Method for selectively forming (plastic working) at least one region of a sheet metal layer made from a sheet of spring steel, and a device for carrying out this method

A method for producing at least one supporting element in at least one first region of a sheet metal layer of a gasket to be mounted between machine components having sealing surfaces between which said gasket is to be clamped, wherein said at least one supporting element is adapted to receive compressive forces acting on the gasket when the gasket is clamped between said sealing surfaces, said sheet metal layer being made of a spring steel having a starting hardness and including a another region, adjacent to said at least one first region, where a spring resilient element is or is to be provided, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) selectively reducing said starting hardness of the spring steel of said sheet metal layer in said at least one first region by inductive heating said at least one first region, said inductive heating involving selectively exposing said at least one first region of said sheet metal layer in its entirety for a time of at most two seconds to an alternating electromagnetic field that is concentrated on said at least one first region, and
• (b) producing said at least one supporting element by subjecting the sheet metal layer in said at least one first region to plastic working to provide a total thickness of the sheet metal layer at the at least one supporting element that is greater than the total thickness of the sheet metal layer between said at least one supporting element and said another region.