Claims
- 1. A mechanical press adapted for use in hydroforming a workpiece comprising:a frame including a base, a slide that is movable relative to said base, and a drive mechanism for moving said slide relative to said base; a sensing arrangement for generating a signal when said slide approaches a bottom dead center position relative to said base; first and second die sections having respective cavity portions formed therein that cooperate to define a die cavity adapted to receive a workpiece, said first die section being supported on said base, said second die section being secured to said slide for movement therewith; an inflatable bladder disposed between said first die section and said base or said second die section and said slide; and a source of pressurized fluid for supplying pressurized fluid within the workpiece and for supplying pressurized fluid within said inflatable bladder.
- 2. The press defined in claim 1 further including a bolster that is supported on said base and having said first die section secured thereto, said inflatable bladder being disposed between said base and said bolster.
- 3. The press defined in claim 2 further including a keeper for limiting movement of said bolster relative to said base when pressurized fluid is supplied to said inflatable bladder.
- 4. The press defined in claim 3 wherein said bolster and said keeper having cooperating engagement surfaces formed thereon for limiting movement of said bolster relative to said base when pressurized fluid is supplied to said inflatable bladder.
- 5. The press defined in claim 1 wherein said drive mechanism is responsive to said bottom dead center position signal for moving said slide to said bottom dead center position.
- 6. The press defined in claim 1 further including a locking mechanism for retaining said slide in said bottom dead center position when pressurized fluid is supplied to said inflatable bladder.
- 7. The press defined in claim 1 wherein said slide is linearly movable relative to said base, and wherein said drive mechanism includes a motor that is connected to selectively rotate a crankshaft and a pin that is connected between said crankshaft and said slide such that rotation of said crankshaft by said motor causes linear movement of said slide relative to said base.
- 8. The press defined in claim 1 further including a locking mechanism that is responsive to said signal for retaining said slide in said bottom dead center position.
- 9. The press defined in claim 1 wherein said source of pressurized fluid is responsive to said signal for supplying pressurized fluid within the workpiece and for supplying pressurized fluid within said inflatable bladder.
- 10. A mechanical press adapted for use in hydroforming a workpiece comprising:a frame including a base, a slide that is linearly movable relative to said base, and a drive mechanism for moving said slide relative to said base, said drive mechanism including a motor that is connected to selectively rotate a crankshaft and a pin that is connected between said crankshaft and said slide such that rotation of said crankshaft by said motor causes linear movement of said slide relative to said base; first and second die sections having respective cavity portions formed therein that cooperate to define a die cavity adapted to receive a workpiece, said first die section being supported on said base, said second die section being secured to said slide for movement therewith; an inflatable bladder disposed between said first die section and said base or said second die section and said slide; and a source of pressurized fluid for supplying pressurized fluid within the workpiece and for supplying pressurized fluid within said inflatable bladder.
- 11. The press defined in claim 10 further including a bolster that is supported on said base and having said first die section secured thereto, said inflatable bladder being disposed between said base and said bolster.
- 12. The press defined in claim 11 further including a keeper for limiting movement of said bolster relative to said base when pressurized fluid is supplied to said inflatable bladder.
- 13. The press defined in claim 12 wherein said bolster and said keeper having cooperating engagement surfaces formed thereon for limiting movement of said bolster relative to said base when pressurized fluid is supplied to said inflatable bladder.
- 14. The press defined in claim 10 further including a locking mechanism for retaining said slide in said bottom dead center position when pressurized fluid is supplied to said inflatable bladder.
- 15. The press defined in claim 10 further including a sensing arrangement for generating a signal when said slide approaches a bottom dead center position relative to said base.
- 16. The press defined in claim 15 wherein said drive mechanism is responsive to said bottom dead center position signal for moving said slide to said bottom dead center position.
- 17. The press defined in claim 15 further including a locking mechanism that is responsive to said signal for retaining said slide in said bottom dead center position.
- 18. The press defined in claim 15 wherein said source of pressurized fluid is responsive to said signal for supplying pressurized fluid within the workpiece and for supplying pressurized fluid within said inflatable bladder.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/151,787, filed Aug. 31, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/151787 |
Aug 1999 |
US |