Abstract: A method of making a high strength head-hardened crane rail and the crane rail produced by the method. The method comprises the steps of providing a steel rail having a composition comprising, in weight percent: C 0.79-1.00%; Mn 0.40-1.00; Si 0.30-1.00; Cr 0.20-1.00; V 0.05-0.35; Ti 0.01-0.035; N 0.002 to 0.0150; and the remainder being predominantly iron. The steel rail is cooled from a temperature between about 700 and 800° C. at a cooling rate having an upper cooling rate boundary plot defined by an upper line connecting xy-coordinates (0 s, 800° C.), (40 s, 700° C.), and (140 s, 600° C.) and a lower cooling rate boundary plot defined by a lower line connecting xy-coordinates (0 s, 700° C.), (40 s, 600° C.), and (140 s, 500° C.).

Abstract: A rail manufacturing method is provided, in which a billet is hot-rolled into a rail form and the rail is cooled to ambient temperature. The foot part of the rail can be mechanically restrained to improve the straightness of the rail during at least the period of cooling where the surface temperature is between 800° C. and 400° C. In the subsequent cooling process, at least while the surface temperature of the foot of the rail is between 400° C. and 250° C., the rail is kept in an upright state, and cooled naturally without using insulation or accelerated cooling.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing articles (8) in hardenable metal materials, a shaped workpiece (5.1, 5.2) with closed cross-section is hardened. The hardened workpiece (5.1, 5.2) is separated into at least two parts, where each part constitutes one shaped open cross-section. The invention also concerns a manufacturing process and a production line for the manufacture of articles (8) in hardenable metal materials.

Abstract: Process and device for hardening a rail. The process for hardening a rail or part thereof by transforming it from an austenitic structure into a different microstructure that is stable at room temperature comprises aligning, horizontally positioning, and fixing in axial alignment to secure against bending, the rail in its austenitic state; and while keeping the rail fixed in axial alignment and secured against bending, force-cooling the rail or part thereof to allow the austenitic structure to be transformed into said different microstructure. The device for hardening a rail or part thereof by force-cooling comprises a support for supporting the rail; a cooling device for force-cooling the rail or part thereof; and at least two fixing devices for axially aligning and securing the rail against bending during the force-cooling.

Abstract: Method for heat-treating profiled rolling stock, including track and railroad rails, having a profiled surface and increased heat removal from portions of the profiled surface during cooling in the gamma range of an iron based alloy material. The method includes aligning the profiled rolling stock, at an average temperature of between 750° C. and 1100° C., straight in its longitudinal direction by plastic shaping, and moving the aligned profiled rolling stock, in its aligned state, in a transverse direction and holding same there. The method also includes evenly cooling of the aligned profiled rolling stock, in a first cooling, to a temperature below 860° C.

Abstract: A process for hardening a plurality of holed flat parts. The holed flat parts are heated by inserting a cantilever hanger into the holes of the holed flat parts to support them in vertical positions within a furnace. The holed flat parts are then removed from the hanger by inserting a moving fork into the holes of the holed flat parts and moved to a cooling section while being supported in the vertical positions on the moving fork. Then, the holed flat parts in the vertical positions are quenched in the cooling section by blowing a gas downward to them. Also disclosed is an apparatus for practicing the holed flat part hardening process.

Abstract: This is a method for heat assisted forming, annealing, and hardening 360.degree. sheet metal shapes in a clean environment in a single facility that results in dimensionally correct, cost-effective, contaminant free parts.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rail for use in a linear motion rolling contact guide unit is provided. A rail intermediate product having a top surface, a pair of side surfaces, each formed with a guide groove portion, and a bottom surface is provided by drawing from an alloy steel material. Then the guide groove portion is hardened by induction hardening. The side surface is then ground by a profiled grinder having a grinding shape complementary to the shape of a side surface of a finished rail.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rail for use in a linear motion rolling contact guide unit is provided. A rail intermediate product having a top surface, a pair of side surfaces, each formed with a guide groove portion, and a bottom surface is provided by drawing from an alloy steel material. Then the guide groove portion is hardened by induction hardening. The side surface is then ground by a profiled grinder having a grinding shape complementary to the shape of a side surface of a finished rail.