Method and arrangement for producing a hardened sheet metal product

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and a corresponding arrangement for producing a hardened sheet metal product. The method includes placing a sheet metal piece in a heating station (3) and heating selected areas of the sheet metal piece in the heating station by means of induction. In this process, a coil (17) induces currents that flow in a front metal layer on a front side of the coil. Opposing ends of the front metal layer are interconnected by a low resistance short-circuiting arrangement (23) running on a rear side of the coil. The short-circuiting arrangement comprises a material with lower resistivity than the front metal layer. The heated piece is moved to a pressing station (7), where it is pressed while the heated areas are cooled.

1 . A method for producing a hardened sheet metal product, the method comprising:
 placing a sheet metal piece in a heating station,   heating selected areas of the sheet metal piece in the heating station via induction, wherein a coil induces currents that flow in a front metal layer on a front side of the coil and wherein first and second opposing ends of the front metal layer are interconnected by a short-circuiting arrangement running on a rear side of the coil, the short-circuiting arrangement comprising a material with lower resistivity than the front metal layer;   moving the heated sheet metal piece to a pressing station, and   pressing the sheet metal piece while cooling said heated areas.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the front metal layer comprises the sheet metal piece. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the front metal layer comprises a stationary heating layer located directly beneath the sheet metal piece, the sheet metal piece being separable from the stationary heating layer. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein inlays are located directly beneath the front metal layer, which by conveying magnetic flows or electric currents partially reduce the development of heat in the front metal layer in portions thereof. 
     
     
         5 . An arrangement for producing a hardened sheet metal product, the arrangement comprising:
 a heating station configured to receive a sheet metal piece, the heating station being configured to heat selected areas of the sheet metal piece in the heating station via induction, the heating station comprising a coil configured to induce alternating currents that flow in a front metal layer on a front side of the coil, wherein first and second opposing ends of the front metal layer are interconnected by a short-circuiting arrangement running on a rear side of the coil, the short-circuiting arrangement comprising a material with lower resistivity than the front metal layer;   a pressing station, and   a transport device configured to move the heated sheet metal piece from the heating station to the pressing station, wherein the pressing station is configured to press the sheet metal piece while cooling the heated areas.   
     
     
         6 . The arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein the front metal layer comprises the sheet metal piece to be heated. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein the front metal layer comprises s stationary heating layer located directly beneath the sheet metal piece, the sheet metal piece being separable from the stationary heating layer. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein inlays are located directly beneath the front metal layer, which by conveying magnetic flows or electric currents partially reduce the development of heat in portions of the front metal layer. 
     
     
         9 . A heating station for a sheet metal hardening arrangement, the heating station comprising:
 a coil, wherein the heating station is configured to receive a sheet metal piece and to heat selected areas of the sheet metal piece via induction, wherein the coil is configured to induce alternating currents that flow in a front metal layer on a front side of the coil, and wherein first and second opposing ends of the front metal layer are interconnected by a short-circuiting arrangement running on a rear side of the coil, the short-circuiting arrangement comprising a material with lower resistivity than the front metal layer.