Forming method and die assembly using a bead with a step

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017304886-A1
Application number	US-201615135661-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 22, 2016
Priority date	Apr 22, 2016
Publication date	Oct 26, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An exemplary die assembly includes, among other things, a first die having a male bead, a second die having a female bead configured to receive the male bead to hold a workpiece between the first die and the second die, and a step in the male bead, the female bead, or both. An exemplary forming method includes, among other things, holding a workpiece between a male bead of a first die and a female bead of a second die, wherein the male bead, the female bead, or both have at least one step.

First claim

1 . A die assembly, comprising:
a first die having a male bead with first and second sides that each extend from a primary workpiece holding surface of the first die to a leading surface of the male bead; a second die having a female bead configured to receive the male bead to hold a workpiece between the first die and the second die; and a step in the first side, the second side, or both, wherein at least one of the first die or the second die includes a cavity corresponding to a desired shape of the workpiece, and the male and female bead are spaced from the cavity.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The die assembly of claim 1 , wherein the step is spaced from the primary workpiece holding surface and the leading surface of the male bead.

4 . The die assembly of claim 3 , wherein the step includes a step surface generally aligned with the primary workpiece holding surface and the leading surface.

5 . The die assembly of claim 1 , wherein the leading surface is planar.

6 . The die assembly of claim 1 , comprising a first side and a second side of the female bead, the first and second sides of the female bead each extending from a primary workpiece holding surface of the second die to a floor of the female bead, and further comprising another step provided in the first side of the female bead, the second side of the female bead, or both.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The die assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first side of the male bead includes the step, and a first side of the female bead include another step, wherein the second side of the male bead opposes the first side of the male bead and lacks any step, wherein a second side of the female bead opposes the first side of the female bead and lacks any step.

9 . The die assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sides of the male bead are opposing sides of the male bead and each include a step, wherein opposing sides of the female bead each include a step.

10 . (canceled)

11 . The die assembly of claim 1 , wherein the male bead and the female bead are portions of a lock bead.

12 . A forming method, comprising:
providing a male bead of a first die and a female bead of a second die, the male bead including first and second sides that each extend from a primary workpiece holding surface of the first die to a leading surface of the male bead, the first and second sides each having at least one step; holding extra material of a workpiece between the male and female beads; and forming a desired shape in the workpiece during the holding, the desired shape and the extra material corresponding to separate and distinct areas of the workpiece.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the workpiece comprises aluminum.

14 . The method of claim 12 , comprising lubricating the workpiece with a hot melt lubrication.

15 . (canceled)

16 . (canceled)

17 . The method of claim 12 , comprising holding the workpiece using a first side and a second side of the female bead, the first and second sides of the female bead each extending from a primary workpiece holding surface of the second die to a bottommost floor of the female bead, the first and second sides of the female bead having at least one step.

18 . The method of claim 12 , comprising preventing movement of a portion of the workpiece held between the male bead and the female bead during the forming such that the male bead and female bead provide a lock bead.

19 . The method of claim 12 , comprising permitting some movement of a portion of the workpiece held between the male bead and the female bead during the forming such that the male bead and female bead provide a draw bead.

20 . (canceled)

21 . A forming method, comprising:
moving a first and a second die relative to each other to hold extra material of a workpiece between a male bead of the a-first die and a female bead of the second die; forming a desired shape in an area of the workpiece that does not include the extra material; and restricting movement of the workpiece using at least one step in a side of the male bead, the side extending from a primary workpiece holding surface of the first die to a leading surface of the male bead.

22 . The forming method of claim 21 , wherein the restricting comprises permitting some movement of the workpiece such that the male and female beads together provide a draw bead.

23 . The forming method of claim 21 , wherein the restricting comprises preventing movement of the workpiece such that the male and female beads together provide a lock bead.

24 . The forming method of claim 21 , wherein the side is a first side, and the forming method further comprises restricting movement of the workpiece using at least one step in an opposite, second side of the male bead.

25 .- 26 . (canceled)

27 . The forming method of claim 12 , further comprising separating the desired shape from the extra material to provide a formed part.

28 . The forming method of claim 21 , further comprising separating the extra material from the desired shape to provide a formed part.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Huang Liang
• Liasi Evangelos

Classifications

• B21D22/22

  with devices for holding the edge of the blanks (B21D22/24 - B21D22/30 take precedence; shaping over a die without external former B21D11/02) · CPC title

• B21D24/04 Primary

  Blank holders; Mounting means therefor · CPC title

• B21D37/18

  Lubricating {, e.g. lubricating tool and workpiece simultaneously (lubricating workpieces for deep-drawing B21D22/201)} · CPC title

• B21D37/10 Primary

  Die sets; Pillar guides · CPC title