Method and apparatus for producing hardened formed parts

#This application claims the priority of German Patent Application, Serial No. 10 2010 012 579.2-24, filed Mar. 23, 2010, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.

#The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing hardened formed parts.

#The following discussion of related art is provided to assist the reader in understanding the advantages of the invention, and is not to be construed as an admission that this related art is prior art to this invention.

#Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical section of a first embodiment of a thermoforming mold according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical section of a second embodiment of a thermoforming mold according to the present invention;

#Throughout all the figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

#Turning now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic vertical section of a first embodiment of a thermoforming mold according to the present invention, generally designated by reference numeral 1. The thermoforming mod 1 essentially includes a top die 2 and a bottom die 3 which are moveable relative to one another and define a cavity 4 there between, when the thermoforming mold 1 is closed.

#Clamped in the cavity 4 is a shaped formed part 5 of steel. When the thermoforming mold 1 is closed, a gap 6 is created between the top die 2 and the bottom die 3. The formed part 5 is produced by initially heating a blank of hardenable steel to a hardening temperature above the austenitizing temperature. The blank is then transferred to the thermoforming mold 1 and shaped. While clamped in the cavity 4, the formed part 5 is then rapidly cooled down to a temperature below the martensitic starting temperature and hardened.