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US 4,989,433 AGranted
Method and means for metal sizing employing thermal expansion and contraction
OwnerJohn L. Harmon, Charles Schiltz +1inventors
InventorsJohn L. Harmon, Charles Schiltz, Gerald W. McKenzie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved method and means for sizing metal configuration through the application of thermal expansion and contraction of a shaping mandrel. The thermally induced changes in the shaping mandrel are produced from within the body at the mandrel.
Claims26
A method of sizing an open-ended, metal circumferential enclosure, consisting essentially of the steps of:
- (a) inserting a close fitting metal mandrel having an aptly and accurately shaped body through the length of an open-ended, metal circumferential enclosure whereby the enclosure surrounds a portion of the mandrel and the mandrel extends through the open-ended enclosure, said mandrel being constructed of a metal having a coefficient of thermal expansions substantially greater than the metal of the surrounding open-ended enclosure and being provided with internal cooling and heating means;
- (b) heating the inserted metal mandrel to expand its shaped body to a dimension exceeding the internal dimension of the surrounding open-ended enclosure and thereby internally stretching the open-ended enclosure outward to an imposed accurate shape;
- (c) retaining a level of heat until the stretch shaped circumferential open-ended enclosure is annealed while in the stretch imposed shape;
- and
- (d) cooling the inserted metal mandrel to contract its shaped body to its initial dimension of smaller than the enclosure and withdrawing the mandrel from the shaped open-ended enclosure.
2 more elements
A method of sizing an open-ended, metal circumferential enclosure having an angular cross-section consisting essentially of the steps of:
- (a) inserting a close fitting metal mandrel having an aptly and accurately shaped body of angular cross-section through the length of an open-ended, elongated metal circumferential enclosure of angular cross-section whereby the enclosure surrounds a portion of the mandrel and the mandrel extends through the length of the open-ended enclosure, said mandrel being constructed of a metal having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially greater than the metal of the surrounding open-ended enclosure, and said mandrel being provided with internal cooling and heating means including the flow of a temperature modifying fluid;
- (b) heating the inserted metal mandrel with an internal flow of a heated fluid to expand its shaped body to a dimension exceeding the initial internal dimension of the surrounding open-ended enclosure and thereby internally stretching the enclosure outward to an imposed accurate shape;
- (c) retaining a level of heat until the stretch shaped circumferential enclosure is thermally annealed while in the stretch imposed shape;
- and
- (d) cooling the inserted metal mandrel with an internal flow of cooled fluid to contact its shaped body to its initial dimension of smaller than the open-ended enclosure, and withdrawing the mandrel from the shaped enclosure.
2 more elements
A method of sizing an open-ended, zirconium alloy metal circumferential enclosure consisting of a channel having a generally square cross-section, consisting essentially of the steps of:
- (a) inserting a close fitting metal mandrel having an aptly and accurately shaped elongated body of generally square cross-section through the length of an open-ended, elongated metal circumferential enclosure consisting of a nuclear reactor fuel channel whereby the open-ended channel enclosure surrounds the mandrel and the mandrel extends through the length of the open-ended channel, said mandrel being constructed of a metal having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially greater than the metal of the surrounding open-ended channel enclosure, and said mandrel being provided with internal cooling and heating means including a duct for the flow therethrough of a temperature modifying fluids;
- (b) heating the inserted metal mandrel to expand its shaped body to a dimension exceeding the initial internal dimension of the surrounding open-ended channel enclosure and thereby internally stretching the channel enclosure outward to an imposed accurate shape;
- (c) retaining a level of heat in the channel enclosure until the stretch shaped channel enclosure is thermally annealed while held in the stretch imposed shape;
- and
- (d) cooling the inserted metal mandrel with a flow of cooling fluid to contract its heat expanded shaped body to its initial dimension of small than the open-ended channel enclosure, and withdrawing the mandrel from the shaped channel enclosure.
2 more elements
An apparatus for accurately sizing open-ended metal circumferential enclosures, consisting essentially of the combination of:
- (a) a chamber for heating and cooling;
- (b) at least one aptly and accurately shaped sizing mandrel enclosed within said chamber and fixed therein at one end supported generally vertical, said sizing mandrel having at least one duct passing through its interior to provide a passage for a temperature modifying fluid whereby the mandrel can be cooled to contract its shaped body and heated to expand its shaped body;
- (c) a system for circulating a temperature modifying fluid through said sizing mandrel including a circulating conduit in fluid connection with the duct passing through the sizing mandrel and having a fluid flow propelling means and cooling and heating means for circulating either a cooling fluid through the sizing mandrel to contract its shaped body or a heating fluid through the sizing mandrel to expand its shaped body.
An apparatus for accurately sizing open-ended metal circumferential enclosures, consisting essentially of the combination of:
- (a) a closed chamber for heating and cooling;
- (b) a multiplicity of aptly and accurately shaped sizing mandrel supported substantially vertically enclosed within the chamber and positioned at this lower end to a base of the chamber, said sizing mandrels having at least one duct passing the length thereof through their interior to provide a passage for a temperature modifying fluid whereby the mandrel can be cooled to contract its shaped body or heated to expand its shaped body;
- (c) a system for circulating a temperature modifying fluid through said sizing mandrels including a circulating conduit in fluid connection with the ducts passing through the sizing mandrels and having fluid flow propelling means and cooling and heating means for circulating either a cooling fluid through the sizing mandrels to contract these shaped bodies or a heating fluid through the sizing mandrels to expand their shaped bodies, and cycling the temperatures modifying fluid from the sizing mandrels through the chamber and around through the circulating system for return through the sizing mandrels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.