Billet Handling Systems for Shear Assisted Extrusion

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a dummy block for a shear assisted direct extrusion press. The dummy block comprises a mandrel comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a surface configured to interface with a billet. The surface comprises a plurality of structures protruding from the surface, wherein the plurality of structures are configured to protrude into the billet during a shear assisted direct extrusion process to transmit rotational torque from the dummy block to the billet. The mandrel may have a tapered shape with the first end having a larger diameter than the second end. The plurality of structures may comprise shapes including cross-spade configurations, arced cross-spade arrangements, spreader dished patterns, spreader domed geometries, or protruding cones. The structures include rounded corners where the structures intersect with the surface to facilitate insertion and retraction operations. The dummy block may be manufactured from steel compositions and configured to transmit torques greater than or equal to 20 MN for commercial scale extrusion operations processing parts with diameters of 7 inches or greater.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.