Sheet metal blank having a homogeneous thickness transition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9908166-B2
Application number	US-72784210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2010
Priority date	Mar 23, 2009
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a sheet metal blank, in particular a tailored blank, in which at least two metal sheets are connected to one another at their respective connecting edges, the two metal sheets displaying differing thickness is provided herein and allows in a simple manner an application-specific configuration of the region of transition from one metal sheet thickness to another metal sheet thickness. The method includes a step in which, prior to the connecting of the two metal sheets, at least the region of the connecting edge of the thicker of the two metal sheets is pressed to a predefinable thickness in a forming tool in such a way that the connecting edges of the metal sheets display substantially the same thickness.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Method for manufacturing a sheet metal blank in which at least two metal sheets are to be connected to one another at their respective connecting edges, the at least two metal sheets having differing thickness, wherein
at least a region of the connecting edge of the thicker of the at least two metal sheets is pressed to a predefinable thickness in a forming tool in such a way that the connecting edges of the at least two metal sheets have substantially the same thickness; and
wherein the connecting edge of the thicker of the at least two metal sheets is formed in the forming tool together with the pressing of the thicker of the at least two metal sheets by separating off at least a part of the thicker of the at least two metal sheets; and
wherein the at least two sheets are subsequently connected to one another at their respective connecting edges.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the thicker of the at least two metal sheets is punched to form its connecting edge.

3. Method according to claim 1 , wherein,
a contour of an upper side of the thicker of the two metal sheets and/or a contour of an underside of the thicker of the at least two metal sheets is deformed, at least in the region of the connecting edge of the thicker of the at least two metal sheets, by pressing.

4. Method according to claim 1 , wherein at least a first surface region of the thicker of the at least two metal sheets is produced with a first contour course and a second surface region of the thicker of the at least two metal sheets is produced with a second contour course, the first contour course differing from the second contour course.

5. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two metal sheets are welded to one another at their connecting edges.

6. Method for manufacturing a sheet metal blank in which at least two metal sheets are to be connected to one another at their respective connecting edges, the at least two metal sheets having differing thickness, wherein
at least a region of the connecting edge of the thicker of the at least two metal sheets is pressed to a predefinable thickness in a forming tool in such a way that the connecting edges of the at least two metal sheets have substantially the same thickness; and
wherein at least a first surface region of the thicker of the at least two metal sheets is produced with a first contour course and a second surface region of the thicker of the at least two metal sheets is produced with a second contour course, the first contour course differing from the second contour course; and
wherein the at least two metal sheets are subsequently connected to one another at their respective connecting edges.

7. Method according to claim 6 , wherein the at least two metal sheets are welded to one another at their connecting edges.

Assignees

• Flehmig Thomas
• Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe Ag

Inventors

• Flehmig Thomas

Classifications

• B23K2101/185

  Tailored blanks · CPC title

• B23K33/008

  for automotive applications · CPC title

• B23K26/24

  Seam welding · CPC title

• B21C37/02

  of sheets · CPC title

• Y10T428/12229

  Intermediate article [e.g., blank, etc.] · CPC title