Abstract: Magnetic heat treatment of steel, characterized by transforming steel containing about 0.01 to 2.0 mass % of carbon in a magnetic field having a gradient of about 0.1 T/cm or more and about 10 T/cm or less (absolute value) at the Curie point or lower, to effectively refine the microstructure by subjecting the steel to heat treatment in a strong magnetic field having a gradient, followed by advantageously improving the mechanical properties of the steel.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for manufacture of DR (Double Rolled) steel strip in which a continuous annealing furnace is arranged for annealing of cold-reduced steel strip passing continuously through said furnace, and a rolling mill for cold-rolling of steel strip is arranged to receive in-line the output of annealed steel strip from said furnace. The mill has at least one roll stand having a pair of work rolls of which only one is driven externally. Rolling fluid, preferably free of mineral oil, is supplied to the strip being rolled in the rolling mill, and is removed from the strip prior to entry of the strip to downstream tension-applying means.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a method for manufacturing a spring band clip, wherein an alloyed steel is shaped, annealed, levelled into a narrow band, then shaped by stamping and bending into a non-machined clip, and the surface of the non-machined clip is smoothed and treated to produce resistance to corrosion; wherein the steel comprises iron as the main component and one or more of the following components by weight: 0.32 to 0.55% C; up to 2.0% Si; up to 2.0% Mn; up to 0.04% P; up to 0.04% S; 17.5 to 20% Cr; up to 1% Ni; 0.5 to 2.5% Mo; up to 0.5% V; up to 0.1% Al; up to 0.1% Co; up to 0.4% Cu; up to 0.4% Pb; up to 0.1% Se; up to 0.1% Te; up to 0.005% Ti; up to 0.1% W; up to 0.05% Zr; up to 0.01% O.sub.2 ; up to 0.01% N; up to 0.1% Bi; up to 0.001% B; up to 0.05% Nb; wherein the non-machined clip is austenitized prior to being smoothed and is converted into martensite by heat treatment in a salt-, oil-, or water bath, or by quenching at about the austenitizing temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of working a hot-rolled stainless steel strip, particularly an austenitic stainless strip, with the intention of reducing the thickness and enhancing the mechanical strength of the strip. The method is characterized bycold-rolling the hot-rolled strip with at least a 10% thickness reduction to a thickness which is at least 2% and at most 10% greater than the intended final thickness of the finished product;annealing the thus cold-rolled strip at a temperature of between 1,050.degree. C. and 1,250.degree. C.; andcold-stretching the strip after the annealing process so as to plasticize and permanently elongate the strip and therewith reducing its thickness by 2-10%.

Abstract: A method of making flat steel strapping or strip from rods, bars or slit steel includes the steps of heating a piece of steel to an elevated temperature greater than the upper critical temperature, hot rolling the steel and quenching the rolled steel from a temperature that is above the upper critical temperature or in the range of the lower critical temperature to the upper critical temperature.

Abstract: A process for making steel wear plates for use as railroad car truck side frame/bolster damping components utilizes the sequential steps of heating, pressing, quenching and then tempering. The heating process includes bringing the wear plate to a temperature of approximately 1750.degree. F. so that the plate is essentially 100 percent austenite. Generally uniform pressure is applied to the plate while heated to bring the plate to a desired flatness. Quenching fluid is thereafter applied to the flattened plate, while maintaining pressure thereon, to bring the plate to a predetermined brinnell hardness, a predetermined temperature, and a metallurgical characteristic of at least 90 percent martensite. The plate is thereafter tempered at a temperature of from 910.degree.-940.degree. F. for a period of time sufficient to bring the plate to a brinnell hardness less than the hardness after quenching.

Abstract: A thermomechanical method for improving the fatigue characteristics of a metallic material (for example carbon steel and low alloy steel) takes advantage of the materials' plastic flow characteristics to improve external and internal surface conditions. The material is heated to a temperature in the range of about 0.3 to 0.45 its homologous temperature, e.g., from about 200 degrees C to about the Young's Modulus Transition Temperature of said material. While the temperature of the material is in this range, force is applied to the material to produce in at least the region of said material to be treated a tensile stress level greater than the yield point of said material at the temperature, and thereby to produce limited plastic elongation in the region. The material is then cooled under stress, the stress being maintained above the instantaneous yield point of the material during at least part of the cooling process. As a result of this process, the shape of existing stress raisers (e.g.

Abstract: A method for stress-relieving a flame-hardened component by vibrating the workpiece as it is being flame-hardened, and then vibrating the workpiece after it has been flame-hardened, measuring the workpiece to detect warpage, straightening the workpiece to remove the warpage, and then vibrating the workpiece to remove any stresses created by the straightening step.

Abstract: A method of hardening and flattening a viscous coupling plate generally combining a heat treatment process followed by roller leveling is disclosed. The heat treatment process produces an epsilon iron nitride surface layer of the desired hardness on the plate. Subsequent to the heat treatment, the plates are passed through a series of leveling rolls to produce a sufficiently flat plate. The flat rolling process can incorporate a single pass or multiple passes through the leveling rolls. The method of the present invention eliminates any distortion in the plates and brings them within any required flatness specifications, as well as producing viscous coupling plates that exhibit improved resistance to permanent deformation under operating conditions.