Hydraulic forming of a tubular blank having oval cross section and equipment for hydraulic forming

摘要

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming an elongated tubular metal member from a tubular metal blank. The method comprises: i) placing a tubular metal blank having a generally oval cross-section into a die cavity and orienting the tubular metal blank such that a relatively larger cross-sectional dimension of the generally oval cross-section extends generally in a direction of the relatively larger cross-sectional dimension of the die cavity and such that a relatively smaller cross-sectional dimension of the generally oval cross-section extends generally in a direction of the relatively smaller cross-sectional dimension of the die cavity; ii) engaging and sealing opposite ends of the tubular metal blank; and iii) injecting fluid under pressure into the tubular metal blank so as to expand the tubular metal blank into conformity with the surfaces defining the die cavity and thereby transform the tubular metal blank into the elongated tubular metal member.