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US 2012/0073347 A1Published application
System And Method For Manufacturing An F-Temper 7xxx Series Aluminum Alloy
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsGeorge S. Luckey, Peter A. Friedman, Yingbing Luo, Rosa Lynda Nuno, Nia R. Harrison, Ronald P. Cooper
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Abstract
A system and a method of processing an F-temper aluminum alloy. An F-temper aluminum alloy blank may be heated and positioned in the die set such that the blank does not touch the die set. The blank may be formed into a part and quenched when the die set is closed.
Claims20
A method of forming an F-temper aluminum alloy, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an F-temper aluminum alloy blank;
- heating the blank;
- providing a die set;
- positioning the blank in the die set such that the blank does not touch the die set;
- and
- closing the die set on the blank to form the blank into a part while simultaneously quenching the part.
3 more elements
A method of forming an F-temper aluminum alloy into an automotive body panel, the method comprising the steps of:
- heating an F-temper 7xxx series aluminum alloy material to at least its solidus temperature while cooling a die set having a first die and a second die to a temperature equal to or between 1° C. and 30° C.;
- placing the material in the die set such that the material is spaced apart from the first die and the second die;
- and
- closing the die set on the material to form the material into the automotive body panel and simultaneously quenching the automotive body panel.
1 more element
A system for forming an F-temper aluminum alloy, the system comprising:
- a die set with a first die and a second die, the die set coolable to a temperature from 1° C. to 30° C.
- a heating apparatus for heating the alloy to at least its solidus temperature;
- a transfer mechanism for transferring the alloy from the heating apparatus to the die set;
- a staging apparatus in cooperation with the die set for staging the alloy between and offset from the first and second dies;
- and
- an actuator in cooperation with the die set for advancing one or both of the first and second dies toward the other, such that the die set forms the alloy into a part and simultaneously quenches the part to a temperature below the solidus temperature of the alloy.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.