Method for producing an extruded profile and a production plant for this purpose

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (2) for producing an extruded profile (6) in a production plant (1). In this process, a material (M) of the extruded profile (6) is continuously conveyed through an extrusion press (3), a heating unit (4) and a cooling unit (5) of the production plant (1) at a conveying speed in a conveying direction (FR). The invention also relates to the manufacturing plant (1) for carrying out the described method (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing an extruded profile according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a production plant for carrying out the method.

[0002] In a conventional extrusion process, a material for producing the extruded profile is pressed through a forming die and then cooled with air and / or water. A key aspect of initiating a subsequent cooling process is reducing coarse grain formation, suppressing pre-precipitation, and establishing a supersaturated solid solution state in the material of the extruded profile. A supersaturated solid solution state enables the modification of the mechanical properties of the material of the extruded profile through a subsequent defined heat treatment resulting in particle hardening. A highly supersaturated solid solution state and subsequent heat treatment to peak hardness represent increased strength compared to the initial state after extrusion.Especially with high-alloy materials, the cooling sensitivity increases with the increasing alloying content of the precipitation-relevant alloying elements. This means that the maximum strength of the material can only be achieved through subsequent heat treatment with prior and intensive cooling. Since extrusion is subject to certain manufacturing conditions, the desired conditions cannot be created in all cases or even across the entire extruded profile, and consequently, the target parameters cannot be set.

[0003] DE 10043562 A1 discloses a method and a production plant for the heat treatment of extruded profiles made of aluminum alloy. The individual extruded profiles are introduced into a continuous furnace in a single pass and held at an alloy-specific solution annealing temperature for an alloy-specific holding time. The extruded profiles are then cooled in a single pass cooling device at an alloy-specific cooling rate.

[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved or at least alternative embodiment for a method of the generic type, in which the described disadvantages are overcome. The object of the invention is also to provide a production plant for carrying out the method.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0006] The method according to the invention is designed for producing an extruded profile in a production facility. A material forming the extruded profile passes through the production facility continuously at a conveying speed in a conveying direction. The material of the extruded profile is first extruded into a predetermined shape of the extruded profile in an extrusion press of the production facility at an extrusion temperature. Downstream of the extrusion press, the material of the extruded profile is cooled in a cooling unit of the production facility to a cooling temperature below the extrusion temperature. Downstream of the extrusion press and upstream of the cooling unit, the material of the extruded profile is heated by laser radiation in a heating unit of the production facility to a solution annealing temperature above the extrusion temperature and below a solidus temperature.The material of the extruded profile is heated as it continuously passes through the heating unit at the conveying speed in the conveying direction.

[0007] In the method according to the invention, the material of the extruded profile is post-processed or solution-annealed using the heating unit after extrusion and before cooling. The heat used to extrude the material of the extruded profile and / or the heat generated during extrusion of the material of the extruded profile can be utilized, thereby reducing the time required for solution-annealing. This also allows energy consumption to be reduced and efficiency to be increased. Furthermore, solution-annealing is carried out locally, so that varying material properties can be achieved over the length of the extruded profile. The short time required for solution-annealing also allows for reduced modification of the material structure.Furthermore, extrusion can be carried out at a lower extrusion temperature than conventional extrusion without any loss of strength, since solution annealing is initiated subsequently. Since the cooling of the material of the extruded profile in the cooling unit only takes place after solution annealing and there is no risk of water contact with the extrusion press due to the spatial distance between the extrusion press and the cooling unit, cooling can be comparatively intensive and can take place spatially and temporally directly or immediately after solution annealing of the material of the extruded profile. This makes it easier to achieve a highly supersaturated solid solution state in the material of the extruded profile. In the process according to the invention, the disadvantages of conventional solution annealing in a single pass can therefore be avoided and the required material properties can still be achieved.

[0008] The above-mentioned extrusion temperature and / or the above-mentioned solidus temperature and / or the above-mentioned solution annealing temperature and / or the above-mentioned cooling temperature can be related to the material of the extruded profile or can be specified or determined by the material of the extruded profile. The material of the extruded profile can, in particular, be aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0009] In one possible embodiment of the method, the material of the extruded profile can be surrounded on all sides by the heating unit in a plane perpendicular to the conveying direction and is heated externally on all sides by laser radiation in the plane perpendicular to the conveying direction. This allows for uniform heating of the material of the extruded profile in the heating unit.

[0010] In one possible embodiment of the method, it can be provided that, as the extruded profile material passes through the production line, a condition of the extruded profile material, in particular a crystalline condition of the extruded profile material, is recorded or measured at at least one test point. Depending on the recorded condition of the extruded profile material, the power of the heating unit and / or the conveying speed of the extruded profile material through the heating unit can then be adjusted.

[0011] The invention also relates to a production plant for producing an extruded profile. The production plant is designed to carry out the method described above. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the above explanations at this point.

[0012] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0013] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0014] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0015] Showing schematically: Fig. 1 a side view of a production plant according to the invention when carrying out a method according to the invention; Fig. 2 a plan view of the production plant according to the invention on an extrusion press when carrying out the method according to the invention; Fig. 3 a plan view of the production plant according to the invention on a heating unit when carrying out the method according to the invention; Fig. 4 a plan view of the production plant according to the invention on a cooling unit when carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a production plant 1 according to the invention when carrying out a method 2 according to the invention. The production plant 1 comprises an extrusion press 3 and a heating unit 4 and a cooling unit 5, through which a material M of an extruded profile 6 passes one after the other in the stated order at a conveying speed in a conveying direction FR.

[0017] Fig. Figure 2 shows a top view of the production plant 1 according to the invention at the extrusion press 3 during the execution of the method 2 according to the invention. In the extrusion press 3, the material M of the extruded profile 6 is extruded at an extrusion temperature into a predetermined shape of the extruded profile 6. For this purpose, the material M of the extruded profile 6 is pressed through a die 3a.

[0018] Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the production plant 1 according to the invention at the heating unit 4 during execution of the method 2 according to the invention. In the heating unit 4, the material M of the extruded profile 6 is heated by means of laser radiation LS - shown here with arrows - to a solution annealing temperature above the extrusion temperature and below a solidus temperature of the material M of the extruded profile 6. As a result, a solution annealing of the material M of the extruded profile 6 takes place in the heating unit 4. The solution annealing of the material M of the extruded profile 6 takes place while continuously passing through the heating unit 4 at the conveying speed in the conveying direction FR.

[0019] The heating unit 4 comprises an opening 4a extending along the conveying direction FR, through which the material M of the extruded profile 6 passes. The material M of the extruded profile 6 is thus surrounded on all sides by the heating unit 4 perpendicular to the conveying direction FR and heated from the outside by means of laser radiation LS.

[0020] When passing through the production plant 1, a crystalline state of the material M of the extruded profile 6 can be detected, and depending on this, the power of the heating unit 4 and / or the conveying speed of the material M of the extruded profile 6 through the heating unit 4 can be adjusted. This can then influence the solution annealing of the material M of the extruded profile 6.

[0021] Fig.Figure 4 shows a top view of the production system 1 according to the invention at the cooling unit 5 during the execution of the method 2 according to the invention. In the cooling unit 5, the material M of the extruded profile 6 can be cooled to a cooling temperature below the extrusion temperature. The cooling of the material M of the extruded profile 6 can be carried out, for example, with air or water or with a mixture of air and water or a spray mist. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10043562 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Method (2) for producing an extruded profile (6) in a production plant (1), - wherein a material (M) forming the extruded profile (6) continuously passes through the production plant (1) at a conveying speed in a conveying direction (FR); - wherein the material (M) of the extruded profile (6) is extruded into a predetermined shape of the extruded profile (6) in an extrusion press (3) of the production plant (1) at an extrusion temperature; - wherein the material (M) of the extruded profile (6) is cooled in a cooling unit (5) of the production plant (1) to a cooling temperature below the extrusion temperature after passing through the extrusion press (3); characterized bythat the material (M) of the extruded profile (6), after passing through the extrusion press (3) and before cooling in the cooling unit (5), is heated in a heating unit (4) of the production plant (1) by means of laser radiation (LS) to a solution annealing temperature which is above the extrusion temperature and below a solidus temperature of the material (M) of the extruded profile (6) while continuously passing through at the conveying speed in the conveying direction (FR). [2] Method (2) according to claim 1, characterized by that the material (M) of the extruded profile (6) is surrounded on all sides by the heating unit (4) in a plane perpendicular to the conveying direction (FR) and is heated on all sides from the outside by means of laser radiation (LS) in the plane perpendicular to the conveying direction (FR). [3] Method (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat when passing through the production plant (1) a state of the material (M) of the extruded profile (6), in particular a crystalline state of the material (M) of the extruded profile (6), is recorded at at least one test point. [4] Method (2) according to claim 3, characterized by that a power of the heating unit (4) and / or the conveying speed of the material (M) of the extruded profile (6) through the heating unit (4) are adjusted depending on the detected state of the material (M) of the extruded profile (6). [5] Production plant (1) for producing an extruded profile (6), wherein the production plant (1) is designed to carry out the method (2) according to one of the preceding claims.

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