Novel apparatus and solid state method for converting small pieces of metal to a workpiece

The method of forging a bale of selected steel scrap with a press of the harmonic type having opposed platens mounted on eccentrics for relative movement to form a solid steel mass, comprising the steps of:

• a. moving a bale of selected steel scrap along a path of travel between opposed platens of a harmonic press;
• b. constraining the platens for movement such that any point on each of said platens transcribes an initial forging path which is substantially reciprocal and transverse to said path of travel;
• c. feeding a leading end of the bale along said path of travel and between said platens to commence a forging compaction of the bale;
• and,
• d. changing the constraint on said platens during forging until each such point traverses a substantially elliptical forging path having a major axis which extends longitudinally relative to the path of travel such that the platens impact the bale with a rapid compaction stroke, remain in engagement with the bale to self-feed bale along the path of travel, and subsequently disengage the bale for a rapid return stroke.

The method of forging a bale of selected steel scrap with a press of the harmonic type having opposed platens mounted on eccentrics for relative movement, to convert the scrap to a solid mass of steel comprising the steps of:

• a. moving the bale along a path of travel between the platens of a harmonic press;
• b. constraining the platens for movement such that any point on each of said platens transcribes an initial forging path which is substantially reciprocal and transverse to said path of travel;
• c. feeding a leading end of the bale along said path of travel and between said platens to commence a forging compaction of the bale;
• and,
• d. thereafter changing the constraint on said platens such that each such point traverses a subsequent forging path having a feed motion paralleling the path of travel such that the press self feeds the bale as it is forged.

The method of forging a bale of selected steel scrap with a press of the harmonic type having opposed platens mounted on eccentrics for relative movement to convert the scrap to a solid mass of steel, comprising the steps of:

• a. moving the bale along a path of travel between the platens of a harmonic press;
• b. constraining the platens for movement such that any point on each of said platens transcribes a substantially elliptical initial forging path having its major axis transverse to said path of travel;
• c. feeding a leading end of the bale along said path of travel and between said platens to commence a forging compaction of the bale;
• and,
• d. thereafter changing the constraint on said platens such that each such point traverses a subsequent forging path having greater amplitude in directions paralleling the path of travel than said initial forging path.

The method of operating a harmonic press of the type having a pair of opposed platens mounted on eccentrics, to compact a bale of selected steel scrap into a solid steel mass, comprising the steps of:

• a. constraining movement of said platens so that each transcribes substantially an elliptical forging path having a major axis transverse to a path of bale travel;
• b. feeding a a bale of selected steel scrap along said path of travel to bring a leading edge of the bale into contact with the platens;
• c. continuing the feed until a leading portion of the bale has been compressed substantailly to its finished dimension by said press and there is substantial surface contact between the platens and the bale each time the platens impact the bale;
• and,
• d. thereafter adjusting the forging path of the platens such that any given point on a platen traverses a forging path having a bale feed motion paralleling the path of travel, whereby the bale is self fed by the press as it is forged.

A method of converting powdered steel into sheet steel comprising:

• a. heating a powdered steel charge to just under 1300.degree.F. in a slightly reducing atmosphere;
• b. while under the protection of said atmosphere, mechanically densifying said heated powder into an elongate body having a transverse width at least 20 times greater than the transverse thickness and a density of at least 85 percent of solid;
• and,
• c. said powder being converted to solid steel by subjecting progressive closely-spaced planar sections of said body to impulsed compacting forces along said section planes while said body is in said heated solid-state condition, said sections being perimetrally constrained while said impacting forces are being applied at a strain rate of 4-24 SEC.sup.-.sup.1 at 10-50 percent reductions.