Method of producing a high-energy hydroformed structure from a 7xxx-series alloy

US12247278B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AIRBUS (S.A.S.) · FR

Inventors

• Philippe Meyer · Koblenz, DE
• Sunil Khosla · Beverwijk, NL
• Achim Bürger · Grevesmühlen, DE
• Sabine Maria Spangel · Koblenz, DE
• Andreas Harald Bach · Koblenz, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 2, 2019
• Grant date: Mar 11, 2025
• Expiry date: Nov 3, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B21D26/08
• WIPO field: Machine tools
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of producing an integrated monolithic aluminum structure including providing an 7xxx-series aluminum alloy plate with a predetermined thickness of at least 10 mm, and wherein the plate has been solution heat treated and stretched, heat-treating the plate product in a first of a plurality of artificial ageing steps required to achieve a final temper state, high-energy hydroforming the plate against a forming surface of a rigid die having a contour with a desired curvature of the integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the high energy forming causing the aluminum alloy plate to conform to the forming surface contour to at least one of a uniaxial curvature and a biaxial curvature, heat-treating the integrated monolithic aluminum structure through a remaining ageing step of the ageing steps to achieve a desired final temper, and machining the high-energy formed structure to a near-final or final machined integrated monolithic aluminum structure.