Patent ID: 6631630
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: B21D,B29C,Y10T

Abstract:
A hydroforming apparatus for forming a blank with a fluid which is a liquid, the apparatus capable of being used in a punch press comprising:a fluid chamber mountable to an upper shoe defining a cavity for providing pressurized fluid to the upper surface of the blank and having a downwardly facing blank mating surface; a blank support mountable to a lower shoe having an upwardly facing blank binding surface for holding the blank with an opening therein which defines a cavity wherein a punch reciprocally located therein is capable of traveling upward through the opening into the fluid chamber; the fluid chamber and blank support being adapted to receive and clamp the blank between the blank mating surface and the blank binding surface, and the fluid chamber includes a passageway means for transmitting pressurized fluid from a pressurized fluid means to the fluid chamber wherein the fluid forms the blank and a release means for removing the fluid; and heating means for heating the fluid to heat the blank during the forming.