Isothermal metal forming apparatus

In apparatus for forming a metallic workpiece into a component of selected configuration by effecting lateral spreading of the workpiece metal and comprising:

• a rotatable, pressure applying electrode fabricated of a refractory metal;
• means disposed in spaced relation to said electrode for supporting the workpiece;
• means supporting said electrode for movement toward and away from said workpiece supporting means;
• means operable to so bias said electrode toward said workpiece supporting means that it exerts a force of selected magnitude on said workpiece;
• means for heating both said workpiece in that region thereof between the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means and that portion of the electrode contiguous to the workpiece and for impeding the flow of heat away from said heated portion of said electrode to keep said electrode from chilling said workpiece comprising means for connecting the workpiece across an electrical power source through the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means;
• means for so regulating the current density through the workpiece and the force exerted on it by the rotatable pressure applying electrode as to maintain the temperature of said workpiece below its melting point but sufficiently high to produce in the heated region between the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means a localized zone in which the workpiece is in a plastic and flowable condition;
• and means for effecting a translation of the workpiece relative to the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means to thereby cause the zone in which the plastic condition exists to proceed along the workpiece;
• wherein the pressure applying electrode has a bevelled or crowned peripheral configuration to promote the lateral flow of workpiece metal.

Apparatus for the solid state forming of a metallic workpiece into a component of selected configuration, comprising:

• a rotatable, pressure applying electrode fabricated of a refractory metal and having a peripheral portion engageable with the workpiece, said peripheral portion having at least one cavity into which the workpiece metal can flow to thereby impart a selected configuration to said workpiece;
• means disposed in spaced relation to said electrode for supporting the workpiece;
• means supporting said electrode for movement toward and away from said workpiece supporting means;
• means operable to so bias said electrode toward said workpiece supporting means that it exerts a force of selected magnitude on said workpiece;
• means for heating both said workpiece in that region thereof between the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means and that portion of the electrode contiguous to the workpiece and for impeding the flow of heat away from said heated portion of said electrode to keep said electrode from chilling said workpiece comprising means for connecting the workpiece across an electrical power source through the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means;
• means for so regulating the current density through the workpiece and the force exerted on it by the rotatable pressure applying electrode as to maintain the temperature of said workpiece below its melting point but sufficiently high to produce in the heated region between the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means a localized zone in which the workpiece is in a plastic and flowable condition;
• and means for effecting a translation of the workpiece relative to the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means to thereby cause the zone in which the plastic condition exists to proceed along the workpiece and the metal in said workpiece to flow into the cavity in the rotatable electrode to thereby impart said selected configuration to said workpiece.

Multi-stand apparatus for the solid state forming of a metallic workpiece into a component of selected configuration, comprising:

• a plurality of forming stands disposed so that the workpiece can proceed from one of said stands after having been formed therein to the next of said stands for further forming, there being at each of said stands:
• a rotatable, pressure applying electrode fabricated of a refractory metal;
• means disposed in spaced relation to said electrode for supporting the workpiece;
• means supporting said electrode for movement toward and away from said workpiece supporting means;
• means operable to so bias said electrode toward said workpiece supporting means that it exerts a force of selected magnitude on said workpiece;
• means for heating both said workpiece in that region thereof between the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means and that portion of the electrode contiguous to the workpiece and for impeding the flow of heat away from said heated portion of said electrode to keep said electrode from chilling said workpiece comprising means for connecting the workpiece across an electrical power source through the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means;
• means for so regulating the current density through the workpiece and the force exerted on it by the rotatable pressure applying electrode as to maintain the temperature of said workpiece below its melting point but sufficiently high to produce in the heated region between the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means a localized zone in which the workpiece is in a plastic and flowable condition;
• and means for effecting a translation of the workpiece relative to the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means to thereby cause the zone in which the plastic condition exists to proceed along the workpiece.

Apparatus for the solid state forming of a metallic workpiece into a component of selected configuration, comprising:

• a rotatable, pressure applying electrode fabricated of a refractory metal;
• means disposed in spaced relation to said electrode for supporting the workpiece;
• means supporting said electrode for movement toward and away from said workpiece supporting means;
• means operable to so bias said electrode toward said workpiece supporting means that it exerts a force of selected magnitude on said workpiece;
• means for heating both said workpiece in that region thereof between the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means and that portion of the electrode contiguous to the workpiece and for impeding the flow of heat away from said heated portion of said electrode to keep said electrode from chilling said workpiece comprising means for connecting the workpiece across an electrical power source through the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means;
• means for so regulating the current density through the workpiece and the force exerted on it by the rotatable pressure applying electrode as to maintain the temperature of said workpiece below its melting point but sufficiently high to produce in the heated region between the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means a localized zone in which the workpiece is in a plastic and flowable condition;
• means for effecting a translation of the workpiece relative to the pressure applying electrode and the workpiece supporting means to thereby cause the zone in which the plastic condition exists to proceed along the workpiece;
• and rotatably mounted members on opposite sides of the path of workpiece movement at the location where the plastic condition exists for limiting the lateral flow of the workpiece metal.