Thermoforming tool with distinct cooling feature

Abstract

A tool for hot forming and press hardening a steel structure includes an upper tool and a lower tool, each having a base body made of highly heat conductive material and comprised of at least two segments. The base body of at least one of the upper and lower tools has a cooling channel. Arranged on the base body of at least one of the upper and lower tools is a wear protection shield.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool for hot forming and press hardening a steel structure, said tool comprising:
 an upper tool and a lower tool, each having a base body made of highly heat conductive material and comprised of at least two segments, wherein the base body of at least one of the upper and lower tools has a cooling channel; and   a wear protection shield arranged on the base body of at least one of the upper and lower tools.   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the base body is made of a light metal alloy. 
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 2 , wherein the light metal alloy is an aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling channel is formed as a throughbore extending through the base body. 
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 4 , wherein the throughbore extends in a straight line. 
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature control unit configured to maintain the segments at different temperatures. 
     
     
         7 . The tool of  claim 6 , wherein the temperature control unit includes heating elements provided in at least one of the segments. 
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the segments are arranged in spaced-apart relation to define a separation gap which extends in orthogonal relation to the wear protection shield. 
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising an insulation material arranged between the segments. 
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the wear protection shield is made of high-strength or ultra high-strength steel material. 
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the wear protection shield is attached on the base body by bonding and/or by a form fit. 
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat conducting paste placed between the wear protection shield and the base body. 
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the wear protection shield is comprised of at least two wear protection shield segments disposed in spaced-apart relation to define a separation gap there between. 
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the wear protection shield is comprised of at least two wear protection shield segments of different thicknesses. 
     
     
         15 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the wear protection shield has a marginal area configured to at least overlap at least one area of the base body so as to embrace a marginal area of the base body. 
     
     
         16 . The tool of  claim 15 , wherein the marginal area is folded over. 
     
     
         17 . A deep drawing tool for hot forming and optional press hardening a steel structure, comprising:
 an upper tool;   a lower tool in opposition to the upper tool; and   a downholder configured to hold a workpiece to be deep drawn between the upper and lower tools,   each of said upper and lower tools being made in one of two ways,   a first way in which the upper tool and the lower tool have each a base body which is made of a light metal alloy, and a wear protection shield arranged on the base body of at least one of the upper and lower tools,   a second way in which the upper tool and the lower tool have each a base body which is comprised of at least two segments, and a wear protection shield arranged upon the at least two segments, wherein at least one of the at least two segments of the base body of at least one of the upper and lower tools has a cooling channel, wherein the base body with the one segment having the cooling channel is made of highly heat conductive material.   
     
     
         18 . The deep drawing tool of  claim 17 , wherein the downholder is configured for arrangement on opposite sides, said downholder being configured for movement separately from the upper tool and/or lower tool so that the workpiece held by the downholder contacts the wear protection shield of the lower tool or the wear protection shield of the upper tool as the upper and lower tools are moved in relation to one another. 
     
     
         19 . The deep drawing tool of  claim 17 , wherein the downholder includes an upper part and a lower part arranged adjacent to the upper tool and the lower tool. 
     
     
         20 . The deep drawing tool of  claim 19 , wherein the upper part and the lower part are movable separately to the upper and lower tools. 
     
     
         21 . A deep drawing tool, comprising:
 an upper tool and a lower tool, each having a base body made of a light metal alloy;   a downholder configured to hold a workpiece to be deep drawn between the upper and lower tools, and   a wear protection shield arranged on the base body of at least one of the upper and lower tools.   
     
     
         22 . The deep drawing tool of  claim 21 , wherein the base body of the upper and lower tools is comprised of at least two segments, said wear protection shield being arranged upon the at least two segments, wherein at least one of the at least two segments of the base body of at least one of the upper and lower tools has a cooling channel, wherein the light metal alloy of the base body with the one segment having the cooling channel being highly heat conductive.