Ti Corporate Services Limited

Other

Caterpillar Inc.

Vari-form, Inc.

Murray R Mason

Gerrald A Klages

Frank S Krasnicki

Scott A Christianson

Ivano G Cudini

Mark Wayne Hammerton

A method of forming a hole in a hollow blank during a hydroforming process is provided. The method includes placing a blank in a cavity of a hydroforming die, the hydroforming die being configured to permit a punch to engage the blank. An interior of the blank is pressurized with a fluid. Further, a cutting end of a punch is applied through a wall portion of the blank and into the interior of the blank to form a hole. Furthermore, the cutting end of the punch is removed from the interior of the blank such that the cutting end of the punch is configured to allow material of the blank surrounding the formed hole to move away from the interior of the blank.

System and method of forming hole in blank during hydroforming process

A method for hydroforming a tubular blank comprising the steps of at least partially closing the die portions of a die about a tubular blank, introducing a hydraulic fluid into the tubular blank at a first pressure, substantially closing the die portions about the tubular blank, partially opening the die while at least initially maintaining the pressure of the hydraulic fluid, and substantially closing the die portions at least a second time.

Multi-stage tube hydroforming process

A frame member of rectangular cross section with rounded corners is formed by expansion of a tubular blank within a die cavity having an inner portion of corresponding cross section and an outer transition portion which is of smoothly continuously curved cross sectional profile elongated substantially parallel to the larger dimension of the rectangular section. An outer portion of the tubular blank is deformed to correspond with the continuously curved cross sectional profile and is sealed by a resiliently compressible sealing element of corresponding profile through which fluid pressure is applied in order to expand the blank. By matching the profile of the transition portion to the rectangular inner portion, the transition portion can be made shorter and considerable savings of materials and resources can be achieved.

Method for expansion forming of tubing

Apparatus for expansion forming of tubing forming of tubing

Apparatus for fluid filling and pressurizing a tube having a high pressure-low flow fluid circuit in the form of a shaft having a longitudinal bore communicating with a high pressure fluid source, a tube seal device adjacent the forward end of the shaft for sealing the tube when the shaft is engaged with the tube and high pressure fluid flows into the tube, and a device for reciprocating the shaft to advance and retract the shaft toward and away from the tube. A high flow low pressure circuit has a shroud for housing the forward end of the shaft when retracted and a rearward opening slidably and sealably engaging the shaft rearward of the tube seal device. The interior of the shroud communicates with a high flow-low pressure fluid source for sealing an external surface adjacent an end of the tube. In operation the shroud is advanced to seal the external surface; the tube is filled with low pressure fluid at a high flow rate, the shaft is advanced, the tube seal engaged, the tube is pressurized, and the process is reversed to release the tube.

Seal head for tube expansion apparatus

Fill and pressurization apparatus having a sectional fluid conductor having a first section fixed relative to the surroundings, and a second section which moves toward the first section to form an enclosure through which a high volume flow rate--low pressure flow may be passed to fill an adjacent open end of a tube with liquid. Said fluid is passed through an inlet conduit, which may be a rigid conduit, to the fixed first section. A seal head insertable into the end of the filled tube has an elastomeric seal member and a rod and a sleeve relatively axially displaceable to compress the seal member and deform it into sealing engagement with a surface of the tube. A stop member on one of the rod and sleeve and a stop surface on the other of the rod and sleeve limit the axial displacement and hence also the compressive force applied to the seal member. The relative displacement is achieved by retracting one of the rod and the sleeve and blocking the retraction of the other. The blocking is provided by two telescoping cylinders, one of which has abutments thereon running in channels provided in the other cylinder. To effect blocking one cylinder is rotated relative to the other so that the abutments are out of register with the channels and engage stop surfaces in an extended condition of the cylinders relative to one another.

Fill and pressurization apparatus

An apparatus is provided for filling a tube with fluid and for pressurizing the tube, in order to expand and form it within a die for example. The apparatus provides a high flow-low pressure fluid circuit for quickly filling and draining the tube, together with a separate high pressure-low flow fluid circuit for pressurizing and depressurizing the tube. The high pressure circuit of the apparatus comprises a shaft having a longitudinal bore communicating with a high pressure fluid source and control means; tube sealing means adjacent the forward end of the shaft for sealing the tube when the shaft is engaged with the tube and high pressure fluid flows into the tube; and shaft reciprocating means for advancing and retracting the shaft. The high flow circuit of the apparatus comprises: a forwardly open shroud, housing the forward end of the shaft when retracted and having a rearward opening slidably and sealably engaging the forward end of the shaft rearward of the tube sealing means, the interior of the shroud communicating with a high flow-low pressure fluid source and control-means; external seal means about the forward opening of the shroud for sealing an external surface adjacent an end of the tube; and shroud reciprocating means for advancing and retracting the shroud. In operation therefore: the shroud is advanced to seal the external surface; the tube is filled with low pressure fluid; the shaft is advanced and the tube sealing means engaged; the tube is pressurized; and the process is reversed to release the tube.

An apparatus is provided for filling a tube with fluid and for pressurizing the tube, in order to expand and form it within a die for example. The apparatus provides a high flow-low pressure fluid circuit for quickly filling and draining the tube, together with a separate high pressure-low flow fluid circuit for pressurizing and depressurizing the tube. The high pressure circuit of the apparatus includes a shaft having a longitudinal bore, communicating with a high pressure fluid source and controls; tube sealing device adjacent the forward end of the shaft for sealing the tube when the shaft is engaged with the tube and high pressure fluid flows into the tube; and a shaft reciprocating mechanism for advancing and retracting the shaft. The high flow circuit of the apparatus includes: a forwardly open shroud, housing the forward end of the shaft when retracted and having a rearward opening slidably and sealably engaging the forward end of the shaft rearward of the tube sealing device, the interior of the shroud communicating with a high flow-low pressure fluid source and controls; an external seal device about the forward opening of the shroud for sealing an external surface adjacent an end of the tube; and a shroud reciprocating mechanism for advancing and retracting the shroud. In operation therefore: the shroud is advanced to seal the external surface; the tube is filled with low pressure fluid; the shaft is advanced and the tube sealing device engaged; the tube is pressurized; and the process is reversed to release the tube.

A method of and apparatus for punching a hole in sheet material is provided using pressurized fluid as the female die together with a modified male punch. The slug of material to be sheared from the material is during and after shearing continuously held against the face of the punch by the difference in pressure between the fluid and the punch face. In addition the area adjacent the perimeter of the hole may be deformed and drawn away from the die block face as the punch advances through the material. As the punch is withdrawn, the slug remains held against the punch face. The mechanical force withdrawing the punch together with the fluid pressure bearing on the slug and deformed area forces the slug and deformed area of material toward the die block face, inelastically retracting the deformed area. The deformed area may be fully retracted to a substantially flat form or partially retracted to a countersunk form.

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Woodstock, Canada

Murray R Mason