Processes for extruding a product

Claim 2

Method of forming a product from a preform including a body of first predetermined material provided with a predetermined physical configuration and at least one aperture, and further including a deformable mandrel of a body of second predetermined material residing in said aperture, the mechanical properties of said second predetermined material being related predeterminedly to the mechanical properties of said first predetermined material, and said first predetermined material having a predetermined volume ratio with respect to said product to be formed therefrom, and said body of second predetermined material having a predetermined volume ratio with respect to said body of first predetermined material, comprising the steps of: extruding said preform through said extrusion die such that said bodies of first and second materials experience a predetermined percentage of reduction in area; subsequently annealing said extruded body of first predetermined material at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined period of time to relieve internal stress in said body of first predetermined material caused by said extrusion, to facilitate subsequent work hardening of said body of extruded first predetermined material and to raise the elongation property of said body of extruded first predetermined material above the elongation property thereof after said extrusion; and subsequently providing work hardening to said body of extruded and annealed first predetermined material to raise the ultimate and yield strengTh properties of said extruded and annealed body of first predetermined material above the ultimate and yield strength properties thereof after said annealing.

Claim 3

Method according to claim 1 including the further step of bonding said deformable mandrel to said body of first predetermined material prior to said extrusion to assure simultaneous extrusion of said bodies of first and second predetermined materials during said extrusion.

Claim 4

Method according to claim 1 including the further step of lubricating the outer surface of said body of first predetermined material prior to said extrusion to facilitate said extrusion.

Claim 5

Method according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined annealing temperature is in the range of 1,300*F to 1,500*F.

Claim 6

Method according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined annealing period of time is in the range of 1 to 3 hours.

Claim 7

Method according to claim 1 wherein said work hardening is provided by ring rolling.

Claim 8

Method according to claim 1 wherein said work hardening is provided by shear spinning.

Claim 9

Method according to claim 1 wherein said extrusion is hydrostatic extrusion.

Claim 10

Method according to claim 8 including the further step of surrounding said body of first predetermined material of said preform with a body of third predetermined material of predetermined physical configuration prior to said hydrostatic extrusion to provide a predetermined volume of hydrostatic extrusion fluid between the wall of the extrusion chamber wherein said hydrostatic extrusion occurs and the preform including said bodies of first, second and third predetermined materials.

Claim 11

Method according to claim 1 including the further steps of providing said preform, providing a body of said first predetermined material with a predetermined physical configuration and with a predetermined volume ratio with respect to said product to be formed, and further providing said body of first predetermined material with at least one aperture; providing a deformable mandrel from a body of second predetermined material having mechanical properties predeterminedly related to the mechanical properties of said first predetermined material, including providing said body of second predetermined material with a predetermined physical configuration for close accommodation within said aperture formed in said first body of predetermined material and with a predetermined volume ratio with respect to said body of first predetermined material; and inserting said deformable mandrel into said aperture formed in said body of first predetermined material to provide said preform.

Claim 12

Method according to claim 10 including the further step of providing one of said preform with a predetermined physical configuration for complementary engagement with the throat of said extrusion die.

Claim 13

Method according to claim 10 wherein said body of second predetermined material is provided from material having mechanical properties substantially the same as the mechanical properties of said first predetermined material.

Claim 14

Method according to claim 10 wherein said body of second predetermined material is provided from material having mechanical properties less in magnitude than the mechanical properties of said first predetermined material.

Claim 15

Method of forming a product from a preform including a body of first predetermined material provided with a predetermined physical configuration and at least one aperture, and further including a deformable mandrel of a body of second predetermined material closely residing in said aperture, the mechanical properties of said second predetermined material being related predeterminedly to the mechanical properties of said first predetermined material, and said first predetermined material having a predetermined volume ratio with respect to said product to be formed therefrom and said second material having a predetermined volume ratio with respect to said body of first predetermined matErial, comprising the steps of: extruding said preform through an extrusion die to provide said first and second bodies of predetermined materials with a predetermined percentage of reduction in area; subsequently annealing at least said extruded body of first predetermined material at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined period of time to relieve internal stress therein caused by said extrusion, to facilitate removal of said extruded deformable mandrel from said body of extruded first predetermined material, to facilitate subsequent work hardening of said body of extruded first predetermined material, and to raise the elongation property of said body of said extruded first predetermined material above the elongation property thereof after said extrusion; removing said deformable mandrel from said body of extruded and annealed first predetermined material whereby said extruded and annealed body of first predetermined material is provided with an aperture smaller in size that said one aperture; inserting a non-deformable mandrel of a third predetermined material into said smaller sized aperture provided in said body of extruded and annealed first predetermined material, said non-deformable mandrel having a predetermined physical configuration for accommodation within said smaller sized aperture, and said third predetermined material having mechanical properties related predeterminedly to the mechanical properties of said first predetermined material; and providing said extruded and annealed body of first predetermined material with a predetermined percentage of reduction in area and raising the ultimate and yield strength properties of said extruded and annealed body of first predetermined material above the ultimate and yield strength properties thereof after said annealing; and removing said non-deformable mandrel from said body of first predetermined material whereby said product is formed.

Claim 16

Method of forming a product from a preform including a body of first predetermined material provided with a predetermined physical configuration and at least one aperture, and further including a deformable mandrel of a body of second predetermined material closely residing in said aperture, the mechanical properties of said second predetermined material being related predeterminedly to the mechanical properties of said first predetermined material, and said first predetermined material having a predetermined volume ratio with respect to said product to be formed therefrom and said second material having a predetermined volume ratio with respect to said body of first predetermined matErial, comprising the steps of: extruding said preform through an extrusion die to provide said first and second bodies of predetermined materials with a predetermined percentage of reduction in area; subsequently annealing at least said extruded body of first predetermined material at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined period of time to relieve internal stress therein caused by said extrusion, to facilitate removal of said extruded deformable mandrel from said body of extruded first predetermined material, to facilitate subsequent work hardening of said body of extruded first predetermined material, and to raise the elongation property of said body of said extruded first predetermined material above the elongation property thereof after said extrusion; removing said deformable mandrel from said body of extruded and annealed first predetermined material whereby said extruded and annealed body of first predetermined material is provided with an aperture smaller in size that said one aperture; inserting a non-deformable mandrel of a third predetermined material into said smaller sized aperture provided in said body of extruded and annealed first predetermined material, said non-deformable mandrel having a predetermined physical configuration for accommodation within said smaller sized aperture, and said third predetermined material having mechanical properties related predeterminedly to the mechanical properties of said first predetermined material; and providing said extruded and annealed body of first predetermined material with a predetermined percentage of reduction in area and raising the ultimate and yield strength properties of said extruded and annealed body of first predetermined material above the ultimate and yield strength properties thereof after said annealing; and removing said non-deformable mandrel from said body of first predetermined material whereby said product is formed.

Claim 17

Method according to claim 14 wherein said extrusion provides said body of first predetermined material with a predetermined percentage of reduction in area in the range of 80 to 99 percent.

Claim 18

Method according to claim 14 wherein said extruded and annealed body of first predetermined material is provided with a predetermined percentage of reduction in area in the range of 25 to 50 percent.

Claim 19

Method according to claim 14 wherein said extrusion is accomplished by hydrostatic extrusion.

Claim 20

Method according to claim 17 including the further step of surrounding said body of first predetermined material of said preform with a body of third predetermined material of predetermined physical configuration prior to said hydrostatic extrusion to provide a predetermined volume of hydrostatic extrusion fluid between the wall of the extrusion chamber wherein said hydrostatic extrusion occurs and the preform incuding said bodies of first, second and third predetermined materials.

Claim 21

Method according to claim 14 wherein said predetermined annealing temperature is in the range of 1,300* F to 1,500* F.

Claim 22

Method according to claim 14 wherein said predetermined annealing period is from 1 to 3 hours.

Claim 23

Method according to claim 14 wherein said deformable mandrel is removed from said body of extruded and annealed first predetermined material by ring rolling.

Claim 24

Method according to claim 14 wherein said extruded and annealed body of first predetermined material is provided with said predetermined percentage of reduction in area and wherein said ultimate and yield strengths of said extruded and annealed body of first predetermined material are raised by shear spinning.

Claim 25

Method according to claim 14 including the additional step of further annealing said body of first predetermined material at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined period of time to raise the elongation thereof above the elongation thereof after said step of raising the ultimate and yieLd strength properties of said extruded body of first predetermined material.

Claim 26

Method according to claim 23 wherein said predetermined temperature is in the range of from 1,100*F to 1,700*F and wherein said predetermined time period is from 1 to 3 hours.

Claim 27

Method according to claim 23 including the further step of providing said body of first predetermined material with a further predetermined percentage of reduction in area and with a raising of the ultimate and yield strengths thereof above the ultimate and yield strengths thereof after said additional step of annealing.

Claim 28

Method according to claim 25 wherein said recited further step is accomplished by shear spinning.

Claim 29

Method according to claim 14 including the further step of stress relieving said body of first predetermined material to relieve at least a portion of the internal stress produced in said body of first predetermined material by said step of raising the ultimate and yield strength properties of said extruded body of first predetermined material.

Claim 30

Method according to claim 27 wherein said stress relieving step is accomplished by heating said body of first predetermined material at a temperature in the range of from 650*F to 1,100*F and for a period of time from 1 to 3 hours.

Claim 31

Method according to claim 27 including an additional cold working step for providing said body of first predetermined material with a further predetermined percentage reduction in area and with a raising of the ultimate and yield strengths thereof above the ultimate and yield strengths thereof after said step of stress relieving.

Claim 32

Method according to claim 29 wherein said additional cold working step is accomplished by shear spinning.

Claim 33

Method according to claim 14 wherein the mechanical properties of said second predetermined material are related predeterminedly to the mechanical properties of said first predetermined material by said second predetermined material being less hard than said first predetermined material.

Claim 34

Method of producing titanium alloy tubing from a preform including a billet of titanium alloy provided with a predetermined physical configuration and at least one aperture, and further including a deformable mandrel of a body of predetermined material closely residing in said aperture, said predetermined material of said deformable mandrel being less hard than said billet of titanium alloy, and said titanium alloy billet having a predetermined volume ratio with respect to said tubing to be formed therefrom and said deformable material having a predetermined volume ratio with respect to said billet of titanium alloy, comprising the steps of: hydrostatically extruding said preform through an extrusion die to provide said billet of titanium alloy and said deformable mandrel with a predetermined percentage of reduction in area; subsequently annealing at least said extruded billet of titanium alloy at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined period of time to relieve internal stress therein caused by said extrusion, to facilitate removal of said extruded deformable mandrel therefrom, to facilitate subsequent work hardening and further percentage of reduction in area of said extruded billet of titanium alloy, and to raise the elongation property of said extruded billet of titanium alloy above the elongation property thereof after said extrusion; ring rolling said extruded and annealed billet of titanium alloy to provide relaxation of said extruded and annealed titanium alloy billet about said extruded deformable mandrel to permit removal of said deformable mandrel from said extruded and annealed billet of titanium alloy; removing said deformable mandrel from said extruded and annealed titanium alloy billet whereby said extruded and annealed titanium alloy billet is provided with an aperture smaller in size than said one aperture; inserting a non-deformable mandrel of a secoNd predetermined material into said smaller sized aperture provided in said extruded and annealed titanium alloy billet, said non-deformable mandrel having a predetermined physical configuration for close accommodation within said smaller sized aperture, and said second predetermined material of said non-deformable mandrel being of a greater hardness than the hardness of said extruded and annealed titanium alloy billet so as to provide internal support to said extruded and annealed titanium alloy billet during subsequent reduction in area and cold working thereof; cold working said extruded and annealed billet of titanium alloy supported internally by said non-deformable mandrel to provide said extruded and annealed titanium alloy billet with a predetermined percentage of reduction in area and to raise the ultimate and yield strength properties of said extruded and annealed billet of titanium alloy above the ultimate and yield strength properties thereof after said annealing; and removing said non-deformable mandrel from said extruded, annealed and cold worked billet of titanium alloy whereby said titanium alloy tubing is formed.

Claim 35

Method of producing titanium alloy tubing from a preform including a billet of titanium alloy provided with a predetermined physical configuration and at least one aperture, and further including a deformable mandrel of a body of predetermined material closely residing in said aperture, said predetermined material of said deformable mandrel being less hard than said billet of titanium alloy, and said titanium alloy billet having a predetermined volume ratio with respect to said tubing to be formed therefrom and said deformable material having a predetermined volume ratio with respect to said billet of titanium alloy, comprising the steps of: hydrostatically extruding said preform through an extrusion die to provide said billet of titanium alloy and said deformable mandrel with a predetermined percentage of reduction in area; subsequently annealing at least said extruded billet of titanium alloy at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined period of time to relieve internal stress therein caused by said extrusion, to facilitate removal of said extruded deformable mandrel therefrom, to facilitate subsequent work hardening and further percentage of reduction in area of said extruded billet of titanium alloy, and to raise the elongation property of said extruded billet of titanium alloy above the elongation property thereof after said extrusion; ring rolling said extruded and annealed billet of titanium alloy to provide relaxation of said extruded and annealed titanium alloy billet about said extruded deformable mandrel to permit removal of said deformable mandrel from said extruded and annealed billet of titanium alloy; removing said deformable mandrel from said extruded and annealed titanium alloy billet whereby said extruded and annealed titanium alloy billet is provided with an aperture smaller in size than said one aperture; inserting a non-deformable mandrel of a secoNd predetermined material into said smaller sized aperture provided in said extruded and annealed titanium alloy billet, said non-deformable mandrel having a predetermined physical configuration for close accommodation within said smaller sized aperture, and said second predetermined material of said non-deformable mandrel being of a greater hardness than the hardness of said extruded and annealed titanium alloy billet so as to provide internal support to said extruded and annealed titanium alloy billet during subsequent reduction in area and cold working thereof; cold working said extruded and annealed billet of titanium alloy supported internally by said non-deformable mandrel to provide said extruded and annealed titanium alloy billet with a predetermined percentage of reduction in area and to raise the ultimate and yield strength properties of said extruded and annealed billet of titanium alloy above the ultimate and yield strength properties thereof after said annealing; and removing said non-deformable mandrel from said extruded, annealed and cold worked billet of titanium alloy whereby said titanium alloy tubing is formed.

Claim 36

Method according to claim 32 wherein said hydrostatic extrusion provides said billet of titanium alloy with a predetermined percentage of reduction in area in the range of 80 to 99 percent.

Claim 37

Method according to claim 32 wherein said cold working provides said extruded and annealed billet of titanium alloy with a predetermined percentage of reduction in area in the range of 25 to 50 percent.

Claim 38

Method according to claim 32 wherein said predetermined annealing temperature is in the range of 1,300*F to 1,500*F. and wherein said predetermined anealing period is from 1 to 3 hours.

Claim 39

Method according to claim 32 wherein said cold working is provided by shear spinning.

Claim 40

Method according to claim 32 including the further step of surrounding said preform including said billet of titanium alloy and said deformable mandrel with a body of second predetermined material of predetermined physical configuration prior to said hydrostatic extrusion to provide a predetermined volume of hydrostatic extrusion fluid between the wall of the extrusion chamber wherein said hydrostatic extrusion occurs and said preform and surrounding body of second predetermined material.

Claim 41

Method according to claim 32 including the additional step of further annealing said titanium alloy tubing at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined period of time to raise the elongation thereof above the elongation thereof after said cold working step of raising the ultimate and yield strength properties of said titanium alloy tubing.

Claim 42

Method according to claim 38 wherein said predetermined temperature is in the range of from 1,100*F to 1,700*F and wherein said predetermined time period is from 1 to 3 hours.

Claim 43

Method according to claim 38 including the additional step of further cold working said titanium alloy tubing to provide said tubing with a further predetermined percentage of reduction in area and to raise the ultimate and yield strengths thereof to a predetermined level above the ultimate and yield strengths thereof after said additional annealing step.

Claim 44

Method according to claim 40 wherein said recited additional cold working step is accomplished by shear spinning.

Claim 45

Method according to claim 32 including the additional step of stress relieving said titanium alloy tubing to relieve at least a portion of the internal stress produced therein by said cold working step.

Claim 46

Method according to claim 42 wherein said stress relieving step is accomplished by heating said titanium alloy tubing to a temperature in the range of from 650*F to 1,100*F for a period of time in the range of 1 to 3 hours.

Claim 47

Method according to claim 42 including the additional step of further cold working said titanium tubinG to provide said tubing with a further predetermined percentage of reduction in area and to raise the ultimate and yield strengths of said tubing above the ultimate and yield strengths thereof after said stress relieving step.

Claim 48

Method according to claim 44 wherein said additional cold working step is accomplished by shear spinning.