Profiled Press-Hardened Components With Zoned Air Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing press hardening methods for producing profiled components inadequately control the cooling of components within the tool, leading to inconsistent material properties and reduced control over the cooling process.
Innovation Solution
The method involves cooling the profiled structural part within the press-hardening tool using circulating air or ambient air, combined with external direct and indirect cooling, allowing for specific control of material properties by varying the cooling rates and tool contact regions, and using spacers or heating devices to achieve tailored properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If profiled components are cooled only from the outside by direct and/or indirect cooling in the press-hardening tool, then the cooling process is simple to implement, but the cooling control is inadequate and inconsistent material properties result
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent cooling zones (first cooling zone with first cooling medium, second cooling zone with second cooling medium) that can operate independently. This allows different regions of the profiled component to be cooled at different rates, achieving precise cooling control without requiring a completely complex integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
Different cooling media and cooling rates are applied to different regions of the profiled component based on local requirements. The first cooling zone uses a first cooling medium with specific properties while the second cooling zone uses a second cooling medium, allowing each region to achieve its target material properties independently.
2Ease of manufacture
If circulating air or ambient air is used to cool the profiled structural part in the interior, then tool maintenance is simplified by avoiding internal liquids or gases, but the cooling effectiveness must be sufficient without complex cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The profiled structural part itself serves as the cooling medium carrier by utilizing its own internal cavity to circulate cooling air. The component's geometry is leveraged to enable self-cooling through natural convection or forced circulation, eliminating the need for embedded cooling channels and complex tooling while maintaining effective cooling.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different material properties are required in different regions of the profiled structural part, then design flexibility and crash performance are enhanced, but the cooling control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The press-hardening tool is divided into multiple cooling zones with independent control, allowing each region of the profiled structural part to receive customized cooling treatment. This segmentation enables tailored material properties in different regions without requiring a monolithic complex cooling system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cooling zone is configured with specific cooling media and parameters optimized for the local requirements of that region. The first cooling zone applies different cooling conditions than the second cooling zone, allowing precise control over material properties in different areas of the component.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the production of components with tailored material properties, such as high strength and ductility regions, enhancing crash performance and design flexibility while simplifying tool maintenance by avoiding the need for internal liquids or gases.
Implementation Method 1
the profiled structural part in the press-hardening tool is cooled in its interior by circulating air or ambient air. In particular in the cavity that is enclosed by the closed profile portion, the circulating air or ambient air may contribute to a cooling of the profiled structural part by contact with the surface of the profiled structural part in the interior of the profiled structural part.
Implementation Method 2
the circulating air or ambient air may contribute to a cooling of the profiled structural part by contact with the surface of the profiled structural part
Implementation Method 3
the profiled structural part in the press-hardening tool is cooled in its interior by circulating air or ambient air
Implementation Method 4
by direct and/or indirect cooling
Implementation Method 5
at least one heating device or heating cartridge may be provided in at least one tool part. With the heating device or heating cartridge, it can be achieved during the press hardening that a neighboring subregion of the profiled structural part is cooled more slowly than other subregions
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a component may include one or more of the following: providing and/or producing a profiled structural part, the structural part including a predetermined profile along its length; heat treating the profiled structural part; and press hardening the profiled structural part in a press-hardening tool. The profiled structural part in the press-hardening tool may be cooled in an interior thereof by circulating air, where during cooling of the profiled structural part in the press-hardening tool, different material properties are specifically set in at least two regions of the profiled structural part.