Part-shaping apparatus by flow forging and sheet-metal rubber forming

An apparatus for flow-forging and sheet-metal rubber-forming a shaped part from a work includes two members spaced from one another which define a pressure zone therebetween. First and second dies disposed between the members clamp the work therebetween, and a roller conveyor transports one die along a transport direction. The dies are driven to and from the pressure zone, and one die includes a plurality of adjoining pressure-transferring elements. In a plurality of self-adjustable matching devices, each is interposed between the roller conveyor and a pressure-transfer surface of a corresponding pressure-transferring element. Each matching device automatically adjusts its position, as it passes through the converging pressure zone. A longitudinal member of each matching device has a substantially plane surface of a width exceeding at least a center-to-center spacing of two adjoining rollers of the roller conveyor. Substantially each longitudinal member is constrained to pivot about an axis substantially parallel to the plane surface. The pressure-transferring elements, which move in the transport direction, also move from one member towards another, while being transported through the pressure zone. As a gradually and smoothly increasing pressure is applied to the work by the members during the transport of the dies through the pressure zone, any recess flow-forged in the shaped part is smooth and free of any ridges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to an apparatus for forming a shaped part from a 
work. It includes two members spaced away from one another at a settable 
distance and defining a pressure zone therebetween, holder means for 
maintaining the setting of the aforesaid distance, first and second die 
means clamping the work therebetween, roller means, including a plurality 
of rollers in operative contact with one of the members for transporting 
at least one of the die means along a transport direction, and along a 
direction opposite thereto, and wherein the members have an inclination to 
one another so as to cause the pressure zone to converge along the 
transport direction, and drive means for driving the die means along the 
roller means to the pressure zone and away therefrom. One of the die means 
includes a plurality of adjoining pressure elements, and each 
pressure-transferring element has a pressure-transfer surface on one end 
thereof facing the roller means, and a molding surface on the other end 
thereof determining at least partly the shape of the part. The 
pressure-transferring elements move in the transport direction, and also 
toward the other member while being transported through the pressure zone. 
The shaped part is obtained from the work by a gradually and smoothly 
increasing pressure being applied to the work by the members during the 
transport of the die means through the pressure zone. 
A part-forming apparatus makes it possible to fabricate large forgings in a 
precise manner not feasible by conventional forging methods, and 
additionally at a considerable saving in the energy expended to produce 
such forgings. 
From Bringewald, U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,004, there is known an apparatus for 
applying pressure, which includes a pressure base, pressure means 
vertically spaced above the pressure base to define a pressure zone, means 
for conveying work between the pressure base and the pressure means, and 
wherein one of the pressure base and the pressure means is inclined in the 
direction the work is conveyed. Rollers convert sliding friction into 
rolling friction as the work passes through the pressure zone, and means 
are provided for guiding the rollers as they pass under the pressure zone. 
An auxiliary pressure unit is adjustably mounted on the pressure means: 
additionally guide means are provided for the rollers as they pass under 
the pressure means, as well as adjusting means for adjusting the guide 
means to compensate for movement between the pressure means and the 
auxiliary pressure unit. 
From Bringewald, U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,472, there has become known a process 
and an apparatus for the production of parts from ductile materials with 
integral stiffeners on one or both sides, and from Bringewald, U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,425,095 there has become known a process and an apparatus for 
producing metal plates with integral stiffeners. 
Other patents or secondary references, which have some bearing on the 
present invention when taken in conjunction with Bringewald '004 are 
Melling, U.S. Pat. No. 3,303,833, which teaches self-adjusting cam shoes 
which are fitted with concave recesses, Groves et al, U.S. Pat. No. 
3,233,444, which teaches a taper roll machine and method with piston and 
cylinder means, and fixing of blocks and cams in recesses, Fogelstrom, 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,573, which teaches a step-wise cylinder drive, Izett, 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,261, which teaches a heating station ahead of a 
forming station, and an unloading station following the forming station, 
and Worden, British Pat. No. 1,226,277, which teaches moulds for concrete 
bodies, including product removal means. 
However, the Bringewald '004 patent, which postdates the Bringewald '472 
and '095 references by approximately 4 and 6 years, respectively, is 
believed to be the closest reference to the present invention, 
particularly when taken in conjunction with the Melling, Groves et al, 
Fogelstrom, Izett, and Worden references. 
The Bringewald '004 patent has, however several disadvantages, which are 
not overcome even by considering the Bringewald '004 patent in conjunction 
with one or several of the secondary references. A principal disadvantage 
vantage is the fact the rollers are linked together by the links, so as to 
form a chain, which in turn, has peaks and valleys on an outer surface 
thereof. As the work support is transported only by being disposed on a 
lower chain, slippage occurs between the work support and the lower chain, 
if the upper front edge of the frontmost force-translating element happens 
to lodge in one of the valleys, thus restraining any forward movement of 
the force-translating elements. This slippage cannot be eliminated if the 
work support is transported forwardly at a greater pull, or force. 
Furthermore, as pressure is initially exerted on the frontmost 
force-translating element downwardly, it will be moved downwardly, leaving 
a step between it and the next force-translating element. The resulting 
step can give rise to slippage again in a manner analogous to that caused 
by the front edge of the frontmost force-translating element. Such a 
slippage, in turn, causes firstly a non-uniform pressure being exerted on 
the work, and secondly a slow-down in the operation of the part-forming 
apparatus, and even jamming of the cooperating force-translating elements 
and the rollers. such a non-uniform pressure, in turn, causes the part to 
be formed with some deformities, at best resulting in non-uniform parts 
shaped by the apparatus according to Bringewald; thus a part made during 
one run does not necessarily resemble a part made during another run of 
the Bringewald apparatus. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to obviate the 
disadvatages of the prior art, and in particular, to devise an apparatus 
which removes the cause of any slippage and deficiences in the parts 
formed. 
This and other objects of the invention are attained by providing 
self-adjustable matching means interposed between the member defining an 
inclination with the transport direction and the other member, which 
defines, in turn, together with the inclination-defining member, a 
pressure zone. In this manner pressure transfer from the top member to the 
work is smoothed and maximized, resulting, in turn, in a more uniform and 
speedier production of shaped parts. Slippage is further eliminated by 
implementing the drive of the dies in the form of a hydraulically operated 
cylinder-piston mechanism, which replaces the slippage-prone chain of the 
prior art. 
By using a substantially rectangular platform formed with two pairs of 
threaded openings disposed substantially in mirror symmetry about the 
minor and major axes, respectively, of the rectangular platform, and at 
least four threaded studs disposed in a respective number of openings, any 
bending forces acting on the threaded studs are eliminated, which 
constitutes an improvement of the two-column platform of the prior art. 
By the pressure-transfer surface of each pressure-transferring element 
being concave, as viewed in the transport direction, and by the convex rod 
surface of each longitudinal rod of the matching means being in contact 
with the concave pressure-transfer surface of a corresponding 
pressure-transferring element, a large load-bearing surface is obtained, 
permitting, in turn, a longer life-span of the die. This contrasts 
favorably with the line contact of the prior art, which may be changed 
under large pressures to an indeterminate surface contact. 
Other objects of the invention will in part become obvious, and will, in 
part become apparent from the claims following the specific description of 
the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawing, the overall arrangement of the part-forming 
apparatus by flow-forging is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, illustrating the 
overall plan view, overall elevation view, and side view of the inventive 
apparatus, respectively; an additional preheating station is denoted by A, 
while a work-loading an heating station B, a part-forming station C, and a 
die-release station D will best be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. 
A work 10, for example in the form of a blank, best seen in FIG. 16, is 
normally first heated in the preheating station or material oven A to a 
predetermined temperature, which is about 700.degree.-900.degree. F. in 
the case of aluminum. It should be noted that it is also possible to 
dispense with the preheating station A, and to heat the work 10 only in 
the die oven 12. In the open position of the die oven 12, an oven chamber 
18 will be seen to be lifted by a conventional chain-and-sprocket 
mechanism 20, not further described in detail. 
At this stage the die assembly, implemented, for example, as clamping means 
for holding the work 10, will already have been placed in the die oven 12. 
The die assembly, or die means, will be seen to consist of upper die means 
24, and lower die means 26, as shown, for example, in FIG. 4. The upper 
die means will be seen to consist of a plurality of plugs or 
pressure-transferring elements 28. Each pressure-transferring element 28 
is formed on a normally upper and thereof with a generally concave 
pressure transfer surface 30, and a lower molding surface 32, which 
actually comes into contact with the part to be formed from the work 10. 
Facing an inclined roller chain 110 of a top member 78, there are disposed 
on each pressure-transferring element 28, alternately referred to as a 
male plug 28, self-adjusting matching means, for example, in the form of a 
longitudinal rod 34. Each longitudinal rod 34 has a substantially 
semi-spherical cross-section, so as to define a plane rod surface and a 
convex rod surface. Each rod 34 cooperates with a corresponding 
pressure-transferring element or male plug 28 so as to nestle therein 
facing a corresponding pressure-transfer surface 30, while facing the 
roller chain 110 of the top member 78 with the plane rod surface. In this 
manner, as will be seen later, each rod 34 is constrained to pivot about 
an axis substantially in the plane rod surface, so that the plane rod 
surface abuts the roller chain 110 of the top member 78 opposite the plane 
rod surface. The purpose of the self-adjustable matching means or rods 34 
is to maximize pressure transfer from the top member 78 to the pressure 
surface 30, by each rod 34 automatically adjusting its position in 
response to the inclination of roller chain 110 of the top member 78, 
without jamming or jarring therewith, so that a gradually increasing 
pressure is applied to the work 10 from the top member 78 through the 
action of the inclined plane on the roller chain 110, the rods 34 and the 
pressure-transferring ring elements or male plugs 28, in order to obtain 
the shaped part. The mechanism by means of which the top member 78 applies 
pressure to the pressure surface will be discussed later. 
The lower die means, or female portion of the die 26, as best seen in FIG. 
4, consists substantially of a container 36, formed at the rear part or 
upstream portion thereof, as seen in the direction of transportation, with 
a wedge-shaped part 38, having an inner rear wall 39, and an inner front 
wall 41. One end plug of the plugs 28 normally abuts the rear wall 39, 
while the other end plug of the plugs 28 is normally spaced from the front 
wall 41. Plug holding or restraining means take the form, for example, of 
a wedge 42 cooperating with another wedge 46. The wedge 42 abuts the other 
end plug 28 with a first major surface thereof: the second major surface 
of the wedge 42 is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the 
container 36, and converges with the first major surface in a direction 
away from the bottom of the container 36. The wedge 46 abuts with one 
major surface thereof the other major surface of the wedge 42, while the 
other major surface of the wedge 42 converges with the one major surface 
portion of the wedge 46 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal 
direction of the container 36, and towards the bottom of the container 36. 
Tightening means 40 are mounted on the container 36 near the other end 
plug, and are constrained to move in the longitudinal direction of the 
container 36, so that upon actuation of the tightening means 40 in a 
predetermined sense, the plugs or pressure-transferring elements 28 are 
tightened to one another. 
The tightening means 40 may consist, for example, of an L-shaped member 44, 
which has a normally horizontally projecting arm connected with a free end 
thereof to the other major surface of the wedge 46, and is formed with a 
threaded opening 48. A normally vertically positioned minor arm abuts with 
a free end portion thereof the rim of the container 38, and a bolt 50, 
which is threaded along a middle portion thereof, is normally engaged in 
the threaded opening 48. An upper end of the bolt 50 is formed with a head 
51, and the other end of the bolt 50 is held in the container 38, so as to 
be freely rotatable therein. Consequently, when the bolt 50 is rotated in 
a predetermined sense, normally clockwise, the wedge 42 exerts a gradually 
increasing pressure on the other end male plug 28. 
Each male plug 28 is formed with lateral projections 52, preferably in the 
form of cylindrically formed projections, which are provided so as to 
enable die separation means, to be described hereinafter, and best seen in 
FIG. 11 and 12, to separate the upper die means 24, for example in the 
form of an asembly of males plugs 28, from the lower, or female die means 
26. In order to reduce friction, each projection 52 is surrounded by a 
rotatable collar 53, which is arranged to make contact with the die 
separation means. 
The pressure zone lies between a roller chain 110 of the top member or 
pressure unit 78, as seen in FIG. 2, and a base member 81 best seen in 
FIG. 2, on which there are disposed roller means, such as a roller 
conveyor 22. 
In a preferred form of the invention, and as best seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, 
the top member or pressure unit 78 is provided with holder means or 
distance-adjusting means for selectably adjusting and maintaining the 
distance between the top member 78 and a base member 81, as best seen in 
FIG. 2. A platform 84 above plate 83 is formed with four openings 86, 
through which pass four threaded screws 88, respectively, on which there 
are threaded nuts 64 welded to sprocket wheels 89, respectively, and 
linking means, for example a chain 90, operatively links the four sprocket 
wheels 89. As seen in FIG. 5, the non-threaded openings 86 formed in the 
platform 84 communicate with respective slots 85. Corresponding screws 87, 
bridging respective slots 85, can be tightened so as to permit the 
platform 84 to be merely clamped to the screws 88. A drive sprocket 92, 
driven by the motor 82, is also linked up with the chain 90 as shown, for 
example, in FIG. 7, so that the plate 83, the motor 82 mounted on an upper 
platen 91, and the nuts 64 located between the platform 83 and the upper 
platen 91, can be made to move up and down, depending on the sense of 
rotation of the motor 82. A frame 94, seen for example, in FIGS. 6 and 7, 
is secured to the upper platen 91, which, in turn, is provided with 
tension adjusting means, such as a tensioning mechanism, shown in greater 
detail in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. 
Two brackets 96 project outwardly from the frame 94 near one corner 
thereof. The brackets 96 are pivoted to the frame 94 about an axle 98 and 
carry on it pulleys 100. To each bracket 96 there is secured a connecting 
plate 102, which in turn, is formed with a threaded opening 104. A 
threaded bolt 106, which is freely rotatable in the connecting plate 102, 
passes through a threaded opening 104. Consequently the pulleys 100 can be 
moved further outwardly from the frame 94, or moved further inwardly by 
rotating the threaded bolt 106 counterclockwise, or clockwise, 
respectively. Freely rotatable rollers or pulleys 108 are mounted near the 
other two corners of the frame 94. Roller means, such as a combination of 
an endless roller cable 113 and chain 110 pass around the pulleys 100 on 
top and the rollers 108 at the bottom, and its tension is adjustable by 
the aforesaid tensioning mechanism. The frontmost lower roller 108 is at a 
lower elevation, as seen in FIG. 6, than the rearmost lower roller 108, 
thus causing the roller means in the form of the roller chain 110, and 
consequently the pressure zone to converge along the transport direction 
of the work. The tension of the roller chain 110 and of the cable 113, in 
turn, is adjustable by a turnbuckle 111, best seen in FIG. 6, which links 
the roller chain 110 to a cable 113, the chain 110 and the cable 113 
forming an endless loop. 
The pressure zone will now be seen defined as extending between the roller 
conveyor 110, (which is located on an upper level, and is inclined to the 
transport direction), and the roller conveyor 22, being located on the 
lower level. As the die assembly, including the upper die means 24, and 
the lower die means 26, is forcibly pulled forwardly by the piston 72, it 
comes in contact with the inclined plane, implemented by the roller chain 
110. The die assembly, and particularly the upper die means 24, extends 
along a substantially horizontal plane before entering the pressure zone. 
However, upon entering the pressure zone, the die assembly is forced to 
align itself with the inclined plane. This results in the familiar action 
and reaction phenomenon, namely the top member 78 causes each male plug 28 
to be gradually and successively pressed onto the work 10 in the form of a 
blank plate. This in turn causes the material to flow, so as to eventually 
assume the desired configuration. This is illustrated in FIG. 13, where 
the work 10, originally shaped as a blank shown in FIG. 16, will be seen 
to be shaped into a part 14, best seen in FIG. 17, as the work 10 will 
have been molded between the upper male plugs 28 and a stripping plate 112 
placed on an inner bottom of the container 36 of the lower die means, and 
wherein each male plug 28 has been provided with a flat operating surface. 
In FIGS. 14 and 15, however, there are illustrated alternate ways of 
shaping the part 10 seen to be a shaped part 15 in FIG. 14, and a shaped 
part 13 in FIG. 15, by making use of segmented male plugs 28. In the 
examples illustrated, each male plug 28 is provided, for example, with 
three prongs 29, which serve, for example, to form cavities in the work 
10, which is to be formed into a part, into separate open-ended chambers. 
In FIG. 14 the segmented male plugs 28 are disposed below the work 10, 
while male plugs 28, which have each a flat operating surface, are placed 
above the work 10. In FIG. 15 segmented male plugs 28 are used on the top 
side of the work 10 and a one piece female die portion 115 is used on the 
bottom side. Each projection 52 extending from a male plug 28, FIG. 11, is 
surrounded by a roller 53, freely rotatable thereon. This feature reduces 
friction when the upper male plugs are separated from the female or lower 
die by the die separation means discussed earlier. 
During the movement of the die assembly within the pressure zone, the 
rollers of the roller conveyors 22 and 110 rotate and thus greatly reduce 
any friction that would otherwise be created by a fixed inclined plane and 
the high pulling force developed by the driving force of the piston 
assembly, in the absence of any rollers. 
Following completion of the molding process, the die means holding the now 
shaped part 14 are made to enter a die release station D, seen, for 
example, on the right-hand side of FIGS. 1 and 2. The die release station 
D is provided with die separating means in the form of longitudinal wedges 
116 secured to rails 116', and interposed, on one hand, between the 
projections 52, extending on each side of a male plug 28, and on the other 
hand, the upper rim of the container 36 of the lower die means 26. The 
transport action of the piston 72 thus results in the male plugs 26 being 
lifted out of the lower die means, or female die 26, and providing free 
access to the shaped part 14. As the group of male plugs 28 emerge from 
the lower die means, or female die 26, the frontmost or lead male plug 26 
comes in contact with a limit switch 114, as can best be seen in FIG. 1, 
which in turn actuates the drive motor 82 of the top member 78, so as to 
drive the member 78, which has mounted thereon the roller or chain 110, 
upwardly, thus moving the top member 78 away from the base member 80. The 
upward travel of the top member 78 is eventually stopped by another limit 
switch 118, shown in FIG. 1. The piston rod 72 is now moved in a rearward 
direction past the top member 78, to the end of its travel. 
While the part is being formed, and also during the time period the formed 
part 14 is returned to the home position, the die oven 12 is made to 
travel away from the loading position and the parallel support or base 
member 80 is raised to support the lower conveyor roller 22, on which the 
female die 26 is travelling. Thus at the end of the leftward cylinder 
return stroke, the roller conveyor 22, which carries the female die 26, 
which, in turn, contains the shaped part 14, comes to rest on the parallel 
support plate, or base member 80. Thereafter the connecting pin 76 is 
withdrawn from the piston rod 74. 
In an early version of the present invention the platen 91, as shown in 
FIG. 18, has been fabricated with a plane or lower surface 120 positioned 
so as to be normally inclined to the horizontal, and bordering a normally 
lower horizontal surface 122, the two surfaces adjoining an edge 121. In a 
later version of the invention it has been found more advantageous to 
fabricate the platen 91a, as shown in FIG. 19, with a smoothly arcuate 
lower surface 123, which has a thickness at a downstream end thereof, as 
seen along the travel direction of the work, which exceeds its thickness 
at the upstream end thereof. In yet an alternate version of the invention, 
the platen 91b, as shown in FIG. 20, is fabricated with a smoothly arcuate 
lower surface having a flat portion 123a; the flat portion 123a has a 
thickness which exceeds the thickness of each end 120a. 
In an initial version of the invention, shown in FIG. 21, each 
pressure-transferring element 28 with its pressure-transfer surface 30 was 
fabricated with lateral projections 52, each lateral projection 52 being 
surrounded by a respective sleeve 53 freely rotatable therearound. It was 
realized that this cantilevered construction of the lateral projections 52 
subjected these projections 52 to an undue stress. An improved 
construction, as shown in FIG. 22, provides for each pressure-transferring 
element 28 support means for example in the shape of a downwardly pointing 
L-shaped overhang 124, each provided with an aperture 52a for receiving 
the respective end of the lateral projection 52. In this manner the 
stresses as a result of the increased forces P on the lateral projections 
53 are considerably reduced. the length of each pressure-transferring 
element can be changed to accomodate different respective sizes of the 
shaped part. 
In an initial version of the instant invention each pressure-transferring 
element 28, as shown in FIG. 23, was fabricated, for example, with prongs 
29 corresponding to the form into which it was desired to shape the work 
10. This necessitated using differnet respective pressure-transferring 
elements 28 for different respective shaped parts. A more economical 
embodiment is shown in FIG. 24, where an upper portion 126a of the 
pressure-transferring element 28 is formed with a slot 125 receiving a 
projection 125a formed on a lower portion 127 of the pressure-transferring 
element 28. The lower portion 127 is affixed to the upper portion 126a in 
a conventional manner, for example, by pins 128 passing through 
corresponding openings in the upper portion 126a and continuing to pass 
through other corresponding openings in the projection 125a of the lower 
part 127. 
It has also been shown in practice to be advantageous is each longitudinal 
rod 34, which has a freedom to rotate within a limited angle within a 
corresponding pressure-transferring element 28, for example a longitudinal 
rod 34a shown in FIGS. 25, 29 and 30, is provided with securement means 
for preventing the longitudinal rod from sliding off laterally from the 
corresponding pressure-transferring element 28, while still retaining the 
freedom to rotate therein. 
The securement means, in a first embodiment of the invention, may consist, 
for example, of an approximately semi-circular groove 136 formed on each 
side of the longitudinal rod 34a, with which respective top portions 133 
of clips 135 are engaged. The clips 135 are secured to the 
pressure-transferring element 28, for example, by fastening devices 134. A 
perspective view of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 25, while FIG. 29 
shows an end view of this embodiment with the rod 34a rotated away from a 
center position, and FIG. 30 shows an end view of this embodiment with the 
rod 34a actually located in a center position. 
In a second embodiment of the invention, the securement means may include, 
for example, a slot or cutout 141 formed approximately in the center of 
the longitudinal rod 34b, which narrows into another cutout 140 so as to 
form a shoulder 138, as shown in FIGS. 26 through 28. A bolt 139 of a 
diameter slightly smaller than the width of the slot 140 is threaded into 
the pressure-transferring element 28, so that the longitudinal rod 34b is 
prevented from executing any lateral movement along the 
pressure-transferring element, while at the same time retaining its 
freedom of rotation through a limited angle. FIG. 28 shows a perspective 
view of this second embodiment, while FIG. 27 shows an end view of this 
embodiment, with the longitudinal rod 34b in a center position; FIG. 28 is 
similar to FIG. 26, but shows the longitudinal rod 34b rotated by a small 
angle away from the center position. 
In FIG. 31 there is shown an end view of a variation of an arrangement 
showing the cooperation of two longitudinal rods 34, instead of a single 
longitudinal rod 34, with the pressure-transferring element 28. This 
arrangement will in particular find application where the width of the 
pressure-transferring element is relatively great. Other possible 
arrangements, differing slightly from the standard version, and again 
applicable where the width of the pressure-transferring elements 28 is 
relatively great, are shown in FIGS. 32 and 33. 
In FIGS. 34 and 35 there is shown an alternate embodiment of the 
restraining means, which tighten the pressure-transferring elements 28 to 
one another, FIG. 34 being a fragmentary top plan view, while FIG. 35 is 
an elevation view. The lower holder 26 contains the female portion of the 
die. The holder 26 is formed with a rear wall 39 and a front wall 41, 
which will be seen to receive the pressure-transferring elements 28. As 
seen in FIGS. 34 and 35, the left-most or most rearward pressure 
transferring element 28 abuts the rear-wall 39 of the container 36. The 
right-most or most forward pressure-transferring element 28 (but which is 
not shown in FIG. 34) normally abuts tightening means, for example in the 
form of a first wedge 144, which in turn abuts a second wedge 145. The 
wedge 145 abuts with its front-most surface the front wall 41 of the 
container 36. The wedge 145 is formed with an internal thread, which 
matingly engages with a threaded bolt 146 in such a manner that rotation 
of the bolt 146 in one sense, for example counter-clockwise, causes the 
wedge 14 to move in a direction transverse to the transport direction so 
as to exert pressure onto the wedge 144, and consequently tighten the 
pressure-transferring elements 28 to one another. Rotation of the bolt 146 
in a clockwise sense, for example, will again loosen the coherence of the 
pressure-transferring elements 28. Two nuts 147 or other locking means 
threaded onto the bolt 146 ensure that once set, the bolt 146 remains in 
its set position. Elements 170 are keys or locking members which will 
described in more detail later. 
FIG. 36 is a section of the lower die means 26 along the lines A--A of FIG. 
34. The work 10, which has already been shaped, is shown in dotted lines 
in FIG. 34. A wedge element 150 inserted into the container 36 serves to 
hold the female die 141 tightly in place within the holder 26. Other 
shaping elements 142 will be seen to be attached to element 141, 
bordering, in turn, an element 148 of a height exceeding that of elements 
141, so that the shaped part 10 can be formed with a cutout. Keys 170 are 
lodged in the two-part container 36, and will be described in more detail 
in what follows. 
In FIGS. 37-40, which are cross-sections of the die means, there are shown 
a progression of steps permitting the shaping of the work 10' around a 
mold form 154 by means of a resiliently flexible material 152, such as 
hard rubber, which, after the shaping operation is completed, reverts to 
its original form. The work 10' is shown in its initial state, for example 
the shape of a flat plate in FIG. 37, before it is passed through the 
pressure zone. As the lower die means 26, in the form of the container 36, 
begin to pass into the pressure zone, the rubbery material 152 will be 
seen to wrap itself around the work 10', being squeezed gradually into a 
desired shape, as will be seen in the progression of steps illustrated in 
FIGS. 38 and 39. The original empty space shrinking into a smaller volume, 
as illustrated in FIG. 155 as seen in FIG. 37, wo;; be seen to be 
gradually 38, and disappear completely, as shown in FIG. 39, when a 
maximum pressure is exerted onto the pressure-transferring elements 28. 
After the die means emerge from the pressure-zone, the rubbery material, 
as shown in FIG. 40, resumes its initial shape. This process, generally 
known as sheet-metal rubber forming, permits a very flexible shaping of 
the work by using only a variably shaped mold form 154, with no need to 
shape the rubbery material 152. 
FIG. 41 shows a perspective view of an example of a forged work 10 shaped 
into a part of a desired form, including cutouts of an arbitrarily 
selected shape. 
FIGS. 42 and 43 show perspective views of various build-up configurations 
of the container 36. Thus in FIG. 42 the container 36" is built up from a 
lower-most base element 159 formed with longitudinal slots 162 to slidably 
accept therein normally upstanding plates 158, formed, in turn, with 
downwardly extending projections 163 engaging the slots 162. A rear plate 
169 closes off the rear end of the container 36, while a front plate 157 
closes off the front end of the container 36. Each of the aforesaid plates 
is formed with lateral extensions 160 which fit into grooves 161 formed on 
the respective upstanding plates 158. A connecting member 156 serves to be 
connected to the (non-illustrated) piston 72. 
The alternative configuration of a container or dieholder 36' seen in FIG. 
43 shows a base plate element 167 formed with two longitudinal slots 174, 
and upstanding plates 166 on either longitudinal side of the base plate 
element 167 formed with respective longitudinal slots 173 aligned with the 
longitudinal slots 174 of the base plate element 167. Keys, or key 
elements 170 and 172 are used to assemble the container or dieholder 36' 
and resist pressure, so that the number of bolts can be minimized. A front 
plate element 165 closes off the front end of the container 36', while a 
rear plate element 168 closes off the rear end of the container 36'. Each 
of the aforesaid plate elements is formed with vertically extending slots 
176, which slidably accept keys, or key elements 170. 
FIG. 44 shows more clearly the interaction of the die separating means in 
the form of the longitudinal wedges 116 with the sleeves 53 rotatable 
around the projections 52, which project from the pressure-transferring 
elements 28, as the piston 72 pulls the die means forwardly. 
A exemplary part shaped by the aforedescribed process is shown in FIG. 45. 
The construction shown in FIGS. 46 and 47 solves a problem when 
flow-forging alloys require heating at elevated temperatures, such as 
titanium. At very elevated temperatures the longitudinal rods 34, if made 
of conventional metals, begin to soften, and lose their temper. Rather 
than fabricating the elements 34 from more expensive and exotic 
heat-resisting materials, this problem can be circumvented by arranging 
the elements 34 in such a manner so that they do not have to be heated in 
the work-loading and heating station B. 
This problem is solved by linking the longitudinal rods 34 to one another 
so as to form a chain, wrapping the resulting chain around a drum, and 
unrolling that chain so that the longitudinal rods 34 come in contact with 
the concave surfaces on the pressure-transferring elements 28 just before 
the die means are passed to the pressure zone, but downstream of the 
work-loading and heating station B. 
This concept is implemented by the longitudinal rods 34 being pivotally 
linked by link means, such as links 183 along a direction transverse, and 
in particular, perpendicular to the transport direction. The resulting 
chain 182 is then wrapped around a drum or roller 180 having a shaft 179 
journalled in a stationary frame. A clip 181 is fastened to the front-most 
link 183 so as to attach the chain 182 to a projection 52 or sleeve 53 of 
a frontwardly situated pressure-transferring element 28. Initially the 
chain 182 is fastened to the drum 180 by means of a link member 184 pinned 
to the drum 180 by means of a pin 186. As the last longitudinal rod 34 
leaves the drum 180, the connecting link 184 is released from the drum 180 
by depressing the pin 186. When the die assembly is returned to the 
work-loading and heating station B, the process is reversed by the chain 
182 being rewound onto the drum 180. 
I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact 
details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications 
will occur to a person skilled in the art.