Patent ID: 8141466

Claim:
A piercing device for forming an aperture in a hollow member, comprising: a punch having a cutting surface at one end to pierce the hollow member, a guide bore extending through the punch, and a pair of drive surfaces located at an opposite end of the punch and extending laterally from the punch; a support member including a guide post complementary in shape to the guide bore and two drive passages positioned on both sides of the guide post, the punch being slidably received on the guide post; a drive member operable to transfer a force between a ram and the punch, the drive member having a base and two arms forming a substantially U-shaped member, the two arms of the drive member abutting the two drive surfaces of the punch and extending through the support member via the two drive passages; a backing plate located between the drive member and the ram; and a mounting member abutting the support member and receiving the base of the drive member and the backing plate.