Method for explosive forming of tubular molds for continuous steel casting

Claim 1

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a hollow tubular blank into the cavity of a female die, said cavity having a configuration approximating that of the external walls of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the inner walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure provided from detonating an explosive against said inner walls to deform the outer walls of said blank to the configuration of said cavity of said female die; removing the deformed blank from said female die; inserting a male die into the interior of said deformed blank, said male die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; subjecting said outer walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating another explosive against said outer walls to deform said inner walls of said blank into a configuration wherein the passage of said blank conforms to the external configuration of said male die; and removing said male die from said deformed blank, the step of removing said male die from said deformed blank including expanding said deformed blank by applying heat energy thereto.

Claim 2

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a hollow tubular blank into the cavity of a female die, said cavity having a configuration approximating that of the external walls of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the inner walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure provided from detonating an explosive against said inner walls to deform the outer walls of said blank to the configuration of said cavity of said female die; removing the deformed blank from said female die; inserting a male die into the interior of said deformed blank, said male die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; subjecting said outer walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating another explosive against said outer walls to deform said inner walls of said blank into a configuration wherein the passage of said blank conforms to the external configuration of said male die; and removing said male die from said deformed blank, the step of removing said male die from said deformed blank including expanding said deformed blank by applying heat energy thereto.

Claim 3

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a hollow tubular blank into the cavity of a female die, said cavity having a configuration approximating that of the external walls of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the inner walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure provided from detonating an explosive against said inner walls to deform the outer walls of said blank to the configuration of said cavity of said female die, the step of subjecting said inner walls to a deforming force including extending a length of primacord longitudinally through the passage of said blank, filling the remainder of said passage of said blank with water, and then detonating said length of primacord; removing the deformed blank from said female die; inserting a male die into the interior of said deformed blank, said male die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; subjecting said outer walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating another explosive against said outer walls to deform said inner walls of said blank into a configuration wherein said passage of said blank conforms to the external configuration of said male die; and removing said male die from said deformed blank.

Claim 4

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a hollow tubular blank into the cavity of a female die, said cavity having a configuration approximating that of the external walls of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the inner walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure provided from detonating an explosive against said inner walls to deform the outer walls of said blank to the configuration of said cavity of said female die, the step of subjecting said inner walls to a deforming force including extending a length of primacord longitudinally through the passage of said blank, filling the remainder of said passage of said blank with water, and then detonating said length of primacord; removing the deformed blank from said female die; inserting a male die into the interior of said deformed blank, said male die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; subjecting said outer walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating another explosive against said outer walls to deform said inner walls of said blank into a configuration wherein said passage of said blank conforms to the external configuration of said male die; and removing said male die from said deformed blank.

Claim 5

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member provided with a longitudinally extending passage which has a longitudinal center line with a predetermined radius of curvature, said method comprising the steps of: bending a hollow tubular blank to a rough approximation of the curvature of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; inserting the bent blank into the cavity of a female die, said cavity having a configuration approximating that of the external walls of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the inner walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure provided from detonating an explosive against said inner walls to deform the outer walls of said blank to the configuration of said cavity of said female die; removing the deformed blank from said female die; inserting a male die into the interior of said deformed blank, said male die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; subjecting said outer walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating another explosive against said outer walls to deform said inner walls of said blank into a configuration wherein the passage of said blank conforms to the external configuration of said male die; and removing said male die from said deformed blank.

Claim 6

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member provided with a longitudinally extending passage which has a longitudinal center line with a predetermined radius of curvature, said method comprising the steps of: bending a hollow tubular blank to a rough approximation of the curvature of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; inserting the bent blank into the cavity of a female die, said cavity having a configuration approximating that of the external walls of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the inner walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure provided from detonating an explosive against said inner walls to deform the outer walls of said blank to the configuration of said cavity of said female die; removing the deformed blank from said female die; inserting a male die into the interior of said deformed blank, said male die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; subjecting said outer walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating another explosive against said outer walls to deform said inner walls of said blank into a configuration wherein the passage of said blank conforms to the external configuration of said male die; and removing said male die from said deformed blank.

Claim 7

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a hollow tubular blank into the cavity of a female die, said cavity having a configuration approximating that of the external walls of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the inner walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure provided from detonating an explosive against said inner walls to deform the outer walls of said blank to the configuration of said cavity of said female die; removing the deformed blank from said female die; inserting a male die into the interior of said deformed blank, said male die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed, and said male die being provided with a fluid passage extending lengthwise of said male die and a transverse passage communicating therewith and extending through the side walls of said male die; subjecting said outer walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating another explosive against said outer walls to deform said inner walls of said blank into a configuration wherein the passage of said blank conforms to the external configuration of said male die; and removing said male die from said deformed blank.

Claim 8

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a hollow tubular blank into the cavity of a female die, said cavity having a configuration approximating that of the external walls of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the inner walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure provided from detonating an explosive against said inner walls to deform the outer walls of said blank to the configuration of said cavity of said female die; removing the deformed blank from said female die; inserting a male die into the interior of said deformed blank, said male die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed, and said male die being provided with a fluid passage extending lengthwise of said male die and a transverse passage communicating therewith and extending through the side walls of said male die; subjecting said outer walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating another explosive against said outer walls to deform said inner walls of said blank into a configuration wherein the passage of said blank conforms to the external configuration of said male die; and removing said male die from said deformed blank.

Claim 9

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a male die into the interior of a tubular blank, said die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; confining said tubular blank between sealing abutments engaging the end surfaces of said blank which seal the space between said blank and said die; subjecting the outer walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced by detonating an explosive against said outer walls to deform the inner walls of said blank into a configuration wherein the passage of said blank conforms to the external configuration of said die; and removing said die from the deformed blank, the step of removing said die from said deformed blank including expanding said deformed blank by applying heat energy thereto.

Claim 10

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a male die into the interior of a tubular blank, said die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; confining said tubular blank between sealing abutments engaging the end surfaces of said blank which seal the space between said blank and said die; subjecting the outer walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced by detonating an explosive against said outer walls to deform the inner walls of said blank into a configuration wherein the passage of said blank conforms to the external configuration of said die; and removing said die from the deformed blank, the step of removing said die from said deformed blank including expanding said deformed blank by applying heat energy thereto.

Claim 13

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a male die into the interior of a tubular blank, said die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; confining said blank between sealing abutments engaging the end surfaces of said blank which seal the space between said blank and said die, at least one of said abutments being spring-loaded; and subjecting the outer walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced by detonating an explosive against said outer walls to deform the inner walls of said blank into a configuration wherein the passage of said blank conforms to the external configuration of said die.

Claim 14

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a male die into the interior of a tubular blank, said die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; confining said blank between sealing abutments engaging the end surfaces of said blank which seal the space between said blank and said die, at least one of said abutments being spring-loaded; and subjecting the outer walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced by detonating an explosive against said outer walls to deform the inner walls of said blank into a configuration wherein the passage of said blank conforms to the external configuration of said die.

Claim 15

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a male die into the interior of a tubular blank, said die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; confining said blank between sealing abutments engaging the end surfaces of said blank which seal the space between said blank and said die, said sealing abutments including O-rings of sealing material, and said O-rings being subjected to compressive forces to deform them to force their surfaces into tight sealing engagement with said end surfaces of said blank and the adjacent walls of said die; and subjecting the outer walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced by detonating an explosive against said outer walls to deform the inner walls of said blank into a configuration wherein the passage of said blank conforms to the external configuration of said die.

Claim 16

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a male die into the interior of a tubular blank, said die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; confining said blank between sealing abutments engaging the end surfaces of said blank which seal the space between said blank and said die, said sealing abutments including O-rings of sealing material, and said O-rings being subjected to compressive forces to deform them to force their surfaces into tight sealing engagement with said end surfaces of said blank and the adjacent walls of said die; and subjecting the outer walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced by detonating an explosive against said outer walls to deform the inner walls of said blank into a configuration wherein the passage of said blank conforms to the external configuration of said die.

Claim 18

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough wherein the inner walls of said passage are convergent toward one end of said passage and the longitudinal center line of said passage has a predetermined radius of curvature, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a hollow tubular blank into the cavity of a female die, said blank having a longitudinal dimension greater than the corresponding longitudinal dimension of the mold member to be formed and said cavity having a configuration approximating that of the external walls of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the inner walls of said passage to a deforming force by directing the pressure provided from detonating an explosive against the inner walls of the passage of said blank to deform the outer walls of said blank to the configuration of the cavity of the female die; removing said deformed blank from said female die; inserting a male die into the interior of the deformed blank, said male die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the external walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating another explosive against the external walls of said deformed blank to deform the inner walls of the passage of said blank into a configuration wherein the longitudinally extending passage of the blank conforms to the external configuration of said male die; removing said male die from said deformed blank; and removing from at least one end of said blank a longitudinally extending portion to form a mold member of a predetermined longitudinal dimension.

Claim 19

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough wherein the inner walls of said passage are convergent toward one end of said passage and the longitudinal center line of said passage has a predetermined radius of curvature, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a hollow tubular blank into the cavity of a female die, said blank having a longitudinal dimension greater than the corresponding longitudinal dimension of the mold member to be formed and said cavity having a configuration approximating that of the external walls of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the inner walls of said passage to a deforming force by directing the pressure provided from detonating an explosive against the inner walls of the passage of said blank to deform the outer walls of said blank to the configuration of the cavity of the female die; removing said deformed blank from said female die; inserting a male die into the interior of the deformed blank, said male die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the external walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating another explosive against the external walls of said deformed blank to deform the inner walls of the passage of said blank into a configuration wherein the longitudinally extending passage of the blank conforms to the external configuration of said male die; removing said male die from said deformed blank; and removing from at least one end of said blank a longitudinally extending portion to form a mold member of a predetermined longitudinal dimension.

Claim 24

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough wherein the walls of said passage are convergent toward one end of said passage and the longitudinal center line of said passage has a predetermined radius of curvature, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a hollow tubular blank into the cavity of a female die, said blank having overall dimensions equal to or greater than the corresponding dimensions of the mold member to be formed and said cavity having a configuration approximating that of the curved configuration of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the inner walls of said passage to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating an explosive against the inner walls of the passage of said blank to deform said blank to the approximate final curvature of the mold member to be formed; removing said deformed blank from said female die; inserting a male die into the interior of the deformed blank, said male die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; and subjecting the external walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating another explosive against the external walls of said deformed blank to deform the inner walls of the passage of said blank to a configuration wherein the inner walls of the passage of said blank conform to the external configuration of said male die.

Claim 25

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough wherein the walls of said passage are convergent toward one end of said passage and the longitudinal center line of said passage has a predetermined radius of curvature, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a hollow tubular blank into the cavity of a female die, said blank having overall dimensions equal to or greater than the corresponding dimensions of the mold member to be formed and said cavity having a configuration approximating that of the curved configuration of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the inner walls of said passage to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating an explosive against the inner walls of the passage of said blank to deform said blank to the approximate final curvature of the mold member to be formed; removing said deformed blank from said female die; inserting a male die into the interior of the deformed blank, said male die having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed; and subjecting the external walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating another explosive against the external walls of said deformed blank to deform the inner walls of the passage of said blank to a configuration wherein the inner walls of the passage of said blank conform to the external configuration of said male die.

Claim 26

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough wherein the walls of said passage are convergent toward one end of said passage and the longitudinal center line of said passage has a predetermined radius of curvature, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a hollow tubular blank into the cavity of a female die, said blank having overall dimensions equal to or greater than the corresponding dimensions of the mold member to be formed and said cavity having a configuration approximating that of the curved configuration of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the inner walls of said passage to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating an explosive against the inner walls of the passage of said blank to deform said blank to the approximate final curvature of the mold member to be formed; removing said deformed blank from said female die; inserting a male die into the interior of the deformed blank, said male die having external walls corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed, said male die having a fluid passage formed therein and communicating with the external walls of said male die and also with one end of said male die; and subjecting the external walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating another explosive against the external walls of said deformed blank to deform the inner walls of the passage of said blank to a configuration wherein the inner walls of the passage of said blank conform to the external walls of said male die.

Claim 27

A method of forming an elongate hollow tubular mold member having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough wherein the walls of said passage are convergent toward one end of said passage and the longitudinal center line of said passage has a predetermined radius of curvature, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a hollow tubular blank into the cavity of a female die, said blank having overall dimensions equal to or greater than the corresponding dimensions of the mold member to be formed and said cavity having a configuration approximating that of the curved configuration of the mold member to be formed; subjecting the inner walls of said passage to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating an explosive against the inner walls of the passage of said blank to deform said blank to the approximate final curvature of the mold member to be formed; removing said deformed blank from said female die; inserting a male die into the interior of the deformed blank, said male die having external walls corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the longitudinally extending passage of the mold member to be formed, said male die having a fluid passage formed therein and communicating with the external walls of said male die and also with one end of said male die; and subjecting the external walls of said blank to a deforming force by directing the pressure produced from detonating another explosive against the external walls of said deformed blank to deform the inner walls of the passage of said blank to a configuration wherein the inner walls of the passage of said blank conform to the external walls of said male die.