Forming curved segments from metal plates
AssigneeGeneral Dynamics Corporation
InventorRoger F. Mullen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A large flat metal plate is formed to have a three-dimensional shape of compound curvature by locally heating to an elevated temperature along predetermined lines and then quickly cooling, as by using a torch which carries a water spray nozzle. The heating extends completely through the thickness of the plate, and cooling causes significant shrinkage in the plane thereof in a direction perpendicular to the line of heating. Heating is carried out along lines in a geometric pattern and in a preselected sequence involving all quadrants of the plate so that it experiences a gradual transformation overall. The plate is normally supported upon an underlying cradle shaped to the desired compound curvature.
Claims11
A method of forming a metal plate to have a three-dimensional shape of predetermined compound curvature, which method comprises
- locally heating a metal plate to an elevated temperature along a relatively narrow band by moving a heat source along a predetermined line at a rate such that said heating extends completely through the thickness of said plate,
- quickly cooling said plate along said line following said heating so that significant shrinkage occurs within the plane of said plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to said line of heating, and
- repeating said heating and cooling steps along additional lines in a preselected geometric pattern arranged throughout all regions of the plate which pattern is derived from the linear distortion which is inherent in the projection of the predetermined compound curvature onto said metal plate whereby the total result of said in-plane shrinkage is that said plate assumes said predetermined compound curvature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.