BLANK FORMING DEVICE USING ELECTRIC DIRECT HEATING AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A BLANK

• US 20150060427A1
• Filed: 05/15/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Byung Hun, Hwang, Jae R.
• Application Number:
  US14/278,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20150060427A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/154
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 1/02 Preliminary treatment of metal stock without particular shaping, e.g. salvaging segregated zones, forging or pressing in the rough modifying the physical properties by deformation C21D7/00, C22F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 1/06 Heating or cooling methods or arrangements specially adapted for performing forging or pressing operations B21J5/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/0026 Welding of thin articles
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/3018 Cooled pressure electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/006 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/0004 Devices wherein the heating current flows through the material to be heated Circuit arrangements for heating by passing the current directly across the material to be heated H05B3/0023; granular, powdered or fluid material H05B3/60
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/03 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/146 Conductive polymers, e.g. polyethylene, thermoplastics

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a blank which uses direct electric heating includes: pressing electrodes on both sides of the blank and heating the blank by applying current to the blank; hot-forming the heated blank; trimming the formed blank; and loading the trimmed blank. An apparatus for manufacturing the blank includes a pair of first electrode units on both surfaces of a side of the blank to press the surfaces, a pair of second electrode units on both surfaces of the other side of the blank, a pressing unit pressing the first electrode units or the second electrode units on the blank, a cooler cooling portions around the first electrode units or the second electrode units, and a power supply control unit heating the blank up to a predetermined temperature.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a blank which uses direct electric heating, the method comprising:

pressing electrodes on both sides of the blank and heating the blank by applying current to the blank;

hot-forming the heated blank to produce a formed blank;

trimming the formed blank; and

loading the trimmed blank.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are pressed on the blank to heat a predetermined section of the blank.

3. A method of manufacturing a blank which uses direct electric heating, the method comprising:

cold-forming the blank with a mold to produce a formed blank;

trimming the formed blank;

pressing electrodes on both sides of the formed blank and heating the formed blank by applying current to the formed blank;

cooling the mold; and

loading the formed and heated blank.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the electrodes are pressed on the formed blank to heat a predetermined section of the formed blank.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the electrodes have a shape corresponding to the shape of the formed blank.

6. An apparatus for manufacturing a blank which uses direct electric heating, apparatus comprising:

a pair of first electrode units disposed on both surfaces of a side of the blank to press the surfaces;

a pair of second electrode units disposed on both surfaces of the other side of the blank;

a pressing unit pressing the first electrode units or the second electrode units on the blank;

a cooler cooling the portions around the first electrode units or the second electrode units; and

a power supply control unit heating the blank up to a predetermined temperature by supplying predetermined level of power to the first electrode units or the second electrode units for a predetermined time.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the power supply control unit includes;

a timer controller that controls a time for which power is supplied; and

a transformer that increases voltage.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising

a moving part that moves the first electrode units or the second electrode units.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first electrode units or the second electrode units are formed to fit to the shape of the blank.