Electrohydraulic forming-based deformation device and method

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and device for shaping an object such as a tube on an insert by means of compression generated by a shock wave, e.g. in a liquid or in another medium.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A device intended for shaping a tube, on at least one insert present in the tube, by means of a compression force generated by a shock wave formed by an electric arc generator, said device comprising at least one first forming cavity containing an immersion bath into which the tube is immersed, said immersion bath being separated into two volumes, the first volume being that in which the shock wave is deployed and the second a volume in which the immersion liquid is absent or from which it can escape under the influence of the compression force formed in the first volume, the separation between the two volumes being provided by the tube to be deformed. 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the second volume is created in the tube by the addition of plugs to the ends of the immersed tube. 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the second volume is created by introducing the tube into the first cavity by means of guides, said tube comprising a plurality of inserts and passing through said cavity. 
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the shock wave is generated in a liquid or in another medium. 
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 21 , comprising an arc generator for generating the wave so that it is displaced in a direction near that of the axis of the tube, and a reflection means for focusing the wave on the axis of the tube. 
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 21 , in which the shock wave is focused on the object to be deformed by one or more mirrors. 
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 21 , comprising an arc generator generating the shock wave perpendicularly to the axis of the tube and reflectors or mirrors for generating isotropy of the shock wave on the tube. 
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 21 , said device comprising a second cavity wherein the shock wave is generated, said second cavity being connected to the first cavity by waveguides leading to the tube to be deformed. 
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 28 , wherein the waveguides have the same length or a different length. 
     
     
         30 . A method for shaping a tube over at least one insert present in the tube by means of a compression force generated by a shock wave, said method making use of at least one first forming cavity containing an immersion bath comprising a liquid into which the tube is immersed, said immersion bath being separated into two volumes, the shock wave being deployed in the first volume, the immersion liquid being absent or being able to escape from the second volume under the influence of the compression force formed in the first volume, the separation between the two volumes being provided by the tube to be deformed. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the second volume is created in the tube by the addition of plugs at the ends of the tube. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the second volume is created by introducing the tube into the first cavity by means of guides, said tube comprising a plurality of inserts and passing through said cavity. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the shock wave is generated in a liquid or in another medium. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the arc generator is used to generate the wave so that it is displaced in a direction near that of the axis of the tube, and a reflection means for focusing the wave on the axis of the tube. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the shock wave is focused on the object to be deformed using one or more reflectors or mirrors. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein an arc generator generating the shock wave perpendicularly to the axis of the tube and reflectors or mirrors are used to generate isotropy of the shock wave on the tube. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein a second cavity is used to generate the shock wave, the shock wave is applied to the tube to be deformed by waveguides connecting the second cavity to the first. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the waveguides have the same length or a different length. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein a reflected shock wave is used to launch a new electrical discharge by synchronizing the reflected shock wave and the new discharge to create an oscillatory system maintained by lower-energy discharges, the tube to be deformed being displaced at constant speed or according to a different law.