US 7,454,936 B2
Method and device for forming an essentially flat metal blank to produce a thin-walled, shell-type body, and the use of same
Helmut Michel, Esslingen (Germany); Wulf Radtke, Planegg (Germany); and Johannes Hegels, Munich (Germany)
Assigned to MT Aerospace AG, Augsburg (Germany)
Filed on May 22, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/437,814.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2005 024 627 (DE), filed on May 30, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2007/0039366 A1, Feb. 22, 2007
Int. Cl. B21B 27/06 (2006.01); B21J 5/04 (2006.01); B21D 39/08 (2006.01); B21D 15/06 (2006.01); B21D 5/00 (2006.01); B21D 37/16 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 72—69  [72/54; 72/57; 72/60; 72/83; 72/342.1] 38 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Device for forming a flat blank (12) of metal into a thin-walled, shell-type body (14), comprising:
a supporting structure (16) forming a mold chamber (18) that holds the blank (12) during formation into the thin-walled, shell-type body (14);
a device (20) allocated to the structure (16) for clamping the blank (12) at its circumference (22) to the supporting structure (16), that seals the reverse face (24) of the blank (12) facing towards the mold chamber (18) against the front face (26) of the blank (12) facing away from the mold chamber (18);
a device (28) allocated to the mold chamber (18) and communicating with the mold chamber (18) for applying a vacuum and evacuating the mold chamber (18); and
at least one forming tool (50) applied to the front face (26) of the blank (12) allocated to the supporting structure (16).