Method and semifinished product for producing an at least partially hardened profiled component

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing an at least partially hardened profiled component and to a corresponding semi-finished product ( 1 ) which simplifies the development process and reduces the investment costs in production machines. At first, a first profiled segment ( 19 ), which has a uniform cross-sectional shape ( 9, 10 ) along its extent ( 22 ), and a second profiled segment ( 20 ), which has a non-uniform cross-sectional shape ( 9, 10 ) along its extent ( 22 ), are joined together at a joining point ( 6 ) in order to form at least part of a semi-finished product ( 1 ). At the joining point ( 6 ), the first and the second profiled segments ( 19, 20 ) have cross-sectional shapes ( 9, 10 ) which substantially correspond with one another. After heating ( 25 ) to a hardening temperature, the semi-finished product ( 1 ) is formed in a forming tool ( 11 ) by means of internal high-pressure forming ( 26 ) or pressing to produce the profiled component ( 2 ) which, after the forming ( 26 ) within the forming tool ( 11 ), is hardened by quenching ( 27 ).

1 . A method ( 34 ) for producing an at least partially hardened profiled component ( 2 ), with a first profiled segment ( 19 ), which has a uniform cross-sectional shape ( 9 ,  10 ) along its extension or length ( 22 ), and a second profiled segment ( 20 ), which has a non-uniform cross-sectional shape ( 9 ,  10 ) along its extension or length ( 22 ), comprising:
 joining the first profiled segment ( 19 ) to the second profiled segment ( 20 ) at a joint ( 6 ) in order to form at least part of a semi-finished product ( 1 ), wherein the first and the second profiled segments ( 19 ,  20 ) have cross-sectional shapes ( 9 ,  10 ) that substantially match at the joint ( 6 ),   heating the semi-finished product ( 1 ) to a hardening temperature,   shaping the semi-finished product ( 1 ) in a forming tool ( 11 ) by hydroforming ( 26 ) or by means of pressing so as to produce the profiled component ( 2 ), and   hardening the profiled component ( 2 ) in the forming tool ( 11 ) by quenching ( 27 ).   
     
     
         2 . The method ( 34 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the second profiled segment ( 20 ) has a connecting end ( 32 ) with a cross-sectional shape ( 9 ,  10 ) substantially matching the cross-sectional shape ( 9 ,  10 ) of the first profiled component ( 19 ). 
     
     
         3 . The method ( 34 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the profiled segments ( 19 ,  20 ) are joined together by welding their connecting ends ( 31 ,  32 ,  33 ) at the joint ( 6 ). 
     
     
         4 . The method ( 34 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a third profiled segment ( 21 ) is joined to the first profiled segment ( 19 ) or to the second profiled segment ( 20 ), said third profiled segment having either a uniform or a non-uniform cross-sectional shape ( 9 ,  10 ) along its extension or length ( 22 ). 
     
     
         5 . The method ( 34 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first profiled segment ( 19 ), second profiled segment ( 20 ) and third profiled segment ( 21 ) is made of an alloy that can be hardened when heated up ( 25 ) to a hardening temperature and subsequently quenched ( 27 ). 
     
     
         6 . The method ( 34 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydroforming ( 26 ) is carried out by a pressurized gas that serves as the forming medium, at a pressure between 300 bar and 600 bar, and the quenching ( 27 ) is carried out with a separate cooling medium which is conveyed into the forming tool ( 11 ) after the hydroforming process ( 26 ). 
     
     
         7 . The method ( 34 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first profiled segment ( 19 ) is produced by roller/roll profiling, while the second profiled segment ( 20 ) is produced by a U/O bending method. 
     
     
         8 . A semi-finished product ( 1 ) for producing an at least partially hardened profiled component ( 2 ), comprising:
 at least two profiled segments ( 19 ,  20 ) whose extensions or lengths ( 22 ) are arranged one after the other and which are joined together at a joint ( 6 ), wherein the first profiled segment ( 19 ) has a uniform cross-sectional shape ( 9 ,  10 ) along its length while the second profiled segment ( 20 ) has a non-uniform cross-sectional shape ( 9 ,  10 ) along its length, and the profiled segments ( 19 ,  20 ) have substantially matching cross-sectional shapes ( 9 ,  10 ) at the joint ( 6 ), and   wherein the semi-finished product ( 1 ) of the joined together profiled segments ( 19 ,  20 ) is shaped by hydroforming or by pressing, along the extensions or lengths ( 22 ) of the joined together profiled segments ( 19 ,  20 ).   
     
     
         9 . The semi-finished product ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein the second profiled segment ( 20 ) has a connecting end ( 32 ) whose cross-sectional shape ( 9 ,  10 ) substantially matches the cross-sectional shape ( 9 ,  10 ) of the first profiled component ( 19 ). 
     
     
         10 . The semi-finished product ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein the profiled segments ( 19 ,  20 ) are joined by an integral welded bond at the joint ( 6 ). 
     
     
         11 . The semi-finished product ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 , further comprising: at least a third profiled segment ( 21 ) that has either a uniform or else a non-uniform cross-sectional shape ( 9 ,  10 ) along its extension or length ( 22 ) that is joined to one of the first profiled segment ( 19 ) or second profiled segment ( 20 ) as part of the semi-finished product ( 1 ). 
     
     
         12 . The semi-finished product ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one profiled segment ( 19 ,  20 ,  21 ) comprises an alloy that can be hardened by being heated up ( 25 ) to a hardening temperature and subsequently quenched ( 27 ). 
     
     
         13 . A semi-finished product ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein the extension or length ( 22 ) of the semi-finished product ( 1 ), at least in certain sections, follows at least a straight line ( 29 ) and/or a two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional curve ( 30 ). 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the alloy comprises steel or a boron alloyed steel. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the first profiled segment and second profiled segment are joined together by laser welding or orbital laser welding.