Methods of and apparatus for forming hollow metal articles
US7191032B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 9, 2005 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 6, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB21D51/26
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In hydroforming of hollow metal articles in a die, such as pressure-ram-forming procedures, a method of decreasing cycle time of the forming process, while ensuring acceptable product properties and avoiding failures, by modeling the process using finite element analysis to establish a pressure-time history that optimizes the forming operation and applies failure limits to selected variables such as minimum wall thickness or maximum strain rate, and transferring this pressure-time history to a computer controlling the forming process. Thermocouple and/or continuity sensors are incorporated into the die wall and connected to the computer so as to provide active feedback from the die to the control of the process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.