Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

William Henry Todd, Jr

Charles J Bruggemann

Chi-Mou Ni

Joseph M Lendway, Iv

A method for hydroforming a large surface area, double paneled, hollow auto body part, such as a hood, in which the inner and outer panels are concurrently shape formed and seamed structurally together in the same apparatus. A pair of upper and lower dies crush the edges of a double walled blank together between the dies so as to simultaneously clamp, seal, and form the seam. Then, a special face seal and fluid inlet assembly grips and holds the edges of an inlet hole near the center of the blank to allow the interior to be successfully pressurized and expanded.

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

William Henry Todd, Jr