The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 02, 1985
Filed:
Dec. 10, 1979
Joseph R Goss, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
David W Schulz, Hermosa Beach, CA (US);
Rockwell International Corporation, El Segundo, CA (US);
Abstract
A method of making metallic sandwich structures is disclosed using a plurality of metal blank workpieces with at least one of the blank workpieces capable of being superplastically formed against a surface of a die. At least one of the blanks is treated at selective areas to prevent bonding in those areas. The blanks are positioned in a stack with at least one of the outer workpieces of the stack having the capacity to be superplastically formed. The stack is then diffusion bonded together in the untreated areas. At least one insert, preferably made from wax, is coupled to the bonded stack such that the external configuration of the at least one insert and bonded stack conform to the external configuration of the sandwich structure. A mold is cast around the at least one insert and bonded stack, after which the at least one insert is removed from the mold. Thereafter, the bonded stack is superplastically formed within the cast mold, resulting in the desired sandwich structure. In a second embodiment, wherein the metallic structure has a curvature, the stack may be either formed to the curvature of the sandwich structure and then diffusion bonded or simultaneously formed to the curvature of the sandwich structure and diffusion bonded in the untreated areas of the blanks. Thereafter, at least one insert is coupled to the curved and diffusion bonded stack, such that the combination has the external configuration of the sandwich structure to be formed. A mold is then cast about the curved and bonded stack and the at least one insert, after which the insert is removed from the mold. The curved and bonded stack is then superplastically formed in the cast mold to sandwich structure.