Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

David R Friddell

Mike M Ghiran

Kevin R Marks

Paul D Larsen

William M Crantas

David R Jensen

Ranny Joe Nunley

Spyros Pete Mellas

Michael H Lovell

Douglas T Wohlenhaus

Mark A Cline

Arturo M Martinez

A high pressure pump includes a pump housing. A piston rod located within the pump housing defines a plurality of pump cavities and a plurality of piston cavities. Movement of the piston within the piston cylinder pumps the fluid from the piston cavities out of the high pressure pump. The continuous pumping of HWBF from the pump housing provides fluid at a relatively constant flow and pressure. The HWBF pressure is also at a higher pressure than traditional single stage high pressure pumps can provide.

High pressure dual-action hydraulic pump

A hydroform die includes a plurality of seal units to provide fluid to die cavities. The plurality of seal units each define a piston cylinder. A piston is located within the cylinder and is selectively moveable between an open and a closed position. Additionally, the piston at least partially defines a valve chamber located on a first side of the piston and a piston chamber located on a second side of the piston. A piston fluid passage is defined by the piston to fluidly connect the valve chamber and the piston chamber.

Gravity fill system with pressure check valve

A method of bending a metal object, such as a tube, is provided that uses real time, closed-loop feedback of the actual springback of the object in order to modify the applied bending force or preprogrammed bending coordinates so that the final desired bend geometry is achieved. The variability of springback from object to object is thus accounted for and the number of objects that must be scrapped due to incorrect bends (over bend or under bend) is reduced. The method is carried out using an apparatus such as a rotary draw bender with a measuring device operable to measure actual bend coordinates of metal objects bent by the bender. A controller is operatively connected to the bender and the measuring device and is configured to control the bender to bend the metal objects at least partly based on measured bend coordinates provided by the measuring device.

Bending apparatus and method of bending a metal object

A tube bending assembly adapted for use with a rotary draw bender, and preferably including a bend die mounting unit for securing a plurality of stacked bend dies drivenly coupled to the bender, a bend die tower unit for structurally supporting the bend die mounting unit, a wiper die mounting unit for securing a wiper die adjacent a selected bend die, a clamp die mounting unit for positioning and securing a clamp die, a pressure die mounting unit for securing a pressure die adjacent the clamp die, a mandrel saddle unit for positioning and enabling the utilization of a mandrel assembly, a collet saddle unit for positioning and enabling the utilization of a collet, and a bolster unit that interconnects the units, so as to present an integrated assembly capable of concurrent disconnection from and connection to the bender, and thereby reducing the tool set change-over period.

Quick change bend tooling bolster

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Grand Blanc, MI, United States of America

David R Friddell