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  Method of making precursor hollow castings for tube manufactureUSPTO Application #: 20080096039Title: Method of making precursor hollow castings for tube manufacture Abstract: A tubular formation technique utilizing centrifugal casting incorporating a moveable launder system to deliver molten alloy along an extended length within a centrifugal caster to form a hollow tubular precursor of extended length. The technique is adaptable to all alloy systems but may be particularly suited for so called “hard alloys” that are susceptible to substantial work hardening or are difficult to extrude. (end of abstract) Agent: General Motors Corporation Legal Staff - Detroit, MI, US Inventors: Anil K. Sachdev, K. Balasubramanian USPTO Applicaton #: 20080096039 - Class: 428586 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080096039. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This application claims benefit of and priority from U.S. Provisional Application 60/862,056 filed Oct. 19, 2006 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002]The present invention relates generally to the field of hollow tube manufacture and more particularly to the field of centrifugal casting of elongate hollow tube precursors adaptable for flow forming or other treatments. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003]It is well known to form tubes from materials such as aluminum and magnesium using extrusion techniques or seam welding rolled sheet stock. Tubes of such materials may also be formed by drawing a hollow blank over a mandrel or flow forming an extrusion formed precursor over a mandrel. While such techniques for forming tubes may be suitable for many materials, they may be difficult to apply to alloys such as high ductility aluminum alloys that exhibit substantial work hardening or to magnesium alloys that do not exhibit good hot deformation behavior unless extremely low extrusion speeds are utilized. Alloys that are characterized by substantial amounts of work hardening may be desirable to accommodate deformation strain during fabrication of complex shapes, or in the case of magnesium alloys for light weight. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004]The present invention provides advantages and alternatives over prior practices by providing tubular formation techniques that are particularly suited for so called "hard alloys" that are susceptible to substantial work hardening or are difficult to extrude. [0005]According to one aspect, a process is provided utilizing centrifugal casting incorporating a moveable launder system to deliver molten alloy along an extended length within a centrifugal caster to form a hollow tubular precursor of extended length. [0006]According to another aspect, a process is provided utilizing centrifugal casting incorporating a moveable launder system to deliver layers of alloy and/or composite material along an extended length within a centrifugal caster to form a hollow tubular precursor of extended length. [0007]According to still another aspect, a process is provided wherein a centrifugal caster incorporating a moveable launder system delivering molten alloy along an extended length within the caster is mated with a flow forming procedure to yield a tube of desired thickness formed from a work hardenable alloy or from alloys that are difficult to hot work by standard methods like extrusion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008]The following drawings which are incorporated in and which constitute a part of this specification illustrate exemplary practices in accordance with the present invention and, together with the general description above and the detailed description set forth below, serve to explain the principals of the invention wherein: [0009]FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a casting system incorporating a retractable elongate launder in inserted relation within a centrifugal caster; [0010]FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the launder retracted towards the mouth of the caster; [0011]FIG. 3A is a side view of cast billets of tubular construction formed by the system illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2; [0012]FIG. 3B is an end view of cast billets of tubular construction formed by the system illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2; and [0013]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a tube flow forming operation that may be paired with a casting system as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. [0014]While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and generally described above and will hereinafter be described in connection with certain potentially preferred procedures and practices, it is to be understood and appreciated that in no event is the invention to be limited to such embodiments and procedures as may be illustrated and described herein. On the contrary, it is intended that coverage shall extend to all alternatives and modifications as may embrace the broad principals of the invention within the true spirit and scope thereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0015]Reference will now be made to the various drawings wherein like elements are designated by like reference numerals throughout the various views. As illustrated, in accordance with the present invention a centrifugal caster 10 is mated with a moveable launder 20. The launder 20 preferably includes a proximal reservoir portion 22 for acceptance of a molten alloy and a distal insertion portion 24 of reduced hemispherical cross section for insertion an extended length into the caster 10. [0016]As shown, the launder 20 may be mounted on a carriage assembly 30 for reciprocating movement in axial relation to the caster 10. While the carriage assembly 30 is illustrated as a cart mounted on rails, it is likewise contemplated that virtually any supporting structure adapted to translate reciprocal movement to the launder may be used. [0017]In operation the insertion portion 24 of the launder 20 may be projected through a mouth opening of the caster 10 a predetermined length along the interior of the caster. While the insertion portion 24 is within the caster 10, a molten alloy may be delivered to the reservoir portion 22 thereby causing the alloy to flow along the insertion portion for deposit at the interior of the caster 10. As will be appreciated, the moveable nature of the launder 20 permits the location of alloy deposit to be moved inwardly away from the mouth of the caster. Moreover, the alloy can be deposited progressively along the length of the caster 10 by inserting or withdrawing the insertion portion 24 while the alloy is being delivered. Moreover, by use of controlled reciprocation, layers of similar or dissimilar material may be deposited at the interior of the caster 10 so as to form layers within the final cast billets. While the process may be used with substantially any metal system, it is contemplated that the system may be particularly useful for aluminum, aluminum alloys, magnesium, magnesium alloys, titanium and titanium alloys, copper and copper alloys, and refractory metals and their alloys. [0018]By use of the reciprocating launder system it has been found that it may be possible to increase the thickness of billets formed within the caster 10 and/or to cast alloys that may not be suitable for centrifugal casting or for casting into standard extrusion billets. By way of example only, it has been found that tubes of high ductility aluminum alloys may be formed with substantial wall thickness on the order of about 10 mm or greater. Benefits are also believed to be applicable to alloys of materials such as magnesium and titanium that are characterized by limited extrudability. Continue reading... Full patent description for Method of making precursor hollow castings for tube manufacture Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method of making precursor hollow castings for tube manufacture patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. 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