Abstract: A method for making gas and liquid storage tanks such as automotive fuel tanks includes providing two or more blanks of air hardenable martensitic stainless steel in the annealed condition. The steel blanks have a thickness in the range of 0.5-5.0 mm., and are formed utilizing stamping, forging, pressing, or roller forming techniques or the like into the form of a tank shell components. The shell components are hardened and assembled into a storage tank. The shell components are hardened by application of heat, preferably to between 950° C. and 1100° C. for standard air hardenable martensitic stainless steels. Thereafter, the automotive fuel tank is preferably cooled at a rate greater than 25° C. per minute to achieve a Rockwell C hardness of at least 39. The automotive fuel tank may undergo additional heat treating processes including high temperature or low temperature tempering processes which may incorporate electro-coating.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for heat-treating seam-welded constructions of hardenable steel and ferrous alloys with reduced weld-zone hardness and improved weld-zone ductility and toughness. This method consists of heating the seam weld rapidly with a secondary heat source to a temperature greater than the martensitic start temperature but not greater than the lower critical temperature, followed by immediately allowing the seam weld to air-cool. The rapid tempering of this invention is particularly suited to the production of high strength hardenable alloy seam-welded pipe and tubing and other structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for welding and heat-treating seam-welded constructions of hardenable steel and ferrous alloys with reduced weld-zone hardness and improved weld-zone ductility and toughness. This method consists of controlling the cooling rate of the seam weld with a secondary heat source, applied after the weld cools below the materials upper critical temperature (AC3), but prior to the weld cooling to ambient temperature. This invention is particularly suited to the production of high strength hardenable alloy seam-welded pipe and tubing.

Abstract: A method for making structural automotive components and the like includes providing a blank of air hardenable martensitic stainless steel in the annealed condition. The steel blank has a thickness in the range of 0.5-5.0 mm., and is formed utilizing stamping, forging, pressing, or roller forming techniques or the like into the form of an automotive structural member. The automotive structural member is then hardened by application of heat, preferably to between 950° C. and 1100° C. for standard martensitic stainless steels. Thereafter, the automotive structural member is preferably cooled at a rate greater than 25° C. per minute to achieve a Rockwell C hardness of at least 39. The automotive structural member may undergo additional heat treating processes including high temperature or low temperature tempering processes which may incorporate electro-coating.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for welding and heat-treating seam-welded constructions of hardenable steel and ferrous alloys with reduced weld-zone hardness and improved weld-zone ductility and toughness. This method consists of controlling the cooling rate of the seam weld with a secondary heat source, applied after the weld cools below the materials upper critical temperature (AC3), but prior to the weld cooling to ambient temperature. This invention is particularly suited to the production of high strength hardenable alloy seam-welded pipe and tubing.

Abstract: The present invention provides seam-welded, air hardenable steel tubes, methods of manufacturing seam-welded air hardenable steel tubes, tube mills for practicing such methods and applications for using seam-welded, air hardenable steel tubing of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of manufacturing hardened stainless steel tubing, pipe, shafts and assemblies. The present inventions also provides stainless steel shafts, tubing, pipe or assemblies reinforced with stainless steel members brazed and hardened within the shafts, tubing, pipe or assemblies.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for aiding a golfer in properly aligning his stance prior to hitting a golf ball at any one of a plurality of pre-sighted targets; the principal feature of the invention is a golf mat designed to be pivotally attached to a support surface and having a pattern of lines visible to the golfer, the pivotal lines and mat positioned with respect to a plurality of pre-sighted targets so the golfer may properly align has stance prior to hitting a golf ball at the target.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of manufacturing stainless steel tubing, pipe and shafts by utilizing air hardenable stainless steel. Such pipe, tubing and shafts have the important characteristics of low weight, shaft flex, torque, bend point and strength and have many uses. The shafts include a plurality of air hardenable metal segments of selected length, thickness and shape that are assembled into a shaft. This assembly is subsequently contacted with a brazing material and then placed into a controlled, non-oxidative atmosphere furnace of a sufficient temperature such that the assembly is simultaneously brazed and hardened. The tubing can include having a brazed lock seam which provides strength. The present invention further provides reinforcing members that are also brazed within the shaft, tubing or pipe while the outer piece is hardened.

Abstract: A shaft for such items as sporting goods, including golf clubs fishing rods bicycle frames, and ski poles is constructed of metallic tubular structures. The hollow tubular shaft is brazed to a helical coil of reinforcing wire which fits snugly against the inside surface of the shaft. Brazing is accomplished by fitting the helical reinforcing wire into the tubular shaft and placing the assembly inside a controlled atmosphere or vacuum furnace where heat is applied to initiate the brazing function. By using appropriate metals and alloys the brazing and hardening is accomplished simultaneously without the use of flux. The proper choice of metals and the gauge of the metals ensures the desired strength, rigidity, and torsional characteristics of the shaft.