METHODS AND ASSEMBLIES FOR FORMING AN ANNULAR OBJECT
A method is provided for forming an annular object. This method includes: providing a frustoconical preform extending axially along an axis, wherein a sidewall of the frustoconical preform is angularly offset from the axis by a preform angle; externally drawing the frustoconical preform over an outer surface of a punch and an outer surface of a die clamp to provide an externally drawn body, wherein the outer surface of the die clamp is angularly offset from the axis by a die clamp angle that is different than the preform angle; mating a die with the die clamp to provide a die assembly, wherein the externally drawn body is clamped radially between the die and the die clamp; and translating the die assembly axially along the axis and into a bore of the punch to at least partially internally draw the externally drawn body against an inner surface of the punch.
This disclosure relates generally to methods and assemblies for forming an annular object.
2. Background InformationA modern aircraft propulsion system for an airplane such as a commercial airliner includes a nacelle for housing a gas turbine engine. The nacelle typically includes an inlet lip (e.g., a nose lip) at an upstream end of the nacelle. This inlet lip is provided to form an inlet for direct incoming air into the gas turbine engine. The inlet lip has an annular body, which is preferably formed from a single sheet of material. While various methods are known in the art for forming an inlet lip, there is still room in the art for improvement.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREAccording to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method is provided for forming an annular object. This method includes step of: providing a frustoconical preform extending axially along an axis, wherein a sidewall of the frustoconical preform is angularly offset from the axis by a preform angle; externally drawing the frustoconical preform over an outer surface of a punch and an outer surface of a die clamp to provide an externally drawn body, wherein the outer surface of the die clamp is angularly offset from the axis by a die clamp angle that is different than the preform angle; mating a die with the die clamp to provide a die assembly, wherein the externally drawn body is clamped radially between the die and the die clamp; and translating the die assembly axially along the axis and into a bore of the punch to at least partially internally draw the externally drawn body against an inner surface of the punch.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, another method is provided for forming an annular object. This method includes step of: clamping a frustoconical preform with an external die assembly, wherein a surface of the external die assembly abutted against the frustoconical preform is angularly offset from an axis by an external die angle; translating the external die assembly axially along the axis to externally draw the frustoconical preform over an outer surface of a punch and an outer surface of an internal die clamp to provide an externally drawn body, wherein the outer surface of the internal die clamp is angularly offset from the axis by a die clamp angle that is different than the external die angle; mating an internal die with the internal die clamp to provide an internal die assembly, wherein the externally drawn body is clamped radially between the internal die and the internal die clamp; and translating the internal die assembly axially along the axis and into a bore of the punch to at least partially internally draw the externally drawn body against an inner surface of the punch.
According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, an assembly is provided for forming an annular object. This assembly includes a punch, an external die assembly and an internal die assembly, where the internal die assembly includes an internal die clamp and an internal die. The external die assembly is configured to clamp onto a frustoconical preform. The external die assembly is also configured to translate axially along an axis to externally draw the frustoconical preform over an outer surface of the punch and an outer surface of the internal die clamp to provide an externally drawn body. A surface of the external die assembly configured to contact the frustoconical preform is angularly offset from the axis by an external die angle. The outer surface of the internal die clamp is angularly offset from the axis by a die clamp angle that is different than the external die angle. The internal die is configured to mate with the internal die clamp such that the externally drawn body is clamped radially between the internal die and the internal die clamp. The internal die assembly is configured to translate axially along the axis and into a bore of the punch to at least partially internally draw the externally drawn body against an inner surface of the punch.
The die clamp angle may be greater than fifteen degrees and less than twenty-five degrees. In addition or alternatively, the external die angle may be greater than twenty-five degrees and less than forty degrees.
The die clamp angle may be less than the preform angle.
The die clamp angle may be between fifteen degrees and twenty-five degrees.
The preform angle may be between twenty-five degrees and forty degrees.
The method may also include steps of: clamping the frustoconical preform with an external die assembly; and translating the external die assembly axially along the axis to at least partially externally draw the frustoconical preform over at least one of the outer surface of the punch or the outer surface of the die clamp.
The external die assembly may include an inner clamp member and an outer clamp member. The frustoconical preform may be clamped between an outer surface of the inner clamp member and an inner surface of the outer clamp member. The outer surface of the inner clamp member may be angularly offset from the axis by an external die angle that is different that the die clamp angle.
The external die angle may be equal to the preform angle.
The frustoconical preform may be configured from or otherwise include metal.
The annular object may be configured as or otherwise include an inlet lip of an aircraft propulsion system nacelle.
The method may also include a step of annealing the externally drawn body following the translating of the die assembly.
The die clamp angle may be less than the external die angle.
The die clamp angle may be greater than fifteen degrees and less than twenty-five degrees.
The external die angle may be greater than twenty-five degrees and less than forty degrees.
A sidewall of the frustoconical preform may be angularly offset from the axis by a preform angle. The die clamp angle may be different than the preform angle.
The external die assembly may include an inner clamp member and an outer clamp member. The surface of the external die assembly may be an outer surface of the inner clamp member. The frustoconical preform may be clamped between the outer surface of the inner clamp member and an inner surface of the outer clamp member.
The frustoconical preform may be formed from metal.
The annular object may be configured as an inlet structure of a nacelle for an aircraft propulsion system.
The foregoing features and the operation of the invention will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings.
The formation assembly 20 of
The punch 22 is configured as a tubular body. The punch 22 of
The punch outer and inner surfaces 34 and 36 may meet and may be joined together at a (e.g., annular) blunt, curved and/or otherwise eased edge 40 of the punch 22 at the punch second end 32. The punch inner surface 36 and the punch outer surface 34 may each be shaped to substantially follow a finished geometry of the annular object to be formed. The punch outer and inner surfaces 34 and 36 of
Referring to
The inner clamp member 46 is configured as an annular body with a base 50 and a flange 52; e.g., an annular rim. The inner clamp member 46 of
The inner clamp member outer surface 60 is angularly offset from the axis 28 by an inner clamp member angle 62; e.g., an external die angle. This inner clamp member angle 62 may be an acute angle. The inner clamp member angle 62, for example, may be greater than (or equal to) twenty-five degrees (25°) and less than (or equal to) forty degrees (40°); e.g., the angle 62 may be equal to thirty degrees (30°).
The flange 52 is located at the inner clamp member first end 54. The flange 52 projects radially out from the base 50 and may be axially adjacent an edge of the inner clamp member outer surface 60.
The outer clamp member 48 is configured as an annular body. The outer clamp member 48 of
Referring to
The internal die clamp 72 extends axially along the axis 28 from a die clamp first end 76 to a die clamp second end 78. The internal die clamp 72 extends radially outward to a die clamp outer surface 80. This die clamp outer surface 80 extends circumferentially about (e.g., completely around) the axis 28. The die clamp outer surface 80 of
The die clamp outer surface 80 is angularly offset from the axis 28 by a die clamp angle 82. This die clamp angle 82 may be an acute angle. The die clamp angle 82 is different (e.g., less) than the inner clamp member angle 62 (see
The internal die 74 may have a generally cup-shaped body; e.g., a body with a generally U or V shaped cross-sectional geometry. The internal die 74 of
The tubular rim 84 extends circumferentially about (e.g., completely around) the axis 28. The tubular rim 84 extends axially along the axis 28 from an internal die first end 88 to the base 86, which is disposed at an internal die second end 90. The tubular rim 84 extends radially between an internal die outer surface 92 and an internal die inner surface 94. The internal die inner surface 94 forms an aperture 96 (e.g., an indentation, pocket, etc.) in the internal die 74, which aperture 96 extends (e.g., partially) into the internal die 74 from the internal die first end 88 to the base 86. The internal die inner surface 94 of
The actuation system of
In step 502, a frustoconical preform 104 is provided as shown, for example, in
The frustoconical preform 104 of
The frustoconical preform 104 and its surfaces 110 and 112 taper radially inwards as each of those elements 104, 110, 112 extends from the preform first end 106 to the preform second end 108. Thus, a diameter 116 of the frustoconical preform 104 at the preform first end 106 is greater than a diameter 118 of the frustoconical preform 104 at the preform second end 108.
One or more or each preform element 104, 110, 112 may be angularly offset from the axis 28 by a preform angle 120. This preform angle 120 may be an acute angle. The preform angle 120 may be equal to the inner clamp member angle 62 (see
In step 504, the frustoconical preform 104 is clamped with (e.g., by) the external die assembly 24 as shown, for example, in
In step 506, the frustoconical preform 104 is externally drawn to provide an externally drawn object 122 (see
The drawing of the frustoconical preform 104 onto the punch 22 may be performed simultaneously with the drawing of the frustoconical preform 104 onto the die clamp 72. The method 500 of the present disclosure, however, is not limited to such a simultaneous drawing. For example, in other embodiments, the frustoconical preform 104 may be partially or completely drawn onto the die clamp 72 before the drawing of the frustoconical preform 104 onto the punch 22, or vice versa.
In some embodiments, the translation of the external die assembly 24 may partially draw the frustoconical preform 104 onto the die clamp outer surface 80. The drawing of the frustoconical preform 104 onto the die clamp outer surface 80 may subsequently be completed by mating the internal die 74 with the internal die clamp 72.
In step 508, the internal die 74 is mated with the internal die clamp 72 to clamp the externally drawn object 122 as shown, for example, in
In step 510, the externally drawn object 122 is at least partially (or completely) internally drawn to provide an annular body 124 (see
It is worth noting, by increasing the diameter 118 (see
In step 512, the annular body 124 is heat treated. This heat treatment may be preformed while the annular body 124 is configured with the formation assembly 20. Alternatively, the heat treatment may be performed after the annular body 124 is removed from the formation assembly 20.
In step 514, the annular body 124 is trimmed to provide the finished annular object. For example, portions (e.g., see 126 and 128 in
The method 500, of course, may include one or more additional steps other than those discussed above. For example, the internal drawing of the externally drawn object 122 may be performed iteratively and, between iterations, the object's material may be annealed or otherwise heat treated. In another example, one or more additional finishing operations (e.g., polishing, etc.) may be performed before or after the trimming step 514. The method 500 of the present disclosure, therefore, is not limited to the exemplary steps nor particular sequence of performing the exemplary steps described above.
The nacelle 132 is configured to house and provide an aerodynamic cover for the gas turbine engine. An outer nacelle structure 134 of the nacelle 132 extends along an axial centerline 136 of the gas turbine engine between a nacelle forward end 138 and a nacelle aft end 140, which centerline 136 may be coaxial with the axis 28. The nacelle structure 134 of
While various embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, the present invention as described herein includes several aspects and embodiments that include particular features. Although these features may be described individually, it is within the scope of the present invention that some or all of these features may be combined with any one of the aspects and remain within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A method for forming an annular object, comprising:
- providing a frustoconical preform extending axially along an axis, wherein a sidewall of the frustoconical preform is angularly offset from the axis by a preform angle;
- externally drawing the frustoconical preform over an outer surface of a punch and an outer surface of a die clamp to provide an externally drawn body, wherein the outer surface of the die clamp is angularly offset from the axis by a die clamp angle that is different than the preform angle;
- mating a die with the die clamp to provide a die assembly, wherein the externally drawn body is clamped radially between the die and the die clamp; and
- translating the die assembly axially along the axis and into a bore of the punch to at least partially internally draw the externally drawn body against an inner surface of the punch.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the die clamp angle is less than the preform angle.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the die clamp angle is between fifteen degrees and twenty-five degrees.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the preform angle is between twenty-five degrees and forty degrees.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- clamping the frustoconical preform with an external die assembly; and
- translating the external die assembly axially along the axis to at least partially externally draw the frustoconical preform over at least one of the outer surface of the punch or the outer surface of the die clamp.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein
- the external die assembly includes an inner clamp member and an outer clamp member;
- the frustoconical preform is clamped between an outer surface of the inner clamp member and an inner surface of the outer clamp member; and
- the outer surface of the inner clamp member is angularly offset from the axis by an external die angle that is different that the die clamp angle. The method of claim 6, wherein the external die angle is equal to the preform angle.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the frustoconical preform comprises metal.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the annular object comprises an inlet lip of an aircraft propulsion system nacelle.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising annealing the externally drawn body following the translating of the die assembly.
11. A method for forming an annular object, comprising:
- clamping a frustoconical preform with an external die assembly, wherein a surface of the external die assembly abutted against the frustoconical preform is angularly offset from an axis by an external die angle;
- translating the external die assembly axially along the axis to externally draw the frustoconical preform over an outer surface of a punch and an outer surface of an internal die clamp to provide an externally drawn body, wherein the outer surface of the internal die clamp is angularly offset from the axis by a die clamp angle that is different than the external die angle;
- mating an internal die with the internal die clamp to provide an internal die assembly, wherein the externally drawn body is clamped radially between the internal die and the internal die clamp; and
- translating the internal die assembly axially along the axis and into a bore of the punch to at least partially internally draw the externally drawn body against an inner surface of the punch.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the die clamp angle is less than the external die angle.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the die clamp angle is greater than fifteen degrees and less than twenty-five degrees.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the external die angle is greater than twenty-five degrees and less than forty degrees.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein a sidewall of the frustoconical preform is angularly offset from the axis by a preform angle, and the die clamp angle is different than the preform angle.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein
- the external die assembly includes an inner clamp member and an outer clamp member;
- the surface of the external die assembly is an outer surface of the inner clamp member; and
- the frustoconical preform is clamped between the outer surface of the inner clamp member and an inner surface of the outer clamp member.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein the frustoconical preform is formed from metal.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein the annular object is configured as an inlet structure of a nacelle for an aircraft propulsion system.
19. An assembly for forming an annular object, comprising:
- a punch, an external die assembly and an internal die assembly that comprises an internal die clamp and an internal die;
- the external die assembly configured to clamp onto a frustoconical preform, and the external die assembly further configured to translate axially along an axis to externally draw the frustoconical preform over an outer surface of the punch and an outer surface of the internal die clamp to provide an externally drawn body, wherein a surface of the external die assembly configured to contact the frustoconical preform is angularly offset from the axis by an external die angle, and the outer surface of the internal die clamp is angularly offset from the axis by a die clamp angle that is different than the external die angle;
- the internal die configured to mate with the internal die clamp such that the externally drawn body is clamped radially between the internal die and the internal die clamp; and
- the internal die assembly configured to translate axially along the axis and into a bore of the punch to at least partially internally draw the externally drawn body against an inner surface of the punch.
20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein
- the die clamp angle is greater than fifteen degrees and less than twenty-five degrees; and
- the external die angle is greater than twenty-five degrees and less than forty degrees.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 3, 2020
Publication Date: Aug 5, 2021
Inventor: Alan R. Douglas (Chula Vista, CA)
Application Number: 16/779,986