Metal forming methods

Claim 2

A process for altering the shape of a metallic workpiece which comprises the steps of: placing the workpiece on the face of a die which face has a configuration wanted in the workpiece and concurrently heating said workpiece and applying pressure thereto via a compliant body composed of discrete pieces of a heat resistant, pressure transmitting material and located on that side of the workpiece opposite the die, the temperature to which the workpiece is heated and the pressure applied thereto being so correlated as to cause the workpiece metal to flow plastically at a stress below its yield strength into contact with the face of said die to thereby impart the wanted configuration to the workpiece.

Claim 3

A process as defined in claim 1 which includes the step of disposing a flexible member in abutting relationship to the body of pressure transmitting material on the side thereof opposite the workpiece and in which the pressure is applied to the workpiece by applying a positive fluid pressure to said flexible member.

Claim 4

A process as defined in claim 1 in which the die, workpiece, and pressure transmitting material are isolated from the ambient surroundings, in which a flexible member is disposed in abutting relationship to the body of pressure transmitting material on the side thereof opposite the workpiece, and in which the pressure is applied to the workpiece by producing a negative pressure in the zone in which the pressure transmitting material is located.

Claim 5

A process as defined in claim 3 in which that side of the flexible member opposite the pressure transmitting material is exposed to atmospheric pressure and in which a vacuum of up to 30 inches of mercury is maintained in the zone in which said pressure transmitting material is located.

Claim 6

A process as defined in claim 1 in which the die, workpiece, and pressure transmitting material are isolated from the ambient surroundings; in which a flexible member is disposed in abutting relationship to the body of pressure transmitting material on the side thereof opposite the workpiece; and in which the pressure is applied to the workpiece by producing a negative pressure in the zone in which the pressure transmitting material is located and by applying a positive fluid pressure to that side of the flexible member opposite the pressure transmitting material.

Claim 7

A process as defined in claim 1 in which said workpiece is heated at a temperature in the range of 250 to 2000 degrees F. and under a pressure of 15 to 120 psig for a period of 5 minutes to 6 hours.

Claim 8

A process as defined in claim 1 in which the workpiece is fabricated of a titanium alloy and in which said workpiece is heated at a temperature in the range of 400 to 1450 degrees F. and the pressure applied to the workpiece is in the range of 15 to 50 psig.

Claim 9

A process as defined in claim 1 which includes the step of interposing a sheet of a flexible, heat resistant material between the workpiece and the body of compliant, pressure transmitting material to keep foreign material from contacting and damaging said workpiece while the latter is in a plastic or other softened condition.

Claim 10

A process as defined in claim 1 which includes the step of isolating the workpiece from the ambient surroundings and the step of creating an inert environment in the zone in which said workpiece is located by maintaining a vacuum in said zone.

Claim 11

A process as defined in claim 1 which includes the step of isolating the workpiece from the ambient surroundings and the step of creating an inert environment in the zone in which said workpiece is located by maintaining an inert gas atmosphere in said zone.

Claim 12

A process as defined in claim 1 in which the workpiece is heated by way of electrical resistance heating means disposed in said die adjacent the face thereof.

Claim 13

A process as defined in claim 1 in which the compliant, pressure transmitting material is asbestos, vermiculite, or a heat resistant glass.

Claim 14

A process as defined in claim 1 in which the die has a concave face portion facilitating the accurate positioning of the workpiece relative to the die.

Claim 15

A process for altering the shape of a metallic workpiece which includes the steps of: providing a single die having a face with a contour that is wanted in said workpiece; housing said die in a retort means with the die face exposed; disposing the workpiece in said retort in an abutting relationship with said die face; covering said workpiece with a first sheet of a flexible, heat resistant material to thereby isolate said workpiece from contact by foreign material; disposing on the side of said sheet opposite said workpiece a compliant body composed of discrete pieces of a heat resistant, pressure transmitting material; isolating the interior of the retort from the ambient atmosphere by covering said body of pressure transmitting material with a second sheet of flexible material spanning said retort; applying pressure to said workpiece by creating a pressure differential across said second sheet of flexible material; and heating said workpiece at a selected forming temperature, the temperature at which the workpiece is heated and the pressure applied thereto being so correlated as to cause the workpiece metal to flow plastically at a stress below its yield strength into contact with the face of said die to thereby impart the wanted contour to the workpiece.

Claim 16

A process for altering the shape of a metallic workpiece which includes the steps of: providing a single die having a face with a contour that is wanted in said workpiece; housing said die in a retort means with the die face exposed; disposing the workpiece in said retort in an abutting relationship with said die face; covering said workpiece with a first sheet of a flexible, heat resistant material to thereby isolate said workpiece from contact by foreign material; disposing on the side of said sheet opposite said workpiece a compliant body composed of discrete pieces of a heat resistant, pressure transmitting material; isolating the interior of the retort from the ambient atmosphere by covering said body of pressure transmitting material with a second sheet of flexible material spanning said retort; applying pressure to said workpiece by creating a pressure differential across said second sheet of flexible material; and heating said workpiece at a selected forming temperature, the temperature at which the workpiece is heated and the pressure applied thereto being so correlated as to cause the workpiece metal to flow plastically at a stress below its yield strength into contact with the face of said die to thereby impart the wanted contour to the workpiece.

Claim 17

A process as defined in claim 14 in which said pressure differential is created by applying a positive fluid pressure to that side of the second sheet of flexible sheet material opposite the body of pressure transmitting material.

Claim 18

A process as defined in claim 14 in which said pressure differential is created by applying a positive fluid pressure to that side of the second sheet of flexible sheet material opposite the body of pressure transmitting material and concurrently maintaining a vacuum in that space between the first and second sheets of flexible material in which the pressure transmitting material is located.

Claim 19

A process as defined in claim 14 in which said pressure differential is created by communicating that side of the second sheet of flexible sheet material opposite the body of pressure transmitting material with the ambient environment and concurrently maintaining a vacuum in that space between the first and second sheets of flexible material in which the pressure transmitting material is located.