Abstract: The method casts a disk rotor which can restrain partial abrasion in a sliding ring part, particularly, in the circumferential outer surface. A mold includes a casting cavity to cast the sliding ring part, an outer circumference forming surface, an inner circumference forming surface, a gate group including a plurality of gates formed in the outer circumference forming surface at positions spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals with respect to a circumferential direction, each of the gates having a central line P2 inclined at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° with respect to a normal line passing through a center of the casting cavity in a radial direction, and runners. A melt is injected from the gates into the casting cavity at angles ?1, ?2 and ?3 which are greater than 0° and less than 90° with respect to the normal lines, and is solidified.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus conveys work that was conduction heated at an energizing position to a processing position that is separated from the energizing position in the horizontal direction in order to perform hot press-forming, and comprises: a holding member that freely clamps both end sections in the lengthwise direction of the work that has been conduction heated; a drive mechanism that moves the holding member from at least the energizing position to the processing position; and a guide member that extends between the energizing position and the processing position and guides and supports the middle section in the lengthwise direction of the work that has been conduction heated and is being conveyed toward the processing position. A hot press-forming apparatus comprises the conveyor apparatus when conveying conduction heated work to a downstream process.

Abstract: A hot press forming apparatus that hot press forms a blank to process the blank into a formed product comprises: a conduction heating mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus, the conduction heating mechanism clamping the fed blank at a predetermined conducting position so as to be in a conveyance-stopped state, and performs conduction heating onto the blank; a die quenching type hot press mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus and disposed thermally isolated downstream of the conduction heating mechanism, the hot press mechanism hot pressing the blank subjected to conduction heating at a predetermined processing position; and a conveying mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus. The conveying mechanism conveys the blank subjected to conduction heating at least from the conducting position to the processing position, to supply the blank to the hot press mechanism.

Abstract: A current density changing portion is formed in a heating process on an upper base side with respect to a center portion of a flat metal plate in a direction of current flow, by passing current from a lower base side to the upper base side of the flat metal plate which is rectangular when viewed from above. As a result, a quenchable portion is formed on the upper base side with respect to the center portion of the flat metal plate in the direction of current flow, and a non-quenchable portion is formed on the lower base side with respect to the center portion of the flat metal plate in the direction of current flow. The flat metal plate is press-formed after the heating process, so a complex die cooling structure is not necessary during press-forming, which enables the die cost to be reduced.

Abstract: A conduction heating apparatus performs conduction heating while clamping a work to be hot press-formed by a clamping mechanism to apply tension to the work. The clamping mechanism has a stationary clamping member and a movable clamping member, a lifting up/down cylinder for the stationary clamping member and the movable clamping member, and tensioning cylinders that drive the movable clamping member along the planar direction of the work, and in conduction heating. The stationary clamping member clamps one side of the work and hold it, and the movable clamping member moves while holding the other side of the work according to thermal deformation of the work, which applies tension to the work corresponding to the thermal deformation of the work.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode support structure in which local heating can be prevented from occurring in a workpiece during the electric heating. The electrode support structure is usable for applying a load to the electrodes used for the electric heating of a metal plate, and comprises at least two members, i.e., a first member to which the electrodes are fixed and a second member which receives the load from the first member or connects the first member to a load means. The support structure in which the two members are joined to each other through an elastic member can uniformly apply the load to the electrodes for electric heating so that the electrodes can uniformly contact with the workpiece, whereby the workpiece can be uniformly heated.

Abstract: A furnace for heating steel plates includes a plurality of horizontal furnace levels in superimposed disposition. Each furnace level is constructed for acceptance of at least one steel plate and includes a transport mechanism for moving the at least one steel plate during a heating process.

Abstract: An oil pump includes a pump cover covering a recess in a side face of a pump body to form a gear compartment therebetween. A drive gear and a rotatably driven gear are meshed and mounted in the gear compartment. Working spaces R are formed by the engagement of the meshed gear teeth. Discharge ports are formed in both the pump body and the pump cover in communication with the gear compartment. A notch is formed in the pump body at the bottom of the gear compartment and extends from the front end of the discharge port in the pump body to the rear end of a discharge area for the working spaces. Another notch is formed in the inner side face of the pump cover, and extends from the front end of the discharge port in the cover to the rear end of the discharge area.

Abstract: In a method for press-hardening a metallic formed structure made of a hardenable steel sheet, the steel sheet is heated above a transition temperature Ac3 and then placed in a cooled press having a forming tool with at least one uncooled contour section for forming a region of reduced hardness. Marginal regions of the steel sheet are clamped with a sheet holder arrangement which has an inner sheet holder and an outer sheet holder. The inner sheet holder is hereby located closer to the forming tool than the outer sheet holder. The sheet holder arrangement is configured to slow down flow of the marginal regions into the forming tool. After closing the press tool, the steel sheet is formed in a first forming phase by holding the marginal region with the outer sheet holder and in a subsequent forming phase by holding the marginal region with the inner sheet holder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a casting process with use of a lower mold 10 having a hollow corresponding to a partial profile of a casting, and an upper mold 22 supporting a core 24 and defining a mold cavity 12 in cooperation with the lower mold. The process includes: pouring a necessary minimum amount of a molten metal for obtaining a casting into the hollow; moving downwardly the upper mold at a predetermined first speed to a predetermined height level; further moving downwardly the upper mold assembly, from the predetermined height level, at a predetermined second speed by changing the descending speed of the upper mold; detecting a status information of the upper mold in a state when the upper mold is superimposed on the lower mold; and stopping the descending movement of the upper mold after detecting that the status information comes at a predetermined state.

Abstract: To provide an apparatus for cast-product production line that can separate cast product and casting sand without ever using a jumbolized casting-mold disassembling device, and additionally that can intend the downsizing of mold-disassembling unit. An apparatus for cast-product production line has the following jointly: a kneader 94 for kneading casting sand for making mold; a mold maker 3 for making a sand casting mold 2 from the casting sand for making mold, the sand casting mold 2 being provided with a molding cavity 23 for forming a singular cast product or plural products 27; a molten-metal pourer 4 for pouring molten metal into said molding cavity 23 of the sand casting mold 2; and a mold disassembler 5 for disassembling the sand casting mold 2 having undergone molten-metal pouring. Upon disassembling the sand casting mold 2 by the mold disassembler 5, the sand casting mold 2 is disassembled in such a state that the cast product 27 is supported by means of a cast-product supporter element 52.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fuel cell separator, the method including: subjecting the peripheral surfaces other than the respective gas passages of a pair of separator substrates formed from stainless steel to a cathodic electrolytic treatment within an alkali solution, thereby forming an iron-based hydrated oxide film on the peripheral surfaces of the pair of separator substrates (S200), conducting a water treatment by wetting the surface of the iron-based hydrated oxide film with water (S202), performing electrodeposition coating of an electrocoating material containing an aqueous resin onto at least one of the water-treated iron-based hydrated oxide films provided on the pair of separator substrates (S204), and baking the aqueous resin obtained by electrodeposition coating (S206).

Abstract: An oil pump includes a pump cover covering a recess in a side face of a pump body to form a gear compartment therebetween. A drive gear and a rotatably driven gear are meshed and mounted in the gear compartment. Working spaces R are formed by the engagement of the meshed gear teeth. Discharge ports are formed in both the pump body and the pump cover in communication with the gear compartment. A notch is formed in the pump body at the bottom of the gear compartment and extends from the front end of the discharge port in the pump body to the rear end of a discharge area for the working spaces. Another notch is formed in the inner side face of the pump cover, and extends from the front end of the discharge port in the cover to the rear end of the discharge area.

Abstract: A method of removing a molded article, which makes it possible to remove easily said molded article without causing deformation and damages thereto and an apparatus for same. The method comprises removing a sand core W which is obtained using a sand core forming mold 12 comprising a fixed and movable molds 21 and 31 from a sand core forming mold 12 by a separating movable mold 31 from the fixed mold 21 to perform a mold opening. The fixed mold 21 is provided with a fixed mold side core 23 having a front end face 23a forming a part of a first molding face 22, which is extendable and retractable in a mold opening direction A1. The movable mold 31 is provided with a movable mold side core 33 having a front end face 33a forming a part of a second molding face 32, which is extendable and retractable in a mold opening direction A1. The relation in which the sand core W is held between both cores 23 and 33 is kept by extending both cores 23 and 33 in a mold opening direction A1.

Abstract: A thermoforming press for forming and hardening metal sheets includes an upper die and a lower die. At least one of the upper and lower dies has a mold jaw and a support jaw which are movable relative to one another between a first position in which the support jaw rests against the mold jaw to block a flow of coolant between the mold jaw and the support jaw, and a second position in which the support jaw is spaced from the mold jaw by a distance to define a cooling gap for coolant to flow between the mold jaw and the support jaw.

Abstract: In zinc-system-plated steel materials, a high-strength quenched formed body, in which the corrosion resistance of after-quenching formed products is equal to or more than that of cold-molded products, and a production process for the same are provided. The high-strength quenched formed body contains a layer, in which Zn is a major component and which is formed of Fe: 30% by mass or less, in an amount of 30 g/m2 or more on the surface of an after-quenching formed-body steel material, and accordingly is good in corrosion resistance. A quenched formed body is produced by quenching a zinc-plated steel material, which includes a zinc-plated layer which contains each of Al and Si having alloying-retarding function and readily-oxidizing function independently or compositely, in an amount of 0.15% by mass or more, after heating it to 800° C. or more and 95° C. or less in an oxidizing atmosphere of oxygen: 0.1% by volume or more.

Abstract: An exhaust manifold includes an open/close valve that switches between either closing or opening the exhaust path of a collection section, and switches the exhaust path of the exhaust gas between passing through or not passing through a bypass path containing an upstream catalyst. There is a partition wall structure in a pipe-mounting member so that when the valve is closed such that the exhaust gas during cold start is led to the upstream catalyst, the exhaust paths for each of the branch pipes on the upstream side of the valve inside a collection section are independent from one another. When the valve is closed, the downstream side of each of the branch pipes is not continuous inside the collection section, so the flow of air is prevented in this section, and exhaust interference and loss of exhaust heat are reduced.

Abstract: A furnace for heating steel plates includes a plurality of horizontal furnace levels in superimposed disposition. Each furnace level is constructed for acceptance of at least one steel plate and includes a transport mechanism for moving the at least one steel plate during a heating process.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for manufacturing a disc rotor made of a metal-based composite material, which enables stabilization of a preform support within a disc rotor casting cavity while minimizing likelihood of damaging of preforms. The apparatus comprises a lower die 10 and a movable core assembly 20 which constitutes a disc rotor casting cavity 18; a preform supporting portion 24a which is provided on a movable core assembly 20; a pressurizing and shaping portion 32 of an upper die 30 for applying pressure upon a molten metal accommodated in the cavity 18; and a preform biasing mechanism 40 having a biasing face 41b which can be brought into a face-to-face contact with the upper face of a preform 5 which is supported on the preform supporting portion 24a. On application of pressure upon the molten metal, the preform biasing mechanism 40 biases the preform 5 via the biasing face 41b to prevent the preform 5 from being shifted due to an increase in the pressure upon the molten metal.

Abstract: A method of die casting spheroidal graphite cast iron able to prevent formation of chill crystals to allow the crystallization of fine spheroidal graphite and simultaneously prevent the formation of internal defects, including the steps of preparing a die formed with a heat insulation layer at inside walls of a cavity, filling molten metal having a composition of the spheroidal graphite cast iron through a runner into the cavity, closing the runner so as to seal the cavity right before the molten metal in the cavity starts to solidify, and allowing the molten metal to solidify by the action of the inside pressure caused by crystallization of the spheroidal graphite in the sealed cavity.