High energy forming

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the article is a hollow article and wherein the fuel is supplied to the combustion chamber juxtaposed said article whereby on ignition, the gases generated by combustion are caused to debouch from the combustion chamber interiorly of the article to expand the article against the die surface.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the combustion mixture is heated prior to ignition.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claim 1, the further step of positioning the article having an open end portion on a seal and causing the products of combustion, subsequent to expansion of the article, to be emitted from said open end to exhaust.

Claim 6

Apparatus for shaping a hollow article which apparatus comprises a forming chamber including a die surface, a combustion chamber juxtaposed said forming chamber, mixture supply means for the supply of a combustible mixture to the said combustion chamber, ignition means for igniting the mixture within said combustion chamber to form products of combustion, and valve means juxtaposed an inlet for said forming chamber on ignition of the mixture within the combustion chamber the pressure generated therein operates said valve means to cause combustion products to enter the forming chamber to expand at least a portion of the article against said die surface.

Claim 7

Apparatus for shaping a hollow article which apparatus comprises a forming chamber including a die surface, a combustion chamber juxtaposed said forming chamber, mixture supply means for the supply of a combustible mixture to the said combustion chamber, ignition means for igniting the mixture within said combustion chamber to form products of combustion, and valve means juxtaposed an inlet for said forming chamber on ignition of the mixture within the combustion chamber the pressure generated therein operates said valve means to cause combustion products to enter the forming chamber to expand at least a portion of the article against said die surface.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein a combustion chamber has an inlet valve for the admission of a combustion mixture to the chamber and ignition means for igniting the mixture.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the combustion chamber further includes heating means for heating the combustible mixture prior to ignition.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherEin the combustion chamber is interconnected to the forming chamber via valve means adapted to open under the influence of an increase in pressure to the combustion products to allow the combustion products to pass from the combustion chamber to the forming chamber.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 characterized in that the forming chamber includes a sealing element for sealing with an open end of a hollow article.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for shaping a hollow article to a predetermined final configuration the combination comprising: a forming chamber including a die surface and opposite end portions, one said portion arranged to receive a part of the article to be shaped and the other said portion arranged to support an open end of said article, said forming chamber also including exhaust ports adjacent to said other portion and a secondary ignition chamber in axial alignment with said forming chamber including overload valve means capable of being reciprocated from an inoperative closed position to an instantaneous open position upon explosion of a combustible mixture in said ignition chamber to thereby unseat said valve means to allow entry of the products of combustion resulting from the explosion into the article to thereby expand the same.

Claim 13

In an apparatus for shaping a hollow article to a predetermined final configuration the combination comprising: a forming chamber including a die surface and opposite end portions, one said portion arranged to receive a part of the article to be shaped and the other said portion arranged to support an open end of said article, said forming chamber also including exhaust ports adjacent to said other portion and a secondary ignition chamber in axial alignment with said forming chamber including overload valve means capable of being reciprocated from an inoperative closed position to an instantaneous open position upon explosion of a combustible mixture in said ignition chamber to thereby unseat said valve means to allow entry of the products of combustion resulting from the explosion into the article to thereby expand the same.