Abstract: An electron beam device for inspecting a sample with an electron beam is described. The electron beam device includes an electron beam source including a thermal field emitter, which includes an emitter tip having an emission facet configured for electron emission, wherein the emission facet has an emission facet width; and a first side facet and a second side facet, wherein an edge facet is formed between the first side facet and the second side facet, which has an edge facet width. The edge facet width is between 20% and 40% of the emission facet width. The electron beam source further includes an extractor device; and a heating device for heating the thermal field emitter. The electron beam device further includes electron beam optics and a detector device for detecting secondary charged particles generated at an impingement or hitting of the primary electron beam on the sample.

Abstract: A method is provided to produce a high-frequency heat treatment coil including a heating section for heating a heat treatment portion of an outer joint member for a constant velocity universal joint. The heating section is formed by machining in an integrated manner, and is joined to another section to complete the high-frequency heat treatment coil.

Abstract: A compression coil spring having high durability can be provided by using an inexpensive wire material. The present invention provides a compression coil spring formed by using a steel wire material, the steel wire material made of C: 0.45 to 0.85 mass %, Si: 0.15 to 2.5 mass %, Mn: 0.3 to 1.0 mass %, Fe and inevitable impurities as a remainder, and a circle-equivalent diameter of 1.5 to 9.0 mm, wherein hardness of a freely selected cross-section of the wire material is 570 to 700 HV, and at an inner diameter side of the coil spring, unloaded compressive residual stress at a depth of 0.2 mm from a surface in an approximate maximal main stress direction in a case in which compressive load is loaded on the spring is 200 MPa or more, and unloaded compressive residual stress at a depth of 0.4 mm from surface is 100 MPa or more.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing wire comprising: a wire delivering equipment, a wire winding equipment, and an annealing while running equipment installed between the wire delivering equipment and the wire winding equipment, the age-precipitation copper alloy wire being passed in such manner that the wire turns around a plurality of times along a running route in the annealing while running equipment. The current applying equipment to raise a temperature of the age-precipitation copper alloy wire by generated Joule heat may be installed at upstream side of the annealing while running equipment. Another current applying equipment for solution treatment may be installed in tandem at upstream side of the annealing while running equipment. In place of the annealing while running equipment, a current applying equipment may be connected in tandem for age-treatment. By using those equipments, age-precipitation copper alloy wire having the diameter of from 0.03 mm to 3 mm may be obtained.

Abstract: A method of annealing a copper wire for an interconnector includes heating a copper wire by a direct resistance heating or by an induction heating, a heating temperature of the heating being in a range of 650° C. to 1020° C., and a heating time of the heating being in a range of 0.3 seconds to 5 seconds.

Abstract: Steel, excellent in corrosion resistance and low-temperature toughness, for a vehicle suspension spring part, includes 0.15 to 0.35% by mass of C, more than 0.6% by mass but 1.5% by mass or less of Si, 1 to 3% by mass of Mn, 0.3 to 0.8% by mass of Cr, 0.005 to 0.080% by mass of sol. Al, 0.005 to 0.060% by mass of Ti, 0.005 to 0.060% by mass of Nb, not more than 150 ppm of N, not more than 0.035% by mass of P, not more than 0.035% by mass of S, 0.01 to 1.00% by mass of Cu, and 0.01 to 1.00% by mass of Ni, the balance consisting of Fe and unavoidable impurities, with Ti+Nb?0.07% by mass. The steel has a tensile strength of not less than 1,300 MPa.

Abstract: An induction heat treatment method with which temperature control is enabled, condition setting is easy, and the quality of a treatment object can be stabilized includes: a data acquiring step of heating and quench-hardening a sample of the treatment object to thereby acquire process data; a storing step of storing the process data; a checking step of checking the power supply output transition data and the quenching timing data as to validity based on the temperature transition data stored in the storing step; and a mass production step of performing heat treatment of the treatment object in accordance with the power supply output transition data and the quenching timing data stored in the storing step and checked as to validity in the checking step.

Abstract: A method for straightening a solution treated and aged (STA) titanium alloy form includes heating an STA titanium alloy form to a straightening temperature of at least 25° F. below the age hardening temperature, and applying an elongation tensile stress for a time sufficient to elongate and straighten the form. The elongation tensile stress is at least 20% of the yield stress and not equal to or greater than the yield stress at the straightening temperature. The straightened form deviates from straight by no greater than 0.125 inch over any 5 foot length or shorter length. The straightened form is cooled while simultaneously applying a cooling tensile stress that balances the thermal cooling stress in the titanium alloy form to thereby maintain a deviation from straight of no greater than 0.125 inch over any 5 foot length or shorter length.

Abstract: A method of producing a copper alloy wire rod, containing: a casting step for obtaining an ingot by pouring molten copper of a precipitation strengthening copper alloy into a belt-&-wheel-type or twin-belt-type movable mold; and a rolling step for rolling the ingot obtained by the casting step, which steps are continuously performed, wherein an intermediate material of the copper alloy wire rod in the mid course of the rolling step or immediately after the rolling step is quenched.

Abstract: A method and device for cooling a wire. The device includes a block of material having a very high thermal capacity with a channel adapted for allowing passage of a wire to be cooled and at least one conduit for circulation of a cooling fluid, and at least one nozzle for injecting a turbulent fluid jet towards the wire to be cooled. The turbulent jet is capable of producing necessary cooling, thus avoiding the need for using conventional lead baths.

Abstract: A system and method for actively damping tension members modulates the natural frequency of shape memory alloys incorporated into tension members, such as suspension ropes or cables. The frequency of the tension member can be modulated by heating the shape memory alloy, such modulation preventing potentially destructive resonance with natural exciting forces.

Abstract: A steel wire for a cold-formed spring according to the present invention contains a prescribed chemical component composition, wherein: a martensitic transformation start temperature MS1 shown by the following expression (1) is in the range from 280° C. to 380° C.; the austenite grain size number N of austenite grains is No. 12 or more; the grain boundary share of carbide precipitated along the austenite grain boundaries is 50% or less; the amount of retained austenite after austenitized and tempered is 20 vol. % or less; and the tensile strength is 2,000 MPa or more; MS1=550?361[C]?39[Mn]?20[Cr]??(1), where [C], [Mn] and [Cr] represent the contents (mass %) of C, Mn and Cr, respectively. Such a steel wire can: secure hot-rolling formability and subsequent drawability while aiming at higher strength and higher stress; moreover exhibit excellent corrosion resistance; and obtain a spring (mainly a suspension spring for an automobile) excellent also in fatigue strength which is a basic required characteristic.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process of fabricating a steel material by performing a heat treatment to a steel material having high strength, in order to reduce hardness at one part of the steel material to less than hardness at other parts of the steel material, wherein the heat treatment comprises a heating step in which a portion having a certain depth from a surface of the steel material is rapidly heated by induction heating or direct energization heating, and a cooling step in which the steel material, which has been subject to the heating step, is rapidly cooled a predetermined time after the heating step, and a heating temperature in the heating step is Ac1 transforming point or more.

Abstract: A conductor excellent in tensile strength, breaking elongation, impact resistance, electrical conductivity, and fatigue resistance, and a production method thereof. The conductor includes elemental wires made from an aluminum alloy containing Si whose content is 0.3-1.2 mass %, Mg whose content makes an Mg/Si weight ratio in a range from 0.8 to 1.8, and a remainder essentially including Al and an unavoidable impurity. The conductor has tensile strength of 240 MPa or more, breaking elongation of 10% or more, impact absorption energy of 8 J/m or more, and electrical conductivity of 40% IACS or more. The production method includes the step of preparing a strand by bunching elemental wires with the above composition, and the step of subjecting the wire to solution treatment, quenching, and aging heat treatment. Solution treatment temperature is 500-580° C., and aging heat treatment temperature is 150-220° C. Heating in solution treatment is high frequency induction heating.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing plated-steel armor wires intended for reinforcement of flexible tubular pipes for transporting hydrocarbons, comprising a plating coating is intimately bonded, by high pressure, to a core made of hardenable steel with moderate mechanical properties, and then the plated wire obtained undergoes a rapid high-temperature hardening step followed by a tempering step.

Abstract: An induction heat treatment method with which temperature control is enabled, condition setting is easy, and the quality of a treatment object can be stabilized includes: a data acquiring step of heating and quench-hardening a sample of the treatment object to thereby acquire process data; a storing step of storing the process data; a checking step of checking the power supply output transition data and the quenching timing data as to validity based on the temperature transition data stored in the storing step; and a mass production step of performing heat treatment of the treatment object in accordance with the power supply output transition data and the quenching timing data stored in the storing step and checked as to validity in the checking step.

Abstract: A process for thermomechanical treatment of steel for torsionally-strained spring elements, the initial material being heated with a heating rate of at least 50 K/s and austenitized, and then, being formed in at least one forming step with the formed product being quenched to below the martensite temperature to martensite and then tempered. To improve the strength or toughness properties of the spring steel in the strain direction of the torsionally strained spring elements so that the increase of vibration strength is considerable, the initial material is heated to a temperature above the recrystallization temperature and then formed at such a temperature, that dynamic and/or static recrystallization of the austenite occurs, and that the recrystallized austenite of the formed product is quenched.

Abstract: For optimum induction heating of metallic strips (1) of differing widths—particularly in the edge region—one multicoil transverse field inductor is positioned both above and below the strip (1) to be heated, whose coil axes are positioned vertically to the strip surface. In this case, each inductor comprises at least one inductor segment (2, 3; 7; 15; 17), which is constructed as a coil composite of multiple approximately rectangular coils (8, 9, 10; 16; 18) which extend predominantly transversely to the transport direction of the strip (1), the coils (8, 9, 10; 16; 18) having different, stepped transverse extensions and the coil having the highest transverse extension extending at most up to the lateral edges of the widest strip and the coil having the lowest transverse extension extending at most up to the lateral edges of the narrowest strip.

Abstract: A double tapered steel wire (S) is evenly heat treated over the entire length thereof. The wire (S) has its constant-diameter straight portion (21, 24) disposed between its opposite end tapered portions (22, 23) each tapered down to its reduced-diameter outer end. In heat treatments, a diameter of the wire (S) is continuously detected by a detection means (3, 6), so that the amount of energy of induction heating applied to the wire (S) is controlled by a control unit (12) in a manner such that the amount of the energy is proportional to a wire diameter of the wire (S) having been detected, whereby heat applied to the wire (S) varies over the entire length of the wire (S). As a result, the wire (S) is quenched and tempered over its entire length in a manner such that the wire (S) thus heat treated has its small-diameter portions (24) and its large-diameter portion (21) differ from each other in tensile strength.

Abstract: Arranged in tandem are a pre-heating unit 6, a four-side hot-rolling mill 7 and a quenching/cooling unit 8. A starting material W1 is rapidly heated to a hot-rolling temperature using the unit 6 and hot-rolled into a modified cross-section steel wire W2 assuming a predetermined shape in cross section using the mill 7. The wire is then quenched under tension using the unit 8 immediately after its hot-rolling operation. The tension is applied to the wire by a pinch roll 9 driven by a motor 9a, which is combined with a torque converter. Consequently, there is no variation in tension, and no variation in cross-sectional dimension in the wire. Disposed behind the unit 8 in tandem is an in-line post-heating coil 10 to realize a continuous tempering operation, so that the wire free from any small-radius bend and having been heat-treated, can be produced through a substantially single process.

Abstract: In transverse flux induction heating of electrically conductive strip, conductors that cross the strip width are stacked, or connected, such that a multiple of the induced current flows across the strip width as compared to that which flows along the strip edges. Conductors across the width of the strip and conductors along the edges of the strip are connected in series to insure that the current which flows in the conductors is everywhere the same. In the case of two stacked cross conductors, this gives an I2R heating of four times the heating across the strip width as compared to that along the strip edges.

Abstract: A heating device for the electromagnetic induction heating of a metal strip traveling in a specified direction. The device includes at least one electric coil arranged opposite at least one of the large surfaces of the strip so as to heat the latter by transverse magnetic flux induction, each coil being associated with at least one magnetic circuit. Each circuit is divided into a plurality of magnetically independent bars arranged parallel to the direction of travel of the strip. The bars may moved toward or away one another thereby adapting to the width of the strip and distributing the magnetic flux across the width of the strip.

Abstract: A process for thermomechanical treatment of steel for torsionally-strained spring elements, the initial material being heated with a heating rate of at least 50 K/s and austenitized, and then, being formed in at least one forming step with the formed product being quenched to below the martensite temperature to martensite and then tempered. To improve the strength or toughness properties of the spring steel in the strain direction of the torsionally strained spring elements so that the increase of vibration strength is considerable, the initial material is heated to a temperature above the recrystallization temperature and then formed at such a temperature, that dynamic and/or static recrystallization of the austenite occurs, and that the recrystallized austenite of the formed product is quenched.

Abstract: A transverse flux heating coil is disclosed to inductively heat a continuous run of wire. In general, the transverse flux heating coil includes a single loop conductive element having a pair of termination ends extending therefrom and connectable to a power supply. The single loop conductive element is constructed to distribute the majority of the current across a width of the single loop conductive element and forms an internal heating area in which a continuous run of wire is fed therethrough. The flux generated by the current is generally transverse to a direction of travel of the wire through the heating coil. The transverse flux heating coil includes a first conductor having a width facing an internal heating area that is substantially greater than a thickness and is constructed of planar copper bar stock.

Abstract: A process for heat treating steel wires in which the wires are passed through an induction furnace with induction coils connected in series to a common power supply. No more than one wire passes through any one of the induction coils. The wires are heated to their Curie temperature, where the wires become non-magnetic. This makes the process substantially self-regulating. If one or more wires are heated more rapidly than others, little if any heating of the more rapidly heated wires will occur after they reach their Curie temperature, and all wires will leave the inductive heating furnace at or near their Curie temperature. The system will operate satisfactorily with one or more wires missing. When this happens, for loading purposes or other reasons, the efficiency of the unit degrades but sufficient excess power remains such that heating of the wires that are passing through the system will be relatively unaffected at the design mass flow rate.

Abstract: The anchoring of the carcass reinforcing elements 1 is assured by circumferential cables 2, with the interposition of a connecting rubber composition 3. The circumferential cable 2 is arranged in several turns forming one or more helices. These circumferential cables have an operational elongation rate A.sub.f =A.sub.e +A.sub.p of more than 4%. This operational elongation rate does not include the specific elongation A.sub.s of the "cable" effect. The maximum stress R.sub.m of the cable 2 is preferably more than 2000 MPa. The cables have undergone a heat treatment which has, in combination, the features of being a recovery annealing treatment and which is carried out directly on cable comprising wires previously separately covered by an adherent coating.

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: Process for smelting a titanium steel according to which a liquid steel containing more than 0.003% of nitrogen and not containing titanium is smelted and then more than 0.005% of titanium is introduced into the liquid steel by progressive diffusion from an oxidized phase containing titanium and the steel is solidified. Steel obtained by the process.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a method for manufacturing a spring band clip, wherein an alloyed steel is shaped, annealed, levelled into a narrow band, then shaped by stamping and bending into a non-machined clip, and the surface of the non-machined clip is smoothed and treated to produce resistance to corrosion; wherein the steel comprises iron as the main component and one or more of the following components by weight: 0.32 to 0.55% C; up to 2.0% Si; up to 2.0% Mn; up to 0.04% P; up to 0.04% S; 17.5 to 20% Cr; up to 1% Ni; 0.5 to 2.5% Mo; up to 0.5% V; up to 0.1% Al; up to 0.1% Co; up to 0.4% Cu; up to 0.4% Pb; up to 0.1% Se; up to 0.1% Te; up to 0.005% Ti; up to 0.1% W; up to 0.05% Zr; up to 0.01% O.sub.2 ; up to 0.01% N; up to 0.1% Bi; up to 0.001% B; up to 0.05% Nb; wherein the non-machined clip is austenitized prior to being smoothed and is converted into martensite by heat treatment in a salt-, oil-, or water bath, or by quenching at about the austenitizing temperature.

Abstract: An adjustable width transverse flux heating apparatus for induction heating in the moving workpiece includes first and second elements disposed in the common plane to form an inductive coil. The first and second conductor elements define a middle spacing in an internal cross-section area of the inductive coil. A monitor detects workpiece fractures and generates signals relating thereto. A motor system moves one of the conductor elements relative to the other in response to the signal generated by the workpiece monitor.

Abstract: A wire-mesh gasket fashioned from heat-treatable materials such as beryllium copper alloy wire is knitted or braided into a tubular structure. Plural wires may be used. Various cross-sectional configurations such as circular, teardrop, double lobed, and finned with and without cores are available. Cores may be air, elastomeric, or wire mesh. The formed tubular structure is heat-treated after forming using appropriate time-temperature cycles to strengthen and/or stress relieve the material.

Abstract: In one embodiment this invention provides a process for decreasing the resistivity of an electrical conductor.The process involves the application of high temperature and an external field to a conductor to induce a current flow and physicochemical transition in the conducting matrix.