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:
Mar. 17, 2009
Filed:
Feb. 07, 2008
Mike M. Ghiran, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Vincent J. Sychta, Lake Orion, MI (US);
George W. Bachelor, Brighton, MI (US);
Terry A. Kent, East China, MI (US);
Mike M. Ghiran, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Vincent J. Sychta, Lake Orion, MI (US);
George W. Bachelor, Brighton, MI (US);
Terry A. Kent, East China, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for piercing a hole in a work piece suitable for hydroforming applications is provided. The apparatus includes first and second die portions forming a die cavity for the work piece. Each die includes a punch cavity generally perpendicular to the work piece. One of the punch cavities has a slug capturing area. A punch with an angular cutting face can be moved within a cross passage created by the punch cavities to impact the work piece. The angular cutting face of the punch has a larger surface area than the punch body, which results in expanding slugs pierced from the work piece. The slug capturing area is configured with a cross-sectional area smaller than the surface area of the angular cutting face.