Patent ID: 7395597

Claim:
An opposed current flow magnetic pulse forming and joining system in electrical communication with a magnetic pulse power supply having a positive connection and a negative connection for forming or joining a workpiece or workpieces in which a portion of the system may be separated from the remainder of the system to facilitate ingress and egress of the workpiece or workpieces, comprising: a first section having a first section working face with a first workpiece recess section, a positive first section connector, and a negative first section connector; a second section having a second section working face with a second workpiece recess section, a positive second section connector, and a negative second section connector; an insulator in contact with a portion of the first section working face and the second section working face, the insulator blocking current flow between the first section and the second section and being releasable so that the first section, the insulator, and the second section may be moved independently and separated from one another to allow ingress of the workpiece or workpieces into the area bounded by the first workpiece recess section and the second workpiece recess section; a first pair of conductors having a first distal end and a first proximal end and having a first conductor A in close proximity to a first conductor B, the first distal end in electrical communication with the magnetic pulse power supply and the first proximal end in electrical communication with the first section and the second section; a second pair of conductors having a second distal end and a second proximal end and having a second conductor A in close proximity to a second conductor B, the second distal end in electrical communication with the magnetic pulse power supply and the second proximal end in electrical communication with the first section and the second section; and wherein when the system is in a operational position with the first section working face substantially parallel with the second section working face and a portion of each working face is in contact with the insulator, the first pair of conductors and the second pair of conductors are configured to complete a first electrical circuit between the first section and the magnetic pulse power supply and a second electrical circuit between the second section and the magnetic pulse power supply such that current flowing at the first section working face is in a direction opposite the current flowing at the second section working face, and the current flowing in the first conductor A is in a direction opposite the current flowing in the first conductor B and the current flowing in the second conductor A is in a direction opposite the current flowing in the second conductor B to minimize the inductance in the conductors and generate an electromagnetic force from the first and second workpiece recess sections that may be used in magnetic pulse forming and joining.