Abstract: Stepping force can be transmitted effectively from a pad member to an arm member even when a stepping operation by the foot of an operator is performed at a position shifted in a lateral direction from the center position of the pad member in the lateral direction. The body of a brake pedal (20) that is a pedal for vehicle is formed of an arm member (21) rotatable vertically about a center shaft arranged in a proximal end portion (21A), and a pad member (22) to which a stepping operation by the foot of an operator is performed is attached to an end face (21C) of a distal end (21B) of the arm member (21). The arm member (21) is made of a pipe, and an end face (21C) of the arm member (21) to which the pad member (22) is attached has a laterally long shape.

Abstract: A butt welding apparatus and a butt welding method where end faces of at least one plate member to be welded are butted to each other to form a butt portion, and butt welding can be performed on respective plate members which have various thickness sizes on both side portions of the butt portion with electric resistance heat by a pair of electrode members which are common to the respective plate members. At least one electrode member (1) is provided on an outer face thereof with a convex portion (1A) which gradually retreats from one plate member (31) of two plate members (31, 32) as it extends from an intermediate portion, in a thickness direction, of the one electrode member (1) along the one plate member (31).

Abstract: A heat treatment operation can be executed, suppressing a wave-shaped deformation at a non heat-treatment region of an article to be heat treated. To an elongated-shaped article to be heat treated to which a raised portion extending in the longitudinal direction is formed, a hardening region, as a heat-treated region defined to extend in a longitudinal direction at a part of the raised portion, and a non-hardening region, as a non-heat-treated region defined to extend in the longitudinal direction at flange portion, and other parts of the raised portion are arranged side by side in a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The flange portion is clamped by a first and a second clamp, arranged in the longitudinal direction, and one first clamp is a tight clamp for holding fixedly the flange portion and a plurality of second clamps are loose clamps for clamping loosely the flange portion, allowing the article to be heat treated to be convex on the side of the heated hardening region.

Abstract: A butt welding apparatus, a butt welding method, and a product manufactured by the butt welding method involves two electrode rollers disposed on both the front and back sides of a thick sheet member and a thin sheet member whose end surfaces are butted. The electrode rollers bridge across the sheet members and are composed of small diameter portions on the side of the thick sheet member and large diameter portions on the side of the thin sheet member. The small diameter portions come into contact with and press the thick sheet member before the large diameter portions come into contact with the thin sheet member. Thus, the end surface of the thick sheet member swells and deforms toward the thin sheet member and reliably comes into contact with the end surface of the thin sheet member, and power is applied between the end surfaces, even if not polished.

Abstract: The present invention is a butt welding apparatus and a butt welding method where end faces of at least one plate member to be welded are butted to each other to form a butt portion, and butt welding can be performed on respective plate members to be welded which have various thickness sizes on both side portions of the butt portion with electric resistance heat by a pair of two electrode members which are made common to the respective plate members and are supplied with power. At least one electrode member (1) of a pair of electrode members (1, 2) for butt-welding two plate members (31, 32) is provided on an outer face thereof with a retreating-shaped portion (1A) which gradually retreats from one plate member (31) of the two plate members (31, 32) according to extension from an intermediate portion, in a thickness direction, of the one electrode member (1) along the one plate member (31).

Abstract: A press formed article such as a center pillar or the like for a vehicle having a demanded strength distribution achieved by hardening through induction hardening or the like, and a method and an apparatus for performing induction hardening on the press formed article. The center pillar (10) being a press formed article has an intermediate top portion (11) which extends in a longitudinal direction of the center pillar (10), and two blade portions (12) which are both bent in the same direction from both sides of the intermediate top portion (11), in which hardening regions (Q) are provided on both sides of the intermediate top portion (11), extending over the intermediate top portion (11) and the blade portions (12). These hardening regions (Q) hardened by the induction hardening apparatus are regions in a form which widens toward the end and continuously expand from the upper portion to the lower portion of the center pillar (10).

Abstract: Disclosed are a butt welding apparatus, a butt welding method, and a product manufactured by the butt welding method. Two electrode rollers (3, 4) are disposed on both the front and back sides of a thick sheet member (1) and on both the front and back sides of a thin sheet member (2) whose end surfaces (1A, 2A) are butted. The electrode rollers (3, 4) are applied with power, melt the butt portion (6) of the sheet members (1, 2) with electric resistance heat, and joint the butt portion. Further, the electrode rollers (3, 4) have a length bridging across the sheet members (1, 2) and are composed of first portions (3A, 4A) arranged as small diameter portions on the side of the thick sheet member (1) and second portions (3B, 4B) arranged as large diameter portions on the side of the thin sheet member (2). The first portions (3A, 4A) come into contact with the thick sheet member (1) and presses it before the second portions (3B, 4B) come into contact with the thin sheet member (2).

Abstract: A heat treatment operation can be executed, suppressing a wave-shaped deformation at a non heat-treatment region of an article to be heat treated. To an elongated-shaped article to be heat treated (10) to which a raised portion (11) extending in the longitudinal direction is formed, a hardening region as being a heat-treated region defined to be extended in a longitudinal direction at a part of the raised portion (11) and a non-hardening region as being non heat-treated region defined to be extended in the longitudinal direction at flange portion (13) and other parts of the raised portion (11) are arranged side by side in a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A vehicle door which can be used as a tailgate is formed of an outer panel (2) on an outer side of a vehicle, an inner panel (3) on an inner side of the vehicle, and a module plate (4) to which door parts such as a wiper motor (18) are attached, and a lining (6). The inner panel (3) is in a frame shape with only a marginal portion (10) of the whole periphery left and with an opening (11) formed therein. The module plate (4) serves as a reinforcing member and is composed of a first extending portion (13) extending in a right and left direction and a second extending portion (14) extending downward from the first extending portion (13) to be in a substantially T-shape. Connection of the module plate (4) to the outer panel (2) and the inner panel (3) reinforces the tailgate (1).

Abstract: Disclosed are a butt welding apparatus, a butt welding method, and a product manufactured by the butt welding method. Two electrode rollers (3, 4) are disposed on both the front and back sides of a thick sheet member (1) and on both the front and back sides of a thin sheet member (2) whose end surfaces (1A, 2A) are butted. The electrode rollers (3, 4) are applied with power, melt the butt portion (6) of the sheet members (1, 2) with electric resistance heat, and joint the butt portion. Further, the electrode rollers (3, 4) have a length bridging across the sheet members (1, 2) and are composed of first portions (3A, 4A) arranged as small diameter portions on the side of the thick sheet member (1) and second portions (3B, 4B) arranged as large diameter portions on the side of the thin sheet member (2). The first portions (3A, 4A) come into contact with the thick sheet member (1) and presses it before the second portions (3B, 4B) come into contact with the thin sheet member (2).

Abstract: A vehicle door which can be used as a tailgate or a side door of a vehicle and a manufacturing method of this vehicle door is provided. A tailgate (1) which is a vehicle door is formed of an outer panel (2) on an outer side of a vehicle, an inner panel (3) on an inner side of the vehicle, and a module plate (4) to which door parts such as a wiper motor (18) are attached, and a lining (6). The inner panel (3) is in a frame shape with only a marginal portion (10) of the whole periphery left and with an opening (11) formed therein, which results in reduction in the weight of the tailgate (1).

Abstract: A vehicle door which can be used as a tailgate or a side door of a vehicle and a manufacturing method of this vehicle door is provided. A tailgate (1) which is a vehicle door is formed of an outer panel (2) on an outer side of a vehicle, an inner panel (3) on an inner side of the vehicle, and a module plate (4) to which door parts such as a wiper motor (18) are attached, and a lining (6). The inner panel (3) is in a frame shape with only a marginal portion (10) of the whole periphery left and with an opening (11) formed therein, which results in reduction in the weight of the tailgate (1).

Abstract: A press formed article such as a center pillar or the like for a vehicle having a demanded strength distribution achieved by hardening through induction hardening or the like, and a method and an apparatus for performing induction hardening on the press formed article. The center pillar (10) being a press formed article has an intermediate top portion (11) which extends in a longitudinal direction of the center pillar (10), and two blade portions (12) which are both bent toward the same side from both sides of the intermediate top portion (11), in which hardening regions (Q) are provided on both sides of the intermediate top portion (11), extending over the intermediate top portion (11) and the blade portions (12). These hardening regions (Q) hardened by the induction hardening apparatus are regions in the form, widening toward the end, which continuously expands from the upper portion to the lower portion of the center pillar (10).

Abstract: A vehicle door which can be used as a tailgate or a side door of a vehicle and a manufacturing method of this vehicle door. A tailgate (1) which is a vehicle door is formed of an outer panel (2) on an outer side of a vehicle, an inner panel (3) on an inner side of the vehicle, and a module plate (4) to which door parts such as a wiper motor (18) are attached, and a lining (6). The inner panel (3) is in a frame shape with only a marginal portion (10) of the whole periphery left and with an opening (11) formed therein, which results in reduction in the weight of the tailgate (1).