Creep forming a work piece

Abstract

A method of forming a work piece using a die and a load is provided. The method comprises placing the work piece on a die having a predetermined contour and applying a load on the work piece. The work piece, the die and the load are then heated to an annealing temperature of the work piece such that the work piece, the die and the load are iso-thermal. The method also includes creep forming the work piece such that the work piece develops the predetermined contour during the annealing operation. The work piece, the die and the load are then slow cooled such that the work piece, the die and the load are iso-thermal.

1 . A method of forming a work piece comprising: 
 placing a work piece on a first die having a predetermined contour;    applying a load on the work piece;    iso-thermally heating the work piece, the first die and the load;    forming the work piece using the load such that the work piece has the predetermined contour; and    iso-thermally cooling the work piece, the first die and the load.    
   
   
       2 . The method of forming a work piece as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the work piece is titanium.  
   
   
       3 . The method of forming a work piece as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the work piece, the first die and the load are heated to a temperature in a range between 1200° F. and 1750° F.  
   
   
       4 . The method of forming a work piece as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the operation of iso-thermally cooling the work piece, the lower die and the load comprises: 
 slow-cooling the work piece, the first die and the load for up to twenty-four hours.    
   
   
       5 . The method of forming a work piece as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the work piece, the first die and the load are heated for a time period lasting between two hours and eight hours.  
   
   
       6 . The method of forming a work piece as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the work piece has a first end and a second end.  
   
   
       7 . The method of forming a work piece as recited in  claim 6 , where the operation of applying a load on the work piece comprises: 
 placing a first load on the first end of the work piece; and    placing a second load on the second end of the work piece.    
   
   
       8 . The method of forming a work piece as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the load exceeds a creep limit of the work piece.  
   
   
       9 . The method of forming a work piece as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the load is a second die having a second predetermined contour, wherein the second predetermined contour complements the predetermined contour associated with the first die.  
   
   
       10 . The method of forming a work piece as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the operation of applying a load on the work piece comprises: 
 placing the second die on the work piece such that the work piece is disposed between the first die and the second die.    
   
   
       11 . The method of forming a work piece as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the work piece is heated to an annealing temperature.  
   
   
       12 . The method of forming a work piece as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the forming operation and the heating operation are simultaneous.  
   
   
       13 . A method of hot forming a work piece comprising: 
 placing a work piece on a first die having a predetermined contour;    placing a load on the work piece, wherein the load exceeds a creep limit of the work piece;    annealing the work piece while the work piece is disposed on the first die and the load is placed on the work piece wherein the work piece, the first die and the load are iso-thermal during the annealing operation;    forming the work piece with the load wherein the forming occurs during annealing of the work piece such that a shape of the work piece is the same as the predetermined contour wherein annealing the work piece and forming the work piece are simultaneous; and    iso thermally cooling the work piece, the first die, and the load.    
   
   
       14 . The method of hot forming a work piece as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the work piece is titanium.  
   
   
       15 . The method of hot forming a work piece as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the wherein the work piece, the first die and the load are heated to a temperature in a range between 1200° F. and 1750° F.  
   
   
       16 . The method of hot forming a work piece as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the operation of iso-thermally cooling the work piece, the lower die and the load comprises: 
 slow cooling the work piece, the first die and the load for up to twenty-four hours.    
   
   
       17 . The method of hot forming a work piece as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the work piece is annealed for a time period lasting between two hours and eight hours.  
   
   
       18 . The method of hot forming a work piece as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the work piece has a first end and a second end.  
   
   
       19 . The method of hot forming a work piece as recited in  claim 18 , where the operation of placing a load on the work piece further comprises: 
 placing a first load on the first end of the work piece; and    placing a second load on the second end of the work piece.    
   
   
       20 . The method of hot forming a work piece as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the load is a second die having a second predetermined contour, wherein the second predetermined contour complements the predetermined contour associated with the first die.  
   
   
       21 . The method of forming a work piece as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the operation of placing a load on the work piece comprises: 
 placing the second die on the work piece such that the work piece is disposed between the first die and the second die.