a fuel delivery system, such as for an engine in a vehicle, includes the initial hydroforming step to deform a central portion of a workpiece to have one or more outwardly extending node portions, followed by a subsequent hydroforming step to deform o

A method of manufacturing a fuel rail for use in a fuel delivery system, such as for an engine in a vehicle, includes the initial hydroforming step to deform a central portion of a workpiece to have one or more outwardly extending node portions, followed by a subsequent hydroforming step to deform one or more end portions of the workpiece to have additional outwardly extending node portions. To do this, a pair of pressure feed pistons are disposed within the interior of the workpiece and have head portions that sealingly engage the inner surface of the workpiece so as to define a pressure chamber therein. Pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure chamber so as to deform a portion thereof into conformance with the portion of the die cavity located within the pressure chamber. Then, the pressure feed pistons are moved to re-define the pressure chamber within the workpiece. Pressurized fluid is again introduced into the enlarged pressure chamber so as to deform other portions of the workpiece. The deformed workpiece is lastly subjected to conventional machining and/or metal working operations to provide a final fuel rail.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of manufacturing a fuel rail for use in a fuel delivery system for an engine comprising the steps of:(a) providing a hydroforming apparatus including a pair of die sections defining a die cavity; (b) disposing a workpiece within the die cavity; (c) hydroforming a first portion of the wor

1. A method of manufacturing a fuel rail for use in a fuel delivery system for an engine comprising the steps of:(a) providing a hydroforming apparatus including a pair of die sections defining a die cavity; (b) disposing a workpiece within the die cavity; (c) hydroforming a first portion of the workpiece so as to conform with the shape of a first portion of the die cavity to form a first node blank; (d) hydroforming a second portion of the workpiece so as to conform with the shape of a second portion of the die cavity to provide the fuel rail to form a second node blank; (e) performing a machining or metal working operation on the first and second node blanks to form a hydroformed fuel rail having first and second node portions; and (f) installing the hydroformed fuel rail in a fuel delivery system, wherein fuel is supplied through the hydroformed fuel rail under pressure to and selectively injected within each of the combustion chambers of the engine for subsequent combustion.