US 11,911,817 B2
Hydroforming of porthole extrusion with non-equiangular seams
Andrey M. Ilinich, Novi, MI (US); Stephen Kernosky, Livonia, MI (US); Mark Stephen Salmonowicz, Royal Oak, MI (US); and S. George Luckey, Jr., Dearborn, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/342,189.
Application 17/342,189 is a division of application No. 15/884,469, filed on Jan. 31, 2018, granted, now 11,052,445.
Prior Publication US 2021/0291250 A1, Sep. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. B21C 26/00 (2006.01); B21D 26/047 (2011.01); B21D 26/053 (2011.01); B23P 15/00 (2006.01); B21C 23/00 (2006.01); B21D 26/033 (2011.01); B21D 53/88 (2006.01)
CPC B21D 26/047 (2013.01) [B21C 23/00 (2013.01); B21D 26/033 (2013.01); B21D 26/053 (2013.01); B23P 15/00 (2013.01); B21D 53/88 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for forming a part comprising:
a die having:
a round orifice;
a central mandrel disposed within the round orifice; and
a plate including a plurality of bridges and a corresponding plurality of portholes between the bridges, the central mandrel disposed at a center of the plate, the bridges and portholes disposed around the central mandrel, the bridges extending in a radial direction of the plate from the central mandrel, the bridges each including flat side surfaces extending along a direction parallel to an axial direction of the plate, each of the portholes being defined by adjacent ones of the flat side surfaces of the bridges,
wherein a spacing of the bridges around the central mandrel is non-equiangular, and
wherein the die allows a material to be extruded through the die to form a round, closed geometry tube from the material such that the round, closed geometry tube has non-equiangular welds after emerging from the die.