Pre-cooling device for zinc-based plated steel sheet hot stamping process

Abstract

This disclosure relates to the field of hot stamping technology, and more particularly to a pre-cooling device for hot stamping processes of zinc-based coated steel sheets. The disclosure includes a shell, a partition, and an air distribution unit. The partition defines the interior of the shell into a first chamber and a second chamber along its extension direction. The air distribution unit is disposed in the second chamber. Air inlets are provided on both sides of the first chamber, and an air outlet is provided on the side of the second chamber away from the partition, extending along the length of the shell. The partition has multiple vent holes connecting the first and second chambers. The air distribution unit extends continuously along the second chamber and guides the cooling airflow from the first chamber into the second chamber towards the air outlet. This disclosure enables pre-cooling of the sheet metal surface after heating and exiting the furnace, thereby rapidly reducing the material surface temperature. Simultaneously, the device needs to ensure uniform cooling to guarantee the uniformity of the part's performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of hot stamping technology, and more particularly to a pre-cooling device for hot stamping processes of zinc-based coated steel sheets. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of automotive lightweighting, the application of hot-formed steel sheets in automobiles has become increasingly common. Simultaneously, to improve the corrosion resistance of parts, zinc-based coated hot-formed steel has been promoted and applied. However, during the hot stamping process of zinc-based coated hot-formed steel, the problem of brittle fracture of the substrate due to liquid zinc can occur.

[0003] In existing technologies, to better avoid substrate embrittlement caused by liquid zinc, zinc-plated steel sheets need to be pre-cooled before the hot stamping process, for example, by using a fan. However, unstable air pressure during the pre-cooling process leads to poor coating quality and cannot guarantee the uniformity of cooling, which in turn compromises the uniformity of component performance. Utility Model Content

[0004] This disclosure aims to address at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art or related technologies.

[0005] Therefore, this disclosure provides a pre-cooling device for hot stamping process of zinc-based coated steel sheet, including a shell, a partition, and an air distribution section. The partition defines the interior of the shell into a first chamber and a second chamber along the extension direction of the shell. The air distribution section is disposed in the second chamber. Air inlets are provided on both sides of the first chamber, and an air outlet is provided on the side of the second chamber away from the partition, which is arranged along the length direction of the shell. The partition is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes, which connect the first chamber and the second chamber. The air distribution section is arranged along the extension direction of the second chamber and is used to guide the cooling airflow from the first chamber into the second chamber to the air outlet.

[0006] In one feasible implementation, the air distribution section is connected to the partition, and the air distribution section includes a first air distribution surface and a second air distribution surface. The first air distribution surface and the second air distribution surface are mirror images of each other, and the first air distribution surface and the second air distribution surface are set as arc-shaped surfaces. The intersection of the first air distribution surface and the second air distribution surface is located above the air outlet.

[0007] In one feasible implementation, the first wind-equalizing surface and the second wind-equalizing surface are arranged in a teardrop shape.

[0008] In one feasible implementation, the central axis of the air distribution section overlaps with the central axis of the air outlet.

[0009] In one feasible implementation, the vent is configured as an elongated through hole, and the vent extends along the width direction of the partition, and a plurality of the vents are spaced apart along the length direction of the partition.

[0010] In one feasible implementation, the partition is configured as multiple layers, with the multiple partitions spaced apart.

[0011] In one feasible implementation, the vent is configured as a circular through hole, and a plurality of the vents are arranged in an array on the partition.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the partition is configured as two layers.

[0013] In one feasible implementation, the first chamber is configured as a cuboid chamber, and the sidewall of the second chamber with the air outlet is configured as an inwardly concave arc shape.

[0014] In one feasible implementation, the air outlet is provided with a guide plate, the guide plate is connected to the outside of the housing, and the guide plate is arranged along the length of the air outlet.

[0015] Compared to existing technologies, this disclosure offers at least the following advantages: The partition plate of this disclosure defines the interior of the shell into a first chamber and a second chamber along the extension direction of the shell. Air inlets are provided on both sides of the first chamber, allowing cooling air to enter the first chamber from these inlets and diffuse evenly into the second chamber through vents on the partition plate. The air distribution section guides the airflow to the air outlet, forming a uniform laminar flow that covers the steel plate surface, reducing turbulence caused by chaotic cooling air distribution. The air distribution section extends continuously along the extension direction of the second chamber, guiding the cooling air from the first chamber into the second chamber towards the air outlet. The cooling air flowing out of the air outlet is further evenly distributed by the air distribution section, greatly improving the uniformity of the cooling air blowing onto the steel plate surface. This disclosure enables pre-cooling of the plate surface after heating and exiting the furnace, thereby rapidly reducing the material surface temperature. Simultaneously, the device must ensure uniform cooling to guarantee the uniformity of the component's performance. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the drawings. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of a single-layer partition in this disclosure;

[0020] Figure 2 This is the second structural schematic diagram of the single-layer partition in this disclosure;

[0021] Figure 3 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the double-layer partition disclosed herein;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the shell of this disclosure;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the housing with a double-layer partition;

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the air outlet and guide vane structure disclosed in this publication.

[0025] in, Figures 1 to 6 The correspondence between the reference numerals and component names in the attached drawings is as follows:

[0026] 100 - Intersection;

[0027] 1-Shell; 11-First chamber; 12-Second chamber; 13-Air inlet; 14-Air outlet; 2-Baffle; 21-Ventilation hole; 3-Air distribution section; 31-First air distribution surface; 32-Second air distribution surface; 4-Guide plate. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To better understand the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this disclosure, the solutions disclosed herein will be further described below. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described herein can be combined with each other.

[0029] Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of this disclosure, but this disclosure may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein; obviously, the embodiments in the specification are only some, and not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0030] Currently, with the continuous development of automotive lightweighting, the application of hot-formed steel sheets in automobiles is becoming increasingly common. Simultaneously, to improve the corrosion resistance of parts, zinc-based coated hot-formed steel has been promoted and applied. However, during the hot stamping process of zinc-based coated hot-formed steel, the problem of brittle fracture of the substrate due to liquid zinc can occur.

[0031] In existing technologies, to better avoid substrate embrittlement caused by liquid zinc, zinc-plated steel sheets need to be pre-cooled before the hot stamping process, for example, by using a fan. However, unstable air pressure during the pre-cooling process leads to poor coating quality and cannot guarantee the uniformity of cooling, which in turn compromises the uniformity of component performance.

[0032] Based on this, this disclosure provides a pre-cooling device for hot stamping processes of zinc-based coated steel sheets. A partition along the extension direction of the shell defines the interior of the shell as a first chamber and a second chamber. Air inlets are provided on both sides of the first chamber, and cooling air enters the first chamber from these inlets and diffuses evenly into the second chamber through vents on the partition. An air distribution section guides the airflow to the air outlet, forming a uniform laminar flow that covers the steel sheet surface, reducing turbulence caused by disordered cooling air distribution. The air distribution section extends continuously along the extension direction of the second chamber, guiding the cooling air from the first chamber into the second chamber towards the air outlet. The cooling air flowing out of the air outlet is further evenly distributed by the air distribution section, greatly improving the uniformity of the cooling air blowing onto the steel sheet surface. This disclosure enables pre-cooling of the sheet surface after heating and exiting the furnace, thereby rapidly reducing the material surface temperature. Simultaneously, the device must ensure uniform cooling to guarantee the uniformity of the part's performance.

[0033] The pre-cooling device used in the hot stamping process of zinc-based coated steel sheets will be described in detail below through specific embodiments:

[0034] Reference Figures 1 to 6 As shown, a pre-cooling device for hot stamping process of zinc-based coated steel sheet is characterized by comprising a shell 1, a partition 2, and an air distribution section 3. The partition 2 defines the interior of the shell 1 into a first chamber 11 and a second chamber 12 along the extension direction of the shell 1. The air distribution section 3 is disposed in the second chamber 12. Air inlets 13 are provided on both sides of the first chamber 11, and an air outlet 14 is provided on the side of the second chamber 12 away from the partition 2, which is arranged along the length direction of the shell 1. The partition 2 is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes 21, which connect the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12. The air distribution section 3 is arranged along the extension direction of the second chamber 12 and is used to guide the cooling airflow from the first chamber 11 into the second chamber 12 toward the air outlet 14.

[0035] The partition 2 of this disclosure defines the interior of the shell 1 into a first chamber 11 and a second chamber 12 along the extending direction of the shell 1. Air inlets 13 are provided on both sides of the first chamber 11. Cooling air enters the first chamber 11 from the air inlets 13 and is evenly diffused into the second chamber 12 through the vents 21 on the partition 2. The air distribution section 3 guides the cold air to the air outlet 14, forming a uniform laminar flow covering the steel plate surface, which reduces turbulence caused by the chaotic distribution of cooling air. The air distribution section 3 is extended along the extending direction of the second chamber 12 to guide the cooling air from the first chamber 11 into the second chamber 12 towards the air outlet 14. The cooling air flowing out of the air outlet 14 is further evenly distributed by the air distribution section 3, greatly improving the uniformity of the cooling air blowing onto the steel plate surface from the entire air outlet 14. This disclosure enables pre-cooling of the plate surface after it has been heated and removed from the furnace, thereby rapidly reducing the material surface temperature. Simultaneously, the device needs to ensure the uniformity of cooling to guarantee the uniformity of the component performance.

[0036] Specifically, the shell 1 is a segmented welded structure or an integral forged structure, made of high-temperature resistant stainless steel. A partition 2 is horizontally arranged along the length of the shell 1, dividing the shell into an upper first chamber 11 and a lower second chamber 12. The first chamber is a cuboid or cylindrical chamber, with air inlets 13 symmetrically arranged at the ends or other locations on both sides of the first chamber 11. Specifically, the air inlets 13 are symmetrically arranged at the ends of the first chamber 11 to allow cooling air to enter the first chamber 11 in a straight line, reducing its travel path. The air inlets 13 are connected to the air supply duct of an external fan. The air outlet 14 of the second chamber 12 is opened along the length of the shell, with a width of 5-20 mm. Its length is adapted to the width of the steel plate to be cooled, being equal to or greater than the width of the steel plate to prevent the cooling air from failing to cool the entire surface of the steel plate, resulting in uneven cooling. Furthermore, the wind distribution unit 3 is fixed to the bottom of the partition with bolts and can be disassembled and replaced to adapt to different wind speed requirements.

[0037] In some embodiments, the air distribution section 3 is connected to the partition plate 2. The air distribution section 3 includes a first air distribution surface 31 and a second air distribution surface 32. The first air distribution surface 31 and the second air distribution surface 32 are mirror images of each other, and the first air distribution surface 31 and the second air distribution surface 32 are set as arc-shaped surfaces. The intersection point 100 of the first air distribution surface 31 and the second air distribution surface 32 is located above the air outlet 14.

[0038] In this embodiment, the intersection of the two arc-shaped surfaces is 10-30mm from the upper edge of the air outlet. The first air-equalizing surface 31 and the second air-equalizing surface 32 accelerate the cooling air under their guidance and form laminar flow, making the cooling air more evenly cover the steel plate surface. The intersection point 100 of the first air-equalizing surface 31 and the second air-equalizing surface 32 is located above the air outlet 14, specifically, the intersection of the two arc-shaped surfaces is 10-30mm from the upper edge of the air outlet. It should be noted that the intersection point 100 of the two arc-shaped surfaces is a sharp angle, which is intended to guide the cooling air entering the second chamber 12 into the air outlet 14 from the first air-equalizing surface 31 side and the second air-equalizing surface 32 side, respectively. If the cooling air is too far from the air outlet 14, the air velocity and air pressure will be unstable due to the large gap when the cooling air is output; if the gap is too small, the pressure will decrease and the flow velocity will increase. Furthermore, the first air-equalizing surface 31 and the second air-equalizing surface 32 form a teardrop shape. Furthermore, the central axis of the air distribution section 3 is arranged to overlap with the central axis of the air outlet 14, that is, the intersection point 100 is aligned with the central axis of the air outlet 14. An arc-shaped guide plate structure is adopted and welded to the bottom of the partition plate. Its central axis coincides with the central axis of the air outlet 14 to ensure that the airflow is discharged vertically downward.

[0039] In some embodiments, the vent 21 is configured as an elongated through hole, and the vent 21 extends along the width direction of the partition 2, and a plurality of vent holes 21 are spaced apart along the length direction of the partition 2.

[0040] In this embodiment, the vent 21 is configured as an elongated through hole, which extends along the width direction of the partition. Multiple through holes are arranged at intervals of 10-50mm along the length direction, and the width of the through hole is 2-5mm.

[0041] In some embodiments, the baffle 2 is configured as multiple layers, with the multiple layers of baffle 2 spaced apart. In this embodiment, the number of baffle layers can be adjusted according to the thickness of the steel plate. Increasing the number of layers can improve the flow uniformity effect, but wind resistance must also be taken into account.

[0042] In some embodiments, the vent 21 is configured as a circular through hole, and a plurality of vent 21 are arranged in an array on the partition 2.

[0043] In some embodiments, the partition 2 is configured as two layers. In this embodiment, the partition 2 is configured as two layers with a spacing of 20-50mm. Optionally, the upper partition 2 has elongated vent holes 21, and the lower partition 2 has circular vent holes 21, with the circular vent holes 21 having a diameter of 3-8mm and arranged in a rectangular array. After the cooling air is initially evenly distributed through the elongated holes of the upper partition, it is then further dispersed through the circular holes of the lower partition, further reducing airflow velocity fluctuations.

[0044] In some embodiments, the first chamber 11 is configured as a cuboid chamber, and the sidewall of the second chamber 12 where the air outlet 14 is located is configured as a concave arc shape. In this embodiment, the concave arc shape of the sidewall where the air outlet 104 is located can better reduce wind resistance. The air outlet is opened along the length of the housing and has a width of 5-20mm.

[0045] In some embodiments, the air outlet 14 is provided with a guide plate 4, which is connected to the outside of the housing 1 and extends along the length of the air outlet 14. In this embodiment, the guide plate 4 is welded to the outside of the air outlet 104. The guide plate 4 can be configured as an adjustable-angle aluminum blade, extending along the length of the air outlet. The angle between the blade and the horizontal plane is adjustable (30°-60°) to adjust the airflow coverage range and adapt to steel plates of different widths. Furthermore, a temperature sensor is provided on the inner side of the guide plate to monitor the outlet air temperature in real time and feed it back to the control system.

[0046] In this disclosure, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance; the term "multiple" refers to two or more unless otherwise expressly defined. The terms "install," "connect," "link," and "fix" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connect" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; "link" can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0047] In the description of this disclosure, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this disclosure and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or unit referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure.

[0048] In the description of this specification, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "specific embodiment," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of this disclosure. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0049] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this disclosure and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Various modifications and variations can be made to this disclosure by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A pre-cooling device for hot stamping process of zinc-based coated steel sheet, characterized in that, The device includes a shell, a partition, and an air distribution unit. The partition defines the interior of the shell into a first chamber and a second chamber along the extending direction of the shell. The air distribution unit is disposed in the second chamber. Air inlets are provided on both sides of the first chamber, and an air outlet is provided on the side of the second chamber away from the partition, extending along the length of the shell. The partition is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes, which connect the first chamber and the second chamber; the air distribution section is provided along the extension direction of the second chamber and is used to guide the cooling airflow from the first chamber into the second chamber to the air outlet.

2. The pre-cooling device for hot stamping process of zinc-based coated steel sheet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air distribution section is connected to the partition plate. The air distribution section includes a first air distribution surface and a second air distribution surface. The first air distribution surface and the second air distribution surface are mirror images of each other and are arc-shaped surfaces. The intersection of the first air distribution surface and the second air distribution surface is located above the air outlet.

3. The pre-cooling device for hot stamping process of zinc-based coated steel sheet according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first wind-equalizing surface and the second wind-equalizing surface form a teardrop shape.

4. The pre-cooling device for hot stamping process of zinc-based coated steel sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The central axis of the air distribution section overlaps with the central axis of the air outlet.

5. The pre-cooling device for hot stamping process of zinc-based coated steel sheet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vent is configured as an elongated through hole, and the vent extends along the width direction of the partition, while a plurality of vents are spaced apart along the length direction of the partition.

6. The pre-cooling device for hot stamping process of zinc-based coated steel sheet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The partition is configured as multiple layers, with the multiple partitions spaced apart.

7. The pre-cooling device for hot stamping process of zinc-based coated steel sheet according to claim 6, characterized in that, The vent is configured as a circular through hole, and an array of multiple vents is arranged on the partition.

8. The pre-cooling device for hot stamping process of zinc-based coated steel sheet according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The partition is configured as two layers.

9. The pre-cooling device for hot stamping process of zinc-based coated steel sheet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first chamber is configured as a rectangular cavity, and the side wall of the second chamber with the air outlet is configured as an inwardly concave arc shape.

10. The pre-cooling device for hot stamping process of zinc-based coated steel sheet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air outlet is provided with a guide plate, which is connected to the outside of the housing and extends along the length of the air outlet.

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