Abstract: A spring has a Rockwell hardness of HRC 53 to HRC 56 and a dislocation density ? (cm?2) that satisfies the formula ??1.4×1011×H?6.7×1012 in the Rockwell hardness range of HRC 53 to HRC 56, in which H is the Rockwell hardness. The spring also has a prior austenite grain size number of 10 or higher.

Abstract: A metal strip 10 is bent to form a ring and end parts 12 and 14 are connected to each other. An electron beam 26 may be defocused and emitted to a welded section 20 along a crosswise direction of the metal strip 10. Next, a focal point 28 of the electron beam 26 may be focused onto a weld-melted portion 25 to execute electron beam welding. Subsequently, the electron beam 26 may be defocused emitted to the welded section 20 along the crosswise direction of the metal strip 10, and the welded section 20 may be further cooled. The average of the dendrite secondary arm spacing of the weld-melted portion may fall within a range of 7 to 30 ?m.

Abstract: A control cable which allows a shortened initial adaptation period is provided. A control cable 1 disclosed in the present specification includes an outer casing 2, an inner cable 3 slidably disposed within the outer casing 2, and grease disposed in a space 7 located between the outer casing 2 and the inner cable 3. A metal oxide is added to the grease. The metal oxide may be formed of a metal that is the same as a metal forming a metal coating that covers the inner cable.

Abstract: The present specification provides a spring of greater strength. A spring 2 disclosed in the present specification comprises a steel material layer 12 and a compound layer 14 containing nitride and formed on a surface of the steel material layer 12. The steel material layer 12 contains, in mass percent, C: 0.55 to 0.75, Si: 1.50 to 2.50, Mn: 0.30 to 1.00, Cr: 0.80 to 2.00, W: 0.05 to 0.30, and iron and inevitable impurities as remainders. Carbide precipitated in the steel. material layer has an average length of 0.12 ?m or less and an average width of 0.04 ?m or less.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously annealing and applying a coating to a spring includes heating the spring up to a predetermined temperature that exceeds an upper limit of a permissible baking temperature range of the coating. The surface temperature of the spring then allowed to decrease to within the permissible baking temperature range of the coating, and then the coating is applied to a surface of the spring. The coating is then baked onto the surface of the spring while cooling the spring for at least a portion of the baking step. The heating and baking steps together achieve a predetermined low temperature annealing effect in the spring.

Abstract: A method of producing a spring which reduces time required for a heat treatment step of eliminating a machining strain generated by a forming step is provided. This production method is provided with a forming step (S10) of forming a spring steel material into a spring shape and a heat treatment step (S12) of eliminating a machining strain generated in the spring steel material by the forming step. The heat treatment step is executed by electrically heating the spring steel material by applying a current thereto. The heat treatment step has a first step of heating the spring steel material to a predetermined set temperature and a second step of keeping the spring steel material at the set temperature for a predetermined set time period subsequent to the first step. The set temperature is set to be higher than 430° C. but not higher than 500° C.

Abstract: A powder coating method is capable of forming a coating film having excellent adhesion and surface texture by using a thermosetting powder coating material. The powder coating method is configured to include: a heating step of heating a spring member; a coating step of causing a thermosetting powder coating material to adhere to a surface of the spring member, with a surface temperature T (° C.) of the spring member being in a range of “Tf?20?T<Tf+20” (Tf: a curing completion temperature (° C.) of the thermosetting powder coating material), and a curing step of curing the thermosetting powder coating material adhering to the surface of the spring member. In the curing step, the surface temperature T (° C.) of the spring member upon completion of the curing is desirably “Ts+30?T” (Ts: a curing start temperature (° C.) of the thermosetting powder coating material).

Abstract: A method of coating an automotive stabilizer bar having a curved portion and a straight portion includes electrically heating the stabilizer bar such that a surface temperature of the straight portion increases at a rate of 10-30° C./sec and then coating a surface of the electrically pre-heated stabilizer bar.

Abstract: A method for heating an entire spring, including regions adjacent to electrodes attached thereto, in a single electrical heating process includes (i) causing at least a pair of electrodes to make contact with the spring, and then (ii) electrically heating the spring by applying a voltage across the pair of electrodes. Each of the electrodes includes a first part having a first electric resistance value and a second part having a second electric resistance value that is higher than the first electric resistance value.

Abstract: A cable-operated device (50) suitable for use with a parking brake (10) includes a cable (54) having first end coupled to a lever (52) of a brake mechanism. A supporting member (58) supports at least one longitudinal portion of the cable (54). One end of a coil spring (56) is affixed to the lever (52) and the other end may be affixed to the supporting member (58) or a bracket (81). The cable (54) extends through at least a portion of the coil spring (56). One end of a liner (61) is affixed to the supporting member (58) and the liner (61) surrounds at least a bent portion of the coil spring (56) that is supported on a guide surface (58b).

Abstract: A push-pull cable suitable for automotive applications includes an outer cable having a hollow interior and an inner cable having a circular cross section perpendicular to its axial direction. The inner cable is slidably disposed within the hollow interior and grease is disposed in a clearance defined between an outer circumferential surface of the inner cable and an inner circumferential surface of the outer cable. The inner cable consists of a single metal wire coated with a metal plated layer, the plated layer has a thickness between 3 and 35 microns and the clearance is between 0.05 to 0.5 millimeters.

Abstract: A spring steel and spring having superior corrosion fatigue strength and a strength on the order of HRC 53 to HRC 56 are disclosed. The spring steel comprises a tempered martensite and 2.1 to 2.4% Si in terms of percent by mass of the total mass of the spring steel.

Abstract: A steel material for a solid stabilizer which has high bendability, high hardenability, and high quenching crack resistance, a solid stabilizer having high strength, and a manufacturing method of the solid stabilizer. The steel material for the solid stabilizer contains, in mass %, 0.24 to 0.40% of C, 0.15 to 0.40% of Si, 0.50 to 1.20% of Mn, 0.03% or less of P, 0.30% or less of Cr, 0.01 to 0.03% of Ti, and 0.0010 to 0.0030% of B. The steel material for the solid stabilizer satisfies a condition of formula (1) below. Hardness in a radial center portion of the steel material for the solid stabilizer after tempering is 400 HV or more, and a martensite ratio in the radial center portion after the tempering is 80% or more. 1.24<(2C+0.1Si+0.4Mn+0.4Cr)×{1+(1.5B?300B2)×240}<1.

Abstract: The present application provides a high strength spring steel and a high strength spring that have superior corrosion fatigue strength. The spring steel comprises, in terms of percent by mass, 0.35-0.55% C, 1.60-3.00% Si, 0.20-1.50% Mn, 0.10-1.50% Cr and at least one element selected from 0.40-3.00% Ni, 0.05-0.50% Mo 0.05-0.50% V, the balance being at least substantially Fe and incidental elements and impurities.

Abstract: In a cable-operated device, one end of a coil spring 56 is fixed to a brake lever and another end of the coil spring 56 is fixed to a supporting member. At least one of the brake lever and the supporting member has a guide surface 58b making contact with the coil spring 56 from a lateral direction with respect to the coil spring 56. One end portion of the coil spring 56 has a first pitch portion 56b wound with a first pitch, a second pitch portion 56a wound with a second pitch which is smaller than the first pitch, and a third pitch portion 56c wound with a third pitch which is larger than the second pitch. When a primary load is applied to the coil spring 56, a length of the coil spring 56 is 80 to 120 mm, adjacent windings of the first pitch portion are separated from each other, adjacent windings of the second pitch portion are in contact with each other, and the second pitch portion makes contact with a tip end of the guide surface 58b.

Abstract: The present application provides a method for adjusting spring characteristics of a spring to desired spring characteristics. In the adjusting method of the present application, first, the spring is compressed until a “load-displacement” measurement line obtained by measuring the load applied to the spring and the displacement of the spring meets a “load-displacement” target line determined based on “load-displacement” characteristics of the spring and the desired spring characteristics (S10-S14). Next, the spring is expanded such that the load applied to the spring decreases along the “load-displacement” target line (S18).

Abstract: A spring with high durability has a coating film composed of an epoxy resin powder coating containing softening agent which contains an epoxy resin and a softening agent comprising a thermoplastic resin for improving impact resistance of the coating film. A method of coating a spring with high durability comprises a coating step of making an epoxy resin powder coating containing softening agent which contains an epoxy resin and a softening agent comprising a thermoplastic resin for improving impact resistance of a coating film adhere to a surface on which the coating film is formed, and a baking step of baking the epoxy resin powder coating containing softening agent adhered to the surface.

Abstract: A cable-operated device (50) suitable for use with a parking brake (10) includes a cable (54) having first end coupled to a lever (52) of a brake mechanism. A supporting member (58) supports at least one longitudinal portion of the cable (54). One end of a coil spring (56) is affixed to the lever (52) and the other end may be affixed to the supporting member (58) or a bracket (81). The cable (54) extends through at least a portion of the coil spring (56). One end of a liner (61) is affixed to the supporting member (58) and the liner (61) surrounds at least a bent portion of the coil spring (56) that is supported on a guide surface (58b).

Abstract: A connecting member includes a male screw portion, a cable insertion portion, a locking portion, and a crimping portion. The male screw portion is provided at a first end of the connecting member. The cable insertion portion is provided at a second end, opposite to the first end, of the connecting member, and has a closed-bottomed hole into which one end of an inner cable is to be inserted. The locking portion is provided on outer circumference of the connecting member between a bottom of the closed-bottomed hole and the second end, and has a shape which can be caught with a part of an operation object in a circumferential direction of the male screw portion. The crimping portion is provided on the outer circumference between the bottom of the closed-bottomed hole and the second end, and configured to crimp the one end of the inner cable.

Abstract: A control cable 10 for an automotive application comprises an outer cable 14, an inner cable 12, and a foam member 16. The outer cable 14 includes an inner hollow. The inner cable 12 is slidably disposed within the inner hollow of the outer cable 14. The foam member 16 is bonded to an outer surface of the outer cable 14. The foam member 16 includes a foam material and is molded onto the outer surface of the outer cable 14.