APPARATUS FOR MAKING A METAL PART

Abstract

The invention relates to a facility for producing a metal component having at least two regions of different strength properties, said facility consisting of a heating unit (2) comprising heat-producing radiation sources (4) as well as a positioning device for at least one base body (1) consisting of metal, and a protecting device comprising at least one covering part for the contactless protection of a pre-determined surface region of the base body (1), the protecting device being arranged in the heating unit such that it remains therein during a temperature control of the base body (1) before the forming of the base body in a forming tool, the protecting part comprising a plurality of separately manipulatable covering parts (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e) which are respectively used to protect a predetermined surface region (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) of the Base Body (1), and a Manipulator (5) is Provided for Each Covering Part (3a to 3e), by means of which the covering part (3a to 3e) can be moved, independently from the other covering parts (3a to 3e) in the heating unit (2), into a covering position in which it covers the pre-determined surface region (1a to 1e), or into an uncovering position in which it uncovers the pre-determined surface region (1a to 1e) for the irradiation of the radiation sources (4).

Claims

1. An apparatus for making a metal part having a a plurality of different strength properties, the apparatus comprising: a heater having heat-generating radiation sources, a positioner for a heat-treatable workpiece made of metal, a shield having a plurality of covers for contactless shielding of a respective surface regions d of the workpiece, and constructed to remain in the heater during heating of the workpiece before same is shaped in a deforming tool, and a respective manipulator for moving each cover in the heater independently of the other covers into a covering position in which it covers the respective surface region or into an exposing position in which it exposes the respective surface region to rays of the radiation sources.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an electronic controlling operating the manipulators and installed on the apparatus or integrated in it for setting the different operating positions.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a time controller for operating the manipulators to move the covers into different operating positions as a function of time.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each cover consists of a pair of opposing cover templates that together cover the respective region of the workpiece in the covering position.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the manipulators move each pair of cover templates of the cover simultaneously into the different operating positions.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the covers are spaced from one another and form movement gaps.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the covers is spaced from adjacent covers by a gap of 25 to 100 mm.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein side edges of at least some of the covers have a greater material thickness than the rest of the respective covers or have a greater vertical spacing from the workpiece in the covering position.

9. The apparatus according claim 1, wherein the deforming tool is connected to the apparatus or is arranged adjacent it, and receives and shapes the workpiece after heating.

10. A metal part in the form of a plate or a one-piece base body, wherein the metal part has more than two surface regions of mutually different strengths over its length and/or width extension.

Description

[0025] An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and described in more detail below, where:

[0026] FIG. 1 schematically shows a flat part having five regions of different strength;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an apparatus according to the invention.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a metal part according to the invention in the form of a one-piece base body 1. This metal part has a plurality of regions 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e of different strengths over its length (seen in the direction from left to right in the drawing). The different strengths are indicated in the drawing by different hatchings. Although the metal part in the form of the base body 1 is shown as a flat element, this special feature is of course substantially achieved and realized even when the base body 1 is hot formed and assumes a corresponding three-dimensional shape.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows an apparatus with which such a metal part can be prefabricated before it is then formed and hardened in a deforming tool.

[0030] The apparatus is used to produce a corresponding metal part in the form of a plate or a base body 1 made of metal. The apparatus consists of a heater 2 with heat-generating radiation sources 4. The heater 2 can be implemented as a feed oven or as a closed oven.

[0031] Positioners for the base body 1, on which the base body 1 can be placed, are provided in the heater 2, but are nevertheless accessible on all sides for radiant heat. These can be, for example, pin-like supports or the like. Furthermore, a series of shields with covers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e is provided. These are provided for contactless shielding of a predetermined surface region of the base body 1. These shields are designed to stay in the heater 2 during heating of the base body 1 in the heater, prior to the base body being formed in a subsequent forming process and deforming tool.

[0032] According to the invention, the shield consists of a plurality of separately manipulable covers 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, each of which is intended for shielding a respective surface region 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e of the base body 1. Each cover 3a to 3e has a respective manipulator 5 shown here in the drawing by arrows that at the same time illustrate the movement of the respective cover 3a to 3e. This configuration makes it possible to move each of the covers 3a to 3e independently of the other covers in the heater 2 into a covering position, in which it covers the predetermined surface region 1a to 1e, or into an exposing position as shown in the drawing, in which it exposes the predetermined surface region to the rays of the radiation sources 4.

[0033] The manipulators 5 can be actuated by an electronic controller 6 that hard-wired or wirelessly connected to the manipulators 5. The controller 6 is mounted on apparatus parts, for example on a control panel of the heater 2.

[0034] In particular, the manipulators 5 can be combined with a time controller via the controller 6 such that they can move the covers 3a to 3e into the different operating positions as a function of time.

[0035] Each cover 3a to 3e consists of a pair of cover templates positioned opposite each other, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 2, each of which can cover a subregion of the base body 1 in the covering position, specifically on the underside, top, and optionally on the edge. In the drawing, the cover templates of each cover 3a to 3e are shown in the exposing position. In the covering position, the covering templates are moved toward each other corresponding to the direction indicated by the arrows, such that they completely cover the corresponding region of the base body 1. The manipulators 5 preferably move each pair of cover templates of each cover 3a to 3e simultaneously into the different operating positions.

[0036] The covers 3a to 3e of the apparatus are next to each other and preferably arranged to form at least one movement gap, and are preferably arranged to form a spacing gap from each other of 25 mm to 100 mm. In this way, corresponding transition zones can be formed between the individual surface regions 1a to 1e.

[0037] The apparatus is completed by a deforming tool that is not shown in the drawing. After being heated as intended, the base body is fed to the deforming tool, shaped in it, and optionally press-hardened at the same time.

[0038] With the apparatus according to the invention, it is possible in a simple manner to make parts having several different strengths in a one-piece part, this being achieved by correspondingly controlling the covers that are moved in the heat treatment system 2 at different times (in the direction indicated by the arrows) to set the different operating positions. As a result, each controlled region of the base body 1 can reach a different heat treatment temperature and subsequently a different heat-treatment temperature in the further course of the method, which leads to different strengths in the one-piece finished part.

[0039] The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but rather is variable in many ways within the scope of the disclosure.

[0040] All new individual and combination features disclosed in the description and/or drawing are regarded as essential to the invention.