Method and apparatus for hydroforming metallic tube
US5918494A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 22, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 6, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB21D26/047
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for hydroforming a metallic tube including the steps of: preliminarily expanding the metallic tube over an axial section longer than the length of the expanded portion of a final product as measured in the axial direction of the metallic tube; and compressing the preliminarily expanded portion in the axial direction of the metallic tube so as to form the shape of the expanded portion of the final product. According to the method and apparatus of the invention, frictional resistance between the metallic tube and processing tools can be reduced, and moreover, the internal pressure within the metallic tube can be reduced during expansion processing. Furthermore, the cost for the manufacture of metallic die is reduced, and in addition, yield is improved
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.