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:
May. 12, 2009
Filed:
May. 08, 2008
Manuel Lai, Orbassano, IT;
Valter Stillio, Leini, IT;
Rosanna Brun, Orbassano, IT;
Marco Colosseo, Orbassano, IT;
Manuel Lai, Orbassano, IT;
Valter Stillio, Leini, IT;
Rosanna Brun, Orbassano, IT;
Marco Colosseo, Orbassano, IT;
C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni, Orbassano (Turin), IT;
Abstract
A hydroforming device includes a top die and a bottom die, set between which is a metal element to be formed and which are pressed against one another during a hydroforming process. A relative movement of the two dies between the open condition and the closed condition is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder. The opening of the two dies during the hydroforming process, when the forming cavity is filled with liquid at a high pressure, is prevented by applying on the two dies a force generated by means of two wedge-shaped members, which are horizontally mobile, controlled by respective actuator means and having inclined surfaces in contact with corresponding inclined surfaces of a vertically mobile member. The mobile member and the hydraulic cylinder are set operatively in series between one and the same die of the two dies and the base of the hydroforming cell. On the opposite side, the two dies rest against a top cross member of the fixed structure of the hydroforming cell, which is rigidly connected to the base by means of two shoulders so that the vertical forces that are generated during the hydroforming process are discharged on the shoulders, which are subject to tensile stress.