Abstract: Provided are a metal/CFRP composite structure which has lightweight and high strength by combining hot-pressed metal material(s) and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) material(s), and its manufacturing method and apparatus. A metal blank material is heated to a temperature at which quenching is possible to obtain a first intermediate product quenched by hot-pressing. The first intermediate product, and a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) prepreg comprising carbon fiber and uncured thermoset plastic are set into CFRP forming dies followed by press-forming the prepreg to obtain a secondary intermediate product having the CFRP in intimate contact with a surface of the first intermediate product. The CFRP and the first intermediate product are firmly adhered together by thermal curing of thermoset plastic located in the boundary of the CFRP and the first intermediate product, by subjecting the thermoset plastic contained in the CFRP prepreg to thermal curing.

Abstract: There is provided a composite structure, comprising a base member(s) made of metallic material, and a reinforcement member(s) made of fiber reinforced plastic including reinforcement fibers which are aligned in a uni-direction, wherein at least one slit is formed on the reinforcement member(s) so as to extend in an orientation direction of the reinforcement fibers.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a composite structure includes: (a) preparing: a metallic sheet(s) having a through-hole(s) penetrating throughout the metallic sheet(s) in its thickness direction; (b) setting a prepreg(s), constituting a fiber reinforced plastic sheet(s), and the metallic sheet in a pair of dies, which have a recess(es) arranged at a position(s) opposed to one side opening(s) of the through-hole(s), the recess(es) having a larger diameter than the one side opening; (c) closing the dies, wherein, upon closing, (ca) the prepreg(s) and the metallic sheet are molded to the predetermined shape, while surface-contacting therebetween, (cb) at least one of the prepreg(s) and a patch member(s) is extruded into the through-hole(s), so that the shaft part is molded, and (cc) the patch member(s) forms at least part of a head part(s) in the recess(es), the head part(s) integrated with the shaft part(s) and engaging on the metallic sheet(s).

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a vehicle skeleton member, the skeleton member including one or more groove-shaped portions extending in a predetermined direction, the method including an extrusion step and a press-working step. In the extrusion step, a sheet-shaped member including one or more first sheet-shaped portions each having a band-like shape, which extend in the predetermined direction, and second sheet-shaped portions each having a band-like shape, which extend in the predetermined direction along end portions of the first sheet-shaped portion in a width direction of the first sheet-shaped member and each have a sheet thickness smaller than a sheet thickness of the first sheet-shaped portion, is manufactured by using an extrusion molding method.

Abstract: A metal plate, a fabric formed of reinforcing fibers, and thermosetting adhesives are layered on each other in a die in a die clamping direction. The thermosetting adhesives are forced to enter the fabric by clamping the die to produce a fiber reinforced plastic material with the thermosetting adhesives therein being in an uncured state. At the same time, the fiber reinforced plastic material is molded into a shape specified by the die. The thermosetting adhesives are allowed to cure in the die to cure the molded fiber reinforced plastic material, and the fiber reinforced plastic material and the metal plate are bonded each other.

Abstract: A composite structure having a laminated structure made of fiber reinforced plastic and metallic material comprises a base member(s) made of metallic material; and a reinforcement member(s) made of fiber reinforced plastic, the reinforcement member(s) comprising: a first reinforcement part(s) made of fiber reinforced plastic including reinforcement fibers which are aligned in a uni-direction, and a second reinforcement part(s) made of fiber reinforced plastic including at least reinforcement fibers which are aligned in a crossing direction relative to the uni-direction in which the reinforcement fibers of the first reinforcement part(s) are aligned, and interposed between the base member(s) and the first reinforcement part(s), the reinforcement member(s) further comprising a thermosetting resin included in a bonding site with the base member(s).

Abstract: A composite structure having a laminated structure made of fiber reinforced plastic and metallic material comprises a base member(s) made of metallic material; and a reinforcement member(s) made of fiber reinforced plastic, the reinforcement member(s) comprising: a first reinforcement part(s) made of fiber reinforced plastic including reinforcement fibers which are aligned in a uni-direction, and a second reinforcement part(s) made of fiber reinforced plastic including at least reinforcement fibers which are aligned in a crossing direction relative to the uni-direction in which the reinforcement fibers of the first reinforcement part(s) are aligned, and interposed between the base member(s) and the first reinforcement part(s), the reinforcement member(s) further comprising a thermosetting resin included in a bonding site with the base member(s).

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a thermoelectric module comprises forming a first wax model in which the first thermoelectric elements are arranged in a predetermined pattern, forming a first mold from the first wax model, casting a group of the first thermoelectric elements by pouring molten metal of a first thermoelectric material into the first mold to solidify the molten metal, forming a second wax model that represents arrangement of second thermoelectric elements to form the thermoelectric module by being connected with the first thermoelectric elements, forming a second mold from the second wax model, casting the group of the second thermoelectric elements by pouring molten metal of a second thermoelectric material into the second mold to solidify the molten metal, and connecting the group of the first thermoelectric elements with the group of the second thermoelectric elements electrically in series.

Abstract: There is provided a composite structure, comprising a base member(s) made of metallic material, and a reinforcement member(s) made of fiber reinforced plastic including reinforcement fibers which are aligned in a uni-direction, wherein at least one slit is formed on the reinforcement member(s) so as to extend in an orientation direction of the reinforcement fibers.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a composite structure includes: (a) preparing: a metallic sheet(s) having a through-hole(s) penetrating throughout the metallic sheet(s) in its thickness direction; (b) setting a prepreg(s), constituting a fiber reinforced plastic sheet(s), and the metallic sheet in a pair of dies, which have a recess(es) arranged at a position(s) opposed to one side opening(s) of the through-hole(s), the recess(es) having a larger diameter than the one side opening; (c) closing the dies, wherein, upon closing, (ca) the prepreg(s) and the metallic sheet are molded to the predetermined shape, while surface-contacting therebetween, (cb) at least one of the prepreg(s) and a patch member(s) is extruded into the through-hole(s), so that the shaft part is molded, and (cc) the patch member(s) forms at least part of a head part(s) in the recess(es), the head part(s) integrated with the shaft part(s) and engaging on the metallic sheet(s).

Abstract: Provided are a metal/CFRP composite structure which has lightweight and high strength by combining hot-pressed metal material(s) and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) material(s), and its manufacturing method and apparatus. A metal blank material is heated to a temperature at which quenching is possible to obtain a first intermediate product quenched by hot-pressing. The first intermediate product, and a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) prepreg comprising carbon fiber and uncured thermoset plastic are set into CFRP forming dies followed by press-forming the prepreg to obtain a secondary intermediate product having the CFRP in intimate contact with a surface of the first intermediate product. The CFRP and the first intermediate product are firmly adhered together by thermal curing of thermoset plastic located in the boundary of the CFRP and the first intermediate product, by subjecting the thermoset plastic contained in the CFRP prepreg to thermal curing.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a thermoelectric module comprises forming a first wax model in which the first thermoelectric elements are arranged in a predetermined pattern, forming a first mold from the first wax model, casting a group of the first thermoelectric elements by pouring molten metal of a first thermoelectric material into the first mold to solidify the molten metal, forming a second wax model that represents arrangement of second thermoelectric elements to form the thermoelectric module by being connected with the first thermoelectric elements, forming a second mold from the second wax model, casting the group of the second thermoelectric elements by pouring molten metal of a second thermoelectric material into the second mold to solidify the molten metal, and connecting the group of the first thermoelectric elements with the group of the second thermoelectric elements electrically in series.

Abstract: A metal processing method using a tailored blank material as a raw material comprises: preliminarily bonding together a metal material having a relatively high heating rate by infrared heating and a metal material having a relatively low heating rate by infrared heating, to form an integrated metal material; and a-heating step the integrated metal material, wherein infrared heating of the integrated metal material is performed by infrared simultaneously and comprehensively; and in the integrated metal material undergoing the infrared heating, the infrared heating is terminated after a portion having the relatively high heating rate reached a predetermined temperature corresponding to a predetermined heat treatment and before a portion having the relatively low heating rate reaches the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A heating device and a heating method which is able to quickly and accurately partition each region of a material to be heated and heat up each of the region to a required temperature, and a shape and required temperature of each region is different from each other. A heating device for heating a material to be heated by applying an electromagnetic wave to the material, wherein a plate member(s) which shields, absorbs and/or reflects the irradiated electromagnetic radiation and has a predetermined pattern contour can be placed, at least partially, close to the material to be heated.

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: Provided are a quick heating equipment that is small sized, has a simple structure, consumes less energy, and is easy repairable and replaceable, and a quick heating method. The heating equipment of a plate material to be heated has a contact-heating surface configured by arranging a plurality of heating elements on heat-insulating base plates at predetermined intervals, in a planar fashion and in a predetermined pattern and the contact-heating surface(s) is/are directly contacted with the plate material to be heated for heating thereof.

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: A heating device and a heating method which is able to quickly and accurately partition each region of a material to be heated and heat up each of the region to a required temperature, and a shape and required temperature of each region is different from each other. A heating device for heating a material to be heated by applying an electromagnetic wave to the material, wherein a plate member(s) which shields, absorbs and/or reflects the irradiated electromagnetic radiation and has a predetermined pattern contour can be placed, at least partially, close to the material to be heated.

Abstract: Provided are a quick heating equipment that is small sized, has a simple structure, consumes less energy, and is easy repairable and replaceable, and a quick heating method. The heating equipment of a plate material to be heated has a contact-heating surface configured by arranging a plurality of heating elements on heat-insulating base plates at predetermined intervals, in a planar fashion and in a predetermined pattern and the contact-heating surface(s) is/are directly contacted with the plate material to be heated for heating thereof.

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.