Superplastic forming
US10480528B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 25, 2017 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 12, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF04D29/023
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An aerofoil structure with a hollow cavity is manufactured by diffusion bonding and superplastic forming. Outer panels are formed of a first material; a membrane is formed of a second material. Stop-off material is applied to preselected areas on at least one side of the membrane or of one of the panels so as to prevent diffusion bonding between the panels and the membrane at the preselected areas. The panels and the membrane are arranged in a stack and a diffusion bonding process is performed to bond together the first and second panels and the membrane to form an assembly. A superplastic forming process is performed at a forming temperature to expand the assembly to form the aerofoil structure. The forming temperature is selected so that the second material undergoes superplastic deformation at the forming temperature and the first material does not undergo superplastic deformation at the forming temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.