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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7363790 | Method for vaccum assisted preforming of superplastically or quick plastically formed article Method of preforming and forming a sheet metal article from a preheated blank of sheet metal uses opposing dies including a punch having a punch surface defining a final configuration for the article and a cavity die having a cavity surface defining a preform config... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7284402 | System and process for superplastic forming A system and method for superplastic forming a workpiece. The system includes a superplastic forming cell formed of a plurality of individual stations or modules, each one performing a specific manufacturing step or process on the workpiece. Individual stations incl... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7269986 | Method of forming a tubular blank into a structural component and die therefor A method of forming an elongated metal blank into a structural component having a predetermined outer configuration. The method includes providing a shape imparting cavity or shell section formed from a rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the pre... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7204119 | Hollow metallic ring seal for press A press and tooling apparatus for forming a preheated blank includes a heated upper tool and an opposing heated lower tool mounted within the press for relative closing movement to press the preheated blank there between. A binder ring assembly surrounds the lower t... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7159437 | Heated die for hot forming A hot forming tool is heated with multiple electrical resistance cartridge heaters. The heaters are located in the body of the tool so as to maintain the entire forming surface within a predetermined temperature range. Numerical thermal and optimization analyses dir... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7086268 | Apparatus and method for removing and cooling a part from a forming tool An apparatus and method for removing a part from a forming tool and supporting the part. The apparatus includes a support member having a surface contoured to conform to a formed shape of the part and an aperture disposed in the surface. A manipulator moves the supp... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7066000 | Forming tool apparatus for hot stretch-forming processes A tooling assembly for hot stretch-forming of a sheet metal workpiece. A forming tool is attached to a plate and includes a shell having a forming surface, and support walls that extend away from the shell, that terminate in a rearward surface of the forming tool, a... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7024897 | Method of forming a tubular blank into a structural component and die therefor A method of forming an elongated metal blank into a structural component having a predetermined outer configuration. The method includes providing a shape imparting cavity or shell section formed from a rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the pre... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7003996 | Method of forming a tubular blank into a structural component and die therefor A method of forming an elongated tubular blank into a tubular structural component having a predetermined outer configuration, the method comprising: providing a shape imparting shell formed from a low permeability, rigid material which includes an inner surface def... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6890394 | Heating of metal alloy sheet by thermal conduction A method is disclosed for heating a cold worked sheet of superplastically formable metal composition to recrystallize its microstructure to a formable condition and/or to heat the sheet to a temperature for an immediate forming operation. The sheet is placed between... | 05/10/2005 |
| 6884976 | Induction heating for localized joining of structural members An apparatus and a method for forming a localized joint in at least one structural member are provided. The apparatus includes a tool that corresponds to a joint portion of the structural member. An induction coil is disposed in the tool, and a power source is confi... | 04/26/2005 |
| 6810709 | Heated metal forming tool A heated metal forming tool including an un-heated mounting plate that is attached to a press. A tool detail is attached to the mounting plate. Insulation surrounds the tool detail to thermally isolate it from the mounting plate, and from the tool surroundings. The ... | 11/02/2004 |
| 6668612 | Device for holding a sheet metal blank in a forming press A device is provided comprising a guide mechanism used to position and securely hold a sheet metal blank in a sheet metal forming press that is operated at high temperatures. A sheet metal blank is initially positioned in the forming press by resting the ... | 12/30/2003 |
| 6547895 | Superplastic multi-layer forming The superplastic forming of suitable metal alloy sheets into strong components, such as automobile body structures or panels, is improved and accomplished faster by simultaneously forming two or more substantially identical, relatively thin sheets, prefer... | 04/15/2003 |
| 6305203 | Controlling superplastic forming with gas mass flow meter The forming time necessary to superplastically form an object from a metal sheet is estimated by empirical analysis. The required rate of gas mass flow into a forming cavity is then determined using either a nomograph composed of four interrelated graphs,... | 10/23/2001 |
| 6279425 | Method of producing tools and dies A method of producing a tool or die from a model that includes producing a rigid mold from the model, forming a die shell of the model from a sheet of material in close conforming relationship over the rigid mold, and applying a reinforcing substrate to t... | 08/28/2001 |
| 6272894 | Method of blow molding A blow molding method for use with tubular metal work pieces. The method involves placing a tubular metal component part into a molding tool having an internal molding cavity and at least one access passageway into which the component is inserted. The mol... | 08/14/2001 |
| 6182486 | Superplastic alloy-containing conductive plastic article for shielding electromagnetic interference and process for manufacturing the same The present invention provides a superplastic alloy-containing conductive plastic article for shielding electromagnetic interference. The conductive plastic article is a three-layer structure, in which the outer layers are plastic material, and the inner ... | 02/06/2001 |
| 6116070 | Superplastically-formed prosthetic components, and equipment for same Described are unique prosthesis systems including superplastically-formed prosthetic elements, and methods and an apparatus for forming such elements. A preferred dental prosthesis system includes at least two osseointegrated fixtures, abutments attached ... | 09/12/2000 |
| 6098438 | Superplastic forming part A superplastically formed part having tailored thickness in particular areas includes a formed blank having a preformed portion and a formed portion. The preformed portion is preformed as a bulge into a recess in a die lid, and then the bulge is reversed ... | 08/08/2000 |
| 6085571 | Gravity-operated blank loading device A device is disclosed for loading and positioning a sheet metal blank between upper and lower tool members adapted to close and engage the blank for the purpose of preforming and heating it in preparation for a superplastic forming operation. The loading ... | 07/11/2000 |
| 6067831 | Hydroforming process A hydroforming process for forming a component from an elongate tubular blank comprised of a deformable metal, the process including placing the blank in a die and sealing opposed ends of the tubular blank, heating the blank to a predetermined deformation... | 05/30/2000 |
| 6059904 | Isothermal and high retained strain forging of Ni-base superalloys A method combining isothermal and high retained strain forging is described for Ni-base superalloys, particularly those which comprise a mixture of γ and γ' phases, and most particularly those which contain at least about 40 percent by volume of γ'. Th... | 05/09/2000 |
| 6029269 | Ballistic-resistant helmet and method for producing the same In one broad aspect the present invention comprises the steps of providing a titanium-based material preform and superplastically forming the preform to a final helmet shape. In another broad aspect, a first piece of fiber-reinforced titanium matrix compo... | 02/29/2000 |
| 5960658 | Method of blow molding A blow molding method for use with tubular metal work pieces. The method involves placing a tubular metal component part into a molding tool having an internal molding cavity and at least one access passageway into which the component is inserted. The mol... | 10/05/1999 |
| 5916316 | Deep draw superplastically formed part using prethinning A superplastically formed part having tailored thickness in particular areas Includes a formed blank having a preformed portion and a formed portion. The preformed portion is preformed as a bulge into a recess in a die lid, and then the bulge is reversed ... | 06/29/1999 |
| 5896784 | Die for superplastic forming of titanium-based alloy The present invention provides a die for superplastic forming of titanium-based alloy with high-workability, which is inexpensive and easy to handle, and has detailed shape-reproducibility and no reactivity with titanium-based alloy to be processed, and h... | 04/27/1999 |
| 5870304 | Method for determining the proper progress of a superplastic forming process A method of determining the progress of a superplastic formation process that uses controlled gas-mass flow rate of inert gas to form a part from generally one or more sheets of superplastically formable material, a process that may include selective diff... | 02/09/1999 |
| 5860313 | Method of manufacturing press-formed product A method of manufacturing a press-formed product having a base portion and a projecting portion which is integral with the base portion and projects in a direction different from the base portion, wherein a first forming part for forming the base portion ... | 01/19/1999 |
| 5823032 | Prethinning for superplastic forming A process for superplastically forming a part from a blank of superplastic material such as titanium alloy, including enclosing and capturing a sheet of superplastic material having uniform thickness between a die lid and a die base. The die lid has a dee... | 10/20/1998 |
| 5823033 | Method for producing a damper plate having substantially polygon patterns There are disclosed a damper plate for a rotary machine and a method for producing thereof which makes it possible to produce a honeycomb-type damper plate with accurate dimensions and reasonable cost. In the method for producing a damper plate for sealin... | 10/20/1998 |
| 5823034 | Superplastic metalforming with self-contained die A superplastic forming (SPF) method using a self-contained die obviates the need for external containment bands or rings. The method and die are particularly advantageous for use in forming generally planar parts but may also be used to form parts of a mo... | 10/20/1998 |
| 5759305 | Grain size control in nickel base superalloys A method for forming nickel base superalloy articles of manufacture by a combination of hot die forging, isothermal forging and heat treatment below and above the solvus.... | 06/02/1998 |
| 5749254 | Air bearing assist in pneumatic forming of thin foil materials A method for pneumatic forming of foil workpieces includes the steps of positioning a foil workpiece between a first and a second forming element, the second forming element having at least one forming cavity, moving the first and second forming elements ... | 05/12/1998 |
| 5737954 | Superplastic forming with direct electrical heating Sheet materials are superplastically formed and optionally diffusion bonded into structures, by directly electrically resistance heating the sheets and forming them with a controlled gas-mass flow while the dies in which they are formed may remain relativ... | 04/14/1998 |
| 5692406 | Gas inlet for a superplastic forming die and method of use An improved die for a superplastic formation process and the process that uses an interface for pressurized gas that is part of the forming die so that tube welding to the forming pack can be eliminated. In one embodiment, the interface is fixed to the di... | 12/02/1997 |
| 5689987 | Method for determining the proper progress of a superplastic forming process by monitoring gas-mass outflow A method and apparatus for determining the progress of a superplastic formation process that uses cumulative gas-mass outflow from a forming part being formed from generally one or more sheets of superplastically formable material, a process that may incl... | 11/25/1997 |
| 5671631 | Hot plastic working method To provide a hot working method which can reduce working resistance during the early stage of hot plastic working, particularly extrusion and forging using a die. A hot plastic working method characterized by comprising the step of plastically working, us... | 09/30/1997 |
| 5661992 | Superplastic forming system A superplastic forming system includes a free standing generally block-shaped ceramic monolithic die base having a bottom surface on which the die rests, and a top surface, opposite to the bottom surface, in which a forming cavity is formed and which is s... | 09/02/1997 |
| 5649439 | Tool for sealing superplastic tube A tool for sealing two ends of a tube of superplastic material in preparation for superplastically forming the tube against inside surfaces of a die by gas pressure inside of the tube. The tool has a longitudinal axis that is coincident with the longitudi... | 07/22/1997 |
