Press apparatus for hydroforming a tube

摘要

An upper die mounted on the upper bed of the press and a lower die mounted on the lower bed of the press mate with one another upon lowering of the upper bed. A mounting plate is spring mounted on the lower bed adjacent the lower die to enable vertical movement of the mounting plate. A seal unit to seal with the end of the tube accessible through an open end in the dies. The seal unit is mounted on the mounting plate for horizontal reciprocating movement between a retracted position withdrawn away from the tube and an engaged position in sealing engagement with the tube. A pusher carried on the upper bed engages with the seal unit upon lowering of the upper bed to push the seal unit vertically against the spring effort of the mounting plate to obtain sealing alignment of the seal unit with the tube. In addition, a heel unit carried on the upper bed is lowered with the upper bed into a position blocking the seal unit against horizontal movement in the direction away from sealing engagement with the tube so that the application of hydroforming pressure through the seal and into the tube cannot cause the seal unit to become ejected from the tube. In addition, a lower clamp is mounted on the spring mounted plate and an upper clamp is spring mounted on the upper bed so that lowering of the upper bed causes the upper and lower clamps tightly grip the tube.