Centering and selective heating
US11219937B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 8, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jan 11, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 26, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC21D2221/00
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Centering systems for centering blanks outputted from a furnace in a hot stamping line are provided, the centering system comprising a centering table and a heating system for heating one or more selected zones of the blank while arranged on the centering table. Also provided are methods for manufacturing steel components having hard zones and soft zones, wherein the soft zones are of less mechanical strength than the hard zones. The methods comprise heating a steel blank in a furnace, centering the heated blank on a centering table arranged downstream from the furnace, heating one or more selected zones of the heated blank while the blank is on the centering table, wherein the selected zones are the zones of the blank which are destined to form the hard zones; transferring the blank to a press tool to hot forming the blank, and quenching the selected zones of the blank destined to form the hard zones.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.