Hollow profile and method of manufacturing thereof from a hardened steel alloy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019070651-A1
Application number	US-201816123264-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 6, 2018
Priority date	Sep 6, 2017
Publication date	Mar 7, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hollow profile and a method of producing the hollow profile from a hardenable steel alloy blank is disclosed having an L-shaped cross section with an upper vertical hollow chamber, and a lower horizontal hollow chamber, wherein the blank comes in abutment on an intermediate bridge area, forming a double layer. The hollow profile further includes, at least in regions, a tensile strength Rm greater than 1000 MPa.

First claim

1 . A hollow profile produced from a hardenable steel alloy blank by thermoforming and press hardening, comprising: an L-shaped cross section with at least one hollow chamber, wherein the hollow profile further includes a tensile strength greater than 1,350 MPa in at least one region.

2 . The hollow profile of claim 1 , further comprising an upper vertical hollow chamber, a lower horizontal hollow chamber, and that the blank comes in abutment on an intermediate bridge area, forming a double layer, and subdivides the horizontal and vertical hollow chambers.

3 . The hollow profile of claim 2 , further comprising a flange projecting from the horizontal hollow chamber, wherein the flange is formed by a double layer with joining tabs being arranged on the flange.

4 . The hollow profile of claim 3 , wherein the horizontal hollow chamber is formed such that it projects laterally with respect to the vertical hollow chamber, and wherein the hollow chamber narrows outwardly toward an outer wall.

5 . The hollow profile of claim 4 , further comprising an indentation inward-facing bead on an upper portion of the vertical hollow chamber in at least one side wall on both opposing side walls.

6 . The hollow profile of claim 5 , wherein the upper portion of the vertical hollow chamber includes a roof bridge configured as a soft area a tensile strength RM less than 1000 MPa.

7 . The hollow profile of claim 1 , wherein the hollow profile is welded, resistance spot welded, laser welded, or roller seam welded.

8 . The hollow profile of claim 7 , wherein the hollow profile has strengths that differ from one another in certain areas in cross section, and/or that the hollow profile has strengths that differ from one another in certain areas in longitudinal sections.

9 . The hollow profile of claim 8 , further comprising localized recesses, wherein the horizontal hollow chamber is repeatedly recessed locally in such a way that an outward-facing rib structure is produced.

10 . A battery tray for an e-vehicle, comprising: an outer peripheral frame produced, at least in sections, from a hollow profile of claim 1 , as well as a bottom connected to the frame, and a cover connected to the frame, wherein the bottom is produced as a deep-drawn well.

11 . A method for producing the hollow profile of claim 1 , comprising:
providing a hardenable steel alloy blank; at least partial heating the blank to AC3 temperature; transferring to a thermoforming and press hardening tool or to a forming station, wherein only a first portion of the blank is formed and hardened; transferring to another forming tool or to another forming stage and forming of a second portion; trimming and/or perforating; and, welding the produced hollow profile.

12 . A vehicle battery tray for a vehicle, comprising:
an upper hollow chamber; a lower hollow chamber; wherein the upper hollow chamber and the lower hollow chamber are integrally formed from a hardenable steel alloy; an integrally formed bridge area connects the upper and lower hollow chambers; wherein the lower hollow chamber laterally projects from the upper hollow chamber so that the battery tray forms an L-shaped configuration.

Assignees

• Benteler Automobiltechnik Gmbh

Inventors

• Fortmeier Günter
• Frischkorn Conrad
• Grenz Julian
• Handing Christian
• Hielscher Christian
• Olfermann Thomas

Classifications

• B21D47/00

  Making rigid structural elements or units, e.g. honeycomb structures · CPC title

• B60Y2304/03

  Reducing weight · CPC title

• B60Y2306/01

  Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection · CPC title

• B21D22/022

  by heating the blank or stamping associated with heat treatment (C21D takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60K2001/0438

  Arrangement under the floor · CPC title