Abstract: A method for applying a layer of curable material to a surface including the steps of: applying the curable material to the surface; positioning a trowel relative to the surface so that a plurality of first radial teeth of the trowel, extending from a working edge of the trowel, is in contact with the surface; and with the plurality of first radial teeth in contact with the surface, moving the trowel across the surface to spread the curable material across the surface at a constant thickness.

Abstract: A trowel may include a main body including at least one working edge, the working edge including an edge radius, a plurality of radial teeth extending from the working edge, each radial tooth of the plurality of radial teeth including a radial edge and a tooth radius. A distance between the edge radius and the tooth radius at any point along the working edge is the same.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to tools that are made, at least in part, more durable, particularly one or more working surface(s) of the tools. For example, various tools such as trowels, knives, and scrappers may be made having at least a portion of their blades heat treated to make at least their working edges more durable and extend their useful lives. For example, in various embodiments, a putty knife, taping knife, or scrapper blade may have at least one working surface or edge that has been at heat treated while an area of the blade where a handle is permanently attached is not heat treated.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to tools that are made, at least in part, more durable, particularly one or more working surface(s) of the tools. For example, various tools such as trowels, knives, and scrappers may be made having at least a portion of their blades heat treated to make at least their working edges more durable and extend their useful lives. For example, in one embodiment, a trowel blade may have at least one texturing edge that has been at least partially heat treated.

Abstract: An inner cutter for a dry shaver is fabricated from a metal plate to have a plurality of blades each provided with cutting edges. The metal plate includes a plurality of parallel straight slits to leave an array of straight beams each defined between the adjacent ones of the slits. The beams are forged and ground at a segment of each beam to give the cutting edges thereto. After making the cutting edges, the metal plate is bent into a generally U-shaped configuration so as to correspondingly curve the beams and shape the beams into the blades having the arcuate contour and the cutting edges. The metal plate is provided with a joint for connection with a driving source of moving the inner cutter relative to an outer cutter.

Abstract: Disclosed are an outer race for a constant velocity joint, having improved anti-flaking properties and shaft strength, and a process for producing the same. The outer race for a constant velocity joint includes a cup and a serration and comprises by weight carbon: 0.45 to 0.59%, silicon: 0.15 to 0.4%, manganese: 0.15 to 0.45%, sulfur: 0.005 to 0.15%, molybdenum: 0.1 to 0.35%, boron: 0.0005 to 0.005%, aluminum: 0.015 to 0.05%, and titanium: 0.015 to 0.03%, the proportion of the effective case depth in track grooves of the cup being 0.25 to 0.45 in terms of the ratio of the effective case depth t to the wall thickness of the cup w, t/w, the proportion of the effective case depth of the involute serration in its end being 0.20 to 0.50 in terms of the ratio of the effective case depth t to the radius r, t/r. The involute serration in its end preferably has a former austenite grain size of not less than 8 in terms of the grain size number specified in JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards).

Abstract: The present invention provides an outer ring for a high strength constant velocity joint which has an excellent torsional strength and torsional fatigue strength and can provide an improved processability, and a process for producing the same. An outer ring used for a high strength constant velocity joint having an involute serration part and a screw part, the outer ring made of a steel containing:C: 0.45 to 0.53%, Si: 0.05 to 0.25%, Mn: 0.7 to 1.0%, Al: 0.01 to 0.05%, Mo: 0.2 to 0.4%, N: 0.003 to 0.012%, the remainder being Fe and inevitable impurities, the inevitable impurities including:Cr: 0.05% or less than 0.05%, P: 0.015% or less than0.015%, S: 0.01% or less than 0.01%, and O: 0.002% orless than 0.002%,wherein an old austenite crystal grain at the involute serration end is 8 or more in JIS grain size classification; a surface hardness at the end is 720 or more in Hv; and a ratio (CD/R) is 0.35 to 0.

Abstract: A process for hardening a plurality of holed flat parts. The holed flat parts are heated by inserting a cantilever hanger into the holes of the holed flat parts to support them in vertical positions within a furnace. The holed flat parts are then removed from the hanger by inserting a moving fork into the holes of the holed flat parts and moved to a cooling section while being supported in the vertical positions on the moving fork. Then, the holed flat parts in the vertical positions are quenched in the cooling section by blowing a gas downward to them. Also disclosed is an apparatus for practicing the holed flat part hardening process.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for hardening cutting edges having various widths. The apparatus includes a plasma torch for projecting a plasma beam through an outlet nozzle. The outlet nozzle has a length parallel to the cutting edge and a width perpendicular to the cutting edge. The nozzle width is greater than the nozzle length. A variable electromagnet is located adjacent the nozzle for adjustably deflecting the plasma beam from a circular cross section beam to a widened beam. The electromagnet deflects the plasma beam at its width so that it is slightly wider than the width of the cutting edge to be hardened. The plasma beams with a smaller cross section have a lower power consumption and a constant gas flow rate than larger cross sectional beams.

Abstract: An induction-hardening machine for the contour hardening of cross-axis, intersecting-axis and nonintersecting-axis gears such as hypoid gears includes a programmable logic control unit, a source of quench liquid and a high-frequency induction generator which are operably connected to a high-frequency induction coil which is disposed at an inclined angle above the horizontally disposed workpiece (hypoid gear). Fluid connections are made between the source of quench liquid and the induction coil for the rapid delivery of quench liquid. The support platform for the hypoid gear is connected to a rotary drive motor and with the hypoid gear rotating at approximately 900 to 1800 RPM the induction coil is energized with four low energy pulses of relatively short duration. The final heating step is a high energy pulse followed immediately by the quenching step.

Abstract: A method for induction heating and quench hardening of helical gears provides a hardness pattern uniformly distributed to a controlled depth across and between the teeth surfaces by means of axial scanning of the workpiece and uniform quenching. Uniform quenching is achieved by directing jets of quench fluid at the workpiece toothed surface at angles horizontally offset from the radial direction.

Abstract: An induction-hardening machine for the contour hardening of cross-axis, intersecting-axis and nonintersecting-axis gears such as hypoid gears includes a programmable logic control unit, a source of quench liquid and a high-frequency induction generator which are operably connected to a high-frequency induction coil which is disposed at an inclined angle above the horizontally disposed workpiece (hypoid gear). Fluid connections are made between the source of quench liquid and the induction coil for the rapid delivery of quench liquid. The support platform for the hypoid gear is connected to a rotary drive motor and with the hypoid gear rotating at approximately 900 to 1800 RPM the induction coil is energized with four low energy pulses of relativley short duration. The final heating step is a high energy pulse followed immediately by the quenching step.