Method for heating a blank and heating system
AssigneeAutotech Engineering S.L.
InventorsManuel López Lage, Jordi Castilla Moreno, Daniel Merino Fernández
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for manufacturing a steel component from a blank is provided. Firstly, a blank is placed in a conveyor system. Then, at least a preselected zone of the blank is preheated while the blank is retained at a predetermined preheating location. Finally, the blank is conveyed through a furnace. A preheating system for heating blanks in a production line is also provided.
Claims3
A method for manufacturing a steel component from a blank, the method comprising:
- placing a blank on a conveyor system, the blank comprising a first zone made from a first material having a first Ac3 temperature and a second zone made from a second material, different from the first material, and having a second Ac3 temperature;
- followed by
- preheating the blank by performing a preheating process comprising (1) directing heat at the first zone and not the second zone to preheat the first zone;
- or (2) applying heat to both the first and second zones to preheat both the first and second zones such that the second zone is preheated to a temperature different from a temperature of the first zone;
- and after completion of the preheating,
- conveying the preheated blank through a furnace having a furnace temperature, the furnace temperature being
- (i) at or above the first Ac3 temperature such that the furnace heats the blank to a temperature equal to or above the first Ac3 temperature temperature;
- or
- (ii) at or above the second Ac3 temperature such that the furnace heats the blank to a temperature equal to or above the second Ac3 temperature temperature, and
- wherein the preheating comprises retaining the blank at a predetermined preheating location upstream of the furnace.
A method for manufacturing a steel component from a blank, the method comprising:
- placing a blank on a conveyor system, the blank comprising two zones
- that are made from a different material, resulting in the two zones to have different Ac3 temperatures of Ac3′ and Ac3″;
- preheating the blank by a preheating system by performing a preheating process comprising
- (1) directing heat to one of the two zones and not to the other of the two zones to preheat the at least one of the two zones;
- or
- (2) preheating the two zones to different preheating temperatures, the preheating temperatures being below Ac3′ and Ac3″;
- and
- conveying the preheated blank through a furnace, positioned downstream from the preheating system and having a furnace temperature at or above Ac3′ or Ac3″ for heating the blank to a temperature equal to or above the Ac3′ or Ac3″.
A method for manufacturing a steel component from a blank, the method comprising:
- placing a blank on a conveyor system, the blank comprising two zones that have a different thickness;
- preheating the blank by a preheating system by performing a preheating process comprising
- (1) directing heat to one of the two zones and not to the other of the two zones to preheat the one zone of the two zones;
- or
- (2) preheating the two zones to different preheating temperatures, the preheating temperatures being below an Ac3 temperature of the blank;
- and
- conveying the preheated blank through a furnace, positioned downstream from the preheating system and having a furnace temperature at or above the Ac3 temperature for heating the blank to a temperature equal to or above the Ac3 temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.