# US 2015/0144232 A1 · Method for Producing a Formed and at Least Regionally Hardened Sheet Metal Component and Press Hardening Tool for Producing Such a Component > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0144232 A1 - Document ID: US20150144232A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/404,927 - Filed: 2013-07-07 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-17 - Assignees: Kirchhoff Automotive Deutschland GmbH - Applicants: Kirchhoff Automotive Deutschland GmbH - Inventors: Markus Löcker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150144232A1 ## CPC - C21D 8/0221: characterised by the working steps - B21D 22/022: {by heating the blank or stamping associated with heat treatment (C21D takes precedence)} - B21D 28/26: in sheets or flat parts - B21D 35/001: {Shaping combined with punching, e.g. stamping and perforating} - C21D 1/18: Hardening (C21D1/02 takes precedence); Quenching with or without subsequent tempering (quenching devices C21D1/62) - C21D 8/0247: characterised by the heat treatment - C21D 8/0294: involving a localised treatment - C21D 9/0062: {Heat-treating apparatus with a cooling or quenching zone} - C21D 9/46: for sheet metals - C22C 38/00: Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys (cast-iron alloys C22C37/00) - 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) - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F) ## Abstract The invention relates to a method for producing a shaped and at least regionally hardened sheet metal component, particularly a sheet steel component (15), with at least one perforation (16) produced in it, in which method a preform (13) is heated to forming temperature, subsequently shaped and then at least regionally hardened by corresponding cooling, wherein the at least one perforation (16) in the preform (13) is produced during the course of a punching process before the preform (13) is hardened. According to the invention, the metal piece (14) separated from the preform (13) by punching is fed back to its original position or a corresponding position in the perforation (16), remains there for the duration of the quenching process and is only pressed out during or after removal of the sheet steel component (13) from the die (1), in which it is held during quenching. The invention also describes a quench press die (1) for producing a shaped and at least regionally hardened sheet metal component, particularly a sheet steel component (15), with at least two die parts (2, 3) adjustable against one another for opening and closing the die (1) and with a punching device (7) comprising a punching die (8) for producing a perforation (16) in a preform (13) located between the die parts (2, 3). The die part (2), against which the punching die (8) for producing the perforation (16) works, has a return punch (11), the actuation side of which points towards the punching die (8) and the axis of motion of which corresponds to the axis of motion of the punching die (8), such that a metal piece (14) separated from a preform (13) by means of said punching die (8) can be returned to the correct position, or approximately to the correct position in the perforation (16) produced in the preform (13) by the punching process to fill said perforation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Method for producing a formed and at least regionally hardened sheet metal component, in particular a sheet steel component (15), with at least one perforation (16) produced in it, method in which a blank (13) is heated to forming temperature, subsequently formed in a tool (1) and then at least regionally hardened by corresponding quenching, wherein the at least one perforation (16) is produced in the blank (13) in the course of a punching process before the blank (13) is hardened, characterized in that the punched out piece (14) separated from the blank (13) by punching is fed back to its original position in the perforation (16), remains there for the duration of the quenching process and is only pressed out at the time of or after removal of the sheet steel component (15) from the tool (1) in which it is held during the quenching. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the perforation (16) is produced in the blank (13) after the forming step or in an end phase of the forming step. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an active quenching of the formed blank (13) occurs only when the steps of producing a perforation (16) and feeding back the punched out piece (14) into the perforation (16) have been completed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2, 3) Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one perforation (16) is produced in a region of the blank (13) which is subsequently hardened. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4) Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the steps for producing the formed and at least regionally hardened sheet component (13) are carried out in a press hardening tool (1). ### Claim 6 Press hardening tool for producing a formed and at least regionally hardened sheet metal component, in particular a sheet steel component (15), with at least two tool parts (2, 3) that are adjustable with respect to one another for opening and closing the tool (1), as well as with a punching device (7) including a punching stamp (8) for producing a perforation (16) in a blank (13) located between the tool parts (2, 3), characterized in that the tool part (2) against which the punching stamp (8) works for producing the perforation (16) has a return stamp (11) whose operating side points toward the punching stamp (8) and whose movement axis corresponds to the movement axis of the punching stamp (8), so that a punched out piece (14) separated by means of the punching stamp (8) from a blank (13) can be fed back into the perforation (16) produced in the blank (13) by the punching process, in the correct position or approximately in the correct position, for filling said perforation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Press hardening tool according to claim 6, characterized in that the return stamp (11), by means of its operating side, is in contact with the punched out piece (14) fed back into the produced perforation (16) until the opening of the tool (1) for the removal of the sheet component (15). ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) Press hardening tool according to claim 6, characterized in that the return stamp (11) is brought back into its starting position by the punched out piece (14) moved with the punching stamp (8). ### Claim 9 (depends on 6, 7) Press hardening tool according to one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that as a result of the operation of the return stamp (11) for feeding the punched out piece (14) back into the perforation (16), the punching stamp (8) is brought to its starting position.