Punch and die device for forming convolution series in thin gage metal hemisphere

Michel, R. E.

Nelson, D. E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 
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REPLY TO 
ATTN OF: GI / p r i l  5, 1971 
( N A ~  CR OR TMX OR AD NUMBER) (CATEGORY) 
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M E M 0 M D U M ~ -  
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~ ~ ~ / ~ c i e n t i f i c  & Technical Information Division 
Attn: M i s s  Winnie M. Morgan 
FROM : ~ ~ / 0 f f i c e  of Assis tant  General 
Counsel f o r  Patent  Matters 
SUBJECT: Announcement of NASA-Owned U.S. Patents  i n  STAR 
I n  accordance with the  procedures contained i n  the  Code G P  
t o  Code US1 memorandum on t h i s  subject ,  dated June 8, 1970, 
the  attached NASA-owned U.S. patent  is  being forwarded f o r  
abs t rac t ing  and announcement i n  NASA STAR. 
The following information is provided : 
U.S. Patent  No. 
Corporate Source : Honeywell, Inc. 
Supplementary 
Corporate Source 
NASA Patent  Case NO.: XNP-05297 
Please note t h a t  t h i s  patent  covers an invention made by an 
employee of a NASA contractor .  Pursuant t o  §305(a) of t he  
NAS Act, t h e  name of the  Administrator of NASA appears on the  
f i r s t  page of t h e  patent ;  however, t he  name of the  ac tua l  
inventor (author) appears a t  t he  heading of Column No. 1 of 
- 
t h e  Specif ica t ion 
an invention of .  
following 
I 1  
. . 
the  words 
-w* Gayle Parker 
Enclosure : 
copy of Patent  
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710014335 2020-03-17T03:05:02+00:00Z
May 13, 1969 JAMES E. WEBB 3,443,412 
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS 
AND SPACE ADMINSTRATION 
CONVOLUTING DEVICE FOR FORMING CONVOLUTIONS AND THE LIKE 
Filed May 17, 1967 Sheet / of 2 
RAYMOND E. MICHEL 
DALLAS E. NELSON 
May 13, 1969 JAMES E. WEBB 3,443,412 
ADMlNlSTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS 
AND SPACE ADMlNSTRATlOM 
CONVOLUTING DEVICE FOR FORMING CONVOLUTIONS AND THE LIKE 
F i l e d  May 17. 1967 Sheet 2 of 2 
RAYMOND E. MlCHEL 
DALLAS E. NELSON 
INVENTOR* 
3,443,412 United States Patent Office ,,,, , ,, ,
1 2 
ture such as that described in the U.S. patent to Keen et 
3,443,412 al., No. 3,115,678. In the patent, weights are utilized to 
CONVOLUTING DEVICE FOR FORMING 
CONVOLUTIONS AND THE LIKE form the desired shape in articles such as plastic carpets. 
James E. Webb, Administrator of the National Aero- Another typical example may be found in the U.S. patent 
nautics and space ~ d ~ i ~ i ~ ~ ~ t i ~ ~ ,  with respect to an in. to Milton et al., No. 1,550,387, in which a die and blank- 
vention of Raymond E. Minneapolis, and Dallas holding means are employed. This method utilizes fluid 
E. Nelson, St. Paul, M b .  pressures to deform metal articles. However, the prob- 
Filed May 17, 1967, Ser. No. 640,458 lems of stretching metal arise when employing any of 
Int. CI. B21d 22/10,5/02; B21j 7/02 the aforementioned prior art techniques. This is of par- 
U.S. C1.72-354 3 Claims ticular importance where formation of convolutions is 
necessary while the thickness of the metal being worked 
must remain constant. 
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Summary 
This disclosure relates to a punch and die device for 
forming a series of convolutions in thin-gauge metal hemi- 16 The invention, in 'brief, comprises a &me~mati~ally SUP- 
spheres without effecting a stretching of the stock metal. ported punch and die mechanism which includes a ring 
The device includes an opposed punch and die mechanism assembly comprising a series of pneumatically supported 
having grooved working surfaces which mate with the annular or cylindrical rings #arranged in a sealed and tele- 
hemisphere sandwiched therebetween. The punch is scoping relationship. Each of the rings includes a stop 
formed of telescoping segments which are extended to an 20 means provided to prevent excessive upward relative 
operative hemispheric configuration by pneumatic pres- movement of the adjacent rings. A chamfered portion is 
sure. The die is coaxially aligned with the punch and ex- formed at the upper surface of each of the rings, opposite 
tends in a single plane so that the hemisphere may be sand- the Stop means which, with an adjacent section, forms a 
wiched between the working surfaces with the segments groove for establishing a convolution in a blank dia- 
of punch being retracted progressively from the center, 26 phragm. When fluid pressure is admitted to the interior 
and the convolutions progressively formed as the working of the ring assembly, the telescoped members are caused 
surfaces are progressively displaced toward each other. to extend upwardly until arrested by the stop members 
Since the blank is of ,a hemispheric configuration, the con- and thus form a resilient punch having 'a hemispheric con- 
volutions will be formed without effecting a stretching or figuration. With the members thus extended, a reinforcing 
drawing of the metal, thus the hemisphere is "crushed" 30 ring is inserted in a selected one of the grooves, where- 
or driven toward a planar configuration in the formation upon a blank diaphragm of vesy thin metal, in the form 
of the convoluted diaphragm. of a hemisphere, is inverted and over the upper surface 
of the punch. A die member, aligned in coaxial alignment 
'and having a working surface comprising a mirror image 
35 of the working surface of the punch, is then forced jnto Origin of the invention contact with the hemisphere. The ridges of the die are 
The invention described herein was made in the per- aligned in corresponding or mating relationship with the 
formance of work under a NASA contract and is subject grooves formed by the chamfered surfaces of the ring 
to the provisions of Section 305 of the National Aero- members. Deformation of the diaphragm in opposition to 
nautics and Space Act of 1958, Public Law 85-568 (72 40 the fluid pressure then occurs as the punch and die are 
Stat. 435; 42 USC 2457). driven or forced together. This results in a well-formed 
Background o f  the invention diaphragm having convolutions of predetermined config- 
urations and a controlled thickness. By providing a cylin- 
Thin metal diaphragms have many uses and applica- drical press for forming the convolutions, in combination 
tions. For example, diaphragms are often employed in 45 with a yielding punch, the thickness of the metal in the 
Pumps, Pressure gauges and various devices which require convolutions is thus controlled to avoid stretching, and by 
liquid barriers. A common use of metal diaphragms is in providing the reinforcing ring, undesired buckling along 
expulsion tanks Such as those employed in providing pro- the periphery of the diaphragm is thus obviated. 
pellants for space vehicles and the like. lh expulsion tanks It is an object of this invention to provide an improved 
for propellants, diaphragms are used under Pressure to 50 convolution-forming device for diaphragms and the like. 
force liquid or viscous propellant materials from the tanh. It is another object of this invention to provide means 
For control of propellants in a zero g environment and for maintaining the previously selected thickness of the 
for minim~m opposing force in the expuki~n process, it metal in the convolutions of metal diaphragms. 
is necessary to have convolutions formed in the dia- It is still another object of the invention to provide a 
~hragm. These convolutions take the form of annular tor- 55 cylindrical press which operates against a yielding punch 
rugations or convolutions. to minimize the fatigue stress or cold working of stock 
There are many known methods for forming convolu- material in convolutions of a metal diaphragm during the 
tions in diaphragms. One method commonly employed is formation of the convolutions. 
explosive-forming wherein an explosive is used to produce Other objects and advantages of this invention will be- 
greatly increased Pressure in a fluid medium to force the g' come apparent as the description proceeds, taken in con- 
diaphragm against a die having preselected ridges or junction with the drawings. 
grooves formed in a manner such that preselected convo- 
lutions are thus formed in the diaphragms. This method Description of drawing has several disadvantages, among which is a lack of suffi- 
cient control and economy. 65 
Another method for forming convolutions invoZves a FIGURE 1 is a view in cross-section of the punch and 
spinning process. This process has not been found to be die mechanism constructed according to this invention 
particularly successful in that the valleys of the convolu- prior to the convolution-forming; and 
tions as typically formed, are in an extremely thin state FIGURE 2 is a view in cross-section of the punch 
thus resulting in loss of strength in the diaphragm. An- 70 and die mechanism after the convoluticm-forming is 
other method for forming convolutions is a flexible struc- nearly completed. 
3 
3,4 
' Description of preferred embodiments 
~urning now to FIGURE 1, the convolution-forming 
mekhanism, according to this invention, is shown in de- 
tail~ The punch mechanism is indicated generally by refer- 
3 numeral 1 and the die member is shown generally A base member 3 is provided and serves to support 
a cylindical or annular wall 4 of the punch 1. The wall 
4 if rigidly secured, by any suitable means, to the base 
mepber 3 and has an outwardly extending flange 5 upon 
whsch a thin metal hemisphere 6, in which convoluted 
markings are to be impressed, is attached preparabory to 
the forming operation of the device. In order to attach 
the hemisphere 6 to the punch 1 there is provided a ring 
clatnp 7 removably secured to the flange 5 of the cylindri- 
cal wall or base member 4 by any suitable means such 
as, for example, screws 8. 
The cylindrical wall 4 extends upwardly from the base 
3 ;ind terminates in a sloping OT concave arcuate inner 
s q a c e  9 and an outer convex arcuate surface 9a which, 
in pperation, engages the inner surface of the attached 
hemisphere blank 6. From the upper portion of the inner 
surface of the wall 4 there is an inwardly extending 
fiaxige or shoulder 10 which acts as a stop member for 
an adjacent reciprocating ring 11 of the punch member 
adjacent ring member 11, likewise, com- 
an upwardly extending cylindrical metal ring which 
arcuate inner su~face 12a and a convex 
12 at its topmost outer portion. An out- 
wardly extending shoulder 13 is provided adjacent the 
lo er portion of the ring 11. This shoulder woacts with 
inwardly extending shoulder 10 to arrest upward 
mopon imparted to the ring 11. Near the mid portion 
of the ring 11, there is provided an inwardly extending 
or flange 14 which serves as a stop member in 
motion imparted to the adjacent ring member 
As each of the ring members, here designated 11, 15 
and 16, are constructed in a similar manner, description 
one of the ring members is deemed adequate 
an understanding of the invention. It is under- 
the number of rings employed may be varied 
as heeds dictate. 
A center disc member 17 having a convex upper sur- 
fa? 18 formed to amommodate the shape of the metal 
diaphragm 6, is provided at the center of the ring assem- 
blyj Likewise, and in a manner similar to the ring mem- 
be , the disc 17 has an outwardly extending lower flange 
orgboulder 19 which serves as a stop member for limiting 
its upward travel relative to the adjacent ring member 
16. It is understood that the ring members, as well as the 
dis 1 member 17, are displaceable and are arranged in a 
teldscoping relationship for reciprocal displacement. 
Al lo, it is deemed necessary that each joint, as formed at 
th4 points of contact between adjacent surfaces of the 
sliding members, be a wiping or running type seal. Such 
has been effected through the use of a flexible seal 23 
helb in place by a retaining ring 24 and a plurality of 
scrbws 25. Consequently, it *will be appreciated that all of 
the1 sliding members may be retracted toward the upper 
the base 3 and subsequently extended to form 
base 3 *an expanded and sealed chamber 20. 
The die 2 is formed from a suitable material, for ex- 
ample, metal, and comprises disc or block having an ar- 
cudte periphery 26, a flat upper surface 27 and a bottom 
or barking arcuate surface 28 so formed as to provide a 
pliality of annular ridges 27a extending downwardly in 
a common plane and aligned to mate with the grooves 
forhed by the arcuate surfaces of the member 4 and ring 
mebbers 11, 15 and 16 to thus provide opposed working 
sur$ces which, in effect, constitute mirror images and be- 
tw n which the hemisphere is to be operatively sand- 
wiohed. In practice it has been found that the material of 
the hemisphere tends to buckle or form an undesired 
de t at the periphery of the hemisphere at Point A, FIG- 9 W E  1, during the formation of oonvoluted hemispheres. 
,412 
4 
This is eIiminated by employing a removable support ring 
200 formed of suitable material such as, for example, a 
mixture of epoxy and alumina. The ring 20a comprises 
an annular ring having a moss section shaped generally 
in the manner shown in the drawings and is merely posi- 
tioned or "dropped" into an operative position adjacent 
the convex arcuate surface 9 of the ring 4 prior to placing 
the hemisphere 6 over the punch 1. 
In {operation, fluid such as air under pressure is intro- 
duced through suitable means, such as a bore or passage 
21 into the chamber 20. The chamber is defined by the 
wall member 4, the ring members, and ,the disc portion 
17 as well as the top surface of the base 3. Fluid intro- 
duced will pressurize the chamber 20 forcing the ring 
members 11, 15 and 16 and disc member 17 to their fully 
extended position, which occurs only when the stop mem- 
bers of all the elements are engaged, to thus form a 
dome-shaped punch. As shown in FIGURE 1, the ring 
200 is inserted and the blank hemisphere or diaphragm 
6 is positioned over the convex arcuate surfaces of the 
ring and disc members and secured in operative position 
by the ring 7 and screws 8. Thus, the upper and outer- 
most surfaces of the base 4, the extended rings and the 
disc form a curvilinear surface oonforming to the inner 
surface of the blank diaphragm 6. The die 2 is then 
brought into contact with the metal hemisphere or dia- 
phragm, by any suitable means and forced against hem- 
isphere 6 and the punch 1, FIGURE 2. The punch ele- 
ment, including the ring members 11, 15 and 16, and disc 
member 17, yield against the force imparted to the die 2, 
as better shown in FIGURE 2, and slide downwardly 
against the pressure of chamber 20 until the surface 26 
of the die 2 is adjacent the surface 9 of base member 4 
,thus forming the convolutions in the diaphragm in a man- 
ner such that stretching or yielding of the metal is mini- 
mized. However, as will be appreciated, it is necessary to 
remove ring 2 0 ~  prior to completion of the formation of 
the convolution in order to introduce a convolution of the 
metal of the hemisphere or diaphragm 6 at the point of its 
contact with the ring 20a. 
To remove the th~w convoluted diaphragm from the 
punch 1, without deforming the diaphragm, the pressure 
in cavity 210 is reduced to ambient, while the assembly is 
closed, or mated, as shown in FIGURE 2. The die 27 is 
then raised to its maximum pi t ion ,  as shown in MG- 
URE 1. While the telescoping punch 1 remains in its re- 
tracted or telescope position, the convoluted diaphragm 
is lifted 'from the punch without interference. 
Having described this invention, it is to be understood 
the invention provides a simpliied punch and die as- 
sembly, whereby convolutions or corrugations may be 
readily formed in a conventional hemispherical dia- 
phragm through a sequential formation beginning at 
the center of the blank without unduly stretching the 
blank material at the convolutions. 
While the invention as described herein, is considered 
to be its preferred embodiment, it should be recognized 
that variations may be made without departing from the 
scope d the invention defined by the appended claims. 
What is claimed is: 
L In an assembly of the type employed in forming 
diaphragms which are provided with bellows-like corruga- 
tions therein, the improvement comprising: 
at least a pair of telescoped cylindrical members, each 
having an arcruate transverse end smface extending 
downwardly and away from the longitudinal axis of 
the assembly and a disc member concentrically 
aligned within said qlindrical members having an 
external arcuate surface extenaing across the longi- 
tudinal axis of the assembly; 
pneumatic means adapted to impart longitudinal dis- 
placement to one of the cylindrical members of said 
pair and to said disc member relative to both of the 
cylindrical members; 
stop means acting against said pneumatic means 
3,443,412 
5 
adapted to arrest the longitudinal displawment im- 
parted by said pneumatic means, whereby the arcuate 
surfaces of said members and disc member may be 
brought into ,desired alignment to thus establish a 1,550,387 
- continuous curved smface; 1,7016,074 
means defining a series of concentric annular grooves 1,967,245 
in the continuous surface; and 1,999,386 
a reinforcing ring mounted in one of said grooves. 2,143,429 
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said reinforc- 3,115,678 
ing comprises an annular member having a generally 3,252,315 
wedge-shaaed cross section aonfimration. 
6 
References Cited I 
UNITED STATES PATENTS 
8/1925 Nilson ------------- 721349 
3/1929 Rode --------------- 72-349 
7/1934 Hothersall ---------- 72-351 
4/1935 Arnold ------------- 72-349 
1/1939 Auble -------------- 72-349 
12/1963 Keen ---------------- 18i--26 
5/1966 Muench ------------ 72-354 
&-The combination of claim lkherein said continuous c W ~  W. L m m ,  Primary Examiner. 
surface is of a hemispheric configuration and said grooves 
are ffabricated by shaping the internal uppermost end G. P. CROSBY~ Assistant 
surface of each of the members to thus form a surface 15 
which intersects each of the transverse arcuate surfaces U.S. C1. X.R. 
and extends downwardly toward the longitudinal axis of 72-382,432 
the assembly. 


Convoluting device for forming convolutions and the like Patent

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