Method and apparatus for hardening a component or semi-finished product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016108485-A1
Application number	US-201414892181-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 17, 2014
Priority date	May 24, 2013
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Example methods and apparatus for hardening a component or any semi-finished product formed from a steel workpiece that has been shaped in a shaping tool may involve introducing the component into a receiving region of a hardening tool. The hardening tool may then be closed around the component in a form-fitting manner so as to surround the component and maintain a substantially constant distance between the component and at least one induction coil integrated into the hardening tool. The induction coil of the hardening tool may then be used to heat the component. The component may then be cooled within the receiving region or by removing the component from the receiving region and exposing the component to air external to the receiving region.

First claim

1 - 13 . (canceled)

14 . A method for hardening a component formed from a steel workpiece that has been shaped in a shaping tool, the method comprising:
introducing the component into a receiving region of a hardening tool; closing the hardening tool around the component so as to surround the component in a form-fitting manner and maintain a substantially constant distance between the component and at least one induction coil integrated into the hardening tool; heating the component inductively by the at least one induction coil; and cooling the component.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the steel workpiece is an air-hardening steel, wherein the step of cooling the component comprises removing the component from the receiving region of the hardening tool and exposing the component to air external to the receiving region.

16 . The method of claim 14 wherein the step of cooling the component comprises using a coolant to cool the component within the receiving region of the hardening tool while the hardening tool is closed around the component.

17 . The method of claim 15 further comprising maintaining the component within the receiving region of the hardening tool in the form-fitting manner during the steps of heating and cooling.

18 . The method of claim 16 wherein the step of cooling takes place via at least one of surfaces of the receiving region of the hardening tool or an active cooling element of the receiving region of the hardening tool.

19 . The method of claim 14 further comprising cold forming the steel workpiece by U-O forming or a roll forming technique.

20 . The method of claim 14 further comprising forming the steel workpiece into an at least partially-closed hollow profile by way of a four-side press.

21 . The method of claim 14 wherein the step of inductively heating the component causes only localized austenitization or partial austenitization in the steel workpiece.

22 . The method of claim 14 wherein the steel workpiece has a wall thickness of at most 1.2 mm.

23 . The method of claim 14 wherein the steel workpiece has a wall thickness of at most 1.0 mm.

24 . The method of claim 14 wherein the steel workpiece has a wall thickness of at most 0.8 mm.

25 . A hardening tool for performing the method of claim 14 , the hardening tool comprising:
a receiving region for receiving the component; and at least one induction coil for heating the component to be received in the receiving region, wherein the receiving region is configured to close around the component so as to surround the component in a form-fitting manner such that a substantially constant distance is maintained between the component and the at least one induction coil when the receiving region heats the component.

26 . A hardening tool for hardening a component formed from a steel workpiece that has been shaped in a shaping tool, the hardening tool comprising:
a receiving region for receiving the component; and at least one induction coil for heating the component to be received in the receiving region, wherein the receiving region is configured to close around the component so as to surround the component in a form-fitting manner such that a substantially constant distance is maintained between the component and the at least one induction coil when the receiving region heats the component.

27 . The hardening tool of claim 26 further comprising a cooling system that utilizes a coolant for cooling the component within the receiving region.

28 . A system for forming and hardening a steel workpiece, the system comprising:
a forming tool for forming the steel workpiece into a component by way of U-O forming; and a hardening tool comprising:
a receiving region for receiving the component; and
at least one induction coil for heating the component to be received in the receiving region, wherein the receiving region is configured to close around the component so as to surround the component in a form-fitting manner such that a substantially constant distance is maintained between the component and the at least one induction coil when the receiving region heats the component.

Assignees

• Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe Ag

Inventors

• Sikora Sascha
• Banik Janko

Classifications

• Y02P10/25

  Process efficiency · CPC title

• C21D1/42

  Induction heating · CPC title

• C21D1/673

  for die quenching · CPC title

• C21D6/00

  Heat treatment of ferrous alloys · CPC title

• C21D1/18 Primary

  Hardening (C21D1/02 takes precedence); Quenching with or without subsequent tempering (quenching devices C21D1/62) · CPC title