Patent · US Expired

Die cushion apparatus for hot stretch-forming

US7004007B2 · kind B2 · utility

37Cited by
3References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 14, 2003
Grant dateFeb 28, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 26, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/4984
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A self-contained die cushion assembly for use in a stretch-forming process involving heated tooling. A lower plate is mounted below an upper plate that undergoes different thermal expansion than the lower plate. Guidance devices are mounted between the upper and lower plates and include a guide post, a bearing sleeve circumscribing the guide post, and a cylinder circumscribing the bearing sleeve. The guide post is mounted in fixed relation to the upper plate, and the cylinder is mounted in laterally translatable relation to the lower plate to accommodate lateral relative displacement between the upper and lower plates due to different thermal expansion thereof, thereby preventing binding of the guidance devices.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.