Title:
METHOD OF HYDROFORMING A VEHICLE FRAME COMPONENT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO1998051425
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A method for hydroforming a closed channel structural member that allows the perimeter to be increased, but which maintains a relatively uniform wall thickness throughout, includes the initial step of disposing a closed channel structural member, such as a tube, within a first hydroforming die defining a first die cavity. The inner surface of the first die cavity corresponds in cross sectional shape to the outer surface of the tube, but the perimeter of the first die cavity is somewhat larger than the perimeter of the tube enclosed therein. A preliminary hydroforming operation is then performed at a relatively high pressure to expand the tube into conformance with the first die cavity. Throughout most of this expansion, the outer surface of the tube does not engage the inner surface of the die cavity. As a result, as the perimeter of the tube is increase, the wall thickness thereof is decreased uniformly. The preliminarily expanded tube is then disposed within a second hydroforming die defining a second die cavity. The inner surface of the second die cavity corresponds in cross sectional shape to the desired final shape for the tube. When the second hydroforming die is closed, a final hydroforming operation is performed at a relatively low pressure to deform the tube into conformance with the second die cavity. Because the perimeter of the tube is approximately equal to the perimeter of the second die cavity, the wall thickness of the tube is unchanged by the final hydroforming operation.
Inventors:
MARANDO RICHARD A
SANKO THOMAS R
SCHRACK ERIC M
SANKO THOMAS R
SCHRACK ERIC M
Application Number:
PCT/US1998/009693
Publication Date:
March 11, 1999
Filing Date:
May 12, 1998
Export Citation:
Assignee:
DANA CORP (US)
International Classes:
B21D26/033; B62D25/00; (IPC1-7): B21D/
Foreign References:
| US5673470A | 1997-10-07 | |||
| US5363544A | 1994-11-15 | |||
| US5353618A | 1994-10-11 | |||
| US5673929A | 1997-10-07 | |||
| US5582052A | 1996-12-10 | |||
| US5097689A | 1992-03-24 | |||
| US4829803A | 1989-05-16 |
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