Abstract: A heat treatment method of heat-treating a steel tube provides the steel tube with satisfactory workability and high pressure resistance capable of coping with a recent increasing trend of pressure dealt with by a recent common rail type fuel injection system. A steel tube of a desired size is formed by drawing a material of a steel containing at least vanadium. The steel tube is processed for normalizing by holding the steel tube at high temperatures between 950 and 1000° C. for a predetermined time and slowly cooling the steel tube at a predetermined cooling rate. Then, the steel tube is processed for tempering by heating the steel tube at a temperature between 500 and 700° C. and cooling the steel tube to an ordinary temperature at an optional cooling rate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a complex heat treated tubular structure includes making a tube assembly having tube portions along its length of differing characteristic. The tube assembly is formed by lengthwise tube bending and hydroforming to provide a desired shape. The tube is formed by lengthwise tube bending and hydroforming to provide a desired shape. The tube is supported in a locating fixture having a plurality of supports spaced along the tube to support the tube against distortion. A local region of the tube is heated in at least one local region to a temperature to heat treat the local region. A quenching medium is then flushed through the hollow interior of the tube, and the tube is removed from the locating fixture..

Abstract: A process that combines tubular body pressure induced shaping at elevated temperatures with a controlled rapid quenching operation using a gaseous quenching medium in a common unit. The achievable cooling rate permits the in-die shaping and quenching of tubular structural components of martensitic steels without requiring the use of a separate discrete quenching.

Abstract: A ductile repair cylinder liner for a diesel engine, the cylinder liner having an additional cooling groove with a parabolic varying cross-section machined into the outer surface of the cylinder liner immediately below the radially extending locating flange for the liner.

Abstract: A magnetic flux concentrator is used to control the end heating of a tubular material in an electric induction heat treatment process. The magnetic flux concentrator may consist of fixed elements, or a combination of fixed and moveable elements to accommodate end heating of tubular materials having different dimensions or material properties.

Abstract: Quenched layers are formed without irregularities on the inner circumferential surface of a track bushing having a small inside diameter or on the inner circumferential surfaces of two or more track bushings which are subjected to quenching in an overlapped condition. To introduce a cooling medium for cooling the inner circumferential surface of the track bushing, a guide tube having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the track bushing is disposed on the side of the inner circumferential surface and the cooling medium introduced by the guide tube is diverted by a diverting member having a spherical or similar curved surface, such that the cooling medium is allowed to flow in a direction substantially parallel with an axial direction of the track bushing 1 within a space defined by the outer circumferential surface of the guide tube and the inner circumferential surface of the track bushing, thereby performing laminar flow cooling.

Abstract: Disclosed is a material of a kick-down drum comprising fine ferrite and microdispersion spheroidized cementite for an automobile also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the kick-down drum material. The kick-down drum of this invention can greatly improve hardenability and durability of the spline member and also has advantages of reducing production costs due to a simplified process of adding only a heating process.

Abstract: A method of forming an elongated metal blank into a structural component having a predetermined outer configuration. The method includes providing a shape imparting cavity or shell section formed from a rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, placing the metal blank into the cavity or shell section, and forming the metal blank into the component by heating axial portions of the metal blank and forcing a fluid at a high pressure into the metal blank until the metal blank at least partially conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the cavity or shell section to form the structural component.

Abstract: A suspension component for an automobile, such as a stabilizer bar, is provided and includes at least one localized portion having a strengthened outer surface. The localized portion is positioned at a location of highest stress along the suspension component. A method of forming the suspension component is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming an elongated tubular blank into a tubular structural component having a predetermined outer configuration, the method comprising: providing a shape imparting shell formed from a low permeability, rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, plugging the open ends of the tubular blank, placing the plugged blank into the shell, and forming the tubular blank into the tubular component by inductively heating axial portions of the blank by axially spaced conductors adjacent the shell while or before forcing gas at a high pressure into the plugged blank until the blank conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the shell to form the structural component.

Abstract: A method of performing manufacturing operations on a workpiece made of a high strength alloy is disclosed in which a local area of a workpiece is heated to micro-structurally soften the local area. The local area of the workpiece becomes softened and more ductile. A manufacturing operation involving deformation of the heat softened area is performed with the metal in the heat softened region being more ductile and having less strength than the surrounding portions thereof. Manufacturing operations may include riveting, clinching, hydro-forming, and magnetic pulse joining.

Abstract: A procedure for hardening at least one surface (S, L) of a wall (W) of a component (T), in which the surface to be hardened (S, L) is inductively heated with at least one inductor (2), in which liquid is filled into a gap (P) between the surface to be hardened (S, L) and the inductor (2) while heating the surface to be hardened (S, L), in which the side (AS) of the wall (W) opposite the side (IS) of the wall (W) provided with the surfaces to be hardened (S, L) is sprayed with liquid while heating the surface to be hardened (S, L), and in which at least one liquid jet (KI) is aimed at a zone (RZ) of the wall (W) that is adjacent to the surface to be hardened (S, L), and to be precluded from heating by the inductor (2). The procedure according to the invention makes it possible to tailor the hardening of at least one surface to the respective requirements, even on the walls of complexly shaped components with a small wall thickness.

Abstract: A method for forming splines on a metallic tube by providing a metallic tube having a known hardness corresponding to T4 temper (10); heating the metallic tube to a temperature sufficient to remove the T4 temper (14); quenching the metallic tube (20); forming splines on the metallic tube (30); and artificially aging the metallic tube, (32) where preferably the metallic tube is a 6000 series aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A method for forming splines on a metallic tube by providing a metallic tube having a known hardness corresponding to T4 temper (10); heating the metallic tube to a temperature sufficient to remove the T4 temper (14); quenching the metallic tube (20); forming splines on the metallic tube (30); and artificially aging the metallic tube, (32) where preferably the metallic tube is a 6000 series aluminum alloy; alternately, (a) forming a metallic tube; (b) solution heat treating said metallic tube (c) controlled time and/or temperature exposure conditions of said metallic tube (d) forming splines on said metallic tube before said metallic tube has aged sufficiently to develop properties corresponding to a T4 temper; where preferably, the splines are created within 16 hours of forming said metallic tubes, and (e) artificially aging said metallic tubes. In a preferred embodiment, the metallic tube is a 6000 series aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A method of making a ball-screw rack bar for use in a power steering mechanism of an automotive vehicle. Transverse rack teeth are cut in an exterior surface of a first end portion of a length of a bar stock. A ball-screw thread is cut in an exterior surface of a second end portion of the length of bar stock. The first end portion is heat-treated to a first hardness and the second end portion is heat-treated to a second hardness by passing an induction coil scanner lengthwise over the length of bar stock from one end to the other. The ball-screw thread is cut by whirling. Preferably the heat-treating is carried out after the cutting of the transverse rack teeth and before the cutting of the ball-screw thread. The rack bar produced by this method may be solid or hollow. The rack bar may be made by separately forming two lengths of bar stock and butt-welding them together, or they may be made from a solid length of bar stock.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for annealing only a portion of an elongated tubular workpiece. The apparatus includes an elongated tube dimensioned to receive the workpiece so that a first end of the workpiece together with the portion to be annealed is positioned within the tube while a second end of the workpiece extends outwardly from the tube. An induction coil is disposed coaxially around only a portion of the workpiece portion exteriorly of the tube while a source of pressurized nitrogen/hydrogen is fluidly connected to the interior of the tube. In an annealing operation, the tube is filled with hydrogen/nitrogen and the induction coil is energized thus heating only the portion of the workpiece for which annealing is desired. Simultaneously, hydrogen/nitrogen flows through the tube thus cooling the workpiece and maintaining an oxygen-free environment within the tube.

Abstract: A metallic member forming method capable of achieving both formability of a metallic member and highly strengthening same. Cylindrical metallic member 1 having a hollow space 10 and forming die 3 having a forming face 31 are used. Metallic member 1 is heated up to a temperature range capable of quench-reinforcing (e.g., not less than A1 transformation point). By increasing internal pressure of gas contained in the hollow space 10 of the metallic member 1 a wall 1a of the metallic member 1 is bulged and/or deformed, and the bulged, deformed wall 1a of the metallic member 1 is deformed by bringing it into intimate contact with the forming face 31 of the forming die concurrently with quench-reinforcing it. High strengthening of the metallic member 1 is achieved.

Abstract: The tamperproof closing device for a receptacle having a threaded collar comprises a screw cap (1) consisting of a bottom (8) and a cylindrical skirt (9) having inner threading for co-operation with the corresponding threading (5) on the collar (2) and extended by a tamperproof ring (13) which is attached by frangible means (20). The collar has a plurality of outer radial notches arranged at the base thereof. Said notches are circumferentially oriented and the ring comprises a plurality of inner radial reliefs (15) whose profile is complementary to that of the notches (7). The orientations and dimensions of the notches (7) and reliefs (15) are determined in such a way that the second items can pass onto the first items in the direction of screwing as a result of elastic deformation of the constitutive material and can prevent the same from occurring in the opposite direction. The reliefs (15) are formed on an annular lip (14) which is turned back and originates from the tamperproof ring (13).

Abstract: A method of forming an elongated tubular blank into a tubular structural component having a predetermined outer configuration, the method comprising: providing a shape imparting shell formed from a low permeability, rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, plugging the open ends of the tubular blank, placing the plugged blank into the shell, and forming the tubular blank into the tubular component by inductively heating axial portions of the blank by axially spaced conductors adjacent the shell while or before forcing gas at a high pressure into the plugged blank until the blank conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the shell to form the structural component.

Abstract: A selectively heat treated canister for use in a vehicle airbag deployment system is configured to contain combustion materials and to contain gases produced from the combustion thereof. The canister includes a tubular body having a length and a longitudinal axis. The body is formed as at least three drawn sections. Each prior section is drawn one more time than a successive adjacent section. The canister defines a closed end and an open end. The closed end is at a least drawn section and the open end is at a most drawn section. The canister defines a heat treated region and is selectively heat treated at least one transition zone between adjacent drawn sections to reduce crack propagation observed during testing. A method for making the canister is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle structural beam, such as a door intrusion beam, which possesses an elongate tubular beam part which at opposite ends is provided with mounting flanges for securement to a vehicle frame. The elongate tubular beam part and the flanges provided at opposite ends are defined by an integral, one-piece, monolithic steel structure which has been initially roll-formed from an elongate flat metal sheet to define the closed tubular structure of the tubular beam part, and which has been subjected to heating and quenching so that the elongate tubular beam part is of relatively high strength steel throughout its entire length, whereas the integrally and monolithically joined end flanges remain as lower strength steel which has been significantly unaffected by the heat treatment and quenching so as to permit appropriate shaping thereof and ease of welding to the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A vehicle structural beam, such as a door intrusion beam, which possesses an elongate tubular beam part which at opposite ends is provided with mounting flanges for securement to a vehicle frame. The elongate tubular beam part and the flanges provided at opposite ends are defined by an integral, one-piece, monolithic steel structure which has been initially roll-formed from an elongate flat metal sheet to define the closed tubular structure of the tubular beam part, and which has been subjected to heating and quenching so that the elongate tubular beam part is of relatively high strength steel throughout its entire length, whereas the integrally and monolithically joined end flanges remain as lower strength steel which has been significantly unaffected by the heat treatment and quenching so as to permit appropriate shaping thereof and ease of welding to the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A method of hardening a work piece having (i) an outer surface, (ii) an inner surface which defines a passageway extending through the work piece, and (iii) an end. The method includes the steps of (A) advancing the work piece through a first induction coil such that a first hardened area is formed on the work piece, (B) advancing a second induction coil into the passageway of the work piece such that a second hardened area is formed on the work piece, and (C) positioning a third induction coil adjacent to the end of the work piece such that a third hardened area is formed on the work piece. The positioning the third induction coil step is performed after (i) the advancing the work piece through the first induction coil step and (ii) the advancing a second induction coil into the passageway step.

Abstract: Crawler belt bushings and their producing methods, with which productivity and cost performance can be improved over the carburization treatment and the induction hardening treatment. After a workpiece made from steel is heated from its outer circumferential surface such that at least the surface temperature of the inner circumferential surface of the workpiece is raised to a quenching temperature, a series of quenching operation is performed to form quench hardened layers which extend toward the core from the inner and outer circumferential surfaces respectively and a soft, imperfectly hardened layer between these quench hardened layers. The quenching operation comprises: cooling the workpiece from the inner circumferential surface; cooling the workpiece from the inner circumferential surface while heating from the outer circumferential surface; and cooling the workpiece from the outer circumferential surface.

Abstract: A method of forming an elongated tubular blank into a tubular structural component having a predetermined outer configuration, the method comprising: providing a shape imparting shell formed from a low permeability, rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, plugging the open ends of the tubular blank, placing the plugged blank into the shell, and forming the tubular blank into the tubular component by inductively heating axial portions of the blank by axially spaced conductors adjacent the shell while or before forcing gas at a high pressure into the plugged blank until the blank conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the shell to form the structural component.

Abstract: Crawler belt bushings and heir producing methods, with which productivity and cost performance can be improved over the carburization treatment and the induction hardening treatment. After a workpiece made from steel is heated from its outer circumferential surface such that at least the surface temperature of the inner circumferential surface of the workpiece is raised to a quenching temperature, a series of quenching operation is performed to form quench hardened layers which extend toward the core from the inner and outer circumferential surfaces respectively and a soft, imperfectly hardened layer between these quench hardened layers. The quenching operation comprises: cooling the workpiece from the inner circumferential surface; cooling the workpiece from the inner circumferential surface while heating from the outer circumferential surface; and cooling the workpiece from the outer circumferential surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing components from critical cold forming of light metal strip, preferably naturally hard Al alloys of the AlMg or AlMg—Mn types, in which the desired component is manufactured from the strip by at least one cold forming step and the plasticity is improved before the cold forming by means of a soft annealing. According to the invention, it is proposed that the region of the longitudinal edges of the cold-slit strips is heated in a depth in the strip width of at least 1 mm to a maximum of 10 mm in such a way that a temperature of over 150° C. is reached over a time span of more than 0.1 seconds to a maximum of 10 seconds.

Abstract: A process for forming a precision formed cup-shaped member includes stamping a blank into a cup-shaped member. The cup-shaped member is positioned onto a magnetic heating machine. A magnetic core is positioned adjacent a radius of the cup-shaped part on both a top side and a bottom side of the cup-shaped part. The part is heated with the magnetic heating machine so as to anneal the cup-shape part at the radius.

Abstract: A method for heat-treating a hollow cylindrical workpiece includes quench-hardening including a first step and a second step. In the first step, during continuously conveying the workpiece in a horizontal direction without a space between adjacent workpieces, an entirety of the workpiece is subjected to induction-heating conducted from an outside surface of the workpiece only, and a temperature of the workpiece is made uniform before the workpiece reaches a cooling portion spaced from a heating portion. Then, cooling the workpiece is initiated before the temperature of the workpiece falls to Ar3 temperature and an entire cross-section of a wall of the workpiece is quench-hardened. In the second step, during continuously conveying the workpiece in the horizontal direction, induction-heating is conducted only to an outside portion of the workpiece, the induction-heating being conducted from the outside surface only.

Abstract: A selectively heat treated side intrusion beam includes a beam body having a center portion heat treated and end portions not heat treated. The beam body is affixed to end brackets that couple the beam body to the automotive vehicle door. The method for forming a side intrusion beam includes the steps of moving beam stock through a heater; controlling the heater to cycle between an on-state and an off-state with respect to predetermined portions of the length of the beam; quenching the beam stock; and, cutting the beam stock at untreated portions to form the beam body.

Abstract: Conventional methods for heat treating cylindrical components such as track bushings involve multiple steps. For example, many such methods consist of carburizing, cooling, induction-hardening, quenching, and tempering. The conventional methods have proved to be costly because different heat treating apparatus are required. This causes duplicate handling and wasted manufacturing time. The present invention provides a method and apparatus 30 for heat treating a bushing 10 simultaneously from an outer peripheral surface and the pair of inner circumferential surfaces.

Abstract: A steel sheet for a heat-shrink band, which is to be thermally expanded and fitted over the outer periphery of the panel portion of a cathode ray tube, which has at least a 20% elongation at an ambient temperature and at least a 40 kg/mm.sup.2 stress of yielding point after the heating and cooling, in particular one comprised by a dual phase cold rolled steel sheet comprising a ferrite phase and a martensite phase or a cold rolled steel sheet containing a retained austenite.

Abstract: A method for reforming the generally cylindrical sidewalls of aluminum containers is disclosed. The method produces highly expanded and/or contoured container sidewalls which provide a distinctive appearance in comparison with cylindrical containers having straight sidewalls. Multiple expansion steps are used to expand the sidewall to a diameter substantially greater than the initial diameter of the cylindrical starting container. The sidewalls are thermally treated prior to expansion, for example, by annealing to reduce or eliminate residual stresses and work hardening. The sidewall thickness of the cylindrical starting container is preferably selected in order to maximize the total amount of sidewall expansion that can be achieved.

Abstract: In a method for producing machine elements of steel having a carbon content of 0.3 to 1.1%, blanks are heated to austenitizing temperature and austenitized, quenched for the formation of martensite, heated from room temperature to a maximum tempering temperature, and immediately after reaching said maximum temperature cooled to room temperature to attain a hardness of 45 to 65 RHC and finish-machined to machine elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the continuous annealing of amorphous metal cores of the type used in electrical transformers, and wherein the cores are heated in the presence of a magnetic field. The cores are transported serially along the length of a stationary electrically conductive rod which is located within a furnace, and such that the central openings of the cores face horizontally and the rod passes through the central openings of the advancing cores. Electrical current is caused to flow through a closed loop which includes the rod so as to generate an electromagnetic field along the length of the rod and so that the cores pass through the field while being heated.

Abstract: A production method for an endless track bushing wherein high-carbon low-alloy steel is selected as a bushing material, the bushing material is quench-hardened without pre-carburizing the bushing material, and then tempered. In the quench-hardening, the bushing material is induction-heated from an outside surface of the bushing material only so that an inside surface of the bushing material is heated to a temperature above and close to a transformation temperature of the high-carbon low-alloy steel, and then the heated bushing material is cooled from the outside surface of the bushing material only so that a residual compressive stress is produced at the inside surface of the bushing material when it has been cooled to an ambient temperature. The thus produced bushing has a high hardness throughout the entire cross section and a high toughness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a track bushing having an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, a longitudinal bore, first and second end portions, and a center portion. The outer peripheral surface and the inner end portions have a preselected hardness greater than the center portion.

Abstract: A method for strengthening a pressure resistant property of a hollowed structure made of a metallic material and a pressure resistant hollowed structure made by such method. The method includes providing a temperature differential in a thickness direction between an outer side and an inner side of the metallic material with an arranged sufficient to generate a stress not exceeding a yielding stress of the metallic material. The outer side and inner side are pressurized so as to superimposed a stress generated by the pressurizing and the stress caused by the temperature differential reaching the yielding stress of the metallic material. The pressure is released subsequent to the superimposed stress reaching a level of the yielding stress of the metallic material.

Abstract: An automobile body reinforcing steel pipe having a wall thickness-to-outer diameter ratio, t/D, defined by:0.09-4.8.times.10.sup.-5 .times.L.ltoreq.t/D.ltoreq.0.16-6.0.times.10.sup.-5 .times.Lwhere L(mm) is a span of a bending load applied to the pipe. The pipe has a tensile strength of 120 kgf/mm.sup.2 or more and an elongation of 10% or more, and is preferably made of a steel consisting of 0.15-0.25 wt % C, 1.8 wt % or less Mn, 0.5 wt % or less Si, 0.04 wt % or less Ti, 0.0003-0.0035 wt % B, and the balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities including 0.0080 wt % or less N. A process for producing the steel pipe comprises: coiling a hot rolled steel sheet at a temperature of 600.degree. C. or higher; electric welding the adjoining edges of the sheet to form a steel pipe; and quench hardening the pipe.

Abstract: An anvil member for use in a surgical stapler is annealed by localized heating, preferably induction heating. A shaped shielding means is used to cradle the anvil so as to expose the staple crimping portion of the anvil. The heating is performed so as to anneal only the delimited staple crimping portion of the anvil. All other portions of the anvil are either shielded by the cradle or are out of the heating range.

Abstract: A metal tube induction annealing apparatus employs an induction heating enclosure having an elongated glass tube encircled by an electromagnetic coil of an induction heating system which provides an induction annealing chamber for receiving a hollow metal tube for undergoing annealing and an inert purge gas for bathing the tube during annealing. Cooling stages are located end-to-end downstream of the induction enclosure for progressively cooling the annealed tube. The inert purge gas is made to flow upstream in a direction opposite to the downstream direction of tube movement through the annealing chamber and cooling stages for accomplishing constant bathing or shielding of the exterior and interior wall surfaces of the tube and removal of heat by inert purge gas flowing through and out of the trailing end of the tube.