The Boeing Company

Alan T Potter

Noel A Spishak

Robert Charles Larsen

Peter N Comley

Kevin A Gillespy

Glen C Pacher

The present invention is a portable, compact hot press. The hot press includes a frame that has a press unit attached thereto. The press unit has a crown plate, a bolster plate, and a base plate. An upper press unit is attached to the crown plate and a lower press unit is attached to the bolster plate. The lower press unit is configured to contact the upper press unit when the press is in a closed position. The press further includes a control unit attached to the frame. The control unit is configured to manually or automatically control press operation. Additionally, the press includes a hydraulic unit that is attached to the frame and is configured to facilitate motion of the press operation.

Compact hot press

A method and apparatus is provided for forming and shearing a sheet metal workpiece in a single operation. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a stationary lower die half; (b) stretching the workpiece over the lower die half to stretch-form the workpiece; (c) providing a vertically movable upper die half including a laterally movable floating portion with a shearing edge; (d) moving the upper die half toward the lower die half; (e) moving the floating portion laterally as the upper die half is moved toward the lower die half in order to properly align the floating portion with the lower die half; and (f) shearing the stretch-formed workpiece between the shearing edge and the lower die half as the upper die half moves toward the lower die half.

Growing community of inventors

Fife, WA, United States of America

Alan T Potter