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

US12291769B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AIRBUS (S.A.S.) · FR

Inventors

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

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 29, 2019
• Grant date: May 6, 2025
• Expiry date: Jan 19, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C22C21/10
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method of producing an integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the method including the steps of: (a) providing an aluminum alloy plate with a predetermined thickness of at least 25.4 mm, wherein the aluminum alloy plate is a 7xxx-series alloy provided in a W-temper; (b) optionally pre-machining of the aluminum alloy plate to an intermediate machined structure; (c) high-energy hydroforming of the plate or optional intermediate machined structure against a forming surface of a rigid die having a contour in accordance with a desired curvature of the integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the high energy hydroforming causing the plate or the intermediate machined structure to conform to the contour of the forming surface to at least one of a uniaxial curvature and a biaxial curvature; (d) solution heat-treating and cooling of the high-energy hydroformed structure; (e) machining and (f) ageing of the final integrated monolithic aluminum structure.