Method and apparatus for forming a heat shield plate

摘要

A method of making a heat shield for an exhaust system tailpipe which comprises the steps of positioning a blank of sheet metal between a die having a forming surface of generally arcuately concave cross-sectional configuration which extends in a generally arcuately convex direction and a straight cylindrical body of elastomeric material having a longitudinal axis extending generally tangentially with respect to the arcuately convex direction of extent of the die forming surface, effecting an initial relative movement between the die and the cylindrical elastomeric body in a direction toward one another so as to compress a central portion of the sheet metal blank to a central portion of the die forming surface by a central portion of the exterior surface of the cylindrical elastomeric body while the latter is in a straight condition, and progressively flexing opposite end portions of the cylindrical elastomeric body in directions toward the end portions of the die forming surface so as to progressively compress the end portions of the sheet metal blank into conformed engagement with the die forming surface by the exterior surface of the elastomeric body and an apparatus for performing the method.