Abstract: A hot press processing apparatus 1 includes: a heating step of heating a workpiece W; a pressing step of press-molding, by an upper die 11 and a lower die 12, the workpiece W heated in the heating step after loading the workpiece W between the upper die 11 and the lower die 12; and a cooling step of bringing the coolant into contact with a front surface of the workpiece W that is molded and placed in a pressed state by the pressing step, to thereby cool the workpiece W and place the workpiece W in a quenched state. In the hot press processing apparatus 1, the workpiece W molded and placed in the pressed state by the pressing step forms gaps c2 with respect to both of the upper die 11 and the lower die 12 so as to allow deformation at time of the cooling step except for an accuracy-guaranteed section Wr in the workpiece W.

Abstract: A lower mold includes: refrigerant ejection ports in its press-molding surface; refrigerant guide grooves in the press-molding surface to guide a refrigerant ejected from the refrigerant ejection ports to an outer portion of the press-molding surface with the refrigerant being in contact with a workpiece; a single connecting groove connected to the refrigerant guide grooves and formed at the outer portion of the press-molding surface into which the refrigerant flows through the refrigerant guide grooves; and discharge ports in the connecting groove. Each of the refrigerant discharge ports is formed at a part of the connecting groove apart from the connecting points between the connecting groove and the refrigerant guide grooves.

Abstract: A lower mold includes: refrigerant ejection ports in its press-molding surface; and three or more independent refrigerant guide grooves extending in the press-molding surface from the refrigerant ejection ports to guide the refrigerant ejected from the refrigerant ejection port to an outer portion of the press-molding surface with the refrigerant being in contact with a workpiece. Each of the refrigerant guide grooves neither branches halfway nor merges with the others of the refrigerant guide grooves to extend from the refrigerant ejection ports to the outer portion of the press-molding surface.

Abstract: A hot press processing apparatus 1 includes: a heating step of heating a workpiece W; a pressing step of press-molding, by an upper die 11 and a lower die 12, the workpiece W heated in the heating step after loading the workpiece W between the upper die 11 and the lower die 12; and a cooling step of bringing the coolant into contact with a front surface of the workpiece W that is molded and placed in a pressed state by the pressing step, to thereby cool the workpiece W and place the workpiece W in a quenched state. In the hot press processing apparatus 1, the workpiece W molded and placed in the pressed state by the pressing step forms gaps c2 with respect to both of the upper die 11 and the lower die 12 so as to allow deformation at time of the cooling step except for an accuracy-guaranteed section Wr in the workpiece W.

Abstract: A hot press processing device 1 includes steps of: a heating step of heating a workpiece W; a press step of press-molding the workpiece W heated in the heating step; a cooling step of cooling a part of the workpiece W press-molded in the press step and causing it to undergo martensite transformation to form a hard zone Zh in the workpiece W, and cooling another part of the workpiece W and causing it to undergo ferrite/bainite transformation to form a soft zone Zs in the workpiece W. In the cooling step, the hot press processing device 1 cools a predetermined portion Zb in the soft zone Zs after increasing rigidity and hardness of the predetermined portion Zb.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a vehicle body member from a joined sheet. The joined sheet is press formed into a vehicle body member with a predetermined shape by: welding a second sheet material to a first sheet material at a plurality of points including a first joint and a second joint separated from each other; press forming the joined sheet so that a ridge crossing an imaginary line segment connecting the first joint and the second joint is formed in a portion where the first sheet material overlaps the second sheet material; and before the joining step, forming a displacement facilitating portion, which facilitates displacement of the second sheet material relative to the first sheet material in a longitudinal direction of the imaginary line segment, in a portion corresponding to between the first joint and the second joint in the second sheet material.

Abstract: In a side vehicle body structure for a vehicle, a reinforcing panel includes: a main reinforcing portion disposed so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of a side face portion along a first straight portion, a second straight portion, and a portion of a body panel which connects the first straight portion and the second straight portion; a first upper-end reinforcing portion disposed so as to extend upward toward the front of a vehicle body from an upper edge of the main reinforcing portion along a first curved portion; and a second upper-end reinforcing portion disposed so as to extend upward toward the rear of the vehicle body from the upper edge of the main reinforcing portion along a second curved portion.

Abstract: A lower mold includes: refrigerant ejection ports in its press-molding surface; refrigerant guide grooves in the press-molding surface to guide a refrigerant ejected from the refrigerant ejection ports to an outer portion of the press-molding surface with the refrigerant being in contact with a workpiece; a single connecting groove connected to the refrigerant guide grooves and formed at the outer portion of the press-molding surface into which the refrigerant flows through the refrigerant guide grooves; and discharge ports in the connecting groove. Each of the refrigerant discharge ports is formed at a part of the connecting groove apart from the connecting points between the connecting groove and the refrigerant guide grooves.

Abstract: A lower mold includes: refrigerant ejection ports in its press-molding surface; and three or more independent refrigerant guide grooves extending in the press-molding surface from the refrigerant ejection ports to guide the refrigerant ejected from the refrigerant ejection port to an outer portion of the press-molding surface with the refrigerant being in contact with a workpiece. Each of the refrigerant guide grooves neither branches halfway nor merges with the others of the refrigerant guide grooves to extend from the refrigerant ejection ports to the outer portion of the press-molding surface.

Abstract: A hot-pressing device includes at least one mold having a molding surface; and at least one mold holder, wherein the hot-pressing device further comprises a refrigerant supply groove provided so as to horizontally extend to at least a mold side or a mold holder side in a contact surface between the at least one mold and the at least one mold holder; and at least one refrigerant supply path opened in corresponding at least one opening disposed on the molding surface, the refrigerant supply path communicating with the refrigerant supply groove and being provided in the inside of the at least one mold so as to extend vertically.

Abstract: In a side vehicle body structure for a vehicle, a reinforcing panel includes: a main reinforcing portion disposed so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of a side face portion along a first straight portion, a second straight portion, and a portion of a body panel which connects the first straight portion and the second straight portion; a first upper-end reinforcing portion disposed so as to extend upward toward the front of a vehicle body from an upper edge of the main reinforcing portion along a first curved portion; and a second upper-end reinforcing portion disposed so as to extend upward toward the rear of the vehicle body from the upper edge of the main reinforcing portion along a second curved portion.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a vehicle body member from a joined sheet. The joined sheet is press formed into a vehicle body member with a predetermined shape by: welding a second sheet material to a first sheet material at a plurality of points including a first joint and a second joint separated from each other; press forming the joined sheet so that a ridge crossing an imaginary line segment connecting the first joint and the second joint is formed in a portion where the first sheet material overlaps the second sheet material; and before the joining step, forming a displacement facilitating portion, which facilitates displacement of the second sheet material relative to the first sheet material in a longitudinal direction of the imaginary line segment, in a portion corresponding to between the first joint and the second joint in the second sheet material.