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:
Apr. 14, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 15, 1996
Applicant:
Inventor:
Ken K Yasui, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Assignee:
McDonnell Douglas Corporation, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B21D / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
72 60 ; 7234296 ; 72709 ;
Abstract
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 relatively cool. The dies include electrodes and thermocouples placed therein, and gas interface ports that connect to the sheets to be formed to allow rapid formation of structures. Some of the gas interface ports may become sealably attached to the part during the formation process so that the structures may be removed from the dies hot, thus allowing a high die throughput.