Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for hot isostatic compaction of compactible material in a heated and pressurized environment within a pressure vessel, the method comprising (a) placing a compaction die within a compaction container, the die having a selected die wall thickness along a first axis and having an interior wall area which defines within the die an internal cavity having a width along the first axis and a height along a second axis transverse to the first axis, (b) placing within the die cavity a punch means comprising at least two compaction surfaces, with a compactible material charge loaded between the two compaction surfaces, for applying compaction force to the compactible material charge along the second axis, the punch means having a width essentially equal to the die cavity width and being loaded within the die cavity with respective ends of the punch means in contact with the die interior wall area, the die wall thickness being selected according to the amount of separation between the two contact surfaces, (c) sealing the loaded die within the container, and (d) submitting the sealed and loaded container to pressure in a pressure vessel, the submitted pressure forcing the punch means to travel along the second axis to compact the loaded compactible material charge while the punch means supports the die interior wall area along the first axis.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for hot isostatic compaction of compactible material in a heated and pressurized environment within a pressure vessel, the method comprising (a) placing a compaction die within a compaction container, the die having a selected die wall thickness along a first axis and having an interior wall area which defines within the die an internal cavity having a width along the first axis and a height along a second axis transverse to the first axis, (b) placing within the die cavity a punch means comprising at least two compaction surfaces, with a compactible material charge loaded between the two compaction surfaces, for applying compaction force to the compactible material charge along the second axis, the punch means having a width essentially equal to the die cavity width and being loaded within the die cavity with respective ends of the punch means in contact with the die interior wall area, the die wall thickness being selected according to the amount of separation between the two contact surfaces, (c) sealing the loaded die within the container, and (d) submitting the sealed and loaded container to pressure in a pressure vessel, the submitted pressure forcing the punch means to travel along the second axis to compact the loaded compactible material charge while the punch means supports the die interior wall area along the first axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the two contact surfaces of the punch means comprise two punches, further comprising the step of loading a first of the two punches at the top of the die cavity with the compactible material charge loaded between the two punches within the die cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting a die wall thickness as a function of the separation between the two contact surfaces gap at or before the beginning of compaction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of minimizing the friction between the punch means and the die interior wall area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of cooperatively forming the die wall interior and punch means of compatible materials having a resulting low coefficient of friction therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the die interior wall area defines a slip plane extending along the second axis and further comprising the step of sliding the punch means along the slip plane during compaction of the loaded compactible material charge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the die wall interior further comprises a thin and flexible foil sheet and the sliding of the punch means comprises the step of sliding the punch means along the foil sheet during compaction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of fabricating the die and punch means for high grade graphite and the container from high grade titanium or steel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the contact surfaces comprise two punches separated from each other by a separation gap, whereby the die wall thickness is selected according to the dimension of the separation gap between the two punches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the die and punch means each are cooperatively formed of compatible materials which create a low coefficient of friction between the die and punch means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 10 wherein one of the contact surfaces comprises a non-planar compression surface and further comprising the step of forming a shaped part between the two contact surfaces and forming a non-planar compressed surface on the compresses material charge.