DE19854114A1 - Internal high pressure forming tool used for cross struts of motor vehicles has upper and lower parts divided into replaceable segments in longitudinal work piece direction for more flexible use - Google Patents

Abstract

The tool consists of an upper and a lower part (1), each with a die sinking (2) to contain a work piece. Both parts are divided into segments (4) in longitudinal direction of the workpiece. Segments can be removed individually and replaced by others. The tool has units located on a segment, to permit the fastening of components to the workpiece. The workpiece may be an instrument carrier of a motor vehicle.

Description

The present invention relates to an internal high-pressure forming tool for forming a hollow workpiece, in particular a cross member of a motor vehicle, comprising an upper and a lower part, each with an engraving into which the workpiece can be introduced.

An internal high pressure forming tool of the aforementioned type is for example from the German published application DE 196 18 626 A1 known. By means of that described high pressure forming tool can for example Dashboard of a motor vehicle are molded. The above disclosed Documentation also the possibility of attaching attachments to this dashboard by means of the hydroforming process by flowing around the attachments attached collar flanges using the material of the dashboard. A disadvantage of the known internal high-pressure forming tool proves that each for a specific type of, for example, dashboard own internal high pressure forming tool is used. If, for example, at different equipment variants are provided in a motor vehicle model, at which are to be attached to the dashboard different attachments must for each of the equipment variants each has an internal high-pressure forming tool aforementioned type are created. This comes with significant tooling costs as well great tool change involved.

The problem underlying the present invention is to create a Internal high-pressure forming tool of the type mentioned that flexible use is.

This is achieved according to the invention in that both the upper part and the lower part in Longitudinal direction of the workpiece are divided into segments. Here, preferably the individual segments independently of the other segments of the top or the lower part can be removed and replaced by suitable other segments. Each  after requesting the equipment variant of the motor vehicle to be created thus a different segment in the upper part or the lower part of the high pressure forming tool according to the invention are used. To this The way is also for different equipment variants or also for different Widths of the dashboard, for example, only a single high pressure Forming tool necessary so that the tool change effort is low, since each only individual segments need to be replaced.

With a preferred embodiment of the present invention, means for Attachment of attachments for one attachment to be attached to one Segment of the upper part and / or the lower part arranged so that the at Switching the segments arising effort is minimized. The invention Internal high-pressure forming tool therefore provides for different vehicle variants the right tool constellation ready.

Further advantages and features of the present invention will become clear from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the enclosed pictures. In it show:

Fig. 1 is a perspective schematic view of a lower part of an inventive internal high-pressure forming tool;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective schematic view of a workpiece deformed by means of the internal high-pressure forming tool partially shown in FIG. 1.

An internal high-pressure forming tool according to the invention generally consists of a lower part 1 and an upper part, not shown. Both the lower part 1 and the upper part are provided with an engraving 2 , which is to be adapted to the shape of the workpiece 3 in the course of the hydroforming process.

The lower part 1 and the upper part of the internal high-pressure forming tool are subdivided into segments 4 in the direction of the longitudinal expansion of the workpiece 3, for example, which was designed as a straight tube piece before the deformation. According to the invention, these segments 4 are interchangeable, so that, depending on the intended use of the finished workpiece 3, suitable segments 4 are strung together to form the desired workpiece 3 by means of the internal high-pressure forming process. In this way, in particular body supports such as, for example, dash supports for different types of vehicles can be produced with only one internal high-pressure forming tool, which is composed of suitable segments 4 .

The workpiece 3 shown in FIG. 2 has, for example, a curved longitudinal axis with a central shape 5 and also attachments 6 which are permanently attached by the internal high-pressure forming process. Attachment of such attachments 6 by means of the internal high-pressure forming method is known, for example, from DE 196 18 626 A1, in which collar flanges attached to the attachments are fastened to the workpiece by flowing around it. The middle formation 5 can be formed, for example, in that the lower part 1 of one of the segments 4 has a mold cavity 7 which corresponds to a corresponding bending punch of the upper part. For deformation, the workpiece 3 is inserted into the engraving 2 of the lower part 1 , the mold cavity 7 being located in the segment 4 located approximately in the middle below the workpiece 3 . After bringing together the upper and lower part 1 of the internal high-pressure forming tool and actuation of axial punches through which fluid channels for introducing the high-pressure medium pass, the bending die opposite the mold cavity 7 is moved downward after the workpiece 3 has been filled with the high-pressure medium.

Those depicted in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 contours of the workpiece 3 and the segments 4 of the lower part 1 of the internal high-pressure forming tool are selected by way of example. According to the invention, for example, a plurality of segments 4 of the lower part 1 and the upper part of the internal high-pressure forming tool can be integrated into an internal high-pressure forming tool, which are suitable for achieving shapes of the workpiece 3 which are similar to the central shape 5 shown . Furthermore, more or fewer segments 4 can also be used, which allow the attachment of attachments 6 or other attachments not shown.

Reference list

1

Lower part

2nd

engraving

3rd

workpiece

4th

segment

5

medium shape

6

Attachment

7

Mold cavity

Claims (5)

1. Internal high-pressure forming tool for forming a hollow workpiece ( 3 ), in particular a cross member of a motor vehicle, comprising an upper and a lower part ( 1 ), each with an engraving ( 2 ) into which the workpiece ( 3 ) can be inserted, thereby characterized in that both the upper part and the lower part ( 1 ) are divided into segments ( 4 ) in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece ( 3 ). 2. Internal high pressure forming tool according to claim 1, characterized in that individual segments ( 4 ) independently of the other segments ( 4 ) of the upper part or the lower part ( 1 ) can be removed and replaced by suitable other segments ( 4 ). 3. hydroforming tool according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the hydroforming tool comprises means which allow the attachment of attachments ( 6 ) on the workpiece ( 3 ). 4. Internal high-pressure forming tool according to claim 3, characterized in that the means for attaching attachments ( 6 ) for an attachment to be attached ( 6 ) are each arranged on a segment of the upper part and / or the lower part. 5. Internal high pressure forming tool according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a dashboard of a motor vehicle can be formed as the workpiece ( 3 ).