Patent ID: 6889535

Claim:
Tool assembly ( 1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 401 ) comprising: a forming tool ( 2 ; 102 ; 202 A-C; 302 ) having at least one pair of upper and lower tool sections ( 3 , 4 ; 103 , 104 ; 303 , 304 ) being relatively moveable between an open loading and unloading position and a closed forming position in which the tool sections ( 3 , 4 ; 103 , 104 ; 303 , 304 ) form a die cavity (C): at least one pair of generally C-shaped tool clamps ( 31 A, 31 B; 31 A′, 31 B′; 231 A, 231 B; 431 A, 431 B; 531 A), said clamps engaging the tool from opposite sides ( 24 , 26 ; 25 ; 27 ) thereof and having inner, inclined tool contact surfaces ( 32 , 33 ) for engaging outer, inclined clamp contact surfaces ( 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ; 321 , 323 ) on the tool sections ( 3 , 4 ; 303 , 304 ); and at least two closing force actuators ( 40 ; 40 ′; 240 A, 240 B, 440 ) provided for each pair of tool clamps ( 31 A, 31 B; 31 A′, 31 B′; 431 A, 431 B; 531 A), said actuators connected to the tool clamps for applying a closing force (CF) to the tool ( 2 ; 102 ; 202 A-C; 302 ) during a forming process, whereby said closing force is applied to the tool through said tool contact surfaces and clamp contact surfaces.