Apparatus and method for deforming a workpiece
AssigneesBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System, General Electric Company
InventorsWilliam F. Weldon, Sulekh C. Jain
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method is provided for controlling the temperature of dies and workpiece throughout a deformation process. Dies are capable of receiving external current to resistively heat the workpiece and dies during the deformation operation, the external current being modulated by feedback temperature readings taken from the workpiece. External current may be provided from a homopolar generator capable of producing pulsed dc current at controllable intervals and magnitudes simultaneously through the dies and workpiece.
Claims13
Apparatus for deforming a workpiece, comprising:
- two conductive dies compressible upon opposite faces of a metal workpiece;
- an electrode electrically connected to each die;
- a current source electrically connected in series between each electrode to provide pulsed DC current simultaneously through said dies and said workpiece;
- and
- a temperature sensor placed to sense a temperature of said workpiece and electrically coupled to said current source to regulate said pulsed DC current in response to temperature sensed.
Apparatus for deforming a workpiece, comprising:
- two conductive dies compressible upon opposite faces of a metal workpiece;
- an electrode electrically connected to each die;
- a homopolar generator electrically connected in series between each electrode to provide pulsed DC current simultaneously through said dies and said workpiece;
- and
- a temperature sensor placed to sense a temperature of said workpiece and electrically coupled to said generator to regulate said pulsed DC current in response to temperature sensed.
A method for deforming a workpiece, comprising:
- providing a pair of electrically conductive dies;
- compressing a workpiece between said dies;
- resistively heating said dies and workpiece by applying pulsed DC current through said dies and workpiece during said compressing step;
- and
- maintaining a substantially constant temperature of said workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.