Apparatus for hot-forming, press-quenching, and cutting semifinished hardenable-steel workpiece
AssigneeBenteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
InventorChristian Hielscher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A semifinished hardenable-steel workpiece is introduced into a gap between a punch tool and a complementary die tool while the workpiece is heated above the AC3 point. Then one of the tools is vertically shifted toward the other tool so as to deform the workpiece to a predetermined shape. Subsequently the workpiece is gripped between the punch and the die tools while cooling at least one of the tools to press-quench the workpiece. Finally, but before the press-quenching is completed, an edge is cut off the still hot workpiece by relatively shifting an upper die and a lower die vertically past each other.
Claims8
An apparatus for hot-forming and press-quenching a semifinished sheet workpiece of hardenable steel, the apparatus comprising:
- a stationary die tool having a die cavity;
- a press ram movable toward and away from the die tool;
- a complementary punch tool with a shaping part fittable into the die cavity and a face adapted to support the workpiece heated to above the AC3 point so as to be deformable, the punch tool being carried on and limitedly shiftable relative to the press ram;
- a first blade fixed on the press ram;
- a second blade fixed on the stationary die tool;
- a holddown element carried on and limitedly shiftable relative to the press ram;
- actuator means for shifting the press ram toward the die and thereby:
- first engaging the punch tool with the workpiece and pressing the punch tool with the workpiece into the die cavity without gripping the workpiece between the holddown and the die tool, whereby the workpiece is deformed,
- once the punch tool is fully engaged in the die cavity, pressing the holddown element directly against the workpiece and clamping the workpiece to the die with a portion of the workpiece projecting over the second blade from between the die tool and holddown element, and
- thereafter shifting the first blade past the second blade to trim off the projecting portion of the workpiece;
- and
- means for cooling at least one of the tools and thereby press-quenching the workpiece after the workpiece has been deformed by the punch tool, whereby the projecting edge is cut off before it is quenched.
A method of shaping, quenching, and cutting a semifinished sheet workpiece of hardenable steel, the method comprising the steps of sequentially:
- introducing the workpiece into a gap between a punch tool and a complementary die tool while the workpiece is heated above the AC3 point;
- vertically shifting one of the tools toward the other tool so as to deform the workpiece to a predetermined shape while the workpiece only engages the die tool and the punch tool while cooling at least one of the tools to press-quench the workpiece;
- pressing the workpiece against the die tool and a blade fixed thereto with a holddown element such that a portion of the workpiece projects from between the holddown element and the blade fixed to the die tool;
- and
- cutting off the projecting portion of the workpiece by shifting another blade past the blade fixed to the die.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.