DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FLOW-FORMING WORKPIECES

Abstract

A device for flow-forming workpieces having a rotatable first, outer forming tool for acting upon an outer contour of a first workpiece in the form of a hollow body. The device also has a first, inner forming tool for acting upon an inner contour of the workpiece. The first workpiece can be set in rotation about a first workpiece axis and can be plastically deformed by a pressure applied by the first, inner forming tool and the first, outer forming tool in a forming zone formed between the first forming tools by the material being made to flow between the first forming tools. The device has a drive for driving the first, outer forming tool.

Claims

1. A device (1) for flow-forming workpieces (2, 2.1, 2.2), comprising: a rotatable first outer forming tool (3, 3.1) for acting on an outer contour of a first hollow-body-shaped workpiece (2); a first inner forming tool (6, 6.1) for acting on an inner contour of the workpiece (2); and a drive (4) for driving the first outer forming tool (3, 3.1), wherein the first workpiece (2) can be displaced in rotation about a first workpiece axis (X, X.1) and can be plastically deformed by a pressure applied by the first inner forming tool (6, 6.1) and the first outer forming tool (3, 3.1) in a forming zone formed between the first forming tools (3, 3.1, 6, 6.1) because the material is being caused to flow between the first forming tools (3, 3.1, 6, 6.1).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) further comprises a rotatable second outer forming tool (3.2) arranged preferably with the first outer forming tool (3, 3.1) on a common axis of rotation (R), in particular wherein the drive (4) is a common drive (4) for driving the first outer forming tool (3, 3.1) and the second outer forming tool (3.2).

3. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) further comprises a first workpiece receiving device which is preferably designed such that the first workpiece (2) can be axially tensioned between a first workpiece magazine (16, 16.1) and a first workpiece buttress (7, 7.1) in the direction of the first workpiece axis (X, X.1), wherein the first workpiece magazine (16, 16.1) and the first workpiece buttress (7, 7.1) can be displaced axially along the first workpiece axis (X, X.1) relative to the first outer forming tool (3, 3.1).

4. The device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the device (1) further comprises a second workpiece receiving device which is preferably designed such that a second workpiece (2) can be axially tensioned between a second workpiece magazine (16.2) and a second workpiece buttress (7.2) in the direction of the second workpiece axis (X.2), wherein the second workpiece magazine (16.2) and the second workpiece buttress (7.2) can be axially displaced along the second workpiece axis (X.2) relative to the second outer forming tool.

5. The device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the first workpiece receiving device and the second workpiece receiving device are arranged on sides of the drive (4) facing away from one another.

6. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first outer forming tool (3.1) and the second outer forming tool (3.2) are arranged on a common axis of rotation (R), wherein the axis of rotation (R) travels at an acute angle to the first and/or second workpiece axis (X, X.1, X.2).

7. The device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the first workpiece receiving device and the second workpiece receiving device are designed and arranged such that both workpiece receiving devices use a common spatial area (15) for receiving at least one partial region of the respective formed workpiece (2) and/or the respective workpiece receiving device, in particular wherein the workpiece buttress (7.1, 7.2) of both workpiece receiving devices can be displaced in the common workpiece receiving area, preferably wherein the first workpiece receiving device and the second workpiece receiving device have a common workpiece axis (X).

8. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the device further comprises further outer forming tools (19) which act on the outer contour of the respective workpiece (2) preferably in the same plane as the first outer forming tool (3, 3.1) and/or the second outer forming tool (3.2) perpendicular to the workpiece axis (X, X.1, X.2).

9. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the device has a plurality of outer forming tools (3.1, 3.2, 3.3) arranged one behind the other along the first workpiece axis (X, X.1).

10. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first and/or second outer forming tool (3, 3.1, 3.2) is pivotable to feed on a feed axis (Z).

11. A method for flow-forming workpieces (2), in particular with a device (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one first rotating outer forming tool (3, 3.1), in particular a forming roller, acts on an outer contour of a hollow-body-shaped first workpiece (2), wherein the first outer forming tool (3, 3.1) interacts with a first inner forming tool (6, 6.1) arranged inside the workpiece (2) such that a forming zone is developed between the first inner forming tool (6, 6.1) and the first outer forming tool (3, 3.1), in which zone the material of the first workpiece (2) is caused to flow by a pressure exerted by the first forming tools (3, 3,1, 6, 6.1); and the first workpiece (2) is displaced in rotation about a first workpiece axis (X, X.1) by the first outer forming tool (3, 3.1).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a second, outer forming tool (3.2), in particular a forming roller, which tool rotates, preferably driven together with the first outer forming tool (3, 3.1) by a common drive (4), acts on an outer contour of a second hollow-body-shaped workpiece (2), wherein the second outer forming tool (3.2) interacts with a second inner forming tool (6.2) arranged inside the second workpiece (2) such that a forming zone forms between the second inner forming tool (6.2) and the second outer forming tool (3.2), in which zone the material of the second workpiece (2) is caused to flow by a pressure exerted by the second forming tool, and wherein the second workpiece (2) is displaced in rotation about a second workpiece axis (X.2) by the second outer forming tool (3.2).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein during forming, the first workpiece (2) and the second workpiece (2) are moved in the opposite directions along the first and/or second workpiece axis (X, X.1, X.2).

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first and the second workpiece (2) are received during forming respectively in a first or second receiving device assigned to one of the first or the second outer forming tool (3.1, 3.2) and the workpiece is moved into the other workpiece receiving device when the workpiece is being formed in the one workpiece receiving device.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein, due to the relative position of the first and/or second inner forming tool (6, 6.1, 6.2) to the outer forming tool (3, 3.1, 3.2) interacting with the respective inner forming tool along the workpiece axis (X, X.1, X.2) assigned to the respective inner forming tool (6, 6.1, 6.2), the inner diameter of the workpiece (2) to be produced is predetermined at the respective position along the respective workpiece axis (X, X.1, X.2) of the forming zone.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention is described schematically below in more detail with the help of FIGS. 1 to 9.

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary device according to the invention,

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a further exemplary device according to the invention with two workpiece receiving devices which are arranged along a common workpiece axis,

[0019] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary workpiece in the form of a coupling housing before and after forming,

[0020] FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary device according to the invention, which is designed for producing long workpieces,

[0021] FIGS. 5 and 6 show enlarged representations of the exemplary device according to the invention represented in FIG. 4,

[0022] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary device according to the invention which makes possible the simultaneous production of long workpieces in two workpiece receiving devices when using a common drive,

[0023] FIG. 8 shows the device represented in FIG. 7 from a different perspective, and

[0024] FIG. 9 shows a modified form of the device shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in which the workpiece receiving devices are arranged such that a machining with the same feed direction can take place in both workpiece receiving devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The exemplary device 1 according to the invention represented in FIG. 1 has an outer forming tool 3 acting on an outer contour of a workpiece 2. The outer forming tool 3 is designed as a forming roller in the shown example. The exemplary device 1 has a drive 4 for driving the outer forming tool 3. A feed mechanism 5 which can, for example, be designed in particular as a hydraulic cylinder makes possible the feeding of the outer forming tool 3 in a radial direction. The feeding in a radial direction serves in particular to predetermine the outer diameter of the workpiece 2 produced in the forming zone.

[0026] In the case of the device shown in FIG. 1, the inner forming tool 6 is designed as a mandrel. In this exemplary embodiment the inner forming tool 6 designed as a mandrel also assumes the function of the workpiece magazine and forms an exemplary workpiece receiving device together with the workpiece buttress 7. The inner forming tool 6 is received on a receiver 8 for the inner forming tool. In so doing, the inner forming tool 6 is housed, preferably rotatably, relative to the receiver 8 in order that the inner forming tool 6 can follow the movements of the flowing material and/or of the rotating workpiece in circumferential direction. The receiver 8, and thus the inner forming tool 6, are displaceably housed preferably along the workpiece axis X. For this, preferably a linear guide 10 is provided which connects the receiver 8 to the machine frame 11. A feed device 9, which for example can be formed as a feed cylinder, advantageously carries out the feed movement in the shown example. In so doing, the feed device 9 preferably acts with a counterpressure device 12, which serves to exert a counterforce along the workpiece axis X on the workpiece via the workpiece buttress 7, such that an axial tensioning of the workpiece results between the workpiece buttress 7 and the inner forming tool 6 acting as workpiece magazine.

[0027] The inner forming tool 6 advantageously has, in the shown example, a profiled surface. During forming, the plasticized material flows into the profile of the surface of the inner forming tool. In this way, profiles can be produced on the inner contour of the formed workpiece. In order to be able to remove the workpiece 2 from the inner forming tool 6 after forming, the exemplary device 1 according to the invention advantageously has a workpiece removal device 13 for removing the workpiece 2 from the inner forming tool 6. The workpiece removal device 13 canas shown in the examplebe designed as a stripping device. In the shown example this functions such that the workpiece removal device is moved along the workpiece axis X relative to the inner forming tool 6, such that a workpiece 6 received on the inner forming tool 6 is detected by the workpiece removal device 13 and stripped from the inner forming tool 6.

[0028] As an alternative to the shown example it is possible to equip a device 1 according to the invention with an inner forming tool 6 as is known for example from EP 2343138. Such an inner forming tool 6 is characterized in that the position of the forming zone on the inner forming tool and thus the resulting inner workpiece diameter can be predetermined by the relative position of the inner forming tool 6 and outer forming tool 3 along the workpiece axis X. In order for this to be possible, the workpiece 2 must be displaceable along the workpiece axis X, i.e. In this case, the inner forming tool 6 will not generally also be able to assume the function of the workpiece magazine.

[0029] In so doing, it is fundamentally possible, with each of the embodiments described in conjunction with the present invention, depending on the type of component to be produced, to provide an inner forming tool 6, as represented in FIG. 1, or an inner forming tool 6, designed in a different way, in particular an inner forming tool 6 within the meaning of EP 2343138. The type of the inner forming tool 6 represented with the respective embodiment is merely an example. Accordingly, the embodiment represented in FIG. 2 is equipped, by way of example, with two inner forming tools 6.1 and 6.2 which correspond to the inner forming tool represented in FIG. 1.

[0030] In FIG. 3, a workpiece 2.1 is represented by way of example before forming and a workpiece 2.2 after forming. The view along the axis and the sectional representation of the formed workpiece 2.2 illustrate that it is possible to produce workpieces 2.2 with profiled inner contours, in particular if the inner forming tool 6.1 or 6.2 has a corresponding profile of its outer contour.

[0031] The exemplary device 1 according to the invention represented in FIG. 2 differs from the exemplary device 1 according to the invention represented in FIG. 1, in particular in that the device 1 has a first workpiece receiving device and a second workpiece receiving device. In so doing, both workpiece receiving devices are arranged preferably on the same common workpiece axis X. The first workpiece receiving device is formed in the shown example preferably by a first inner forming tool 6.1 acting as first workpiece magazine, which workpiece preferably interacts with a first workpiece buttress 7.1 to axially tension a workpiece 2. Accordingly, in its function as second workpiece magazine a second inner forming tool 6.2 preferably forms a second workpiece receiving device which also preferably interacts with the second workpiece buttress 7.2.

[0032] Because of the two workpiece receiving devices it is advantageously possible to produce workpieces in alternating operation between the individual workpiece receiving devices. In so doing, each workpiece receiving device is stocked with a new workpiece 2.1 or a finished formed workpiece 2.2 is removed while a workpiece 2 is formed in the other workpiece receiving device.

[0033] Accordingly, the exemplary device 1 represented has a first outer forming tool 3.1 and a second outer forming tool 3.2 which are driven by a common drive 4. Preferably, in so doing, the first outer forming tool 3.1 and the second outer forming tool 3.2 are arranged on a common shaft.

[0034] In each case, one of the outer forming tools 3.1 and 3.2 is arranged on a side of the forming unit 14 facing one of the two workpiece receiving devices. In the center of the forming unit 14, a spatial region is thus formed in which the first buttress 7.1 or the second buttress 7.2 can be forced backwards by the feed motion of a workpiece 2. The spatial region 15 is thus used jointly by both workpiece buttresses 7.1 and 7.2, preferably at least by both workpiece receiving devices, such that a counterpressure device 12 which acts on both workpiece buttresses 7.1 and 7.2 is arranged in the spatial region 15.

[0035] In FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, an exemplary device according to the invention is represented which is suitable in particular for producing long workpieces, such as for example masts for illumination devices or the like. This advantageous embodiment is characterized in particular in that a plurality of forming units 14in the represented example, threeis arranged one behind the other along the workpiece axis X. In the shown example, the structure of the individual forming units 14 corresponds preferably to the respective exemplary forming unit 14 represented in FIG. 1. The essential difference between the device represented in FIG. 4 and the device 1 represented in FIG. 1 is the design of the housing of the workpiece 2 and the inner forming tool 6. The workpiece 2 is axially tensioned between a workpiece magazine 16 and a workpiece buttress 7 along the workpiece axis X. In the shown example, the inner forming tool 6 is rotatably housed preferably about the workpiece axis X on a receiver 8 for the inner forming tool. The receiver 8, the workpiece magazine 16 and/or the workpiece buttress 7 are received, developed displaceable along the workpiece axis X, in particular by a linear guide 10 on the machine frame 11.

[0036] During forming with the device 1 represented in FIG. 4, a first outer forming tool 3.1 acts firstly on the outer contour of the workpiece 2. As the feed motion continues, the region of the workpiece 2 already formed by the first outer forming tool 3.1 arrives in the operating area of the second outer forming tool 3.2 which carries out a further forming step on the workpiece 2. In the shown example, the workpiece passes through a further, third outer forming tool 3.3. It is, however, in principle possible to set any number of outer forming tools one after the other in the described manner to act on the workpiece 2.

[0037] In order to improve the housing of such long workpieces, support devices 17 can be provided. These can for example be support rollers. The support devices 17 are preferably designed such that they make possible a support of the weight of the workpiece 2, in so doing simultaneously, however, permitting a movement of the workpiece 2. Thus they can be support rollers which are oriented such that they make possible an axial displacement and/or a rotation about the workpiece axis X. Particularly preferably, the support rollers are pivotable, such that they make possible alternatively axial displacement and rotation of the workpiece 2 or can permit superpositions of axial feed and rotation by setting the angle accordingly.

[0038] A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention is represented in FIGS. 7 and 8. This device 1 likewise has a first outer forming tool 3.1 and a second outer forming tool 3.2 which are driven by a common drive 4. The workpiece receiving devices are arranged on the sides of the common drive 4 of the outer forming tools 3.1 and 3.2 facing away from one another. The outer forming tools 3.1 and 3.2 are likewise arranged preferably on a common shaft.

[0039] The represented exemplary workpiece receiving devices preferably each have a workpiece magazine 16.1 or 16.2. On the side facing away from the workpiece magazine 16.1 or 16.2, the workpieces 2 are centered in the shown example merely by a centering mandrel 18, but can slide on same in axial direction. This type of workpiece housing can be produced self-evidently also in conjunction with the above-described other embodiments. Likewise, it is possible to equip the device shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 with a workpiece buttress within the meaning of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0040] The device 1 according to the invention has the advantage that workpieces can be machined in both workpiece receiving devices with a drive unit 4.

[0041] In so doing, a feed of the outer forming tools 3.1 and 3.2 is advantageously possible because the common axis of the outer forming tools 3.1 and 3.2 is pivoted about a feed axis Z. Preferably, in so doing, the whole forming unit 14 is pivotably housed with the drive and the forming tools 3.1 and 3.2 connected via a preferably common shaft. The feed axis Z travels preferably perpendicular to the plane defined by the workpiece axes X.1 and X.2. The common axis of rotation R of the forming tools 3.1 and 3.2 thus travels during the forming at an acute angle to the first workpiece axis X.1 and/or to the second workpiece axis X.2.

[0042] A modification of the device 1 represented in FIGS. 7 and 8 is shown in FIG. 9 which differs merely in that the feed direction of the workpieces 2 is the same direction along the first and second workpiece axis X.1 and X.2. In the embodiment represented in FIGS. 7 and 8, the feed directions are opposite.

[0043] With all the embodiments represented, it is possible for further forming tools 19 to be present which act in the same plane perpendicular to the workpiece axis X on the workpiece 2 as a forming tool 3 driven according to the invention. The further forming tools 19 can, in so doing, likewise be driven. They can also be driveless forming tools 19. These are preferably arranged over the circumference such that the radially exerted forces of the individual forming tools are canceled out. In this way, the inner contour of the workpiece 2 can be supported on the inner forming tool 6 during forming, without this being burdened with bending moments.