1. Technical Field
This application relates to electro-hydraulic forming processes and machines that are used to progressively form metal panels.
2. Background Art
Electro-hydraulic forming (EHF) is performed by providing a high voltage discharge in a liquid filled chamber that is directed toward a work piece such as a blank or a pre-formed panel. The work piece is formed into a one-sided die by the high voltage discharge.
One type of machine for EHF utilizes two electrodes that are connected to a bank of capacitors and assembled through the walls of a chamber that contains the liquid. This process may be referred to the gap discharge process. Some of the problems associated with a gap discharge process are that the electrodes erode, and the insulation may crack after several discharges. The electrodes require periodic maintenance and adjustment to compensate for electrode erosion and cracks in the insulation. As the quantity of energy discharged through the chamber increases, erosion of the electrodes and fracture of the insulation become more pronounced.
Another type of machine for EHF utilizes a thin wire that is placed in a liquid chamber and is connected between two electrodes. This process may be referred to as a wire discharge process. Some of the problems associated with the wire discharge process are that the wire must be replaced after each discharge, and the wire may weld to one of the electrodes or wire holders. The position of the wire is established relative to the initial position of the work piece.
The spacing between the electrodes and the work piece is either fixed or may increase if sequential discharges are used in a forming process. If sequential or multiple discharges are required to form a work piece, the distance between the wires and the work piece increases with each sequential discharge. As the distance increases, the power of the discharge decreases.
The volume of fluid in the chamber also increases due to the need to refill the chamber after each discharge. As the volume of fluid increases, the power of the discharge also decreases.
Applicant's disclosure addresses the above problems associated with electro-hydraulic forming as summarized below.
A system for electro-hydraulically forming a sheet metal part in an electro-hydraulic forming (EHF) machine in which at least one electrode is advanced toward the part to be formed between sequential discharges. A partially formed part having a first shape is formed to a second shape by a first discharge. The electrode or a second electrode is advanced with a liquid filled chamber toward the part and then a second or subsequent discharge forms the part into a third, or final, shape. The volume of liquid required to fill the chamber is reduced by advancing the electrode assembly into the chamber.
A gap discharge electro-hydraulic forming (EHF) machine for forming a part comprises a chamber defining an opening, a fluid contained in the chamber and a one-sided forming die that is assembled to the chamber with the part disposed between the chamber and the die. An electrode assembly includes a body that is received in the opening, a first electrode that is assembled to the body and a second electrode that is assembled to the body and is spaced from the first electrode. A gap is defined between the two electrodes. A circuit is connected to the first and second electrodes that creates a potential voltage difference between the electrodes that may be selectively discharged across the gap. The spacing between the electrode assembly and the part may be changed by moving the body relative to the chamber to vary the intensity of the force applied to the part when the circuit is discharged across the gap. In addition, a reduced volume of liquid is required to fill the chamber by advancing the electrode assembly inside the chamber.
A wire electrode electro-hydraulic forming (EHF) machine comprises a chamber defining an opening, a fluid contained in the chamber, and a one-sided forming die that is assembled to the chamber with the part disposed between the chamber and the die. An electrode assembly includes a first holder and a second holder and a wire electrode electrically connected to the first and second holders. A first lifter and a second lifter are operatively connected to the first and second holders, respectively. The lifters raise and lower the wire electrode within the chamber and relative to the part to change the distance between the wire electrode and the part. The intensity of force applied to the part by an electro-hydraulic discharge of the wire electrode is controlled by changing the distance between the wire electrode and the part and the volume of fluid contained in the chamber.
These and other aspects of the applicant's disclosure will be better understood by one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the attached drawings and detailed description of the disclosed embodiments.
Referring to
The blank is loaded into a tool for one of the forming operations at 10. The blank is then pre-formed to a general shape at 12 in the respective forming operation. An electro-hydraulic forming chamber is prepared for the next step by inserting the electro-hydraulic forming electrode into a chamber at 14. The pre-formed blank formed at 12 is then loaded into the electro-hydraulic forming tool for final forming at 16. An alternative embodiment illustrated in
The chamber is then filled with liquid, such as water, including a rust preventative, at 20. The electrode is then advanced toward an area that is to be formed with greater detail at 22. The electro-hydraulic forming tool electrode is discharged at 24. The process may be repeated in a re-strike operation returning at loop 26. If the electro-hydraulic forming electrode is of the wire electrode type, the process returns to 14 with insertion of a new wire electrode into the chamber. The process is then repeated until the part is formed to the required degree of detail. Alternatively, if the electro-hydraulic forming electrode is a gap electrode, the re-strike loop returns to 20 wherein the chamber is filled again with liquid to fill the space created below the blank by the electro-hydraulic forming charge. The gap electrode is advanced at 22 and the electrode is discharged again at 24 until the part is completely formed. The liquid is then drained from the chamber at 28 and the chamber is opened at 30 to unload the part.
Referring to
A fluid 48 is supplied to the EHF chamber 50 through a fluid channel 52 from a fluid supply source 54. A space 56 is created between the blank and the die cavity 38.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
A gap 82 is defined between the charge carrying electrode 42 and the grounded electrode 46. When the capacitor circuit 44 is discharged, a high voltage discharge occurs across the gap 82. The size of the gap may be adjusted by a nut 84 and spacers 86 that retain the charge carrying electrode 42 in position in the electrode body 72 and thereby maintain the proper gap between the charge carrying electrode 42 and the grounded electrode 46. An anti-rotation slot 88 may be provided in the charge carrying electrode 42 that prevents the electrode from rotating as a result of the force of the discharge. Another anti-rotation slot 89 may be provided on the grounded electrode 46 to prevent the grounded electrode 46 from rotating as a result of the discharge. The electrode assembly 40 may be advanced by a mechanical or hydraulic mechanism, such as a hydraulic cylinder, (not shown) that is capable of advancing and retracting the electrode assembly 40 relative to the EHF chamber 50.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.
The invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-FG36-08GO1828. The Government has certain rights to the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3267710 | Inoue | Aug 1966 | A |
3572072 | Hundley et al. | Mar 1971 | A |
3593551 | Roth et al. | Jul 1971 | A |
3640110 | Inoue | Feb 1972 | A |
3668365 | Norin et al. | Jun 1972 | A |
4292491 | Tanaka et al. | Sep 1981 | A |
6227023 | Daehn et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
7516634 | Golovashchenko et al. | Apr 2009 | B1 |
7802457 | Golovashchenko et al. | Sep 2010 | B2 |
Entry |
---|
Paderborn University, Paderborn, Germany, Investigation of the Electrohydraulic Forming Process with respect to the Design of Sharp Edged Contours, W. Homberg, C. Beerwald, A. Probsting, 2010. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20120103045 A1 | May 2012 | US |