EP0502620A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Improvements relating to superplastically formed components
Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
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Filing: 1992-02-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-02-13
Abstract
Abstract An improvement to the method of manufacturing superplastically formed components is disclosed. The improvement consists of the overlaying of additional sheets (12,56,58,60) (doublers) of superplastically formable material on the main sheet(s) (7,54) of material, prior to superplastic forming, in regions where additional strength in the final component is required, or where excessive elongation is to occur during forming which, otherwise, would result in the region being locally thinned/weakened.
Inventors
- 👤 Trevor Malcolm British Aerospace Jenkins
- 👤 Duncan Ralph British Aerospace Finch
- 👤 Alan Derek British Aerospace Collier
- 👤 Alfred British Aerospace Holden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:52
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D26/00; B21D26/02; B21D26/053; B21D26/055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of manufacturing a component from a main sheet of superplastically formable material (7,54) and at least one additional sheet of superplastically formable material (12,56,58,60) having a face of smaller area than a face of said main sheet, the method including the steps of overlaying said face of the at least one additional sheet on said face of the main sheet prior to superplastically forming the component, and superplastically forming the component such that after forming said face of the at least one additional sheets is substantially in contact with said face of said main sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said component is manufactured from a plurality of main sheets (1,2,3,4,) over at least one of which at least one additional sheet of material (12) is laid; selected areas of said main and additional sheets are pretreated with a bond inhibitor or to which a stop-off material has been applied; and said main and additional sheets are laid over one another and diffusion bonded as required and superplastically formed in a mould (6) to form a component with a cellular internal structure and having a thickened region (15,17) where said additional sheet is present.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one additional sheet of material is positioned on said main sheet in a region which when the main and additional sheets are positioned on a form tool will coincide with a region on the form tool (62) which defines a recess or protrusion (64), the main and additional sheets being formed into said component by placing them in the form tool and applying heat and pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 or claim 3, wherein said face of the at least one additional sheet is spot welded to said face of the main sheet prior to superplastic forming.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 or claim 3, wherein said face of the at least one additional sheet is line bonded to said face of the main sheet prior to superplastic forming.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 or claim 3, wherein said face of the at least one additional sheet is diffusion bonded to said face of the main sheet prior to superplastic forming.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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