Patent ID: 8261591
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: B21D,C21D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for hot-forming and press-quenching a semifinished sheet workpiece of hardenable steel, the apparatus comprising: a stationary die tool having a die cavity; a press ram movable toward and away from the die tool; a complementary punch tool with a shaping part fittable into the die cavity and a face adapted to support the workpiece heated to above the AC a first blade fixed on the press ram; a second blade fixed on the stationary die tool; a holddown element carried on and limitedly shiftable relative to the press ram; actuator means for shifting the press ram toward the die and thereby: first engaging the punch tool with the workpiece and pressing the punch tool with the workpiece into the die cavity without gripping the workpiece between the holddown and the die tool, whereby the workpiece is deformed, once the punch tool is fully engaged in the die cavity, pressing the holddown element directly against the workpiece and clamping the workpiece to the die with a portion of the workpiece projecting over the second blade from between the die tool and holddown element, and thereafter shifting the first blade past the second blade to trim off the projecting portion of the workpiece; and means for cooling at least one of the tools and thereby press-quenching the workpiece after the workpiece has been deformed by the punch tool, whereby the projecting edge is cut off before it is quenched.