Patent · US Expired

Superplastic forming diffusion bonding process

US4882823A · kind A · utility

63Cited by
6References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 27, 1988
Grant dateNov 28, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 27, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49805
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method is set forth of forming a hollow structure having a varying mass distribution. Two sheets of a diffusion bondable and superplastic formable material are formed with one flat surface and an opposite surface contoured to have a selected mass distribution. A stop-off material is applied between selected non-peripheral portions of each of the flat surfaces whereat diffusion bonding is to be prevented and superplastic forming is to be required. An intermediate flat core sheet may also be present. The flat surfaces are positioned in abutting relation to each other or to the intermediate flat core sheet. The sheets are subjected to diffusion bonding conditions. The sheets are superplastically formed to expand them apart against a die. The invention also provides a method of preinflating contoured sheets prior to superplastically forming them to avoid truss core rupture. Hollow aircraft engine components are formed by the methods.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.