Process of hydroforming an angled tubular part, hydroforming matrix assembly, to form an angled tubular part, and, vehicle part

摘要

"PROCESS OF HYDROFORMING AN ANGLED TUBULAR PART, HYDROFORMING MATRIX SET, TO FORM AN ANGLED TUBULAR PART, AND VEHICLE PART". A process of hydroforming an angled tubular part, comprising arranging an angled metallic blank within a generic matrix cavity and correspondingly augmented, the tubular blank having an outer surface, in which in an angled part of the tubular blank the outer surface has a concave surface part and a convex surface part on generally opposite sides of the tubular blank, seal the opposite ends of the tubular blank, supply high pressure fluid to an interior of the tubular blank, expand the blank in accordance with surfaces defining the matrix cavity as a result of said supply. Force is applied to at least one end of the tubular blank in order to create longitudinal flow of metallic material within the tubular blank to maintain a wall thickness of the blank within a predetermined range, where a greater amount of force is applied to a part of the tubular blank which is longitudinally aligned with the convex surface part of the tubular blank, compared to the amount of force applied to a part of the tubular blank which is longitudinally aligned with the concave surface part of the tubular blank in order to create a greater amount of flow of metallic material towards the parts of the tubular blank adjacent to the convex surface part, compared to the parts of the tubular blank adjacent to the concave surface part, in order to to inhibit the formation of folds in the blank parts adjacent to the concave surface part. a hydroforming matrix apparatus is described for practicing the process, as well as the angled tubular part that is made by the process and apparatus.