Method for manufacturing automotive structural members
US7475478B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jan 13, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49622
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method for making structural automotive components and the like includes providing a blank of air hardenable martensitic stainless steel in the annealed condition. The steel blank has a thickness in the range of 0.5-5.0 mm., and is formed utilizing stamping, forging, pressing, or roller forming techniques or the like into the form of an automotive structural member. The automotive structural member is then hardened by application of heat, preferably to between 950° C. and 1100° C. for standard martensitic stainless steels. Thereafter, the automotive structural member is preferably cooled at a rate greater than 25° C. per minute to achieve a Rockwell C hardness of at least 39. The automotive structural member may undergo additional heat treating processes including high temperature or low temperature tempering processes which may incorporate electro-coating.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.