Patent ID: 8047045
Filing Date: 2011-11-01
Classification: B21D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for cold-forming a workpiece having a substantially round cross-section and an elongate body into a tube having a main portion with a substantially tetragonal cross-section and a reinforced end, the apparatus comprising: a die in which a received portion of the body of the workpiece is receivable, and from which a preselected portion of the body extends; a first punch adapted to cooperate with the die to bend the preselected portion radially outwardly to form a curled end on the workpiece; press means for exerting a first force on the first punch to form the preselected portion into the curled end on the workpiece; a second punch adapted to cooperate with the die to press a preselected part of the curled end radially inwardly toward an inner part of the curled end, to form a round reinforced end; press means for exerting a second force on the second punch to form the curled end into the round reinforced end on the workpiece; a die subassembly adapted for forming the received portion of the body of the workpiece into the main portion of the tube having the substantially tetragonal cross-section and for forming the round reinforced end into the reinforced end of the tube; and additional press means adapted to exert third and fourth forces on the die subassembly respectively for forming the received portion into the main portion of the tube and for forming the round reinforced end into the reinforced end of the tube.