Patent ID: 7454936

Claim:
Device for forming a flat blank ( 12 ) of metal into a thin-walled, shell-type body ( 14 ), comprising: a supporting structure ( 16 ) forming a mold chamber ( 18 ) that holds the blank ( 12 ) during formation into the thin-walled, shell-type body ( 14 ); a device ( 20 ) allocated to the structure ( 16 ) for clamping the blank ( 12 ) at its circumference ( 22 ) to the supporting structure ( 16 ), that seals the reverse face ( 24 ) of the blank ( 12 ) facing towards the mold chamber ( 18 ) against the front face ( 26 ) of the blank ( 12 ) facing away from the mold chamber ( 18 ); a device ( 28 ) allocated to the mold chamber ( 18 ) and communicating with the mold chamber ( 18 ) for applying a vacuum and evacuating the mold chamber ( 18 ); and at least one forming tool ( 50 ) applied to the front face ( 26 ) of the blank ( 12 ) allocated to the supporting structure ( 16 ).