# US 5,344,508 A · Flow forming of aluminum alloy products

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- Number: US 5,344,508 A
- Document ID: US5344508A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/134,706
- Filed: 1993-10-12
- Granted: 1994-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 1993-10-12
- Assignees: AlliedSignal Inc.
- Inventors: Paul S. Gilman; Anthony Testa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5344508A

## CPC

- B21D 22/14: Spinning
- B21C 23/085: {Making tubes (B21C23/10 take precedence)}
- B22F 3/20: by extruding
- C22C 1/0416: {Aluminium-based alloys}
- C22F 1/04: of aluminium or alloys based thereon
- Y10S 72/70: Deforming specified alloys or uncommon metal or bimetallic work
- B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F)
- B21C: MANUFACTURE OF METAL SHEETS, WIRE, RODS, TUBES, PROFILES OR LIKE SEMI-MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS OTHERWISE THAN BY ROLLING; AUXILIARY OPERATIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL
- B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F)
- C22F: CHANGING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF NON-FERROUS METALS AND NON-FERROUS ALLOYS (surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class C23 and at least one process covered by this subclass, C23F17/00)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

Rapidly solidified aluminum base alloy is flow formed into tubes and tubular components using conventional flow forming equipment. A preform of preselected configuration and wall thickness for either forward or back spinning is fabricated. Flow forming is then carried out. The beginning of the flow forming step is offset by leaving undeformed a small section of the preform.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for flow forming a rapidly solidified aluminum base alloy consisting essentially of the formula Al.sub.bal Fe.sub.a Si.sub.b X.sub.c, where X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, V, Cr, Mo, W, Nb, Ta, "a" ranges from 2.0 to 7.5 atomic %, "b" ranges from 0.5 to 3.0 atomic %, "c" ranges from 0.05 to 3.5 atomic % and the balance is aluminum plus incidental impurities, the process comprising the steps of:
a. preparing a preform of preselected configuration and wall thickness for either forward or back spinning; and
b. offsetting the beginning of flow forming by leaving undeformed a small section of said preform.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A process as recited by claim 1, wherein said offset of the initiation of flow forming is at least 3 mm from initiation end of the preform.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A flow formed product composed of a rapidly solidified aluminum base alloy and having been formed by the process of claim 1.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A process as recited by claim 1, wherein said flow forming preform is fabricated from an extruded bar, said bar being extruded using an extrusion ratio of at least 8 to 1.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A process as recited by claim 1, wherein said flow forming preform is fabricated from a direct extruded tube, said tube being extruded using an extrusion ratio of at least 4 to 1.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A process as recited by claim 1, wherein said flow forming preform is fabricated from a back extruded or forged tube, said tube being fabricated using an area reduction ratio of at least 4 to 1.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A process recited by claim 1 wherein said aluminum base alloy has a composition consisting essentially of 4.33 atomic % iron, 0.73 atomic % vanadium, 1,72 atomic % silicon and the balance being aluminum.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A process recited by claim 1 wherein said aluminum base alloy has a composition consisting essentially of 2.73 atomic % iron, 0..27 atomic % vanadium, 1.05 atomic % silicon and the balance being aluminum.