Abstract: In the production equipment for a precipitation hardened alloy strip, a solution treatment unit includes a heating chamber provided to heat the material alloy strip having a precipitation hardening alloy composition to a temperature of not lower than a recrystallization temperature but not higher than a melting point, a cooling chamber located adjacent to the heating chamber, and a pair of cooling rolls incorporated in the cooling chamber to hold therebetween and cool down the material alloy strip heated in the heating chamber. This production equipment can quench the material alloy strip to form a solid solution supersaturated with precipitation hardening elements and thereby forming a precipitation hardened alloy strip having a good shape and a favorable surface condition.

Abstract: A cooling device and a cooling method for a hot strip allow uniform and stable cooling of the strip at a high cooling rate when supplying the coolant to the upper surface of the hot strip. The cooling device includes an upper header unit 21 for supplying a rod-like flow to the upper surface of the strip 10. The upper header unit 21 is formed of the first upper header group including plural first upper headers 21a arranged in a conveying direction and a second upper header group including plural second upper headers 21b arranged in the conveying direction. The cooling device is provided with an ON-OFF mechanism 30 to allow each of the upper headers 21a and 21b of the first and the second upper header groups to independently execute the ON-OFF control (start/end injection control) of an injection (feeding) of the rod-like flow.

Abstract: Process for the in-line thermal treatment of rolled rails which ensures to obtain a fine pearlitic structure which is uniform through a whole predetermined superficial thickness of the rail head. There is also disclosed a new device for the thermal treatment of rails in-line with a rolling system which, as compared to the known devices, is structurally much simpler, has a high sturdiness and requires less maintenance.

Abstract: A method of cooling both surfaces of steel plate, which stably secures precision of cooling control from a start of cooling to an end so as to uniformly cool the top and bottom surfaces of the steel plate and thereby stably secures the steel plate quality and cools the steel plate down to a target temperature with a good precision. The method comprises dividing a steel plate cooling region into at least a spray impact part region and a spray non-impact part region, predicting a heat transfer coefficient for each divided region in advance, computing a predicted temperature history of the steel plate based on this predicted value, and setting and controlling amounts of sprayed coolant on the spray impact part regions by top and bottom surface nozzles.

Abstract: In order to cool a metal strip (2) which moves in a continuous manner: the strip (2) is pressed onto a main cooling roller (10) so that the strip forms an arc whose inner face delimits, with the outer face of this roller, a contact zone which is suitable for discharging part of the heat of the strip towards the inner side of the roller, the strip (2) is held in contact with the main cooling roller (10) by means of a support roller (14) on the outer face of the strip, which roller is constituted by a resiliently deformable and thermo-capacitive material, and the heat transmitted from the strip (2) to the support roller (14) is discharged using secondary cooling means (16).

Abstract: A heat exchanger which has i) a fin material comprising a triple-layer clad material constituted of a core material composed of an aluminum alloy containing from 0.5 to 1.8% by weight of Mn and from 0.5 to 3.0% by weight of Zn and, provided on both sides of the core material, a brazing filler material composed of an Al—Si alloy containing from 6.5 to 13.0% by weight of Si and from 0.15 to 0.60% by weight of Cu and ii) an aluminum alloy tube having a Zn concentrated surface; the both having been brazed with each other; wherein, after brazing, recrystallized grains of the core material have an average length of from 100 to 1,000 ?m in the lengthwise section of a fin and the recrystallized grains of the core material are 4 or less in average number in the thickness direction of that lengthwise section. This heat exchanger is improved in the durability of fin joints and fins themselves and their strength after corrosion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quenching steel plates after they come from an austenitizing furnace. The plates are rotated to a vertical orientation and rapidly submerged into a water bath while being held flat between reciprocating rolls. The superior uniformity and severity of the quench produces plates of commercial flatness and uniform mechanical properties throughout in an apparatus of simple construction and low energy consumption.

Abstract: An experiment is conducted in advance, for finding a temperature of a cooling plate attained as a result of balancing between a temperature of a substrate after heat treatment and a temperature of the cooling plate at the time of cooling of the substrate. Then, before heat treatment of a first substrate, the cooling plate is moved to a position above a hot plate, the cooling plate is heated to that temperature, and thereafter heat treatment of the substrate is started.

Abstract: A process for producing a ferritically rolled steel strip, in which liquid steel is cast in a continuous-casting machine (1) to form a slab and, utilizing the casting heat, is conveyed through a furnace device (7) undergoes preliminary rolling in a preliminary rolling device (10) and, in a final rolling device (14), is finishing-rolled to form the ferritic steel strip with a desired final thickness, in which process, in a completely continuous, an endless or a semi-endless process, the slab is rolled in the austenitic range in the preliminary rolling device (10) and, after rolling in the austenitic range, is cooled to a temperature at which the steel has a substantially ferritic structure, and the strip is rolled, in the final rolling device, at speeds which substantially correspond to the speed at which it enters the final rolling device (14) and the following thickness reduction stages, and in at least one stand of the final rolling device (14), the strip is ferritically rolled at a temperature of between 8

Abstract: Process for producing a steel strip or sheet, in which liquid steel is cast in a continuous-casting machine to form a thin plate and, while making use of the casting heat, is fed through a furnace device, is roughed in a roughing stand to a pass-over thickness and is rerolled in a finishing rolling stand to form a steel strip or sheet of the desired final thickness, in which (a) to produce a ferritically rolled steel strip, the strip, the plate or a part thereof is fed without interruption at least from the furnace device, at speeds which essentially correspond to the speed of entry into the roughing stand and the following reductions in thickness, from the roughing stand to a processing device which is disposed downstream of the finishing rolling stand, the strip coming out of the roughing stand being cooled to a temperature at which the steel has an essentially ferritic structure; (b) to produce an austenitically rolled steel strip, the strip coming out of the roughing roll is brought to or held at a temper

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of steel products and products thus produced, wherein steel is subjected to precipitation hardening in a martensitic structure subsequent to soft annealing and thereafter shaping. The method steps include shaping followed by solution annealing between 1200° C. and 1050° C., quenching from the solution annealing temperature with a quenching speed of at least 5° C. per second to a temperature below 500° C., subjecting said steel to an isothermal martensitic transformation and subsequently hardening the steel at a temperature between 450° C. and 550° C. to precipitate particles out from solution into said martensitic structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high strength thin excellent workability and galvanizability, having a composition comprising from 0.01 to 0.20 wt. % C, up to 1.0 wt. % Si, from 1.0 to 3.0 wt. % Mn, up to 0.10 wt. % P, up to 0.05 wt. % S, up to 0.10 wt. % Al, up to 0.010 wt. % N, up to 1.0 wt. % Cr, from 0.001 to 1.00 wt. % Mo, and the balance Fe and incidental impurities, wherein a band structure comprising a secondary phase has a thickness satisfying the relation Tb/T≦0.005 (where, Tb: average thickness of the band structure in the thickness direction of steel sheet; T: steel sheet thickness), and a manufacturing method thereof, and a manufacturing method of a high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheet or a high strength galvannealed steel sheet applying hot-dip galvanizing or further galvannealing, and giving an excellent workability, a high tensile strength, and excellent galvanizability, coating adhesion and corrosion resistance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a trailer hitch assembly for use with automobiles, trucks and other vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly comprises a crossbeam assembly and a pair of side brackets disposed on opposite ends of the crossbeam assembly. The crossbeam assembly and the side brackets are made of an ultra-high-strength steel material having a bainitic microstructure. The trailer hitch is fabricated from boron steel preheated to a temperature in the austenite range. The steel is then formed while in the austenite range in a forming die then subsequently quenched to achieve a bainitic microstructure and assembled as a trailer hitch.

Abstract: A system for cooling a hot rolled steel product at a retarded cooling rate comprises a laying head for forming the product into a continuous series of rings. A conveyor receives the rings from the laying head at a receiving station and transports the rings in a non-concentric overlapping pattern through a cooling zone to a reforming station at which the rings are delivered from the conveyor and gathered into upstanding coils. The rings are covered with a granular insulation material while being transported through the cooling zone.

Abstract: A heat treat fixture is provided for supporting thin sheet-like work pieces, such as metal gasket layers, during heat treatment to achieve uniform hardness and properties of the work piece while preventing warpage. The fixture has porous, planar support walls that engage the opposite sides of the work piece. The walls include a coarse porous exoskeleton of expanded metal and an inner liner of wire mesh panels that are considerably finer than the coarse exoskeleton. The porous walls permit liquid heating and cooling media during heat treatment to flow freely through the walls for intimate contact with the work piece to achieve rapid uniform heating and cooling. The work piece is supported by the porous walls against movement out of its plane while being permitted to expand and contract within its plane to minimize warpage.

Abstract: Apparatus which eliminates the risk of forming wrinkles on a strip conveyed through a cooling furnace of a continuous heat-treatment plant, especially an annealing or galvanizing furnace, through which the strip is conveyed by rolls, the latter being heated by contact with the strip over its width, the risk of forming wrinkles occuring during a change of strip width when the following strip is wider, the latter consequently passing over rolls that have preserved the imprint of the thermal expansion due to the previous strip, wherein the heating elements are positioned close to and beneath the rolls, over the entire width of the furnace, and, on the opposite side of the rolls from the said heating elements, panels are positioned which are aligned so as, together with the wall of the furnace, to form a warm chamber, the continuously moving strip serving as a heat shield so that only that part of the roll which is not covered by the strip is heated by the said heating elements.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for quenching workpieces. The workpieces are exposed to a flow of a quenchant fluid. The flow is reversed in its direction. The workpieces are moved through the flow along an axis being essentially transversely to the axis of fluid flow. The workpieces are also reversingly moved.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for performing thermomechanical processing of gears in which precise control of the thermal, metallurgical and mechanical action during the forming process is maintained. The apparatus comprises an induction heating system which reaustenitizes the surface of the gear with minimum decarburization, a material transfer system which provides timely operations on the work piece, tooling and fixture adjustments which provide accurate initial conditions for forming, and a process control architecture that provides the precise sequence and timing necessary to achieve metallurgically sound and dimensionally accurate gears. The induction heating cycle can be controlled from the peak, average or minimum gear surface temperature detected with a high response optical pyrometer. An inert environment is maintained around the workpiece during the induction heating and transfer to quenching above the M.sub.s temperature.

Abstract: A method and for the heat treatment of at least one metal wire (1), chararized by passing the wire (1) within at least one pair of thermal transfer plates (2, 2a, 2b) between two grooves (8, 8a, 8b) made in the two plates (2, 2a, 2b) of each of said pairs, adjusting the variable distance (E) between the plates, so that the wire (1) is directly in contact with a gas (11) which is practically without forced ventilation and is disposed between the grooves (8, 8a, 8b).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling a metal strip, the apparatus having a header that receives and directs a curtain of water across the strip, a water collector on one side of the curtain of water and a source of air on the opposite side of the curtain of water arranged to direct a flow of air across the curtain of water and divert water into the water collector. A deflector is arranged to interrupt at least a portion of the flow of air such that at least a portion of the wall of water contacts and cools the strip of metal. The flow of air is provided at a pressure of about 50 to 100 psi and, with the flow of air completely blocked by a deflector, the strip of metal is cooled completely across the width of the strip.