Patent ID: 8653399

Claim:
An apparatus for a manufacturing process comprising: a resistance heating assembly that applies an electrical current to a work part comprising a sheet of high-tensile steel having a heat-resistant plating to improve formability; a heating control system that regulates the electrical current to the work part in order to control the temperature of the work part; a temperature detector that detects a first temperature of the work part and generates feedback to the heating control system in order to regulate the electrical current; an electrical resistance detector that measures an electrical resistance within the work part to calculate a second temperature and generates feedback to the heating control system in order to regulate the electrical current; and, wherein the heating control system compares the first temperature with the second temperature to determine the precise temperature of the work part; wherein the resistance heating assembly comprises first and second end clamps, secured to opposite ends of the work part, for supplying the electrical current to the work part for resistance heating; and wherein at least one of the first and second end clamps comprises a cooling mechanism to reduce temperature increases in the respective clamp that would cause uneven heating in the work part.