Apparatus for shaping superplastic metal workpiece
US5553474A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 10, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB21D26/055
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for shaping a workpiece of a super-plastic metal has a shaping die assembly for holding the workpiece therein to shape the workpiece with a pressurized gas while the workpiece is being heated, and a furnace assembly surrounding outer surfaces of the dies. The shaping die assembly includes a plurality of dies separable from and joinable to each other, the dies having flanges extending from mating surfaces thereof. The furnace assembly includes a plurality of furnaces separable from and joinable to each other, the furnaces being detachably mounted on the dies, respectively. The shaping die assembly is housed in the furnace assembly with the flanges projecting out of the furnace assembly when the dies are joined to each other. Heaters for heating the shaping die assembly are mounted on inner wall surfaces of the furnaces in a space defined between the furnace assembly and the shaping die assembly. While the workpiece is being held between the dies which are joined to each other, the flanges are gripped by clamping mechanisms.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.