Patent ID: 6098437
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: B21D,B60G

Abstract:
A method of hydroforming a control arm of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:providing a die having a tooling cavity;enclosing a tube within said tooling cavity of said die;applying fluid pressure to an interior of said tube, said fluid pressure causing the walls of said tube to expand to closely conform to the shape of said tooling cavity, thereby forming a control arm having unitary construction;providing a forming tool being operably interconnected with said die for forming a cavity in the control arm;positioning said forming tool in contact with a side of the control arm;driving said forming tool into said side of the control arm thereby forming an indentation therein; andincreasing said fluid pressure within said interior of the control arm while leaving said forming tool in place such that said fluid pressure forces the walls of the control arm to closely conform to the shape of said forming tool thereby forming said cavity therein.