The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 18, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 16, 1998
Fred G Jaekel, Richmond Hill, CA;
Frank A Horton, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Arthur L Lee, Aurora, CA;
Cosma International Inc., Concord, CA;
Abstract
An apparatus for hydroforming a tubular metal blank comprises a die structure, a hydroforming fluid source, a hydraulically driven tube-end engaging structure, a hydraulically driven pressure intensifying structure, and a single hydraulic power source. The tube-end engaging structure seals opposite ends of the tubular metal blank in said die cavity and is movable to longitudinally compress the tubular metal blank. The tube-end engaging structure receives hydroforming fluid from said hydroforming fluid source and has a hydroforming fluid supplying outlet through which hydroforming fluid can be provided to the tubular metal blank. The hydraulically driven pressure intensifying structure is movable to pressurize the hydroforming fluid provided to the interior of the tubular metal blank and thereby expand a diameter of the blank. A single hydraulic power source provides the hydraulic fluid under pressure to said hydraulically driven pressure intensifying structure in order to move the pressure intensifying structure and thereby pressurize the hydroforming fluid provided to the interior of the tubular metal blank and expand the diameter of the tubular metal blank so that its exterior surface conforms to that of the internal die surface. The single hydraulic power source also provides the hydraulic fluid under pressure to the hydraulically driven tube-end engaging structure to enable the tube-end engaging structure to longitudinally compress the tubular metal blank and cause metal material of the diametrically expanded tubular blank to flow longitudinally inwardly in order to replenish a wall thickness of the diametrically expanded tubular metal blank and maintain the wall thickness thereof within a predetermined range.