Patent ID: 8037730

Claim:
A stretch-forming apparatus for forming an elongate metal workpiece, comprising: a die having a working face having a predetermined cross-sectional profile adapted to receive and form the workpiece; a heat-insulating enclosure that includes first and second aligned and opposed workpiece openings in respective first and second spaced-apart sidewalls of the enclosure between which the die is positioned, the openings being structured so that the workpiece ends extend through the openings when the workpiece is positioned within the enclosure in forming proximity to the working face of the die; first and second opposed swing arms; first and second opposed jaws mounted on respective first and second opposed swing arms, each jaw being structured to grip a respective end of the workpiece; heating means for electric resistance heating the workpiece to a working temperature; and movement means for moving the working face of the die and the workpiece relative to each other so as to form the workpiece against the working face of the die into a preselected form.