The contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-034941, and of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2021/000861, on the basis of each of which priority benefits are claimed in an accompanying application data sheet, are in their entirety incorporated herein by reference.
Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a forming device and a forming method.
In the related art, forming devices used for forming a heated metal material have been known. For example, the following related art discloses a forming device including a forming die having a lower die and an upper die paired with each other, a gas supply portion that supplies gas into a metal pipe material held between the lower die and the upper die of the forming die, and a heating unit that heats the metal pipe material by energization and heating.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a forming device that forms a heated metal material with a forming die, in which the forming die includes an angular portion formed by a first forming surface and a second forming surface that intersect each other in a cross-sectional view, the second forming surface is movable relative to the first forming surface, and during the forming, the second forming surface moves in a pressing direction in which the metal material is pressed in a stage before the angular portion and the metal material come into contact with each other.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a forming method of forming a heated metal material with a forming die, in which the forming die includes an angular portion formed by a first forming surface and a second forming surface that intersect each other in a cross-sectional view, and the second forming surface is movable relative to the first forming surface. The method includes moving the second forming surface, during the forming, in a pressing direction in which the metal material is pressed in a stage before the angular portion and the metal material come into contact with each other.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a forming device that forms a heated metal material with a forming die, in which the forming die includes an angular portion formed by a first forming surface and a second forming surface that intersect each other in a cross-sectional view, the second forming surface is movable relative to the first forming surface, and during the forming, the second forming surface is moved in a pressing direction in which the metal material is pressed, thereby forming a corner portion on the metal material, in a stage before hardening is performed by the angular portion at a spot corresponding to the corner portion of the metal material.
There is a case where the forming die of the forming device as in the above-described related art has an angular portion in order to form a corner portion of a formed product. Such angular portion is formed by forming surfaces that are perpendicular to each other. The metal material is formed into a shape corresponding to the angular portion by contacting each of the forming surfaces perpendicular to each other. However, since the size of the round diameter (corner R) of the corner portion of the formed product is substantially uniquely determined by the characteristics of the material and the forming conditions, it was difficult to reduce the diameter of the round diameter.
It is desirable to provide a forming device and a forming method capable of reducing the round diameter of a corner portion of a formed product.
The forming die of such a forming device has the angular portion formed by the first forming surface and the second forming surface that intersect each other in the cross-sectional view. Therefore, during the forming, the metal material is deformed along the angular portion of the forming die to have a shape having the corner portion. Here, the second forming surface is movable relative to the first forming surface. That is, the second forming surface, which is one surface forming the angular portion, is movable in the pressing direction in which the metal material is pressed. During the forming, the second forming surface moves in the pressing direction in which the metal material is pressed in the stage before the angular portion and the metal material come into contact with each other. In the stage before the angular portion and the metal material come into contact with each other, the hardening is not completed at the spot corresponding to the corner portion, and the spot is in a state of being easily deformed. Therefore, the second forming surface can deeply bite into the spot corresponding to the corner portion of the metal material before the hardening. Accordingly, the size of the round diameter (corner R) of the corner portion of the formed product can be made smaller than the size determined by the characteristics of the material and the forming conditions. From the above, the round diameter of the corner portion of the formed product can be reduced.
The forming die may include a first die which includes the first forming surface and is restricted in movement during the forming, and a second die which includes the second forming surface and is movable relative to the first die. In this case, during the forming, the second die is movable in the pressing direction with respect to the first die which is restricted in movement. Accordingly, the second forming surface can move in the pressing direction with respect to the first forming surface and bite into the corner portion of the metal material.
The forming die may include a pair of the second dies on both sides across the metal material. In this case, the forming die can reduce the round diameter of the corner portions on both sides of the metal material.
The forming die may include a first main die and a second main die that include the first forming surface and face each other, a first double-acting die that includes the second forming surface and is movable relative to the first main die, and a second double-acting die that includes the second forming surface and is movable relative to the second main die. In this case, it is possible to reduce the round diameter of the corner portion of the metal material while forming the flange portion on the metal material by the first main die and the second main die.
According to this forming method, it is possible to obtain the operation and effects having the same meaning as that of the above-described forming device.
During the forming, the second forming surface moves in the pressing direction in which the metal material is pressed in the stage before the hardening is performed at the spot corresponding to the corner portion of the metal material. In the stage before the hardening, the spot corresponding to the corner portion of the metal material is in a state of being easily deformed. Therefore, the second forming surface can deeply bite into the spot corresponding to the corner portion of the metal material before the hardening. Accordingly, the size of the round diameter (corner R) of the corner portion of the formed product can be made smaller than the size determined by the characteristics of the material and the forming conditions. From the above, the round diameter of the corner portion of the formed product can be reduced.
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, in the respective drawings, the same portions or corresponding portions are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.
The forming die 2 is a die that forms the metal pipe material 40 into a metal pipe, and includes a lower die 11 (first die) and an upper die 12 (second die) that face each other in the vertical direction. The lower die 11 and the upper die 12 are made of steel blocks. The lower die 11 is fixed to a base stage 13 via a die holder or the like. The upper die 12 is fixed to a slide of the drive mechanism 3 via a die holder or the like.
The drive mechanism 3 is a mechanism that moves at least one of the lower die 11 and the upper die 12. In
The holding unit 4 is a mechanism that holds the metal pipe material 40 disposed between the lower die 11 and the upper die 12. The holding unit 4 includes a lower electrode 26 and an upper electrode 27 that hold the metal pipe material 40 on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the forming die 2, and a lower electrode 26 and an upper electrode 27 that holds the metal pipe material 40 on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the forming die 2. The lower electrodes 26 and the upper electrodes 27 on both sides in the longitudinal direction hold the metal pipe material 40 by sandwiching the vicinity of an end portion of the metal pipe material 40 from the vertical direction. In addition, groove portions having a shape corresponding to an outer peripheral surface of the metal pipe material 40 are formed on an upper surface of the lower electrode 26 and a lower surface of the upper electrode 27. The lower electrode 26 and the upper electrode 27 are provided with drive mechanisms (not shown) and are movable independently in the vertical direction.
The heating unit 5 heats the metal pipe material 40. The heating unit 5 is a mechanism that heats the metal pipe material 40 by energizing the metal pipe material 40. The heating unit 5 heats the metal pipe material 40 in a state where the metal pipe material 40 is spaced apart from the lower die 11 and the upper die 12 between the lower die 11 and the upper die 12. The heating unit 5 includes the lower electrodes 26 and the upper electrodes 27 on both sides in the longitudinal direction described above, and a power supply 28 that allows an electric current to flow to the metal pipe material through the electrodes 26 and 27. In addition, the heating unit may be disposed in the previous process of the forming device 1 and performs heating externally.
The fluid supply unit 6 is a mechanism that supplies a high-pressure fluid into the metal pipe material 40 held between the lower die 11 and the upper die 12. The fluid supply unit 6 supplies the high-pressure fluid to the metal pipe material 40 that has been brought into a high-temperature state by being heated by the heating unit 5, and expands the metal pipe material 40. The fluid supply unit 6 is provided on both end sides of the forming die 2 in the longitudinal direction. The fluid supply unit 6 includes a nozzle 31 that supplies fluid from an opening of an end portion of the metal pipe material 40 to the inside of the metal pipe material 40, and a drive mechanism 32 that moves the nozzle 31 forward and backward with respect to the opening of the metal pipe material 40, and a supply source 33 that supplies the high-pressure fluid into the metal pipe material 40 via the nozzle 31. In the drive mechanism 32, the nozzle 31 is brought into close contact with the end portion of the metal pipe material 40 in a state where the sealing performance is secured during fluid supply and exhaust (refer to
Returning to
The control unit 8 is a device that controls the entire forming device 1. The control unit 8 controls the drive mechanism 3, the holding unit 4, the heating unit 5, the fluid supply unit 6, and the cooling unit 7. The control unit 8 repeatedly performs an operation of forming the metal pipe material 40 with the forming die 2.
Specifically, the control unit 8 controls, for example, the transport timing from a transport device such as a robot arm to dispose the metal pipe material 40 between the lower die 11 and the upper die 12 in an open state. Alternatively, the control unit 8 may wait for a worker to manually dispose the metal pipe material 40 between the lower die 11 and the upper die 12. Additionally, the control unit 8 supports the metal pipe material 40 with the lower electrodes 26 on both sides in the longitudinal direction, and then controls the actuator of the holding unit 4 so as to lower the upper electrode 27 to sandwich the metal pipe material 40. Additionally, the control unit 8 controls the heating unit 5 to energize and heat the metal pipe material 40. Accordingly, an axial electric current flows through the metal pipe material 40, and the electric resistance of the metal pipe material 40 itself causes the metal pipe material 40 itself to generate heat due to Joule heat.
The control unit 8 controls the drive mechanism 3 to lower the upper die 12 and bring the upper die 12 closer to the lower die 11 to close the forming die 2. On the other hand, the control unit 8 controls the fluid supply unit 6 to seal the openings of both ends of the metal pipe material 40 with the nozzle 31 and supply the fluid. Accordingly, the metal pipe material 40 softened by heating expands and comes into contact with the forming surface of the forming die 2. Then, the metal pipe material 40 is formed so as to follow the shape of the forming surface of the forming die 2. When the metal pipe material 40 comes into contact with the forming surface, hardening of the metal pipe material 40 is performed by being quenched with the forming die 2 cooled by the cooling unit 7.
A detailed configuration of the forming die 2 of the forming device 1 and a forming procedure will be described with reference to
The die 11 is a die which is restricted in movement during the forming. The die 11 is not connected to the drive mechanism 3 or the like and is fixed to the base stage 13. Therefore, the die 11 is in a state where the movement is restricted so as not to move. The die 11 has a recessed shape in the cross-sectional view. Therefore, the die 11 has the lateral forming surfaces 51 constituted by a pair of side surfaces on an internal space side and the lower forming surface 52 constituted by a bottom surface on the internal space side.
The die 12 is a die that is relatively movable with respect to the die 11. As described above, the die 12 is movable in the vertical direction by the driving force of the drive mechanism 3. The die 12 has the upper forming surface 53 constituted by a lower surface on the internal space side. By virtue of such a configuration, the upper forming surface 53 is relatively movable with respect to the lateral forming surface 51.
The die 12 is provided between the pair of lateral forming surfaces 51 of the die 11. Each lateral forming surface 51 extends further upward even in a spot not used for the forming. The die 12 is movable in the vertical direction so as to be guided by the spot. The side surfaces on both sides of the die 12 are disposed so as to be substantially in contact with the pair of lateral forming surfaces 51 of the die 11, and move in the vertical direction along the lateral forming surfaces 51. Additionally, the upper forming surface 53 of the die 12 spreads over the entire region in the lateral direction between the pair of lateral forming surfaces 51.
During the forming, the upper forming surface 53 moves in a pressing direction (here, downward) for pressing the metal pipe material 40 in the stage before the angular portion 56 and the metal pipe material 40 come into contact with each other. The upper forming surface 53 moves downward so as to compress the metal pipe material 40 when the high-pressure fluid is supplied from the fluid supply unit 6 to the heated metal material and the blow forming is performed. In addition, the stage before the angular portion 56 and the metal pipe material 40 come into contact with each other is a stage before the spot of the metal pipe material 40 corresponding to the corner portion 43 comes into contact with the angular portion 56. In this stage, since the spot corresponding to the corner portion 43 is not in contact with the forming die 2 (for example, refer to
From the above-described relationship, the upper forming surface 53 moves as follows during the forming. That is, in the stage before the hardening is performed on the spot corresponding to the corner portion 43 of the metal pipe material 40, the upper forming surface 53 moves in the pressing direction in which the metal pipe material 40 is pressed, thereby forming the corner portion 43 in the metal pipe material 40. In addition, when the corner portion 43 is formed on the metal pipe material 40, the corner portion 43 is in a state of having coming into contact with the forming die. Therefore, the hardening is performed on the corner portion 43.
As shown in
Next, the operation and effects of the forming device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.
The forming die 2 of the forming device 1 has the angular portion 56 formed by the lateral forming surface 51 and the upper forming surface 53 that intersect each other in the cross-sectional view. Therefore, during the forming, the metal pipe material 40 is deformed along the angular portion 56 of the forming die 2 to have a shape having the corner portion 43.
Here, a forming die of a forming device according to a comparative example will be described with reference to
In contrast, in the forming die 2 of the forming device 1 according to the present embodiment, the upper forming surface 53 is relatively movable with respect to the lateral forming surface 51. That is, the upper forming surface 53, which is one surface forming the angular portion 56, is movable in the pressing direction in which the metal pipe material 40 is pressed. As shown in
The forming die 2 has the die 11 which has the lateral forming surface 51 and is restricted in movement during the forming, and the die 12 which has the upper forming surface 53 and is relatively movable with respect to the die 11. In this case, during the forming, the die 12 is movable in the pressing direction with respect to the die 11 which is restricted in movement. Accordingly, the upper forming surface 53 can move in the pressing direction with respect to the lateral forming surface 51 and bite into the corner portion 43 of the metal pipe material 40.
The forming method is a forming method in which a heated metal pipe material 40 by a forming die 2, the forming die 2 has an angular portion 56 formed by an upper forming surface 53 and a lateral forming surface 51 that intersect each other in a cross-sectional view, the upper forming surface 53 is relatively movable with respect to the lateral forming surface 51, the upper forming surface 53 is moved in a pressing direction in which the metal pipe material 40 is pressed in a stage before the angular portion 56 and the metal pipe material 40 come into contact with each other during the forming.
According to this forming method, it is possible to obtain the operation and effects having the same meaning as that of the above-described forming device 1.
Additionally, during the forming, the corner portion 43 is formed in the metal pipe material 40 by moving the upper forming surface 53 in a pressing direction in which the metal pipe material 40 is pressed in a stage before the hardening is performed at a spot corresponding to the corner portion 43 of the metal pipe material 40. In the stage before the hardening, the spot corresponding to the corner portion 43 of the metal pipe material 40 is in a state of being easily deformed. Therefore, the upper forming surface 53 can deeply bite into the spot corresponding to the corner portion 43 of the metal pipe material 40 before the hardening. Accordingly, the size of the round diameter (corner R) of the corner portion 43 of the metal pipe 41 can be made smaller than the size determined by the characteristics of the material and the forming conditions. From the above, the round diameter of the corner portion 43 of the metal pipe 41 can be reduced.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.
In the above-described embodiment, the upper forming surface 53 of the upper angular portion 56 is configured to be movable with respect to the lateral forming surface 51, whereas the lower forming surface 52 of the lower angular portion 54 is configured integrally with the lateral forming surface 51. Instead of this, as shown in
In the above-described embodiment and the modification example shown in
The main dies 11A and 12A function as flange forming surfaces 57 for forming a flange portion 44 with surfaces facing each other in the vertical direction. Therefore, a space between the flange forming surfaces 57 of the main dies 11A and 12A becomes a sub-cavity SC.
For example, as shown in
The shape of the formed product is not limited to that according to the above-described embodiment, and the present invention can be applied as long as the formed product has the corner portion. Additionally, in the above-described embodiment, the angular portions are constituted by the forming surfaces (angular portions having 90° forming surfaces) perpendicular to each other, but the angle of the angular portions is not particularly limited and can be changed appropriately.
In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the die adopted in the forming device for STAF has been described as an example. However, the type of the forming device in which the die according to the present invention is adopted is not particularly limited, and may be forming devices for hot stamping, other forming devices, or the like.
It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be modified into various forms on the basis of the spirit of the invention. Additionally, the modifications are included in the scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2020-034941 | Mar 2020 | JP | national |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2021/000861 | Jan 2021 | US |
Child | 17832279 | US |