Abstract: A slab manufacturing method in which casting drum housing screw-down system deformation characteristics which have been acquired prior to the start of slab casting and which indicate deformation characteristics of a housing configured to support a casting drum and deformation characteristics of a screw-down system configured to screw down the casting drum is used to calculate an estimated plate thickness at both end portions of a slab in a width direction thereof from Expression 1 ((estimated plate thickness on entry side of rolling mill)=(screw-down position of casting cylinder)+(elastic deformation of casting drum)+(casting drum housing screw-down system deformation)+(drum profile of casting drum)?(elastic deformation of casting drum at time of screw-down position zero-point adjustment)), an entry-side wedge ratio and an exit-side wedge ratio are calculated on the basis of the estimated plate thickness calculated from Expression 1.

Abstract: A slab casting method using a twin-drum continuous casting device manufactures a slab by solidifying molten metal by a pair of rotating casting drums includes calculating estimated sheet thicknesses on both ends in a width direction of the slab from equation 1 ((estimated sheet thickness)=(cylinder screw down position)+(elastic deformation of casting drum)+(casting drum housing screw down system deformation)+(drum profile of casting drum)?(elastic deformation of casting drum at the time of screw down position zero adjustment)) by using a casting drum housing screw down system deformation characteristic indicating a deformation characteristic of housings that support the casting drums and a deformation characteristic of a screw down system that screws down the casting drums obtained before casting of the slab starts, and controlling screw down positions of cylinders provided on both ends in a width direction of the casting drums.

Abstract: A slab manufacturing method in which casting drum housing screw-down system deformation characteristics which have been acquired prior to the start of slab casting and which indicate deformation characteristics of a housing configured to support a casting drum and deformation characteristics of a screw-down system configured to screw down the casting drum is used to calculate an estimated plate thickness at both end portions of a slab in a width direction thereof from Expression 1 ((estimated plate thickness on entry side of rolling mill)=(screw-down position of casting cylinder)+(elastic deformation of casting drum)+(casting drum housing screw-down system deformation)+(drum profile of casting drum)?(elastic deformation of casting drum at time of screw-down position zero-point adjustment)), an entry-side wedge ratio and an exit-side wedge ratio are calculated on the basis of the estimated plate thickness calculated from Expression 1.

Abstract: A method of straightening a wire rod of titanium or titanium alloy wherein the rod is hot-straightened to a straight rod at the straightening temperature T and elongation .epsilon. satisfying the expression (1) or (2). The method includes hot rolling a titanium billet of .beta. titanium alloy, (.alpha.+.beta.) titanium alloy or a near .alpha. titanium alloy into a wire rod, winding the hot rolled wire rod into a coil, cold drawing the wire rod, cutting the wire rod to obtain a bent wire rod, heating the bent wire rod to a straightening temperature T while both end portions of the bent wire rod are fixed, applying a predetermined elongation .epsilon. to the wire rod, maintaining a straightening temperature T, hot-straightening the wire in accordance with the expression (2).epsilon.(T-400).gtoreq.400 (1).epsilon.(T-500).gtoreq.200 (2)and cooling the wire rod while applying tension. The method is suitable for preparing a straight rod for use in an engine valve.

Abstract: A metallic carrier composed of an end face portion formed in at least one of the axial end portions of a honeycomb body and an outer circumferential reinforcing layer in which foils in a range from the outermost layer to a quarter of the total number of layers are joined together in the axial intermediate portion. Thus, the metallic carrier is flexible in expansion and shrinkage. Further, the honeycomb body and a jacket are joined to each other mainly at the outer circumference of the outer circumferential reinforcing layer of the honeycomb body, to reduce thermal stress developed between the honeycomb body and jacket while maintaining the strength against a high temperature, to thereby prevent the metallic carrier from being ruptured.

Abstract: A semi-oval shaped metallic carrier having an excellent thermal stress resistance and thermal fatigue resistance and used for an automobile exhaust gas-purifying catalyst, in which the carrier is composed of a metallic honeycomb body constituted by superimposing flat metal foils and corrugated metal foils one on the other and winding them together, and a metallic jacket enclosing the lateral face of the honeycomb body, the transverse section of the metallic carrier constituting the parallel portions and semi-circular arc portions and the honeycomb body is joined to the jacket mainly at the semi-circular arc portions or at the parallel portions of the honeycomb body.

Abstract: A method of diametrically contracting a cylindrical body, includes the steps of grasping the cylindrical body with a plurality of elongated grasping members, preparing a cylindrical drawing die having an opening at one end and a tapered inside peripheral surface, drawing the grasping members together with the cylindrical body into the drawing die, through the opening, and applying a compression force to the cylindrical body through the grasping members due to the passage along through the tapered inside peripheral surface, to thereby cause the cylindrical body to be diametrically contracted. During the drawing process, since the cylindrical body does not come into direct contact with the drawing die, neither scratches nor baking cracks are produced on the outside surface of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: When soldering a honeycomb body formed by alternately piling flat foils (plates) and corrugated foils (plates), a binder liquid is sucked up from the end face of the honeycomb body to form a binder streak in a space defined by contacting portions of the flat foil (plate) and corrugated foil (plate), a solder is scattered and applied onto the binder streak, and the honeycomb body is then dried and heated to effect a soldering of the honeycomb body. According to this method, soldering can be accomplished only in the vicinity of the contacting portions of the flat foil (plate) and corrugated foil (plate), with a desired soldering structure.

Abstract: When soldering a honeycomb body formed by alternately piling flat foils (plates) and corrugated foils (plates), a binder liquid is sucked up from the end face of tile honeycomb body to form a binder streak in a space defined by contacting portions of the flat foil (plate) and corrugated foil (plate), a solder is scattered and applied onto the binder streak, and the honeycomb body is then dried and heated to effect a soldering of the honeycomb body. According to this method, soldering can be accomplished only in the vicinity of the contacting portions of the flat foil (plate) and corrugated foil (plate), with a desired soldering structure.