Patent ID: 6843088
Filing Date: 2005-01-18
Classification: B21D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for hot blow-forming an article from a blank of sheet metal wherein one side of the blank becomes a visible surface of the article and a back side of the blank is pushed into contact with a forming surface, said apparatus comprising a form tool assembly having said forming surface thereon, said form tool assembly including a form tool body at least partially defining said forming surface and further including a form tool insert positioned within said form tool body and at least partially defining said forming surface, said form tool insert and said form tool body defining at least one gap therebetween into which said blank is pushed by blow-forming pressure, said form tool insert and said form tool body having projections on either side of said at least one gap, whereby said projections provide resistance to draw-in of said blank into said at least one gap and produce raised portions on said visible surface of said article for a subsequent material removal operation to provide a finish surface not reflective of said at least one gap.