EP 1220725 A1 20020710 - METHOD FOR HYDROFORMING AN ALUMINUM TUBULAR BLANK
Title (en)
METHOD FOR HYDROFORMING AN ALUMINUM TUBULAR BLANK
Title (de)
VERFAHREN ZUM INNENHOCHDRUCKUMFORMEN EINES ALUMINIUMROHRES
Title (fr)
PROCEDE D'HYDROFORMAGE D'UNE EBAUCHE TUBULAIRE D'ALUMINIUM
Publication
Application
Priority
- CA 0001181 W 20001010
- US 15957099 P 19991015
Abstract (en)
[origin: WO0128708A1] A method of hydroforming a tubular aluminum alloy blank (T) into a desired configuration, including providing a tubular blank having opposing longitudinal end portions; rapidly heating the blank to an elevated temperature for a brief period of time, the values of the elevated temperature and the brief period of time being selected such that, after the rapid heating, the blank has a reduced hardness below an initial hardness without otherwise significantly changing the microstructure of the blank; quencing the blank while the blank is at or near the elevated temperature; disposing the quenched blank in a die cavity of a hydroforming die (102, 104), the hydroforming die having interior surfaces (106, 108) that provide the die cavity with a shape corresponding to the desired configuration of the tubular blank; sealing the opposing longitudinal end portions of the tubular blank; supplying pressurized fluid to the hollow interior of the tubular blank and relatively forcing the opposing end portions of the tubular blank inwardly toward one another such that the pressurized fluid diametrically expands the temporarily softened portions of the tubular blank such that the temporarily softened aluminum alloy of the blank is caused to flow longitudinally along the blank.
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
B21D 26/041 (2011.01); B21D 26/043 (2011.01); B21D 26/053 (2011.01); C22F 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP)
B21D 26/041 (2013.01); B21D 26/043 (2013.01); B21D 26/053 (2013.01); C22F 1/04 (2013.01)
Citation (search report)
See references of WO 0128708A1
Designated contracting state (EPC)
DE FR GB
DOCDB simple family (publication)
WO 0128708 A1 20010426; AR 026043 A1 20021226; AU 7637400 A 20010430; CA 2388263 A1 20010426; EP 1220725 A1 20020710
DOCDB simple family (application)
CA 0001181 W 20001010; AR P000105402 A 20001013; AU 7637400 A 20001010; CA 2388263 A 20001010; EP 00965703 A 20001010