[Patent]
Electro-hydraulic forming machine for the plastic deformation of a projectile part of the wall of a workpiece to be formed  

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic forming machine for the plastic deformation of a projectile part of the wall of a workpiece to be formed, preferably a cylindrical tubular workpiece, via a forming fluid, includes a tool for applying the forming fluid on the inner face of the projectile part, the application tool including:-a chamber intended to contain the forming fluid, cooperating with elements for generating a shock wave in the forming fluid intended to be contained in the chamber and-at least one downstream port, intended to open opposite the projectile part of the wall to be deformed and in fluid communication with the chamber, in order to allow the passage of the forming fluid and for propagating the generated shock wave towards the footprint of a target support.
 

Potential applications

• Assembly of tubular sections for fluid transport: crimping
• Plate assembly of tubular sections for heat exchangers: expanding process
• Tube forming
• Engraving

 

Advantages of the technology

• Quality of assembly and precision of forming
• Possibility of obtaining more complex forms
• Compatible with all types of materials (heterogeneous, titanium, stainless steel etc)
• Timeliness
• Visual aspect
• Clean technology: without dust, abrasives etc

 

Status

• Patent filed in France:
 FR1357632 on 1st August 2013
• Extension Europe, US, Brazil, Canada, Japan, South Korea

 

Current state of development

Prototype developed and tested on different tube types (diameter, material).
 

Laboratory

Research Institute in Civil and Mechanical Engineering - GeM

Guillaume RACINEUX
Didier PRIEM
Manoharan PRABU