Abstract: A heating furnace for heating an annular component, includes a furnace body, a heat medium driving component, a support part, a guide component, and a hollow cylinder. Part of the heat medium is ejected to the outer circumferential surface of the annular component through the guide part, and part of the heat medium flows through the inner channel of the hollow cylinder, and be ejected to the inner circumferential surface of the bearing via the second heat medium channel arranged on the hollow cylinder to heat the inner circumferential surface of the bearing. In this way, the hollow cylinder plays a role of distributing the gas to some extent, and as the upper end of the hollow cylinder is a sealed structure, the flowing gas is all converted into effective heat exchange gas flow and restricted to a heat exchange space on the bearing surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for annealing alloy ribbon, the apparatus comprising: an unwinder unwinding an alloy ribbon from a spool of the alloy ribbon; a heating member comprising a first flat surface, on which the alloy ribbon unwound by the unwinder runs while contacting the first flat surface, the heating member heating the alloy ribbon running while contacting the first flat surface through the first flat surface; a cooling member comprising a second flat surface, on which the alloy ribbon heated by the heating member runs while contacting the second flat surface, the cooling member cooling the alloy ribbon running while contacting the second flat surface through the second flat surface; and a winder winding the alloy ribbon cooled by the cooling member.

Abstract: A method for producing an automobile column is disclosed. The automobile column has a region of a first type and a region of a second type which have mutually different strengths. A transition region having a width of less than 50 mm is formed between the two regions. The automobile column has in the region of the first type a bainitic structure and in the region of the second type a martensitic structure.

Abstract: A hot-rolled wire rod excelling in wire drawability is provided, in which breakage can be suppressed even in heavy work from a large diameter. A hot-rolled wire rod contains C: 0.35 to 0.65% (percent by mass, hereinafter expressed as well), Si: 1.4 to 3.0%, Mn: 0.10 to 1.0%, Cr: 0.1 to 2.0%, P: 0.025% or less (exclusive of 0%), S: 0.025% or less (exclusive of 0%), N: 0.006% or less (exclusive of 0%), Al: 0.1% or less (exclusive of 0%), and O: 0.0030% or less (exclusive of 0%), with the remnant consisting of Fe and inevitable impurities; wherein the content of hydrogen in steel is 2.50 ppm (ppm by mass, hereinafter expressed as well) or less, and hardness (HV) is 460×C00.1 or less (C0 indicates the content of C (percent by mass) in a position of depth of D/4 (D: diameter of the wire rod)).

Abstract: A method for producing a motor vehicle component having two regions, with different strength is disclosed. A first one of the two regions has a high strength and a second one of the two regions has a higher ductility and lower strength relative to the first region. In a motor vehicle component produced with the method, the first region has a strength between 1400 and 1600 MPa at a breaking elongation A5>13% and the second region has a tensile strength between 950 and 1050 MPa at a breaking elongation A5>16%.

Abstract: A shaped part with different microstructures is made by continuously conveying a succession of hardenable steel blanks having first and second regions through a furnace such that the blanks reach an outlet of the furnace each with both of the respective first and second regions heated to an austenitization temperature. Then the blanks are positioned with the second regions thereof in a chamber of a holding unit and the first regions outside the chamber, and, while holding the second regions in the chamber and the first regions outside the chamber the second regions are heated and maintained at the austenitization temperature and the first regions are cooled with air to a temperature at which their microstructures become ferritic-pearlitic. Thereafter the blanks are transferred from the holding unit to a press where they are hardened and finish shaped.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for processing a metal body which can turn a metal structure of the metal body into a finer grain structure thus obtaining the high strength and the high ductility. In a method or an apparatus for processing a metal body which turns the metal structure of the metal body into the finer grain structure by forming a low deformation resistance region where the deformation resistance is locally lowered in the metal body and by deforming the low deformation resistance region by shearing, using a non-low deformation resistance region forming means which forms a non-low deformation resistance region by increasing the deformation resistance which is lowered in the low deformation resistance region, the non-low deformation resistance region is formed along the low deformation resistance region.

Abstract: A plurality of rollers for producing longitudinal grooves in an elongated metal substrate, the plurality of rollers comprising a first set and a second set of rollers, the plurality of rollers having groove-forming fluted edges thereon. The plurality of rollers are aligned circumferentially around and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongated metal substrate, wherein the plurality of rollers are configured to produce an odd number of grooves distributed asymmetrically about a circumference of the elongated metal substrate.

Abstract: Provided is a method for heat treating a precipitation-hardened article having a thick section and a thin section so that the thin section can be solution annealed while the metallurgical structure of the thick section is substantially unaffected by the solution-annealing process. The method restores the microstructure of the thin section uniformly by solution annealing the thin section to achieve a preselected microstructure but without affecting the microstructure of the thick section.

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: For determination as to whether there is a possibility that temperature control satisfying conditions according to an upper limit LH_i and a lower limit LL_i of the annealing control temperatures of annealing object steel sections i will be realized under restrictions on limit values U and D of the control temperature increase and decrease rates, computation is performed without using dynamic programming requiring an enormous amount of data on a continuous annealing line of a steelwork. Annealing object steel sections in an annealing object steel band 12 to be computed are assigned numbers 1, 2, . . . , n in order from the first time division in the direction of movement. T_i is a time required to pass the annealing object steel section i through a predetermined point at which the steel section undergoes temperature control. LH_1=LL_1=b is given. X_i=[IL_i?D*T_i, IH_i+U*T_i] is computed. When X_L_i1f, Y_i=X_iL_i. When X_i L_i=f, Y_i=X_i. Y—i is computed from i=1 to i=n in ascending order.

Abstract: A method of forming a vehicle component, particularly an elongated impact beam, having an open section structure, in a manner to provide predetermined strategically strengthened portions, comprising the steps of cold forming unhardened steel into a workpiece having mounting surfaces, selectively fixturing the mounting surfaces, static induction heating the workpiece with lengthwise surface eddy currents on selected portions, followed by quenching of the fixtured heated workpiece to form strengthened portions, and unfixturing the resulting component. Also disclosed is apparatus to accomplish this, and the resulting novel vehicle component.

Abstract: Hardened metal articles such as slabs, plates or sheets or preformed metal articles which are to have regions of different ductility are subjected to heating to an austenization temperature and then to quenching of the region of greater ductility to form a start temperature lying above the gamma-alpha transformation temperature of the workpiece structure. The quenching is terminated at a stop temperature lying above the martensitic temperature and prior to any substantial transformation into ferritic or perlitic structures. The higher ductility region is then maintained prior to any substantial transformation into ferritic or perlitic structures. The higher ductility region is then maintained isothermically for condition of austenitite ferrite and/or perlite. The lower ductility structure is brought to a temperature sufficient for martensitic formation and the hardening is then carried out.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for excluding specific areas of a workpiece from quenching during a heat treat process. A workpiece, having preselected areas to be quenched, is positioned in a manner so that quench sprays are aimed toward the surface to be quenched. The area to be excluded from the quench is protected by a shroud, and steam is forced under the shroud during the quenching operation. Steam pressure within the shroud is maintained at a pressure sufficient to prevent the quench media from passing through a sealed edge of the shroud. The steam has a temperature sufficient to prevent a sudden drop in the workpiece temperature in the area protected from the quench media.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the manufacture of a metallic molded structural part (1) for motor vehicle components such as door impact girders or bumpers with areas (2) with a higher ductility in relation to the rest of the structural component part. For this purpose, partial areas (2) of a plate (5) are initially heated to a temperature of 900.degree. C. within a period of less than 30 seconds. Subsequently, the thermal-treated plate (5') is shaped in a pressing tool (7) to form the molded structural part (1) and is heat-treated in the pressing tool (7).

Abstract: A method for producing a steel section by a rolling process including a rough rolling step, an intermediate rolling step and a finishing rolling step. The intermediate rolling step comprises water-cooling the flange portion of the rough-rolled steel section between rolling passes in the intermediate rolling step to cool the surface layer of the flange to a temperature not higher than 750.degree. C., and rolling the flange portion during recuperation of the surface layer of the flange at least one time between the rolling passes with a total draft not less than 20% and at an average rolling temperature not higher than 950.degree. C. and, after the finishing rolling step the outer surface of the flange is cooled at a cooling rate ranging from 0.5.degree. to 10.degree. C./sec depending on the thickness of the flange. Also the carbon equivalent of the steel is controlled. The advantage is that steel sections of various contours and dimensions can be produced from minimized varieties of steel compositions.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a ski edge made of quenched and subsequently tempered steel having a head (2) that comprises the running surface and a flank (4) that projects into the body of the ski. The profiled edge (1) is at first rolled, then quenched and subsequently tempered over its whole cross-section. Afterwards, the flank (4) is partially tempered and provided in a separate operation with punched out openings. In order to obtain with this process a totally straight ski edge, the deviation in Rockwell hardness, seen in the direction of the cross-section and length of the profiled edge is set at less than 2.degree. HRC during quenching and subsequent tempering of the whole profiled edge. The warming-up temperature and duration during partial warming-up of the edge are the same over the whole length of the profile edge and the profiled edge is subjected to a constant bending strain before being punched.

Abstract: An interrupted normalize heat treatment process for ferritic alloy steel that includes the steps of rapidly cooling at least the outer surfaces of the steel from a temperature above the Ac temperature to a temperature below the Ar, temperature and during subsequent air cooling to room temperature reheating the outside surfaces of the ferritic alloy steel back above the Ar, temperature by bleed back heat from the steel, and forming an as interrupting normalized workpiece having substantially bainitic structures.

Abstract: A thin-webbed H-beam steel having a web thinner that flanges is produced by forcibly water cooling the outer surface of the flanges during an intermediate hot rolling prior to a final hot rolling by cooling to less than 700.degree. C., interrupting the cooling to return the temperature to greater than 700.degree. C., and repeating the cooling and interrupting in order to refine the microstructure of the surface of the flanges to a predetermined depth from the surface; final-hot rolling the intermediate-hot rolled H-beam steel; and forcibly water cooling the flanges of the final-hot rolled H-beam steel in a manner such that the web does not wave during this forcible water cooling, and such that upon completion of the forcible water cooling, thermal stress, generated in the web during air cooling to room temperature, does not exceed the buckling strength of the web.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a thin sheet of a Cr-Ni-base stainless steel having an excellent surface quality and material quality, which comprises casting a cast strip having a thickness of 6 mm or less from a Cr-Ni-base stainless steel including 18% Cr-8% Ni steel by a continuous casting wherein a casting mold is moved synchronously with the cast strip, and subjecting the cast strip to cold rolling to form a thin sheet product, wherein the cast strip immediately after the casting is coiled at a temperature of 800.degree. to 1200.degree. C. and subjected to cold rolling and final annealing to form a thin sheet product.

Abstract: An interrupted normalization heat treatment process for ferritic alloy steel that includes the steps of rapidly cooling at least the outer surfaces of the steel from a temperature above the Ac.sub.3, temperature to a temperature below the Ar.sub.1, temperature and during subsequent air cooling to room temperature reheating the outside surfaces of the ferritic alloy steel back above the Ar.sub.1, temperature by bleed back heat from the steel, tempering the air cooled workpiece, and forming an as interrupting normalized workpiece having substantially bainitic structures.