Heating and press-hardening of a component

Abstract

An arrangement (1) comprising: - a furnace (2) with a furnace chamber (3), wherein a component plane (4) is formed within the furnace chamber (3), wherein the furnace (2) is configured to heat a component (5) accommodated in the component plane (4), wherein the furnace (3) has at least one pair (6) comprising in each case a gas inlet (7), for introducing a gas into the furnace chamber (3), and a flow amplifier (8), assigned to this gas inlet (7), wherein the flow amplifier (8) is arranged within the furnace chamber (3) and is configured to amplify a gas flow (9) leaving the gas inlet (7) assigned to the flow amplifier (8), - a pressing device (10), which is configured for press-hardening the component (5) heated in the furnace (2) and is arranged directly or indirectly downstream of the furnace (2).

Description

[0001] Heating and press hardening of a component

[0002] The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a furnace for heating a component and a press device for subsequently press-hardening the heated component. The invention further relates to a use of the arrangement and a method for processing a component using the arrangement. The invention can be used in particular in the field of automotive manufacturing, in the production of body parts.

[0003] It is known to heat metallic components and then press-harden them. For this purpose, arrangements comprising a furnace and a pressing device are generally used. The furnace typically has a furnace chamber within which a component plane is formed. A component accommodated in the component plane can be heated with the furnace. The pressing device is designed to press-harden a component heated in this way in the furnace and is arranged downstream of the furnace.

[0004] Heating components for press hardening is typically energy-intensive. Therefore, there is a need for a more efficient way to heat the component.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to create a possibility to press-harden a component and to heat it in an energy-efficient manner.

[0006] This object is achieved with an arrangement, a use and a method according to the independent claims.

[0007] According to the invention, an arrangement is presented which comprises:

[0008] - a furnace with a furnace chamber, wherein a component plane is formed within the furnace chamber, wherein the furnace is configured to heat a component accommodated in the component plane, wherein the furnace has at least one pair of a gas inlet for introducing a gas into the furnace chamber and a flow amplifier associated with this gas inlet, wherein the flow amplifier is arranged within the furnace chamber and is configured to amplify a gas flow emanating from the gas inlet associated with the flow amplifier,

[0009] - a pressing device which is designed for press hardening the component heated in the furnace and is arranged directly or indirectly downstream of the furnace.

[0010] With the described arrangement, a component can first be heated and then press-hardened. The heating takes place in the furnace, and the press-hardening takes place in the press device. In this respect, the press device is directly or indirectly located downstream of the furnace. In normal operation, a component is first heated in the furnace, then transferred to the press device, and finally press-hardened in the press device. The heating and press-hardening of the component are collectively referred to herein as the treatment of the component.

[0011] The arrangement can be used, in particular, to heat and press-harden a metallic component. Which component is ultimately treated with the arrangement naturally depends on the intended use of the arrangement. The arrangement is therefore preferably used to heat and press-harden a metallic component, particularly preferably a steel component. The component is preferably coated, in particular with a coating that is reflective, at least prior to heating in the furnace. The component is particularly preferably coated with AlSi or zinc.

[0012] The component treated with the described arrangement is preferably a component for a motor vehicle body. Particularly in such components, favorable properties can be achieved through press hardening. However, the described arrangement can also be used in any other context in which components are first heated and then press hardened.

[0013] The pressing device is located directly or indirectly downstream of the furnace. The pressing device is located directly downstream of the furnace if the component enters the pressing device after leaving the furnace without being processed in another device in the meantime. The pressing device is located indirectly downstream of the furnace if the component, after leaving the furnace, first enters one or more other devices and only then enters the pressing device.

[0014] In particular, it is possible for the component to be first heated in the furnace, then subjected to locally different thermal treatments in a tempering station, and only then fed to the pressing device. The locally different thermal treatment in the tempering station serves to impart locally different microstructures and thus locally different ductilities to the component. Furthermore, it is possible for the component to be first heated in the furnace, then subjected to locally different thermal treatments in a tempering station, then heated in another furnace, and only then fed to the pressing device. The additional furnace serves to reduce temperature differences between areas of the component set in the tempering station in order to reduce component distortion during press hardening.

[0015] Using the furnace with the described arrangement, the component can be heated particularly efficiently. This is fundamentally an advantage that is independent of the subsequent press hardening in the pressing device. However, further advantages arise in combination with the pressing device. Heating for the purpose of press hardening usually requires a considerably larger furnace. This causes correspondingly high costs and requires a lot of space. With a conventional, smaller furnace, however, heating the component takes a correspondingly long time. Press hardening cannot then be carried out at the rate that the pressing device used could achieve. The combination of the described furnace with a pressing device therefore offers the particular advantage that a comparatively small furnace is sufficient to enable the pressing device to be used at full speed.This allows for short cycle times to be achieved at low cost and with minimal space requirements. A short cycle time is particularly valuable in many applications.

[0016] The furnace has a furnace chamber. The component can be heated when it is located in the furnace chamber. A component plane is formed within the furnace chamber. This means that the component plane has a section formed within the furnace chamber. It is possible and also preferred for the component plane to extend beyond the furnace chamber. A component inlet, which forms part of the component plane, can be provided upstream of the furnace in the transport direction of the component. A transfer device, which forms part of the component plane, can be provided between the furnace and the pressing device. The pressing device can also form part of the component plane.

[0017] The furnace is designed to heat a component held in the component plane. The furnace is preferably designed as a continuous furnace, in particular as a roller hearth furnace. In this case, the component plane can be formed by a roller conveyor. However, the advantages of the arrangement described herein can be achieved regardless of the type of furnace. In particular, it is irrelevant whether the component is being transported through the furnace during heating or is at rest. Accordingly, the furnace can also be, for example, a chamber furnace, in particular a multi-layer chamber furnace. The furnace can also be designed as a batch furnace.

[0018] The method of heating the furnace is also irrelevant for the functioning of the described arrangement. For example, radiant tubes can be installed in the furnace chamber, within which a gas is burned as a fuel. The radiant tubes heat the component inside the furnace by means of thermal radiation. Alternatively, or in addition to such gas heating, the furnace can also be heated electrically, for example.

[0019] The component can be heated in the furnace, in particular by means of radiant heat and / or convection. The invention is based on the finding that heating of the component can be accelerated by increasing convective heating. This applies particularly to steel components with an AlSi coating. Such components have a comparatively highly reflective surface, particularly when the AlSi coating has melted. If such a component is heated by thermal radiation, a significant proportion of the energy is reflected by the component instead of being absorbed by the component. By increasing convective heating, heating can therefore be made more energy-efficient. The invention is also based on the finding that increasing convective heating increases energy efficiency not only in AlSi-coated steel components, but also in components with other coatings or even in uncoated components.A particular increase in efficiency can be achieved with components with highly reflective surfaces. The arrangement is therefore preferably used with a component whose surface is reflective at least during part of the heating step. However, convective heating can also be used with components with weakly or even non-reflective surfaces. In this respect, the invention allows an increase in efficiency to be achieved even with components with weakly or even non-reflective surfaces. The described arrangement can therefore be advantageously used for any type of component.

[0020] Furthermore, the invention is based on the manner in which the desired enhancement of convective heating can be achieved. For this purpose, the furnace is provided with at least one pair, each consisting of a gas inlet for introducing a gas into the furnace chamber and a flow amplifier associated with this gas inlet. The flow amplifier is arranged within the furnace chamber and configured to amplify a gas flow emanating from the gas inlet associated with this flow amplifier.

[0021] The furnace has one or more gas inlets. The case with multiple gas inlets is preferred. For the sake of simplicity, however, the case with only one gas inlet will be described first. A gas can be introduced into the furnace chamber through the gas inlet. The gas is preferably compressed air. The gas inlet can also be referred to as a compressed air inlet. However, it is not necessary for the gas to meet the definition of air. Alternatively, nitrogen, for example, can be used as the gas. Another gas can also be used to create a desired furnace atmosphere.

[0022] The gas which forms the furnace atmosphere or at least contributes to it can be introduced into the furnace chamber via the gas inlet. By introducing the gas into the furnace chamber, moisture in particular can be removed from the furnace chamber. Such moisture could lead to damage to the component and / or the furnace. The gas is preferably dried. For example, the gas can first be passed through a dryer and then into the furnace chamber. In particular, compressed air can be used as the gas, first through an air dryer and then into the furnace chamber. However, moisture can also be removed from the furnace chamber using untreated gas, in particular untreated compressed air. This can be achieved simply by the movement of the gas within the furnace chamber.

[0023] Introducing a gas into the furnace is known per se. However, according to the invention, the flow of the gas escaping from the gas inlet is amplified. For this purpose, a flow amplifier is provided in the furnace chamber. The flow amplifier is assigned to the gas inlet. This is equivalent to the gas inlet being assigned to the flow amplifier. Therefore, we also refer to a pair consisting of a flow amplifier and a gas inlet. This is particularly relevant when the furnace has several such pairs. The assignment of flow amplifier and gas inlet within a pair consists in the flow amplifier being designed to amplify a gas flow emanating from this gas inlet.

[0024] The flow amplifier can also be synonymously referred to as an air flow amplifier. However, it is not necessary for the gas exiting the gas inlet to be air. Therefore, it can also be referred to generally as a gas flow amplifier. The flow amplifier is designed to amplify a gas flow. The flow amplifier can also be synonymously referred to as a convection module or convection element. The flow amplifier serves to enhance the convective heating of the component.

[0025] The flow amplifier amplifies the convective heating of the component. This allows the component to be heated particularly quickly and energy-efficiently. This advantage according to the invention can already be achieved with a single pair of gas inlet and flow amplifier. In general, however, the advantage is greater the more such pairs are provided. In this case, one of the flow amplifiers is assigned to each of the gas inlets. For the sake of simplicity, however, the case with only one of these pairs is primarily described herein. The description of this pair also applies analogously to the other pairs. It is possible and even preferred to provide further gas inlets without an assigned flow amplifier in addition to the at least one pair of gas inlet and flow amplifier in order to achieve a desired furnace atmosphere. These further gas inlets are not part of a pair described herein and are therefore not described further.

[0026] The flow amplifier is a component that is arranged within the furnace chamber. The flow amplifier preferably has an inlet and an outlet. The flow amplifier is oriented such that at least a portion of the gas flow exiting the associated gas inlet can enter the flow amplifier through the inlet. This flow can exit the flow amplifier outlet in an amplified manner. Due to the conservation of mass, the amplification of the flow requires that, in addition to the gas from the flow to be amplified, other gas also enters the flow amplifier. This additional gas can enter the flow amplifier through the inlet and / or through another inlet. This additional gas can have the same or a different chemical composition than the gas from the flow to be amplified.

[0027] The enhanced flow exiting the flow amplifier can be directed in various directions. The advantages described herein can generally be achieved by increasing the flow within the furnace chamber, resulting in increased circulation, which enhances convective heating.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the flow amplifier is designed to amplify the gas flow emanating from the gas inlet assigned to the flow amplifier in the direction of the component plane. In this case, the flow amplifier is arranged between the gas inlet assigned to the flow amplifier and the component plane. The pair consisting of flow amplifier and gas inlet can be arranged above or below the component plane. This allows the top or bottom of the component to be heated. If several pairs are provided, they can all be arranged above the component plane, all below the component plane, or partly above and partly below the component plane. The component can therefore be subjected to an increased flow on one side from above the component plane, on one side from below the component plane, or on both sides. In the latter case, the component can be heated particularly intensively by convection.

[0029] The amplification is preferably directed perpendicular to the component plane. In this case, the flow can also be referred to as an impingement flow. However, advantages can also be achieved if the flow impinges on the component plane at an angle. This is also referred to herein as "toward the component plane." Generally, the amplified flow is directed toward the component plane if a center of gravity of the flow lies along an axis that intersects the component plane within the furnace chamber. For example, the flow amplifier can also be configured to amplify the gas flow emanating from the gas inlet associated with the flow amplifier in a direction that forms an angle with the component plane in the range of 30 to 60°.

[0030] In an alternative preferred embodiment, the flow amplifier is designed to amplify the gas flow emanating from the gas inlet assigned to the flow amplifier in a direction parallel to the component plane. In this case, the flow amplifier cannot be arranged between the gas inlet assigned to the flow amplifier and the component plane. Instead, the flow amplifier and the associated gas inlet are arranged either in the component plane or above or below it in such a way that the flow amplifier and the associated gas inlet lie on an axis that is parallel to the component plane. The flow can be guided tangentially over the component surface. This can also heat the component convectively. This applies in particular if a center of gravity of the amplified flow emerging from the flow amplifier lies in the component plane or a maximum of 30 cm above or below it.Even at a greater distance from the component level, an advantage can still be achieved, since the flow emerging from the flow amplifier sets the gas in the furnace chamber in motion as a whole.

[0031] If several of the pairs are provided, the two previously described embodiments can be combined with one another. This allows the component to be exposed to an increased flow from several sides and at different angles and to be heated accordingly intensively by convection. A first part of the pairs of flow amplifier and gas inlet is designed to amplify the gas flow emanating from the gas inlet assigned to the flow amplifier in the direction of the component plane. These pairs can all be arranged above the component plane, all below the component plane, or partly above and partly below the component plane. The pairs can be designed to amplify the flow at the same angle or at different angles to the component plane.A second part of the pairs is designed to amplify the gas flow emanating from the gas inlet associated with the flow amplifier in a direction parallel to the component plane.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the arrangement, the flow amplifier is designed to be passive.

[0033] A flow amplifier is passive if it amplifies an incoming flow without being separately supplied with energy. The energy to drive the flow thus comes from the incoming flow itself. The term "passive flow amplifier" is to be distinguished from the term "active flow amplifier." An active flow amplifier is, for example, a fan or propeller. As an alternative to the present embodiment, it is preferred for the flow amplifier to be actively designed, in particular as a fan. The flow amplifier is therefore not necessarily passive.

[0034] However, a passive flow amplifier is generally more robust than an active flow amplifier. This is particularly relevant with regard to the temperatures prevailing in the furnace. Furthermore, a passive flow amplifier does not require a power supply line to be laid into the furnace chamber.

[0035] Passive flow amplification is possible, for example, if the gas from the gas inlet is introduced into the flow amplifier as a primary gas, thereby entraining gas from the area surrounding the flow amplifier as a secondary gas. If compressed air is introduced into the furnace chamber via the gas inlet, this compressed air can also be referred to as primary air. If air from the area surrounding the flow amplifier is entrained, this can also be referred to as secondary air. The general terms primary gas and secondary gas are to be understood accordingly. In particular, the use of these terms does not require the primary gas and secondary gas to have different chemical compositions. The terms primary gas and secondary gas simply refer to where the gas comes from.

[0036] There are various ways in which a flow amplifier can achieve the required functionality through its shape: to amplify a gas flow emanating from the associated gas inlet in the desired direction. In the simplest case, the flow amplifier is a tube whose cross-section changes along the tube's length. One possible design is described in more detail below. However, the advantages of the arrangement described here can be achieved regardless of which of the various design options for the flow amplifier is used.

[0037] In a further preferred embodiment of the arrangement, the flow amplifier has a hollow body which has an inlet opening on a first end face and an outlet opening on a second end face opposite the first end face, wherein the inlet opening faces the gas inlet assigned to the flow amplifier and the outlet opening faces the component plane, and wherein an interior of the hollow body has a constriction between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.

[0038] The gas escaping from the gas inlet can flow into the inlet opening of the flow amplifier, pass through the interior of the hollow body, and exit through the outlet opening. A gas surrounding the flow amplifier is entrained in the process, thereby amplifying the flow. The constriction contributes in particular to this effect.

[0039] In a further preferred embodiment of the arrangement, the interior of the hollow body is rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis of the flow amplifier, wherein the axis of the flow amplifier is directed towards the component plane when viewed in a direction from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. This rotationally symmetrical design is advantageous from a manufacturing perspective. The fact that the axis of the flow amplifier is directed towards the component plane when viewed in a direction from the inlet opening to the outlet opening means that the amplified flow emanating from the flow amplifier is directed towards the component plane. A gas flow emanating from the gas inlet can thus be amplified towards the component plane.

[0040] In a further preferred embodiment of the arrangement, the flow amplifier is designed to be fed with a gas from the gas inlet associated with the flow amplifier as the primary gas and thereby to suck in a gas surrounding the flow amplifier as the secondary gas.

[0041] The primary gas is preferably compressed air. In this case, the primary gas can also be referred to as primary air. The secondary gas is preferably air from the environment of the flow amplifier. In this case, the secondary gas can also be referred to as secondary air.

[0042] As an alternative to the present embodiment, it is conceivable, for example, to introduce secondary gas separately into the flow amplifier. Drawing the secondary gas from the environment of the flow amplifier is not mandatory in this respect. However, using gas from the environment of the flow amplifier as secondary gas has the advantage that this gas is already warmed up and readily available.

[0043] In a further preferred embodiment of the arrangement, the furnace is a continuous furnace, wherein the furnace has a plurality of pairs each comprising a gas inlet and a flow amplifier associated therewith, wherein the pairs are arranged at different positions when viewed along a transport direction of the furnace.

[0044] The advantages described herein can, in principle, be achieved with a single pair of gas inlet and flow amplifier. However, in a continuous furnace, the component passes through the furnace during heating. As a result, the component is generally only briefly in the sphere of influence of a pair of gas inlet and flow amplifier. However, if several such pairs are arranged along the length of the furnace, as described in the present embodiment, the component repeatedly passes through one of these pairs. The advantages described herein are therefore achieved to a greater extent.

[0045] In a further preferred embodiment of the arrangement, more of the pairs are arranged in a first half of the furnace through which the component first has to pass than in a second half of the furnace through which the component subsequently has to pass.

[0046] In a continuous furnace, the position along the transport direction corresponds to the progressive heating. Depending on where a pair of gas inlet and flow amplifier is arranged, the flow amplified by the flow amplifier hits a component that is more or less heated. It has been found that the effect of convective heating is particularly great at the beginning of the heating process. This applies particularly to coated components, especially those coated with AlSi or zinc. In the present embodiment, this finding is taken into account in that more pairs are arranged in the first half of the furnace through which the material passes than in the second half. For example, it is sufficient to provide such pairs in the first 30 to 70% of the length of the furnace. However, providing pairs in the rear part of the furnace is also no harm.Furthermore, it is also beneficial to provide gas inlets without flow amplifiers in the rear part of the furnace. It is even preferable to provide additional gas inlets without associated flow amplifiers in addition to the gas inlet / flow amplifier pairs to achieve a desired furnace atmosphere. These additional gas inlets are not part of a pair described herein and are therefore not described further.

[0047] Coated components can be reflective, particularly due to their coating. Radiant heat can thus be reflected by the component instead of being absorbed. However, the further a component is heated, the less reflective the coating becomes. This is especially true for AlSi and zinc. Concentrating the gas inlet and flow amplifier pairs in the front part of the furnace therefore makes particular sense for coated components. A coating is generally particularly reflective when it is molten. This is especially true for an AlSi coating. The gas inlet and flow amplifier pairs are therefore preferably located where the coating is expected to be molten.If the component is heated above the melting temperature of the coating material and maintained at a temperature above the melting temperature of the coating material for a sufficiently long time, the coating material diffuses into the material of the remaining component. After the diffusion process is complete, the component typically reflects significantly less than before.

[0048] In a further preferred embodiment of the arrangement, the furnace is a multi-layer chamber furnace.

[0049] In a multi-layer chamber furnace, or MLK for short, components can be arranged in multiple layers. Accordingly, several component levels can be provided.

[0050] As a further aspect of the invention, a use of an arrangement designed as described is presented, wherein a metallic component is heated in the furnace and subsequently press-hardened in the pressing device.

[0051] The described advantages and features of the arrangement are applicable and transferable to the use, and vice versa.

[0052] The metallic component is preferably made of one of the following materials:

[0053] ■ uncoated steel,

[0054] ■ Steel with a coating, especially AlSi or zinc,

[0055] ■ an aluminum alloy, in particular a high-strength aluminum alloy particularly suitable for hot forming, such as a type 6.xxx or 7.xxx.

[0056] In the case of a steel component with a coating, the coating may be pre-diffused. This means that the coating has already diffused into the remaining material of the component prior to the thermal treatment described herein. Alternatively, the coating may be applied to the component prior to the thermal treatment described herein in such a way that the coating diffuses into the remaining material of the component during the thermal treatment described herein.

[0057] The described use of the arrangement is particularly preferred for a steel component with an AlSi or zinc coating. It has been found that the advantages described herein can be achieved to a particularly high degree due to the reflective properties of these coatings. A further aspect of the invention provides a method for processing a metallic component using an arrangement designed as described. The method comprises: a) heating the component in the furnace, b) press-hardening the component in the press device.

[0058] The described advantages and features of the arrangement and its use are applicable and transferable to the method, and vice versa. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. The figures show a particularly preferred embodiment to which the invention is not limited. The figures and the proportions depicted therein are merely schematic. They show:

[0059] Fig. 1 : an arrangement according to the invention in a side view,

[0060] Fig. 2: the furnace of the arrangement from Fig. 1 in an enlarged side view,

[0061] Fig. 3: a section of the furnace from Fig. 2 in a further enlarged side view.

[0062] Fig. 1 shows an arrangement 1 which comprises a furnace 2 and a pressing device 10. The furnace 2 is designed to heat a component 5. For this purpose, the component 5 can be received in a component plane 4 of the furnace 2 and transported through the furnace 2 in a transport direction 19. The component 5 can then be transported from the furnace 2 into the pressing device 10. This is indicated in Fig. 1 in that the component plane 4 also extends to the pressing device 10. The pressing device 10 is designed to press-harden the component 5 after the component 5 has been heated in the furnace 2. The pressing device 10 is arranged immediately downstream of the furnace 2 in the transport direction 19.

[0063] Fig. 2 shows the furnace 2 from Fig. 1 in the same perspective as shown in Fig. 1. The furnace 2 has a furnace chamber 3. The component level 4 is formed within the furnace chamber 3. The furnace 2 is designed to heat a component 5 accommodated in the component level 4. The furnace 3 has pairs 6, each consisting of a gas inlet 7 for introducing a gas into the furnace chamber 3 and a flow amplifier 8 assigned to this gas inlet 7. By way of example, four such pairs 6 are provided in the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 2. A compressed air source 22 is connected to the gas inlets 7 via a compressed air dryer 23. As a result, compressed air as the gas can be introduced into the furnace chamber 3 via the gas inlets 7.

[0064] For clarity, only one of the pairs 6 is provided with a reference numeral for further explanation. The following description applies to each of the pairs 6. The flow amplifier 8 is arranged within the furnace chamber 3 between the associated gas inlet 7 and the component plane 4 and is configured to amplify a gas flow 9 emanating from the associated gas inlet 7 in the direction of the component plane 4. This is indicated in Fig. 2 by dotted lines.

[0065] The furnace 2 is a continuous furnace. The component 5 can be transported through the furnace 2 in a transport direction 19 (from left to right in the example shown) via transport rollers 24. The pairs 6 are arranged at different positions when viewed along the transport direction 19 of the furnace 2. As the component 5 passes through the furnace 2, it gradually passes the individual pairs 6. Three of the pairs 6 are arranged in a first half 20 of the furnace 2, through which the component 5 passes first, and one of the pairs 6 is arranged in the second half 21 of the furnace 2. In this respect, more of the pairs 6 are arranged in the first half 20 of the furnace 2 than in the second half 21 of the furnace 2. The flow amplifiers 8 are therefore primarily used at the beginning of the heating of the component 5.

[0066] Fig. 3 shows a section of the furnace 2 from Fig. 2 in the same perspective as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. One of the pairs 6 can be seen. What is shown in Fig. 3 and the following description apply equally to all pairs 6.

[0067] In the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 3, the gas inlet 7 is designed as a pipe socket which is arranged on a ceiling 25 of the furnace chamber 3. The pipe socket penetrates an insulation 26. In this respect, compressed air can be introduced into the furnace chamber 3 as a gas from outside the furnace chamber 3, in particular from the compressed air source 22, via the gas inlet 7. The compressed air thus introduced into the furnace chamber 3 strikes the flow amplifier 8. For this purpose, the flow amplifier 8 is fastened to the ceiling 25 below the gas inlet 7 via holders 27. The flow amplifier 8 amplifies the flow of compressed air in the direction of the component plane (which lies outside the section shown in Fig. 3 towards the bottom).

[0068] The flow amplifier 8 is passively designed. This means that the amplification of the compressed air flow does not require an external power supply. Rather, the amplification is achieved through the physical shape of the flow amplifier 8. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the flow amplifier 8 has a hollow body 11 which has an inlet opening 14 on a first end face 12 and an outlet opening 15 on a second end face 13 opposite the first end face 12. The inlet opening 14 faces the gas inlet 7, and the outlet opening 15 faces the component plane 4. An interior space 16 of the hollow body 11 has a constriction 17 between the inlet opening 14 and the outlet opening 15. The interior space 16 of the hollow body 11 is rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis 18 of the flow amplifier 8.The axis 18 of the flow amplifier 8 is directed toward the component plane 4 when viewed in a direction from the inlet opening 14 to the outlet opening 15. The gas inlet 7 also lies on the axis 18 of the flow amplifier 8. An axis of the gas inlet 7 coincides with the axis 18 of the flow amplifier 8. Due to this shape, the flow amplifier 8 is configured to be fed with compressed air from the gas inlet 7 as the primary gas and thereby to draw in a gas surrounding the flow amplifier 8 from the furnace chamber 3 as the secondary gas. List of reference symbols.

[0069] 1 arrangement

[0070] 2 ovens

[0071] 3 furnace chamber

[0072] 4 component level

[0073] 5 Component

[0074] 6 pairs

[0075] 7 Gas inlet

[0076] 8 flow amplifiers

[0077] 9 Gas flow

[0078] 10 Pressing device

[0079] 11 hollow bodies

[0080] 12 first front side

[0081] 13 second front side

[0082] 14 Inlet opening

[0083] 15 Outlet opening

[0084] 16 Interior

[0085] 17 Constriction

[0086] 18 Axis

[0087] 19 Transport direction

[0088] 20 first half

[0089] 21 second half

[0090] 22 Compressed air source

[0091] 23 compressed air dryers

[0092] 24 transport roller

[0093] 25 ceiling

[0094] 26 Insulation

[0095] 27 holders

Claims

Claims 1. Arrangement (1) comprising: - a furnace (2) with a furnace chamber (3), wherein a component plane (4) is formed within the furnace chamber (3), wherein the furnace (2) is designed to heat a component (5) accommodated in the component plane (4), wherein the furnace (3) has at least one pair (6) each comprising a gas inlet (7) for introducing a gas into the furnace chamber (3) and a flow amplifier (8) associated with this gas inlet (7), wherein the flow amplifier (8) is arranged within the furnace chamber (3) and is designed to amplify a gas flow (9) emanating from the gas inlet (7) associated with the flow amplifier (8), - a pressing device (10) which is designed for press-hardening the component (5) heated in the furnace (2) and is arranged directly or indirectly downstream of the furnace (2).

2. Arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the flow amplifier (8) is passive.

3. Arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow amplifier (8) has a hollow body (11) which has an inlet opening (14) on a first end face (12) and an outlet opening (15) on a second end face (13) opposite the first end face (12), wherein the inlet opening (14) faces the gas inlet (7) assigned to the flow amplifier (8) and the outlet opening (15) faces the component plane (4), and wherein an interior space (16) of the hollow body (11) between the inlet opening (14) and the outlet opening (15) has a constriction (17).

4. Arrangement (1) according to claim 3, wherein the interior (16) of the hollow body (11) is rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis (18) of the flow amplifier (8), and wherein the axis (18) of the flow amplifier (8) is directed towards the component plane (4) when viewed in a direction from the inlet opening (14) to the outlet opening (15).

5. Arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow amplifier (8) is designed to be fed with a gas from the gas inlet (7) associated with the flow amplifier (8) as the primary gas and thereby to suck in a gas surrounding the flow amplifier (8) as the secondary gas.

6. Arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the furnace (2) is a continuous furnace, wherein the furnace (2) has a plurality of the pairs (6) each comprising a gas inlet (7) and a flow amplifier (8) associated therewith, and wherein the pairs (6) are arranged at different positions when viewed along a transport direction (19) of the furnace (2).

7. Arrangement (1) according to claim 6, wherein more of the pairs (6) are arranged in a first half (20) of the furnace (2) through which the component (5) first has to pass than in a second half (21) of the furnace (2) through which the component (5) subsequently has to pass.

8. Arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the furnace (2) is a multi-layer chamber furnace.

9. Use of an arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a metallic component (5) is heated in the furnace (2) and subsequently press-hardened in the pressing device (10).

10. A method for machining a metallic component (5) with an arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, comprising: a) heating the component (5) in the furnace (2), b) press hardening the component (5) in the pressing device (10).

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