Hard beads in steel to enhance strength

Abstract

Hard beads can be formed in a single piece of sheet steel to enhance its strength before or after stamping. The hard beads are formed by melting and re-solidifying it in small discrete volumes. The melting can be performed by applying heat from a heat source; for example, a laser beam, an electron beam, a high temperature flame etc. The re-solidified volume of steel is the hard bead which is stronger than the remaining base steel. Preferably, the hard bead can be formed to have an elongated shape; and the tensile strength of the single piece of sheet steel is enhanced in the direction the bead is elongated. Hard beads thus formed can be arranged in a suitable pattern to meet a strength requirement of a part.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to strength enhancement of pre- and post-fabricated steel parts and specifically, this invention discloses strength enhancement of pre- and post-fabricated steel parts by forming hard beads therein.[0002]Application of sheet steel is found in most areas of modern technology ranging from electronics to automotive, and it is worth mentioning that the steel is a significant component of the weight and cost of the part. Recently, weight and cost reduction of a part has been a major challenge, and since steel plays a major role in determining the cost and weight of a part, it is steel that has been the focus of many endeavors. In the conventional art, a higher strength requirement of steel is met by using thicker single sheets or multiple sheets lapped together resulting in a heavier part in each case. In another example of the conventional art where weight limit is a critical factor in design consideration, high st...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method to strengthen sheet steel without adding weight or cost. This is done by forming hard beads within the sheet steel using a melting and re-solidification process. The hard beads enhance the strength of the sheet steel without affecting its flexibility in design and manufacturing. Therefore, this method offers an increased strength of single piece sheet steel without increasing its weight or cost.

Problems solved by technology

Application of sheet steel is found in most areas of modern technology ranging from electronics to automotive, and it is worth mentioning that the steel is a significant component of the weight and cost of the part.

Recently, weight and cost reduction of a part has been a major challenge, and since steel plays a major role in determining the cost and weight of a part, it is steel that has been the focus of many endeavors.

However, the high strength steel costs are significantly more which results in costly pre- and -post processes, and thus increases the part cost.

However, the heat treatment applications may have limitations as to what degree the strength can be enhanced, and if the treatment can be applied after stamping.

However, it also increases the weight of the part to some extent, which requires rework of stamping die to accommodate different thicknesses of the blank.

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