Abstract: An induction heating coil for stably heating a steel tube which is being fed in its axial direction without rotating, the heating being uniform in the circumferential direction and in a narrow range in the axial direction has at least two 1-turn coils in the form of a first turn coil body and a second turn coil body. The inner peripheral length Ln (the non-effective coil length) where the effective number of coil turns is less than the total number of coil turns when the coil is projected in the axial direction and the inner peripheral length LO of the projected coil bodies (the inner coil length) satisfy Ln/LO <0.05. First and second coil bodies have insulating portions on their connecting portions, and the insulating portions are present in locations separated by a central angle of 5-45° measured from the center of the coil bodies.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus and a working system which can position a workpiece with better accuracy at a lower cost and in a reduced space even when the workpiece is heavy are provided. The positioning apparatus has 3 robot arms (1)-(3) each having an arm and an actuator which drives the arm, a mounting platform (5) which is supported by the ends of the three robot arms (1)-(3), a securing jig (6) which secures a workpiece W which is mounted on the mounting platform (5) to the mounting platform (5), and a controller (9) which controls the operation of each of the actuators.

Abstract: A camshaft-manufacturing method includes: a split die group preparation step; a processing preparation step of preparing a cam including a through-hole, a cam body which is smaller than each of the cam accommodation portions, and ribs which are provided on both sides in a thickness direction of the cam body and configured to be fitted into the rib accommodation portions, and a hollow shaft, accommodating the cam body in the cam accommodation portion and fitting the ribs in the rib accommodation portion, and inserting the hollow shaft into the through-hole of the cam; and a processing step of performing hydroform processing, and fixing the cam to the hollow shaft by expanding the hollow shaft.

Abstract: A bending apparatus has (a) a first manipulator which feeds a hollow metal blank of closed cross section in its lengthwise direction, (b) a second manipulator which supports a first support means disposed at a first position and a metal blank while feeding it, a heating means disposed at a second position downstream of the first position in the blank feed direction for heating all or part of the circumference of the blank, and a cooling means disposed at a third position downstream of the second position for cooling a portion of the heated blank, and (c) a third manipulator which constitutes a second support means disposed at a fourth position downstream of the third position in the feed direction of the blank and which moves two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting at least one location of the metal blank to bend the metal blank into a desired shape.

Abstract: Provided is a high frequency induction heating apparatus capable of quenching a workpiece having an outward flange, over the whole circumference by means of a frequency with which a penetration depth of an electromagnetic wave is larger than a sheet thickness of the workpiece. The high frequency induction heating apparatus includes a high frequency induction heating coil used for heating a long hollow steel workpiece having a closed cross section and an outward flange, in 3DQ in which a bending member is manufactured from the workpiece. The high frequency induction heating coil includes a magnetic material core facing each other between which both faces of the outward flange are interposed, having a distance from both faces, and an induction heating coil connected to the magnetic material core and arranged surrounding an outer circumference of a general portion where the outward flange is excluded from the workpiece.

Abstract: A heat treated galvannealed steel material having excellent post-painting corrosion resistance and a high strength which is suitable for use as an automotive part and a method for its manufacture are provided. A galvannealed steel material having a galvannealed coating on at least one side thereof is heat treated by heating at least a portion thereof to a temperature range in which hardening is possible. The coating remaining on the surface of at least a part of the portion which underwent heat treatment has a coating weight of at least 20 g/m2 and at most 80 g/m2 per side and an Fe content of at least 15% and at most 35%, an ? phase is present in the coating, and the centerline average roughness Ra of the surface of the coating is at most 1.5 ?m.

Abstract: A method for three-dimensionally bending a workpiece comprises feeding the workpiece by a feeding unit provided at an upstream side of the workpiece, supporting the workpiece by a supporting unit at a downstream side of the feeding unit, processing the workpiece by clamping the workpiece with a three-dimensionally movable unit that is provided downstream of the supporting unit, heating a local part of the workpiece in a temperature range which allows quenching to be performed, applying a bending moment to the heated local part of the workpiece by the three-dimensionally movable unit in association with the supporting position and/or the moving speed of the workpiece after the heating step, and rapidly quenching the heated portion. Even when a high-strength workpiece is bent, it is possible to effectively obtain a product having excellent shape fixability and uniform hardness distribution at low costs for wide application for bending sophisticated automobile parts.

Abstract: A three-dimensionally bending machine comprises a supporting unit to support a workpiece and a feeding unit to feed the workpiece from an upstream side of the workpiece. A heating and cooling unit, provided around the outer circumference of a portion of the workpiece downstream of said supporting unit heats the portion of workpiece in a temperature range for plastic deformation and quenches and rapidly cools the deformed workpiece. A three-dimensionally movable unit, provided downstream of said heating and cooling unit, supports the metal material and controls the supporting position and/or the moving speed of the metal material to apply the bending moment in association with a feed amount, a heating amount, and a cooling amount of the workpiece. Even when a high-strength workpiece is bent, a workpiece having excellent shape fixability and uniform hardness distribution can be made, especially for application to sophisticated automobile parts.

Abstract: A method for three-dimensionally bending a workpiece comprises feeding the workpiece by a feeding unit provided at an upstream side of the workpiece, supporting the workpiece by a supporting unit at a downstream side of the feeding unit, processing the workpiece by clamping the workpiece with a three-dimensionally movable unit that is provided downstream of the supporting unit, heating a local part of the workpiece in a temperature range which allows quenching to be performed, applying a bending moment to the heated local part of the workpiece by the three-dimensionally movable unit in association with the supporting position and/or the moving speed of the workpiece after the heating step, and rapidly quenching the heated portion. Even when a high-strength workpiece is bent, it is possible to effectively obtain a product having excellent shape fixability and uniform hardness distribution at low costs for wide application for bending sophisticated automobile parts.

Abstract: A side structure for an automobile body has an A-pillar having a first portion which has a closed cross section and which is connected to a side sill and extends upwards, and a second portion which has a closed cross section and which is continuous with the first portion and extends along a slope therefrom, and a roof rail side member which has a closed cross section and which is continuous with the A-pillar and is connected to a B-pillar. The side reinforcing member having a closed cross section and a shape which is bent three-dimensionally and which is constituted by a single member in the axial direction and has undergone high frequency quenching is disposed so a to extend at least inside the second portion and inside the roof rail side member to be positioned to the rear of the connection with the B-pillar.

Abstract: A three-dimensionally bending machine comprises a supporting unit to support a workpiece and a feeding unit to feed the workpiece from an upstream side of the workpiece. A heating and cooling unit, provided around the outer circumference of a portion of the workpiece downstream of said supporting unit heats the portion of workpiece in a temperature range for plastic deformation and quenches and rapidly cools the deformed workpiece. A three-dimensionally movable unit, provided downstream of said heating and cooling unit, supports the metal material and controls the supporting position and/or the moving speed of the metal material to apply the bending moment in association with a feed amount, a heating amount, and a cooling amount of the workpiece. Even when a high-strength workpiece is bent, a workpiece having excellent shape fixability and uniform hardness distribution can be made, especially for application to sophisticated automobile parts.

Abstract: A lightweight hollow member having a high strength such as at least 780 MPa, a complicated shape which can be applied to automotive parts, a high stiffness, and excellent impact properties, and a manufacturing apparatus and method which can form the hollow member by simple steps and which use relatively small and inexpensive forming equipment are provided. The manufacturing apparatus 10 has a feed unit 11 which feeds a hollow steel material being worked 20 having a closed transverse cross-sectional shape in its lengthwise direction, a support unit 12 which supports the material being worked 20 while it is being fed at a first position A, a heating unit 13 which heats the material being worked 20 at a second position B, a transverse cross-sectional shape modifying unit 14 which carries out working to modify the transverse cross-sectional shape of the material being worked 20 at a third position C, and a cooling unit 15 which cools the material being worked 20 at a fourth position D.

Abstract: A bent member having a bent portion with an extremely small bend radius is manufactured by supporting a rectangular tube by a first support means disposed at a first position A while performing relative feeding of the rectangular tube in its lengthwise direction, locally heating the rectangular tube by a heating means disposed at a second position B, cooling the rectangular tube by a cooling means disposed at a third position C, and at the time of working, applying a shear force to the heated portion of the rectangular tube with a shear force applying means 14 disposed in a downstream region D by moving the device 14 two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally simultaneously in the feed direction of the rectangular tube and in a direction generally parallel to a transverse cross section in the lengthwise direction of the rectangular tube which was heated by the heating means.

Abstract: A lightweight hollow member having excellent stiffness and impact properties and which is suitable for automotive parts due to having a high strength such as at least 780 MPa and a complicated shape is provided. A hollow member 11 has a hollow steel body 14. The body 14 is constituted by a single member at least in the lengthwise direction. The body 14 has a flat cross section having at least a portion with a maximum outer dimension L1 and a portion with an outer dimension L2 shorter than the maximum outer dimension L1. The body 14 has a twisted portion in a portion of its length.

Abstract: A side structure for an automobile body has an A-pillar having a first portion which has a closed cross section and which is connected to a side sill and extends upwards, and a second portion which has a closed cross section and which is continuous with the first portion and extends along a slope therefrom, and a roof rail side member which has a closed cross section and which is continuous with the A-pillar and is connected to a B-pillar. The side reinforcing member having a closed cross section and a shape which is bent three-dimensionally and which is constituted by a single member in the axial direction and has undergone high frequency quenching is disposed so a to extend at least inside the second portion and inside the roof rail side member to be positioned to the rear of the connection with the B-pillar.

Abstract: A bent member having excellent dimensional accuracy is manufactured by stably forming a high temperature portion uniformly in the circumferential direction of a steel tube and in a narrow region in the axial direction of the steel. The bent member is manufactured by supporting a steel tube at a first position while feeding it, performing induction heating of the steel tube at a second position with an induction heating coil, cooling the steel tube at a third position to form a high temperature portion which moves in the axial direction of the steel tube, and three-dimensionally varying the position of a gripping mechanism for the steel tube in a region to apply a bending moment to the high temperature portion.

Abstract: A bent metal member has a body formed from a tubular metal material and has a shape which is bent two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally. The surface of the body has a Zn-based coating which contains an ? phase and which satisfies the following condition: coating weight: at most 90 g/m2 per side, Fe content: 8-35 mass %, and a surface roughness Ra prescribed by WS B 0601: at most 2.0 ?m. The bent metal member can have a closed cross section, an open cross section, or a shaped cross section.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus and a working system which can position a workpiece with better accuracy at a lower cost and in a reduced space even when the workpiece is heavy are provided. The positioning apparatus has 3 robot arms (1)-(3) each having an arm and an actuator which drives the arm, a mounting platform (5) which is supported by the ends of the three robot arms (1)-(3), a securing jig (6) which secures a workpiece W which is mounted on the mounting platform (5) to the mounting platform (5), and a controller (9) which controls the operation of each of the actuators.

Abstract: A bending apparatus which manufactures a bent metal member with high productivity and excellent dimensional has a first support mechanism, which supports a steel tube while feeding it, a heating mechanism, which heats all or a portion of the steel tube, a cooling mechanism, which forms a high temperature portion in part of the steel tube by cooling a portion of the heater steel tube, a second support mechanism, which imparts a bending moment to the high temperature portion and bends the steel tube to a desired shape by moving two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting at least a portion of the steel tube, and a deformation preventing mechanism, which prevents deformation of the steel tube. At least one of the second support mechanism and the deformation preventing mechanism has a chuck which has a tubular member with a circular, polygonal, or special transverse cross section for gripping the steel tube.

Abstract: A bending apparatus for manufacturing a bent member from a steel pipe with high dimensional accuracy and high productivity can be installed in a small space with good maintainability. The apparatus has a feed mechanism for feeding a steel pipe in its lengthwise direction, a first support mechanism for supporting the steel pipe while feeding it, a heating mechanism for heating a part or all of the steel pipe being fed, a cooling mechanism for cooling the portion of the heated steel pipe being fed, a second support mechanism for imparting a bending moment to the heated portion of the steel pipe to bend the steel pipe into a desired shape by moving two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting the fed steel pipe in at least one location, and a deformation preventing mechanism for preventing deformation of the steel pipe. The feed mechanism is a vertically articulated robot having seven axes.