Method for producing center pillar reinforcement

1. A method for producing a center pillar reinforcement by means of press-forming of a metal blank, the center pillar reinforcement comprising a body which is lengthy and partially curved substantially in a bow shape and two substantial T shape sections formed at both end portions in a longitudinal direction of the body, and thereby a panel having a substantial I shape in a plan view being formed, the body having a substantially hat-shaped cross section formed by a curved and lengthy top sheet, two vertical walls connecting with both edge portions in the width direction of the top sheet, and two outward flanges connecting with the respective two vertical walls, two substantial T shape sections each having a top sheet, and two curved vertical walls connecting with the top sheet, and the two curved vertical walls of at least one of the two substantial T shape sections each having a height which decreases gradually toward a direction directed from the body to the substantial T shape section, wherein

the center pillar reinforcement is produced by performing

a first step for producing a first intermediate formed product by press-forming the blank by using a first press-forming device for drawing, the device comprising a die, a blank holder for clamping the blank together with the die, and a punch for pressing the blank into the die, the first intermediate formed product having a body section and portions that are formed into the two substantial T shape sections, the body section being formed by some parts of the top sheet and each of the two vertical walls in the body, and a part of the top sheet and each of the two vertical walls in one substantial T shape section of the two substantial T shape sections, and the portions which are formed into the two substantial T shape sections excluding the some parts of the top sheet and each of the two vertical walls in the one substantial T shape section, and

a second step for, by using a second press-forming device for bend-forming, the device comprising a punch, a pad having a butting surface facing to a protrusion of the punch, and a die for pressing the first intermediate formed product onto the punch, pressing the first intermediate formed product in a state in which at least part of each of portions formed in the two substantial T shape sections of the intermediate formed product is clamped by the pad and the punch,

wherein, in a case where an uppermost position in a region in the longitudinal direction where the body section is formed is defined as a longitudinal direction 0% position, a value of the longitudinal direction % is defined so as to be increased with a decrease in the longitudinal direction, and a lowermost position in the region in the longitudinal direction is defined as a longitudinal direction 100% position, a height of the vertical walls in the body section formed in the first intermediate formed product by the first step is at most 20% of the height of the vertical walls of the center pillar reinforcement at the longitudinal direction 0% position; at least 60% of the height of the vertical walls of the center pillar reinforcement at the longitudinal direction 20 to 60% positions, and at most 20% of the height of the vertical walls of the center pillar reinforcement at the longitudinal direction 100% position.

2. The method for producing the center pillar reinforcement according to claim 1 , wherein

the die of the first press-forming device has a recess recessed in a bow shape corresponding to the shapes of some parts of the top sheet and each of the two vertical walls of the first intermediate formed product, and die face surfaces corresponding to the shapes of the top sheet and each of the two vertical walls in the one substantial T shape section of the first intermediate formed product,

the blank holder of the first press-forming device has clamp surfaces for clamping the blank together with the die face surfaces of the die, and

the punch of the first press-forming device pushes the blank into the recess of the die.

3. The method for producing the center pillar reinforcement according to claim 1 , wherein

the punch of the second press-forming device has a protrusion having a shape corresponding to the body of the center pillar reinforcement, and the pad of the second press-forming device has a butting surface which faces to the protrusion of the punch, and clamps at least one of portions formed on the top sheets of the two substantial T shape sections of the first intermediate formed product.

4. The method for producing the center pillar reinforcement according to claim 1 , wherein a difference in length in the longitudinal direction between the flange surface of a curved portion in a portion consisting of some part of the body of the center pillar reinforcement and the flange surface of the body of the center pillar reinforcement is at most 0.8% of the length in the longitudinal direction of the flange surface of the curved portion.

5. The method for producing the center pillar reinforcement according to claim 1 , wherein the pad and the punch of the second press-forming device clamp arm sections protruding in a transverse direction in each of portions formed in the two substantial T shape sections of the first intermediate formed product.

6. The method for producing the center pillar reinforcement according to claim 1 , wherein the pad and the punch of the second press-forming device clamp the entirety of the first intermediate formed product.

7. The method for producing the center pillar reinforcement according to claim 1 , wherein the blank consists of a high-tensile steel sheet having a tensile strength of 400 to 1600 MPa.

8. The method for producing the center pillar reinforcement according to claim 1 , wherein the blank is a tailored blank obtained by welding a plurality of materials having different tensile strengths.