Furnace, and hot forming line including such a furnace

Abstract

A furnace for heat treatment of steel sheets or steel sheet structures includes a heating zone formed by at least two furnace modules which are detachably connected to one another to thereby define a starting furnace module and an end furnace module. In order to meet increasing output requirements and capacity demands, at least one add-on furnace module is provided for placement between the starting and end furnace modules.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the priority of German Patent Application, Serial No. 10 2006 027 625.6, filed Jun. 13, 2006, 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. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a furnace for heat treatment of steel sheets or steel sheet structures, and to a hot forming line for making a hardened profiled steel sheet structure. [0003] Nothing in the following discussion of the state of the art is to be construed as an admission of prior art. [0004] German Pat. No. DE 1 010 547 describes a continuous furnace for heat treatment of elongate objects such as rods or metal sheets. The furnace includes a heat channel which is made of two portions arranged exchangeably behind one another. The use of a continuous furnace in a hot forming line for making hardened profiled steel sheet structures is descr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The present invention resolves prior art problems by composing the heating zone of single furnace modules that are detachably connectable to one another. In effect, the furnace is designed as a modular system by which the capacity of the furnace can be easily adapted to the situation at hand and to the customer's need. A later demand for increased output can now be satisfied by simply adding one or more add-on furnace modules. As a result, the productivity or efficiency of a hot forming line, which has integrated therein such a furnace, can be enhanced, and the hot forming line can thus also be adjusted to the situation at hand. Downtimes are minimal as any modification can easily be implemented because the furnace modules can be standardized and can be constructed with their own heating units, conveyors, insulations, air supply and air discharge ducts as well detachment and coupling means.

[0013] As a result of the modular construction of the furnace in the form of single standardized furnace modules, which can be selectively and detachably connected with one another, the capacity and thus the productivity of a hot forming line can be adjusted to the need at hand. The throughput can be increased, using standardized components. This provides benefits as far as logistics and assembly is concerned. The furnace can be modified to increase throughput in a less time-consuming and labor intensive manner and with little costs.

Problems solved by technology

As the costs for these constructions are substantial, overdimensioning of the furnace is undesired.

On the other hand, the production rate of the hot forming line and furnace cannot be reliably predicted for the future, when the hot forming line is initially put into operation.

Both approaches are accompanied by significant increase in labor and costs.

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