US 11,992,870 B2
Flange forming device and method of forming a flange on a sheet metal part to reduce surface distortion
Christian Richard Genereux, Brighton, MI (US); Robert Vaughn Degenhardt, Belleville, MI (US); and Philip Trinh, Royal Oak, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on May 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/737,414.
Application 17/737,414 is a division of application No. 16/026,653, filed on Jul. 3, 2018, granted, now 11,358,204.
Prior Publication US 2022/0258224 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. B21D 39/02 (2006.01); B21D 5/04 (2006.01); B21D 19/04 (2006.01); B21D 19/08 (2006.01); B21D 37/04 (2006.01); B62D 25/16 (2006.01)
CPC B21D 39/021 (2013.01) [B21D 5/047 (2013.01); B21D 19/043 (2013.01); B62D 25/16 (2013.01); B21D 19/082 (2013.01); B21D 37/04 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A set of stamping tools for forming a panel from a sheet metal workpiece, the panel including a main surface, an interior surface opposite the main surface, a first flange along a first edge of the main surface, and a second flange along a second edge of the main surface, the first and second edges converging to form a corner of the panel, the set of stamping tools comprising:
a first anvil including a support surface, a first bend surface, and a second bend surface, wherein the support surface is configured to contact the interior surface, wherein the first anvil defines a first edge at a junction between the support surface and the first bend surface, wherein the first anvil defines a second edge at a junction between the support surface and the second bend surface, wherein the first and second edges of the first anvil converge at a corner of the first anvil;
a first pad including a first clamp surface opposing the support surface and configured to contact the main surface of the workpiece;
a first flange steel movable relative to the first anvil and the first pad between an open position and a closed position, wherein the first flange steel includes a first region and a second region, wherein, the first flange steel is configured such that, in its closed position, the first region of the first flange steel opposes the first bend surface and the second region of the first flange steel opposes the second bend surface; and
a second flange steel movable relative to the first anvil, the pad, and the first flange steel between an open position and a closed position, wherein the second flange steel includes a working surface, wherein the second flange steel is configured such that, in its closed position, the working surface opposes the second bend surface,
wherein the first region of the first flange tool is configured such that movement of the first flange steel from its open position to its closed position is configured to bend a first edge region of the workpiece around the first edge of the first anvil to a first bend angle; and
wherein the working surface of the second flange steel and the second region of the first flange steel are configured to cooperate such that movement of the first and second flange steels from their open positions to their closed positions is configured to bend a second edge region of the workpiece around the second edge of the first anvil to a second bend angle that becomes less bent as the second edge region approaches the corner of the anvil.