Die assembly for use in an apparatus for forming a workpiece

Abstract

A die assembly for forming a workpiece includes a support clamp, a first clamp that is movable relative to the support clamp to engage a first portion of the workpiece, and a second clamp that is movable relative to the support clamp to engage a second portion of the workpiece. A forming punch is movable relative to the support clamp after the first clamp and the second clamp have been moved to form the workpiece.

1 . A die assembly for forming a single workpiece comprising:
 a support clamp;   a first clamp that is movable relative to the support clamp to engage a first portion of a single workpiece;   a second clamp that is movable relative to the support clamp to engage a second portion of the single workpiece; and   a forming punch that is movable relative to the support clamp after the first clamp and the second clamp have been moved to form a flange on the end of the second portion of the single workpiece, the flange being folded inward of the single workpiece.   
   
   
       2 . The die assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support clamp includes a recess that cooperates with the forming punch to form the single workpiece. 
   
   
       3 . The die assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support clamp includes a pin slot disposed about a portion of a movable pin assembly, the support clamp being movable relative to the movable pin assembly. 
   
   
       4 . The die assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support clamp includes a cam follower that is selectively engaged by a cam driver to move the support clamp from an opened position to a closed position. 
   
   
       5 . The die assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support clamp includes a cam follower that is selectively engaged by a cam driver to move the support clamp from an opened position to a closed position and to support the support clamp against the movement of the forming punch. 
   
   
       6 . The die assembly of  claim 3  wherein the movable pin assembly is supported on a resilient member for biased movement. 
   
   
       7 . The die assembly of  claim 6  wherein the resilient member is a nitrogen charged spring. 
   
   
       8 . The die assembly of  claim 3  wherein the movable pin assembly is located above the support clamp surface such that the single workpiece does not engage the support clamp. 
   
   
       9 . The die assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first clamp assembly includes a resilient member that resiliently supports the floater clamp within the rigid clamp. 
   
   
       10 . The die assembly of  claim 9  wherein the resilient member is a nitrogen charged spring. 
   
   
       11 . A die assembly for forming a feature onto a single component comprising:
 a base having at least one movable pin assembly that is biased in an extended position;   a support clamp engaging the base for relative movement therewith;   a first clamp assembly that is movable relative to the support clamp and having a rigid clamp and a floater clamp, the first clamp assembly further having a pin recess adapted to engage a portion of the movable pin assembly;   a forming punch engaging the base for relative movement therewith and having a leading edge that cooperates with the support clamp to form a feature; and   a second clamp that is movable relative to the forming punch, the second clamp cooperating with the support clamp to engage a portion of a single component therebetween, wherein the feature is a flange on the end of the portion of the single component, the flange being folded inward of the single component.   
   
   
       12 . The die assembly of  claim 11  wherein the support clamp includes a recess that cooperates with the forming punch to form the single component. 
   
   
       13 . The die assembly of  claim 11  wherein the support clamp includes a pin slot disposed about a portion of the movable pin assembly, the support clamp being movable relative to the movable pin assembly. 
   
   
       14 . The die assembly of  claim 11  wherein the support clamp includes a cam follower that is selectively engaged by a cam driver to move the support clamp from an opened position to a closed position. 
   
   
       15 . The die assembly of  claim 11  wherein the support clamp includes a cam follower that is selectively engaged by a earn driver to move the support clamp from an opened position to a closed position and to support the support clamp against the movement of the forming punch. 
   
   
       16 . The die assembly of  claim 11  wherein the movable pin assembly is supported on a resilient member for biased movement. 
   
   
       17 . The die assembly of  claim 16  wherein the resilient member is a nitrogen charged spring. 
   
   
       18 . The die assembly of  claim 11  wherein the movable pin assembly is located above the support clamp surface such that the single component does not engage the support clamp. 
   
   
       19 . The die assembly of  claim 11  wherein the first clamp assembly includes a resilient member that resiliently supports the floater clamp within the rigid clamp. 
   
   
       20 . The die assembly of  claim 19  wherein the resilient member is a nitrogen charged spring. 
   
   
       21 . A die assembly for forming a flange onto a single workpiece comprising:
 a base having at least one movable pin assembly biased in an extended vertical position;   a support clamp engaging the base for relative horizontal movement therewith;   a first clamp assembly vertically movable relative to the support clamp and having a rigid clamp, a floater clamp, and a pin recess adapted to engage a pin nose of the vertically movable pin assembly;   a forming punch engaging the base for relative horizontal movement therewith and having a leading edge; and   a second clamp horizontally movable relative to the forming punch, the second clamp cooperating with the support clamp to engage a portion of a single workpiece therebetween and the leading edge cooperating with the support clamp to form a flange on the end of the single workpiece portion.   
   
   
       22 . The die assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the flange is folded inward of the single workpiece.