Patent ID: 9468960
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: B21C,B22F,B33Y

Claim Text:
1. A process for extruding feed materials of a high temperature formable non-ferrous metal that is susceptible to embrittlement during in air processing, using an apparatus including an extrusion system having a rotatable wheel and shoe which is positionable to enable a shoe to cover part of the length of a groove around the periphery of the wheel to form an arcuate passageway having a first, inlet end and a second end, the shoe having an abutment which substantially closes the second end of the passageway and an extrusion die spaced from the abutment by a die chamber, the extrusion die having a die orifice; wherein feed material for the process is selected from titanium, tantalum, niobium, and an alloy of any of titanium, tantalum and niobium and the process includes the steps of: pre-heating the feed material to a pre-heat temperature not less than about 390° C. in a chamber defined by a feeder device, maintaining a protective atmosphere substantially free of oxygen and nitrogen in the chamber of the feeder device while the feed material is heated in the feeder device to the pre-heat temperature, passing the pre-heated feed material from the feeder device to the inlet end of the passageway, drawing the pre-heated feed material along the passageway to cause the pre-heated feed material to be forced by engagement with the abutment into the die chamber and through an extrusion orifice defined by the die to provide an extruded product, and the extruded product is passed from the die orifice and cooled.