# US 11,078,553 B2 · Method and device for the heat treatment of a metal component

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,078,553 B2
- Document ID: US11078553B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/072,418
- Filed: 2017-01-25
- Published: 2019-01-31
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2016-01-25
- Assignees: Schwartz GmbH
- Applicants: Schwartz GmbH
- Inventors: Andreas Reinartz; Jörg Winkel; Frank Wilden
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078553B2

## CPC

- C21D 9/0062: {Heat-treating apparatus with a cooling or quenching zone}
- C21D 1/19: by interrupted quenching
- C21D 1/673: for die quenching
- C21D 6/005: {containing Mn}
- C21D 8/00: Modifying the physical properties of ferrous metals or ferrous alloys by deformation combined with, or followed by, heat treatment (hardening articles or materials formed by forging or rolling with no further heating beyond that required for the formation C21D1/02)
- C21D 8/02: during manufacturing of plates or strips (C21D8/12 takes precedence)
- C21D 9/0068: {for particular articles not mentioned below}
- C21D 1/667: for spray quenching
- C21D 2221/00: Treating localised areas of an article
- C21D: MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING (surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class C23 and at least one process covered by this subclass C23F17/00; unidirectional solidification of eutectic materials or unidirectional demixing of eutectoid materials C30B)

## Abstract

Disclosed are implementations for heat treatment of a metal component, and a use of a furnace for heating a metal component. The implementations can be used in the partial hardening of optionally pre-coated components made of a high-strength manganese-boron steel. An example method for heat treatment of a metal component comprises at least the following steps: a) heating the component in a first furnace; b) moving the component into a temperature control station; c) cooling at least one first sub-region of the component in the temperature control station, wherein a temperature difference is set between the at least one first sub-region and at least one second sub-region of the component; d) moving the component from the temperature control station into a second furnace; and e) heating at least the at least one first sub-region of the component in the second furnace by at least 200 K.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for heat treating a metal component, comprising at least the following steps:
a) heating the component in a first furnace;
b) moving the component into a temperature control station;
c) cooling at least one first sub-region of the component in the temperature control station, wherein a temperature difference is set between the at least one first sub-region and at least one second sub-region of the component;
d) moving the component from the temperature control station into a second furnace; and
e) heating at least the at least one first sub-region of the component in the second furnace by at least 200 K.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising at least the following steps:
f) moving the component from the second furnace into a press hardening tool; and
g) forming and cooling the component in the press hardening tool.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the component is heated in step a) to a temperature below the Ac3 temperature.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the component is heated in step a) to a temperature above the Ac3 temperature.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first sub-region is cooled in step c) by way of convection to a temperature below the Ac1 temperature.

### Claim 6

A method for heat treating a metal component, comprising at least the following steps:
a) heating the component by way of radiant heat and/or convection by at least 500 K;
b) cooling at least one first sub-region of the component, wherein a temperature difference of at least 100 K is set between the at least one first sub-region and at least one second sub-region of the component (1); and
c) heating at least the at least one first sub-region of the component by way of radiant heat and/or convection by at least 100 K.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the component is simultaneously formed and cooled in step d).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising using a furnace for heating at least sub-regions of the metal component, comprising the first and second sub-regions that have been controlled to differing temperatures, by way of radiant heat by at least 100 K.