Patent ID: 7493787

Claim:
An electro-hydraulic forming tool for forming a sheet metal blank, the tool comprising: a vessel defining a first cavity containing a first liquid and having at least two electrodes disposed in the first liquid, the vessel having an opening on an upper end; a forming die disposed above the opening in the vessel, the forming die having a cavity that is partially defined by a forming surface; a blank holder that holds the blank in engagement with the forming die; a membrane attached to the vessel and the blank holder, wherein a second cavity is defined by the blank, the blank holder, and the membrane; a second liquid supplied to the second cavity on top of the membrane and below the blank, the membrane separating the first liquid in the vessel from the second liquid that forms the blank; and a source of high voltage operatively connected to the two electrodes by a control circuit that selectively provides a high voltage discharge to the electrodes, wherein the high voltage discharge produces a shock wave in the first liquid that passes through the membrane and through the second liquid to form the blank against the forming surface in the cavity.