Abstract: A method for producing partially hardened steel components in which a blank composed of a hardenable sheet steel is subjected to a temperature increase and shaped into a component; the component is transferred to a tool in which the heated component is cooled and thus quench hardened; during the heating of the blank or component in order to achieve the temperature increase to a temperature required for the hardening in regions that are to have a lower hardness and/or higher ductility, cooling elements are spaced apart from the surface by a small gap; the cooling element is dimensioned so that the thermal energy acting on the region that remains ductile flows through the component into the cooling element, characterized in that in order to space the cooling element apart from the component, micro-nubs or knobs are used, which are distributed over the area of the cooling element.

Abstract: An operator control apparatus, in particular for a motor vehicle, having an operating surface for manual action by an element, particularly the finger of a human hand. A sensor interacts with the operating surface such that the sensor generates a signal when the element approaches the operating surface and/or when the operating surface is touched by the element and/or when pressure is applied to the operating surface by the element. The signal is used for switching and/or triggering a function in the style of a switching signal. The actuator is operatively connected to the operating surface, such that a haptic event is producible for the operating surface by means of actuation of the actuator. The actuator is driven electrically and operable by a PWM (pulse width modulation) actuation signal, such that the operating surface is movable in a preselectable manner within a preselectable displacement and/or time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing partially-hardened components from steel sheets, in which a component that is cold-formed from a hardenable steel sheet material is heated, in a furnace, to a temperature below the austenitization temperature (<AC3), and a radiating element acts upon the component in sections where said component is to be austenitized (<AC3), this radiating element having a component-side contour that corresponds to the contour of the component in the section to be austenitized. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out said method.

Abstract: A method for producing partially hardened steel components in which a blank composed of a hardenable sheet steel is subjected to a temperature increase and shaped into a component; the component is transferred to a tool in which the heated component is cooled and thus quench hardened; during the heating of the blank or component in order to achieve the temperature increase to a temperature required for the hardening in regions that are to have a lower hardness and/or higher ductility, cooling elements are spaced apart from the surface by a small gap; the cooling element is dimensioned so that the thermal energy acting on the region that remains ductile flows through the component into the cooling element, characterized in that in order to space the cooling element apart from the component, micro-nubs or knobs are used, which are distributed over the area of the cooling element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing partially-hardened components from steel sheets, in which a component that is cold-formed from a hardenable steel sheet material is heated, in a furnace, to a temperature below the austenitisation temperature (<AC3), and a radiating element acts upon the component in sections where said component is to be austenitised (<AC3), this radiating element having a component-side contour that corresponds to the contour of the component in the section to be austenitised. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out said method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing partially hardened steel components in which a blank is subjected to a temperature increase that is sufficient for a quench-hardening and after reaching a desired temperature, the blank is transferred to a forming tool in which the blank is quench-hardened or the blank is cold-formed and the component obtained by the cold-forming is then subjected to a temperature increase. During the heating of the blank or component, absorption masses rest against and/or are spaced with a small gap apart from regions that are intended to have a lower hardness and/or higher ductility; with regard to its expansion and thickness, its thermal conductivity, and its thermal capacity and/or with regard to its emissivity, the absorption mass is dimensioned so that the thermal energy acting on the component in the region to remain ductile flows through the component into the absorption mass.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing sheet steel components having regions of differing ductility, in which either a sheet metal plate composed of a hardenable steel alloy is used to produce a component by deep-drawing and the deep-drawn component is then at least partially austenitized by a heat treatment and subsequently quench hardened in a die or the plate is at least partially austenitized by a heat treatment and shaped in the hot state, and is quench hardened during or after this, with the sheet metal plate having a zinc-based cathodic corrosion protection coating, characterized in that in regions of a desired higher ductility of the component, at least one additional sheet is attached to the plate, situated so that during the heat treatment, the plate is heated to a lesser degree there than in the remaining region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing partially hardened steel components in which a blank is subjected to a temperature increase that is sufficient for a quench-hardening and after reaching a desired temperature, the blank is transferred to a forming tool in which the blank is quench-hardened or the blank is cold-formed and the component obtained by the cold-forming is then subjected to a temperature increase. During the heating of the blank or component, absorption masses rest against and/or are spaced with a small gap apart from regions that are intended to have a lower hardness and/or higher ductility; with regard to its expansion and thickness, its thermal conductivity, and its thermal capacity and/or with regard to its emissivity, the absorption mass is dimensioned so that the thermal energy acting on the component in the region to remain ductile flows through the component into the absorption mass.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shaping tool which is used to shape a workpiece, in particular, a sheet steel component, comprising at least two shaping tool halves. Contoured regions are provided in the region of the shaping tool halves in order to give the workpiece a corresponding contour, at least in sections. Each shaping tool half has a shaping surface shell which is oriented towards the workpiece and a support shaping half. The shaping surface shell is arranged on the support shaping half and comprises a shaping surface, which is oriented towards the workpiece, and a rear side which is oriented away from the workpiece. The support shaping half comprises a contoured area which essentially corresponds to the contour of the workpiece which is to be produced and the contoured area is surrounded by a flange area. Grooves are provided in the contoured area in the region of the rear side of the shaping surface shell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shaping tool which is used to shape a workpiece, in particular, a sheet steel component, comprising at least two shaping tool halves. Contoured regions are provided in the region of the shaping tool halves in order to give the workpiece a corresponding contour, at least in sections. Each shaping tool half has a shaping surface shell which is oriented towards the workpiece and a support shaping half. The shaping surface shell is arranged on the support shaping half and comprises a shaping surface, which is oriented towards the workpiece, and a rear side which is oriented away from the workpiece. The support shaping half comprises a contoured area which essentially corresponds to the contour of the workpiece which is to be produced and the contoured area is surrounded by a flange area. Grooves are provided in the contoured area in the region of the rear side of the shaping surface shell.