Superplastic multi-layer forming
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsJohn Robert Bradley, John E. Carsley, Jacob Lyjak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The superplastic forming of suitable metal alloy sheets into strong components, such as automobile body structures or panels, is improved and accomplished faster by simultaneously forming two or more substantially identical, relatively thin sheets, preferably about 2 mm or less in thickness, rather than a single sheet of the same overall thickness. For example, two or more layers of thin AA5083 sheets can be stretched formed together at about 500° C. with greater deformation and elongation than a single sheet of comparable thickness.
Claims4
A method for superplastic forming of a sheet metal product by permanent deformation of sheet stock of superplastic metal alloy, said method comprising
- forming a stack comp ising two or more individual sheets of cold-rolled superplastic aluminum metal alloy material,
- heating the stacked sheets to their superplastic forming condition,
- forming said stacked sheets as a unit into a nested configuration of a half section of a desired article having a cross-sectional plane of symmetry without forming diffusion bonds between said sheets,
- separating said sheets, and
- assembling them in the full cross section of said article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.