Creep forming a work piece
OwnerStephen Shultz, Peter Nash +1inventors
InventorsStephen Shultz, Peter Nash, Anthony Vinter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of forming a work piece using a die and a load is provided. The method comprises placing the work piece on a die having a predetermined contour and applying a load on the work piece. The work piece, the die and the load are then heated to an annealing temperature of the work piece such that the work piece, the die and the load are iso-thermal. The method also includes creep forming the work piece such that the work piece develops the predetermined contour during the annealing operation. The work piece, the die and the load are then slow cooled such that the work piece, the die and the load are iso-thermal.
Claims21
A method of forming a work piece comprising:
- placing a work piece on a first die having a predetermined contour;
- applying a load on the work piece;
- iso-thermally heating the work piece, the first die and the load;
- forming the work piece using the load such that the work piece has the predetermined contour;
- and
- iso-thermally cooling the work piece, the first die and the load.
A method of hot forming a work piece comprising:
- placing a work piece on a first die having a predetermined contour;
- placing a load on the work piece, wherein the load exceeds a creep limit of the work piece;
- annealing the work piece while the work piece is disposed on the first die and the load is placed on the work piece wherein the work piece, the first die and the load are iso-thermal during the annealing operation;
- forming the work piece with the load wherein the forming occurs during annealing of the work piece such that a shape of the work piece is the same as the predetermined contour wherein annealing the work piece and forming the work piece are simultaneous;
- and
- iso thermally cooling the work piece, the first die, and the load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.