Patent ID: 6430812
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: B21C,B21K,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making a superplastically formed integral tubular protrusion in a side wall of a tube, comprising:inserting said tube in a cavity of a die base and heating said tube to a temperature at which the material of which said tube is made exhibits superplastic properties; extending a distal end of a rod through an opening in said die base and through a hole in said side wall aligned with said opening; attaching a pull die to said distal end of said rod, said pull die having a cross section larger than said hole and about equal to the desired internal cross section of said tubular protrusion; heating said pull die to about said superplastic temperature; pulling said rod and said pull die through said hole, superplastically forming said tubing material in marginal regions around said hole against surfaces defining said opening in said die base into said tubular protrusion integrally joined to said tube with an integral junction region; and removing said tube with said integral protrusion formed thereon from said die base.