Superplastically Continuous Roll Forming Titanium

Abstract

A method of forming titanium structures, and more specifically, a method of superplastically continuous roll forming titanium structures are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of forming a shape in an article comprising titanium, the method including, among other things, providing first and second rolling members, the first rolling members being conductive and the second rolling members being continuous roll shaping members; contacting the article with the first rolling members to transfer a current to the article to heat the article to a temperature suitable for superplastic forming; and with the article being in a superplastic state, contacting the article with the second rolling members to form the shape in the article.

1 . A method of forming a shape in an article comprising titanium, the method comprising:
 providing first and second rolling members, the first rolling members being conductive and the second rolling members being continuous roll shaping members;   contacting the article with the first rolling members to transfer a current to the article to heat the article to a temperature suitable for superplastic forming; and   with the article being in a superplastic state, contacting the article with the second rolling members to form the shape in the article.   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein providing further includes the second rolling member being non-conductive. 
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the article is greater than a temperature associated with the second rolling members. 
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the article may have the temperature for a magnitude of time to minimize alpha case within the article. 
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising contacting the article with the first and second rolling members concurrently. 
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising contacting the article with the first rolling members prior to contacting the article with the second rolling members. 
   
   
       7 . A method of forming a shape in an article comprising titanium, the method comprising the steps of:
 A) providing first, second, third, and fourth rolling members, the first and the third rolling members being conductive and the second and the fourth rolling members being continuous roll shaping members;   B) contacting a first portion of the article with the first rolling members to transfer a current to the article to heat the first portion of the article to a temperature suitable for superplastic forming;   C) contacting the first portion of the article with the second rolling members, with the first portion of the article being in a superplastic state, to form a first pattern in the first portion of the article while concurrently contacting a second portion of the article with the first rolling members to transfer a current to the article to heat the second portion of the article to a temperature suitable for superplastic forming;   D) contacting the first portion of the article with the third rolling members to transfer a current to the article to heat the first portion of the article to a temperature suitable for superplastic forming while concurrently, with the second portion of the article being in a superplastic state, contacting the second portion of the article with the second rolling members to form a second pattern in the second portion of the article;   E) contacting the first portion of the article with the fourth rolling members, with the first portion of the article being in a superplastic state, to form a third pattern in the first portion of the article while concurrently contacting the second portion of the article with the third rolling members to transfer a current to the article to heat the second portion of the article to a temperature suitable for superplastic forming; and   F) contacting the second portion of the article with the fourth rolling members, with the second portion of the article being in a superplastic state, to form a fourth pattern in the second portion of the article, defining the shape in the article.   
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein step D) further includes concurrently contacting a third portion of the article with the first rolling members to transfer a current to the article to heat the third portion of the article to a temperature suitable for superplastic forming. 
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the step E) further includes concurrently, while the third portion of the article being in a superplastic state, contacting the third portion of the article with the second rolling members to form a fifth pattern in the third portion of the article. 
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the step F) further includes concurrently contacting the third portion of the article with the third rolling members to transfer a current to the article to heat the third portion of the article to a temperature suitable for superplastic forming. 
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising the step G) with the third portion of the article being in a superplastic state, contacting the third portion of the article with the further rolling members to form a sixth pattern in the third portion of the article. 
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein providing further includes the second rolling member being non-conductive. 
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the temperature of the article is greater than a temperature associated with the second and fourth rolling members. 
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the article may have the temperature for a magnitude of time to minimize alpha case within the article. 
   
   
       15 . A part prepared by a process to form titanium comprising the steps of:
 applying a current to a titanium blank to heat the blank to a temperature suitable for superplastic forming; and   with the article being in a superplastic state, continuous roll forming the blank to form a shape therein to define the part.   
   
   
       16 . The part as recited in  claim 15 , wherein applying may further comprise heating the blank to the temperature for a magnitude of time to minimize alpha case within the blank. 
   
   
       17 . The part as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the part is an airplane part. 
   
   
       18 . A system for forming a shape in an article comprising titanium, the system comprising:
 first conductive rolling members to transfer a current to the article to heat the article to a temperature suitable for superplastic forming; and   second continuous roll shaping members to form a shape into the article while the article is in a superplastic state.   
   
   
       19 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein providing further includes the second rolling member being non-conductive. 
   
   
       20 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the temperature of the article is greater than a temperature associated with the second rolling members.