Method for producing press-molded article
09731339 · 2017-08-15
Assignee
Inventors
- Takashi Miyagi (Tokyo, JP)
- Yasuharu TANAKA (Tokyo, JP)
- Misao OGAWA (Tokyo, JP)
- Toshimitsu Aso (Tokyo, JP)
Cpc classification
B21D53/88
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B21D53/88
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A method produces a press-molded article having a hat shaped cross-section with flanges at both sides, a top plate, vertical walls at both sides, and having a shape curved in the vertical direction to an inverted checkmark shape along the longitudinal direction when the molded article is viewed from a side face with the top plate section on the top side. An intermediate molded body is formed by drawing a metal stock sheet into an intermediate shape, and after preparing the outside shape of the intermediate molded body by trimming, drawing is subsequently performed to form the final shape.
Claims
1. A production method for a press-molded article, the method comprising producing the press-molded article, which is a final molded body, by performing main processing on an intermediate molded body obtained by performing preprocessing on a blank formed from a high-strength sheet steel, wherein the final molded body has a hat shaped cross-section configured from a top plate section, two vertical walls joined to the top plate section along a longitudinal direction of the top plate section, and two flange portions, one joined to each of the two vertical walls, and has a curved portion curved in a hill shape at a longitudinal direction internal portion as viewed from a side, wherein the intermediate molded body has a hat shaped cross-section configured from an intermediate top plate section formed at the top plate section, two intermediate vertical walls joined to the intermediate top plate section along a longitudinal direction of the intermediate top plate section, and two intermediate flange portions, one joined to each of the two intermediate vertical walls, and, in the intermediate molded body, a height of the two intermediate vertical walls is less than a height of the two vertical walls of the final molded body in a region for forming the curved portion, and, at two remaining regions other than the region for forming the curved portion, the height gradually decreases along the longitudinal direction, as a distance from the region for forming the curved portion increases, to substantially zero at positions furthest from the region for forming the curved portion, and the main processing comprises: a first step of placing the intermediate molded body on a lower die punch, and between the lower die punch and a blank holder, and an upper die that is positioned facing the lower die punch and the blank holder; a second step of placing the blank holder such that the intermediate flange portions are disposed between the upper die and the blank holder; a third step of molding a portion of the vertical walls by bending the intermediate molded body until the intermediate molded body reaches the blank holder by moving the upper die in a direction toward where the lower die punch and the blank holder are positioned; and a fourth step of drawing vertical wall portions of the intermediate molded body and the flange portions joined to the vertical walls by moving the upper die and the blank holder in a direction toward where the blank holder is positioned with respect to the intermediate molded body while maintaining a state in which the intermediate molded body is pressed and clamped against the upper die by the blank holder.
2. The production method for a press-molded article of claim 1, wherein: in the first step, a pad is further employed that has a shape of the top plate section of the final molded body, and is positioned facing the lower die punch and the blank holder; and in the second step, the third step, and the fourth step, the top plate section of the intermediate molded body is pressed and clamped against the lower die punch by the pad.
3. The production method for a press-molded article of claim 2, wherein the pad includes the shape of the top plate section.
4. The production method for a press-molded article of claim 1, wherein: the lower die punch includes respective shapes of the top plate section and the two vertical walls joined to the top plate section; the blank holder has a shape including shape of the flange portions; and the upper die includes respective shapes of the top plate section, the two vertical walls joined to the top plate section, and the two flange portions respectively joined to the two vertical walls.
5. The production method for a press-molded article of claim 1, wherein, prior to performing the main processing on the intermediate molded body, a range that does not configure the final molded body is trimmed from the two remaining regions other than the region for forming the curved portion.
6. The production method for a press-molded article of claim 1, wherein the height of the intermediate vertical walls at the region for forming the curved portion is from 3% to 97% of the height of the vertical walls at the curved portion.
7. The production method for a press-molded article of claim 1, wherein a tensile strength of the high-strength sheet steel is from 590 MPa to 1800 MPa.
8. The production method for a press-molded article of claim 1, wherein the press-molded article is a frame member of a vehicle body of an automobile.
9. The production method for a press-molded article of claim 1, wherein: in the second step, the blank holder is disposed such that the intermediate flange portions in the region for forming the curved portion contact the blank holder and the intermediate flange portions in the two remaining regions are disposed between the upper die and the blank holder; and in the third step, the portion of the vertical walls is molded by bending the two remaining regions.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
(19) The present invention is explained with reference to the attached drawings.
(20) 1. Press-Molded Article Produced by the Present Invention
(21) The shape of the press-molded article produced by the present invention is the same as the press-molded article 4 illustrated in
(22) The press-molded article 4 has a hat shaped cross-section configured from the top plate section 2, the two vertical walls 3, and the two flange portions 1 joined to the two respective vertical walls 3. The press-molded article 4 has a curved portion 0 shaped so as to be curved in a hill shape at a longitudinal direction internal portion when viewed from a side. As illustrated in
(23) In the production method of the present invention, the press-molded article is the final molded body.
(24) The press-molded article produced by the present invention (simply referred to as a “press-molded article” hereafter) is, for example, employed as a frame member of a vehicle body of an automobile, such as a side sill, a cross member, or a front side member rear.
(25) The press-molded article is formed from high-strength sheet steel having a tensile strength of from 590 MPa, from 780 MPa, or from 980 MPa, to 1800 MPa. Although the tensile strength of sheet steel generally employed for frame members in vehicle bodies of automobiles is 440 MPa grade, an increase in the strength of component materials is desired to improve crash safety performance, and employment of high strength sheet steel of 590 MPa or above is desired. Weight reduction is desirable from the viewpoint of improving fuel efficiency, and employment of high-strength sheet steel of 780 MPa or above, and more preferably 980 MPa or above, is desirable in order to achieve a reduction in plate thickness by strengthening.
(26) 2. Production Method According to the Present Invention
(27) As described above, press-molded articles having a complicated shape are normally drawn so as not to generate creases in production. However, cracks develop in the molded article when drawing is performed in cases in which the steel stock sheet is high tension steel having a tensile strength of 590 MPa or above that is insufficiently workable, and positional precision is lowered due to the material contracting and expanding irregularly, and due to the inflow of stock material. Moreover, many creases are generated in the flange portions when bending is performed.
(28) Therefore, in the production method according to the present invention, a press-molded article is produced by a first process that gives an intermediate molded body through performing preprocessing on a blank formed from high-strength sheet steel, and through a second process of performing main processing on the intermediate molded body. Explanation of the first and second processes follows in sequence.
(29) (1) First Process
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(31) As illustrated in
(32) In the press-molded article 4 illustrated in
(33) Namely, the intermediate molded body 11 has a hat shaped cross-section configured from an intermediate top plate section 12a that is formed at the top plate section 2, two intermediate vertical walls 12b joined to the intermediate top plate section 12a, and two intermediate flange portions 12c joined to the two respective two intermediate vertical walls 12b.
(34) The height of the two intermediate vertical walls 12b is set such that (A) at a region 12d for forming the curved portion 0, the height is slightly less than the height of the vertical walls 3 of the press-molded article 4 that is the final molded body; (B) at two remaining regions 12e, 12f in the longitudinal direction other than the region 12d for forming the curved portion 0, the height gradually decreases on progression away from the region 12d for forming the curved portion 0; and (C) at positions furthest from the region for forming the curved portion 0, the height is substantially zero.
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(36) In the first process, if necessary, trimming may be performed on the intermediate molded body 11 to eliminate effects of non-uniform inflow of stock material caused by expansion and contraction of the material generated when drawing the intermediate molded body 11, to obtain the post-trimming intermediate molded body 13.
(37) Namely, among the two remaining regions 12e, 12f, other than the region 12d for forming the curved portion 0, the outer peripheral edge portion 12g of the intermediate molded body 11, this being a range that will not configure the press-molded article 4, is trimmed prior to performing the main processing on the intermediate molded body 11 using the second process, described below.
(38) The trimming is performed on the outer peripheral edge portion 12g of the intermediate molded body 11 where projecting portions of stock material for configuring the projection 12 are not present on the intermediate molded body 11. Cutting can therefore be performed in a direction orthogonal to the press direction using a cutting method that is not, for example, a special cutting procedure such as laser cutting, using trimming that is possible in the press processing and without employing a complicated cutting method such as cam cutting, enabling an increase in production cost to be suppressed.
(39) Trimming is performed to a width that widens on progression toward the end portions 12h, 12i of the projection 12 so as to give the shape of the press-molded article 4.
(40) The external profile of the intermediate molded body 11 can be adjusted by performing this trimming, enabling non-uniform inflow of stock material, from irregular expansion and contraction of material caused by drawing or the like, to be absorbed.
(41) (2) Second Process
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(43) The post-trimming intermediate molded body 13 is molded by the second process into the pressed article 21 that is the final molded body illustrated in
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(45) The lower die punch 26 includes the respective shapes of the top plate section 22, and the two vertical walls 23 joined to the top plate section 22. The blank holder 28 has a shape including the respective shapes of the two flange portions 24. The upper die 25 includes the respective shapes of the top plate section 22, the two vertical walls 23 joined to the top plate section 22, and the two flange portions 24 joined to the two respective vertical walls 23.
(46) The pad 27 may also be employed if necessary. The pad 27 has the shape of the top plate section 22 of the final molded body 21. The pad 27 is placed facing the lower die punch 26 and the blank holder 28, together with the upper die 25. In a second step, a third step, and a fourth step, described below, the pad 27 presses and clamps the intermediate top plate section 12a formed by the top plate section 22 of the post-trimming intermediate molded body 13 against the lower die punch 26, thereby enabling movement of the intermediate top plate section 12a in the initial stage of the third step (the third and fourth steps of the consecutive bending-drawing molding) to be suppressed, and enabling a deterioration to be prevented in the positional precision at edges of the molded article.
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(48) As illustrated in
(49) Next, as illustrated in
(50) Note that the pad 27 does not need to be employed as long as positional precision will not be affected.
(51) Then, as illustrated in
(52) Then, as illustrated in
(53) Obviously, the untrimmed intermediate molded body 11 may be employed in place of the post-trimming intermediate molded body 13 as long as the positional precision is unaffected.
(54) In the second process, it is accordingly possible to produce the pressed article 21 without causing cracks or creases to develop by consecutively performing bending and drawing (consecutive bending-drawing molding) as a series of operations on the intermediate molded body 11 or on the post-trimming intermediate molded body 13.
(55) In this manner, the ratio of bending to drawing in the consecutive bending-drawing molding of the second process of the present invention can be changed by setting the position of blank holder 28 higher than the final position. Namely, the ratio of drawing increases when the blank holder 28 is positioned high, and the ratio of bending increases when the position of the blank holder 28 is low.
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(57) The height of the intermediate walls of the post-trimming intermediate molded body 13 in the region formed by a curved portion 21a is preferably from 3% to 97% of the height of the vertical walls of the final molded by 21. There is a high ratio of drawing at less than 3%, enabling generation of creases in the flange portions 24 to be prevented; however, the positional precision at the edges of the molded article decreases due to irregular expansion and contraction in the material and inflow of stock material occurring. At more than 97%, there is no significant difference from bending processing, and creases are readily generated in the flange portions 24 as described above. Moreover, there is also a concern regarding cracks developing in the first step in the case of insufficiently workable high tension steel. From similar viewpoints, a height of from 5% to 95% is preferable. The ratio thus represents the ratio of drawing in the consecutive bending-drawing molding of the second process, and is related to the molding ratio from the steel stock sheet to the intermediate molded body.
EXAMPLES
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(59) In Comparative Examples 1, 2, and 3, and Present Invention Examples 1, 2, 3, and 4, molded articles 31 having the shape illustrated in
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(62) The results for Comparative Examples 1 to 3 and Present Invention Examples 1 to 4 are listed in Table 1.
(63) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Steel Stock Sheet Breaking X, Y Strength/ Cracks Direction Sheet Produc- Wall Creases in Displace- Thick- tion Height in Molded ment Example ness Method Ratio* Flange Article Amount Compara- 980 MPa/ drawing Single None Present outside tive 1.6 mm process reference Example 1 mold- ing Compara- 980 MPa/ bending Single Present None within tive 1.6 mm process reference Example 2 mold- ing Present 980 MPa/ present 5% None None within Invention 1.6 mm invention reference Example 1 Present 980 MPa/ present 15% None None within Invention 1.6 mm invention reference Example 2 Present 980 MPa/ present 25% None None within Invention 1.6 mm invention reference Example 3 Present 980 MPa/ present 50% None None within Invention 1.6 mm invention reference Example 4 Present 980 MPa/ present 75% None None within Invention 1.6 mm invention reference Example 5 Present 980 MPa/ present 85% None None within Invention 1.6 mm invention reference Example 6 Present 980 MPa/ present 95% None None within Invention 1.6 mm invention reference Example 7 Compara- 980 MPa/ compara- 100% Present Cracked — tive 1.6 mm tive in first Example 3 example process molding Present 590 MPa/ present 85% None None within Invention 2.0 mm invention reference Example 8 Present 780 MPa/ present 85% None None within Invention 1.8 mm invention reference Example 9 *Wall height ratio: the ratio of the height of the intermediate vertical walls of the post-trimming intermediate molded body 13 to the height of the vertical walls of the final pressed article 21
(64) Comparative Example 1 is an example in which press-molding was performed using a conventional drawing method. Cracks are generated in Comparative Example 1, the displacement amount in the X and Y directions are overly large, and positional accuracy cannot be secured.
(65) Comparative Example 2 is an example in which press-molding was performed using a conventional bending method. In Comparative Example 2, although the displacement amount in the X and Y directions was suppressed, creases were generated in the flanges.
(66) Present Invention Examples 1 to 7 are examples in which the height of the intermediate vertical walls of the intermediate molded body at the curved portion was set to 5%, 15%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 85%, and 95% of the height of the vertical walls of the final molded body at the curved portion. In each of Present Invention Examples 1 to 7, creases were not generated in the press-molded article, the displacement amount in the X and Y directions was suppressed, and effectiveness of the present invention was confirmed.
(67) Comparative Example 3 is an example in which in the height of the intermediate vertical walls of the intermediate molded body at the curved portion was set to 100% of the height of the vertical walls of the final molded body at the curved portion. In Comparative Example 3, creases were generated during molding in the first process, making molding unviable in the second process.
(68) Present Invention Example 8 is an example in which the steel stock sheet was high-strength sheet steel of 590 MPa grade, and the height of the intermediate vertical walls of the intermediate molded body at the curved portion was set to 85% of the height of the vertical walls of the final molded body at the curved portion. In Present Invention Example 8, creases were not generated in the press-molded article, the displacement amount in the X and Y directions was suppressed, and the effectiveness of the present invention was confirmed.
(69) Present Invention Example 9 is an example in which the metal stock sheet was a sheet steel with strength of 780 MPa grade, and the height of the intermediate vertical walls of the intermediate molded body at the curved portion was set to 85% of the height of the vertical walls of the final molded body at the curved portion. In Present Invention Example 9, creases were not generated in the press-molded article, the displacement amount in the X and Y directions was suppressed, and the effectiveness of the present invention was confirmed
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
(70) According to the present invention, a press-molded article having a hat shaped cross-section and a curved portion with a shape curved in a hill shape at a longitudinal direction internal portion when viewed from a side can be molded without cracks or creases being generated, and with high positional precision even when a high-strength sheet steel having a tensile strength of 590 MPa or above serves as the steel stock sheet.
EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
(71) 0 curved portion 1 flange 2 top plate 3 vertical wall 4 press-molded article 5 upper die for preprocessing 6 lower die for preprocessing 7 blank holder for preprocessing 11 intermediate molded body 12 projection 12a intermediate top plate section 12b intermediate vertical wall 12c intermediate flange portion 12d region for forming curved portion 12e remaining intermediate molded article front end portion excluding region for forming curved portion 12f remaining intermediate molded article rear end portion excluding region for forming curved portion 12g outer peripheral edge portion of intermediate molded article, this being a range that does not configure final molded body 12h intermediate molded article front end portion of projection 12i intermediate molded article rear end portion of projection 13 post-trimming intermediate molded body 21 final molded body 21a curved portion 22 top plate section of final molded body 23 vertical wall of final molded body 24 flange portion of final molded body 25 upper die 26 lower die punch 27 pad 28 blank holder 31 press molded article 32 displacement evaluation reference point 1 in X, Y directions 33 displacement evaluation reference point 2 in X, Y directions 34 displacement evaluation reference point 3 in X, Y directions 35 steel stock sheet