IP Library Granted Patent US 8,118,954
Granted Patent B2
US 8,118,954 · App. 11/916,215 · Granted Feb 21, 2012

Method for producing a metallic component comprising adjacent sections having different material properties by means of press hardening

Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,118,954
App. No.
11/916,215
Granted
Feb 21, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for producing a metallic component (B) allows adjoining zones (Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 ) having differing material properties to be produced in a manner which is simple in terms of production. This is achieved in that a sheet metal element (E) heated to a forming temperature is shaped in a forming tool ( 1 ) into an end-shaped component (B), wherein the forming tool ( 1 ) has a temperature adjustment means for adjusting the temperature of at least one of the portions ( 5, 7, 16 ) thereof that comes into contact with the sheet metal element (E) during the forming process, and in that the forming speed is controlled in consideration of the time for which the portion ( 5, 7, 16 ) of the forming tool ( 1 ) that is regulated with regard to the temperature thereof is in contact with the respective region (E 1 , E 2 , E 3 ) of the sheet metal element (E) that rests against said portion.

Claims (11)

1. A method for producing a metallic component comprising adjoining zones having differing material properties, in which a sheet metal element heated to a forming temperature is shaped in a forming tool into an end-shaped component, wherein the forming tool has a temperature adjustment means for adjusting the temperature of at least one portion thereof that comes into contact with the sheet metal element during the forming process, and in order to produce a finished component having differing material properties, the forming speed is varied and controlled during the shaping process in consideration of the time for which the portion of the forming tool that is regulated with regard to the temperature thereof is in contact with the respective region of the sheet metal element that rests against the portion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sheet metal element comprises steel.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sheet metal element comprises a flat sheet metal blank.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the sheet metal element has regions of differing thickness.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sheet metal element comprises different sheet metal parts which are interconnected with a material fit.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the forming temperature corresponds to a hardening temperature, starting from which a hardened structure forms during cooling in the sheet metal element.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the forming tool has a female mould and a male mould which can be positioned in a recess in the female mould for the purposes of shaping.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature adjustment means is a cooling means.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature adjustment means is a heater.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein a cooling means, as a first temperature adjustment means, is associated with at least one portion of the forming tool and a heater, as a second temperature adjustment means, is associated with at least one other portion of the shaping tool.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein a holding-down force regulated as a function of the forming speed is exerted on an edge region of the sheet metal element during shaping.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 11, 2009
From: BEENKEN, HEIKO; HELLER, THOMAS; LENZE, FRANZ-JOSEF; SIKORA, SASCHA
To: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG
Reel/Frame 023641/0748 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2008
From: BEENKEN, HEIKO; HELLER, THOMAS; LENZE, FRANZ-JOSEF; SIKORA, SASCHA
To: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL GMBH
Reel/Frame 020858/0848 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2005 025 026 · May 30, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080196800A1 · Aug 21, 2008