Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
In a method of continuously casting molten aluminum and hot forming said cast metal in substantially its as-cast condition at a hot-forming temperature by a plurality of substantial compressions, the improvement comprising the steps of: following casting of said metal and prior to said substantial compression of said metal, forming a substantially uniform subgrain structure at least at the surface of said metal by at least one preliminary light compression of said metal wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a method of continuously casting molten aluminum and hot forming said cast metal in substantially its as-cast condition at a hot-forming temperature by a plurality of substantial compressions, the improvement comprising the steps of: following casting of said metal and prior to said substantial compression of said metal, forming a substantially uniform subgrain structure at least at the surface of said metal by at least one preliminary light compression of said metal wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said preliminary light compression reduces the cross-section of said metal by between 5 and 25%.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said substantial compressions following the forming of said substantially uniform subgrain structure includes a first compression providing at least 30% reduction of the cross-section of said metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said light compressions comprise a first 7% reduction of the cross-section of said metal followed by a second 7% reduction along an axis of compression 90° removed from said first 7% reduction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said light compressions comprise a first 7% reduction of the cross-section of said metal followed by at least one additional 7% reduction along an axis of compression 60° removed from the axis of said immediately prior 7% reduction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the total of said light compressions results in less than a 30% reduction of the cross-section of said metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said metal is a 2000 series aluminum alloy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said metal is a 7000 series aluminum alloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said metal is a 6000 series aluminum alloy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said metal is a 5000 series aluminum alloy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said metal is 2024 aluminum alloy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said metal is 2117 aluminum alloy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said metal is 7075 aluminum alloy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said metal is 7079 aluminum alloy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said metal is 6061 aluminum alloy.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said metal is 6101 aluminum alloy.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said metal is 6201 aluminum alloy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said metal is 5052 aluminum alloy.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said metal is 5056 aluminum alloy.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of hot forming a continuously cast aluminum bar without cracking said bar comprising the steps of: passing said bar in substantially its as-cast condition and at a hot-forming temperature from a continuous casting machine to a hot-forming means; conditioning said bar for subsequent hot forming by forming a substantially uniform subgrain structure at least at the surface of said bar by a plurality of preliminary light sequential compressions of said bar each reducing the cross-section of said bar by from 5% to 25% each and a total reduction of less than 30%; hot forming said bar by a single compression of said bar to reduce its cross-sectional area by at least 40%; and hot forming said bar by a plurality of sequential compressions in each of which the cross-section of said bar is changed to the extend necessary to provide a hot-formed product having a predetermined cross-section.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of hot forming a continuously cast aluminum bar without cracking said bar comprising the steps of: passing said bar in substantially its as-cast condition and at a hot-forming temperature from a continuous casting machine to a hot-forming means; conditioning said bar for subsequent hot forming by forming a substantially uniform subgrain structure at least at the surface of said bar by a plurality of preliminary light sequential compressions of said bar each reducing the cross-section of said bar by from 5% to 25% each and a total reduction of less than 30%; hot forming said bar by a single compression of said bar to reduce its cross-sectional area by at least 40%; and hot forming said bar by a plurality of sequential compressions in each of which the cross-section of said bar is changed to the extend necessary to provide a hot-formed product having a predetermined cross-section.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said conditioning of said bar includes passing said bar between rolls in a plurality of sequential roll stands.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said hot forming of said bar includes passing said bar through sequential roll stands of a rolling mill.