An apparatus for forming a sector of an annular component having an arrangement for securely retaining at least a portion of a blank mountable thereon. The retaining arrangement is adapted for leaving a portion of the retainable blank accessible. A punch is provided having an external surface contour shaped to correspond to the shape of all or a part of the profile of the sector of the annular component from a trailing edge to a leading edge and/or from a leading edge to an inlet edge. The apparatus has a cooperating forming arrangement for forming the profile of the sector of the annular component from the leading edge to the inlet edge. The retaining arrangement is adapted for forming a clamping boundary enclosing the accessible part of the blank to be formed by the punch.

A device for stretching a metal semi-finished product in the form of individual plates along a stretching section with a stretching frame (2) includes pressure columns (7, 8) extending in the axial direction of the stretching section. A first clamping head (3) in which a first short side of the semi-finished product to be stretched can be clamped can be axially moved by means of stretching cylinders (5, 6). A second clamping head (4) in which the second short side of the semi-finished product to be stretched can be clamped is provided. At least one axial inlet and one axial outlet of the stretching frame (2) are provided. The clamping heads (3, 4) are designed such that the semi-finished product to be stretched can be guided axially through at least one, preferably through both clamping heads (3, 4).

A device for stretching a metal semi-finished product in the form of individual plates along a stretching section with a stretching frame (2) includes pressure columns (7, 8) extending in the axial direction of the stretching section. A first clamping head (3) in which a first short side of the semi-finished product to be stretched can be clamped can be axially moved by means of stretching cylinders (5, 6). A second clamping head (4) in which the second short side of the semi-finished product to be stretched can be clamped is provided. At least one axial inlet and one axial outlet of the stretching frame (2) are provided. The clamping heads (3, 4) are designed such that the semi-finished product to be stretched can be guided axially through at least one, preferably through both clamping heads (3, 4).

Disclosed is a machine for forming sheets by longitudinal stretching, the machine includes: two stretch heads located on either side of a forming tool for the sheet, the stretch heads each including a line of grippers integral with a support structure which is associated with way of stretching and which is mounted on a chassis by the intermediary of a tipping axis; at least one tipping cylinder being inserted between the chassis and the support structure, in order to allow for the maneuvering in rotation of the support structure about the tipping axis; and the chassis being carried by a support frame. The stretching machine includes a unit, inserted between the support frame and the chassis, arranged to allow for an adjusting of the vertical positioning of the tipping axis.

A method for straightening a distortion of a component by way of a straightening device is provided. The straightening device includes a clamping element for clamping in the component, a straightening element for introducing a straightening force into the component, and an anvil element for supporting the component during the introduction of the straightening force. Furthermore, a straightening device for straightening a distortion of a component is provided. The straightening device includes a clamping element for clamping in the component, a straightening element for introducing a straightening force into the component, an anvil element for supporting the component during the introduction of the straightening force, and a control element for operating the straightening device.

An apparatus for forming a sector of an annular component having an arrangement for securely retaining at least a portion of a blank mountable thereon. The retaining arrangement is adapted for leaving a portion of the retainable blank accessible. A punch is provided having an external surface contour shaped to correspond to the shape of all or a part of the profile of the sector of the annular component from a trailing edge to a leading edge and/or from a leading edge to an inlet edge. The apparatus has a cooperating forming arrangement for forming the profile of the sector of the annular component from the leading edge to the inlet edge. The retaining arrangement is adapted for forming a clamping boundary enclosing the accessible part of the blank to be formed by the punch.

An apparatus for forming a sector of an annular component having an arrangement for securely retaining at least a portion of a blank mountable thereon. The retaining arrangement is adapted for leaving a portion of the retainable blank accessible. A punch is provided having an external surface contour shaped to correspond to the shape of all or a part of the profile of the sector of the annular component from a trailing edge to a leading edge and/or from a leading edge to an inlet edge. The apparatus has a cooperating forming arrangement for forming the profile of the sector of the annular component from the leading edge to the inlet edge. The retaining arrangement is adapted for forming a clamping boundary enclosing the accessible part of the blank to be formed by the punch.

A method of forming a compound curvature metal skin includes providing a blank defining at least a sector of a truncated cone, providing an arcuate or annular punch substantially corresponding in shape to an inner surface of the compound curvature metal skin, gripping a leading edge of a sheet metal blank between mating faces of a first blank holder on a first side of the punch, gripping a trailing edge of the blank between mating faces of a second blank holder on a second side of the punch opposite to the first side, displacing the blank holders with respect to the punch to draw the blank over the punch while permitting the blank to flow between mating surfaces of at least one of the blank holders, including displacing each of the blank holders with respect to the punch by different amounts and at different rates.

A method of forming a compound curvature metal skin includes providing a blank defining at least a sector of a truncated cone, providing an arcuate or annular punch substantially corresponding in shape to an inner surface of the compound curvature metal skin, gripping a leading edge of a sheet metal blank between mating faces of a first blank holder on a first side of the punch, gripping a trailing edge of the blank between mating faces of a second blank holder on a second side of the punch opposite to the first side, displacing the blank holders with respect to the punch to draw the blank over the punch while permitting the blank to flow between mating surfaces of at least one of the blank holders, including displacing each of the blank holders with respect to the punch by different amounts and at different rates.

The invention may relate, among other things, to a device for straightening a metal strip having two strip drives which are suitable together to apply tension on the metal strip to straighten the metal strip, wherein at least one of the strip drives is a linear drive, characterized in that the at least one linear drive has a positioning device such that the linear drive can be moved relative to the longitudinal axis of the device.