Method and apparatus for deforming metal

Claim 2

The process of deforming a metal workpiece which comprises the steps of: a. electromagnetically generating a stress wave having a high particle velocity; b. conditioning the high velocity stress wave to control the intensity and duration of the high velocity stress wave to provide an output stress wave which maintains a high stress level for a substantial portion of the duration of the stress wave to set the entire workpiece in high plastic flow; c. applying the conditioned high velocity stress wave to the metal workpiece at one end only; and d. controlling the resultant flow of the metal workpiece to achieve the desired shaping thereof.

Claim 3

The process of deforming a metal workpiece as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of electromagnetically generating a stress wave is by the electromagnetic repulsion established by the interaction of a first magnetic field produced by a coil energized by a capacitor bank and a second magnetic field around a driver of suitable conductive material adjacent to said coil.

Claim 4

The process of deforming a metal workpiece as defined in claim 2 wherein the magnetic field around the driver is induced by the magnetic field produced by the coil.

Claim 5

The process of deforming a metal workpiece as defined in claim 3 which further comprises the step of absorbing the recoil forces established by the operation.

Claim 6

A tool for deforming a metal workpiece by increasing the energy density in the workpiece such that the metal becomes momentarily plastic, comprising: a. means for electromagnetically generating a stress wave having a high particle velocity; b. conditioning means for controlling the intensity and duration of said high velocity stress wave to provide an output stress wave which maintains a high stress level for a substantial portion of the duration of the stress wave to set the entire workpiece in high plastic flow, said conditioning means adapted for communication with the workpiece; and c. means for controlling the shape of the metal workpiece when it has been rendered momentarily plastic by the passage of the stress wave therethrough.

Claim 7

A tool for deforming a metal workpiece by increasing the energy density in the workpiece such that the metal becomes momentarily plastic, comprising: a. means for electromagnetically generating a stress wave having a high particle velocity; b. conditioning means for controlling the intensity and duration of said high velocity stress wave to provide an output stress wave which maintains a high stress level for a substantial portion of the duration of the stress wave to set the entire workpiece in high plastic flow, said conditioning means adapted for communication with the workpiece; and c. means for controlling the shape of the metal workpiece when it has been rendered momentarily plastic by the passage of the stress wave therethrough.

Claim 8

A tool for deforming a metal workpiece as defined in claim 5 wherein the means for electromagnetically generating a stress wave comprises: a. an electromagnetic coil; b. an energy storage means dischargeable through said coil providing a pulse of limited duration; c. a driver coupled to said coil; and d. means for establishing an electromagnetic field in said driver whereby a stress wave is generated by the electromagnetic repulsion between the coil and said driver.

Claim 9

A tool for deforming a metal workpiece as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for establishing an electromagnetic field in the driver comprises electromagnetically coupling said driver to said coil.

Claim 10

A tool for deforming a metal workpiece as defined in claim 7 wherein the conditioning means is a conically shaped mass coupled to the driver and the various components of the tool are related by the formula: (s/so) (RoK/3CtA) ((Ao/A) - 1) + (Xo/3CtA) + (Ao/A) where: s the stress delivered to the metal workpiece at the small end of the conditioning means; so the stress developed at the large end of the conditioning means by the electromagnetic repulsion between the coil and the driver; Ro the radius of the large end of the conditioning means; K the tangent of the angle inscribed by the edge of the cone and the base of the cone; C the speed of sound in the conditioning means; tA the time required for the particle velocity to reach a maximum; Ao the cross sectional area of the large end of the conditioning means, i.e., the base of the cone, A the cross sectional area at the small end of the conditioning means; xo the length of the conditioning means.

Claim 11

A tool for deforming a metal workpiece as defined in claim 7 wherein the conditioning means is an exponentially shaped mass coupled to the driver and the various components of the tool are related by the formula: s/so 1/CtAn ((Ao/A) - 1) + (Ao/A) where: s the stress delivered to the metal workpiece at the small end of the conditioning means; so the stress developed at the large end of the conditioning means by the electromagnetic repulsion between the coil and the driver; C the speed of sound in the conditioning means; tA the time required for the particle velocity to reach a maximum; Ao the cross sectional area of the large end of the conditioning means; A the cross sectional area at the smaller end of the conditioning means; n the number appearing in the exponent of the equation which governs the shape of the conditioning means, i.e., A Aoe , where Xo is the length of the conditioning means,

Claim 12

A tool for deforming a metal workpiece as recited in claim 5 which further comprises a recoil means mechanically coupled to said conditioning means.

Claim 13

A tool for deforming a metal workpiece as defined in claim 6 wherein the energy storage means is a capacitor bank electrically dischargeable through said coil.