Patent EP0535935A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0535935A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Improvement relating to diffusion bonded/superplastically formed cellular structures
Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
•
Filing: 1992-09-30
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2012-09-30
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a process of forming components having selectively thickened regions from superplastically formable and diffusion bondable materials. The said selected thickening is achieved by positioning metal matrix composite plies (15) between the interior surface of each of the formed skin sheets (1,13) of the component and the sheets (17,19) which will form the internal cells (39), superplastically forming the cells (39), and then diffusion bonding the component to form a metallurgically bonded structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen H. British Aerospace Def.Ltd. Johnston
- 👤 Duncan R. British Aerospace Def.Ltd. Finch
- 👤 Brian British Aerospace Def.Ltd. Ginty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:07
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D26/00; B21D26/02; B21D26/053; B21D26/055; B21D53/00; B21D53/02; B21D53/04; B21D53/045; B23; B23K; B23K20/00; B23K20/002; B23K20/02; B23K20/023; F; F28; F28F; F28F3/00; F28F3/12; F28F3/14; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49316; Y10T29/49336; Y10T29/49339
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of manufacturing a component from at least three sheets of material, at least one of which is a superplastically formable sheet, the method including the steps of attaching at least one ply of metal matrix composite (MMC) to a surface of one of two of said at least three sheets of material, said two sheets being substantially formed to a shape required for them in the manufactured component; diffusion bonding one of said at least one superplastically formable sheets of material to the other of said two sheets in selected areas; superplasticallyforming said superplastically formable sheet when same is positioned between respective ones of said two sheets such that the said superplastically formable sheet bows out and forms a plurality of cells, the shape of which are determined by positions of surfaces consisting of the said two sheets, the MMC ply or plies and the adjacent cell or cells with which they come into contact; and diffusion bonding the superplastically formed cells to said surfaces and said one of two sheets to said MMC ply or plies.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of manufacturing a component from at least three sheets of material, at least one of which is a superplastically formable sheet, the method including the steps of attaching at least one ply of metal matrix composite (MMC) to a surface of one of two of said at least three sheets of material, said two sheets being substantially formed to a shape required for them in the manufactured component; diffusion bonding one of said at least one superplastically formable sheets of material to the other of said two sheets in selected areas; superplasticallyforming said superplastically formable sheet when same is positioned between respective ones of said two sheets such that the said superplastically formable sheet bows out and forms a plurality of cells, the shape of which are determined by positions of surfaces consisting of the said two sheets, the MMC ply or plies and the adjacent cell or cells with which they come into contact; and diffusion bonding the superplastically formed cells to said surfaces and said one of two sheets to said MMC ply or plies.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of manufacturing a component from at least four sheets of material, at least two of which are superplastically formable sheets, the method including the steps of attaching at least one ply of metal matrix composite (MMC) to a surface of one of two of said at least four sheets of material, said two sheets being substantially formed to a shape required for them in the manufactured component; diffusion bonding two of said at least two superplastically formable sheets of material together in selected areas; superplastically forming said two superplastically formable sheets when same are positioned between respective ones of said two sheets such that the said two superplastically formable sheets bow out and form a plurality of cells, the shape of which are determined by positions of surfaces consisting of the said two sheets, the MMC ply or plies and the adjacent cell or cells with which they come into contact; and diffusion bonding the superplastically formed cells to said surfaces and the said two sheets to said MMC ply or plies.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of manufacturing a component from at least four sheets of material, at least two of which are superplastically formable sheets, the method including the steps of attaching at least one ply of metal matrix composite (MMC) to a surface of one of two of said at least four sheets of material, said two sheets being substantially formed to a shape required for them in the manufactured component; diffusion bonding two of said at least two superplastically formable sheets of material together in selected areas; superplastically forming said two superplastically formable sheets when same are positioned between respective ones of said two sheets such that the said two superplastically formable sheets bow out and form a plurality of cells, the shape of which are determined by positions of surfaces consisting of the said two sheets, the MMC ply or plies and the adjacent cell or cells with which they come into contact; and diffusion bonding the superplastically formed cells to said surfaces and the said two sheets to said MMC ply or plies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Amethod according to claims 1 or2, wherein said two sheets are superplastically formed to a shape required for them in the manufactured component.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
22 words
A method according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the second diffusion bonding step is performed in a hot isostatic press.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Amethod according to claims 1,2,3 or4, wherein said MMC comprises continuous silicon carbide (SiC) fibre in titanium-based alloy.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
20 words
A method of manufacturing a component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
20 words
A method of manufacturing a component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A component manufactured by a method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2095137A
Cited
US5098011A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.