Abstract: A progressive die machine improves forming quality of a low formability material such as an ultra-high strength steel material, or the like, and enhances productivity by adopting rapid heating to a progressive method. The progressive die machine includes: a lower die; an upper die installed to vertically reciprocate with respect to the lower die; a material transfer unit to sequentially transfer a material in a length direction between the upper die and a lower die; a plurality of forming stations installed in the upper die and the lower die; and a rapid heating station installed to be adjacent to at least one of the plurality of forming stations.

Abstract: A liquid quench is disclosed. In one embodiment, a liquid quench apparatus for rapidly cooling a metal strand product includes: a chamber to hold a liquid, configured for placement under a drawn metal stand product, and defined by a length of a predetermined, adjustable value selected to create a desired temperature upon the stand product in a predetermined amount of time; a liquid quenchant disposed within the chamber with which to cool the strand product; a means to raise the liquid quenchant above a height of the strand product to rapidly cool the strand product to the desired temperature in the predetermined amount of time within the predetermined chamber length; and a means to adjust the temperature of the liquid quenchant to the desired temperature upon the stand product. In another embodiment, a system includes an austenitizing furnace, liquid quench, and air fluidized sand bed.

Abstract: Iron-based alloys and articles in strips, sheets, workpieces and the like are converted into high strength steel with a minimum of cost, time and effort, including producing dual phase materials. This is achievable by extremely rapid micro-treating of low, medium, and high carbon iron-based alloys and articles by rapid heating and rapid cooling at least a portion of the alloy/article. This heating step involves nearly immediately heating the iron-based alloy to a selected temperature above its austenite conversion temperature. Then, the alloy is immediately quenched, also at an extremely fast rate, on at least a portion of the iron-based alloy in a quenching unit adjacent the heating unit. This procedure forms high strength alloy in a desired area, depending upon where the treatment was performed.

Abstract: A thermal quenching installation making use of induction heating. This installation has induction heater means comprising a stationary induction coil, handling means to cause the element to pass through said coil, and cooling means, preferably a shower, disposed downstream from the coil.

Abstract: An apparatus for metallurgically heat treating a plurality of discrete individually movable aluminum alloy parts includes a plurality of successive stations for heat treating the parts. The plurality of stations are arranged in a line of travel. Infrared radiation lamps are provided at each station. A conveyor mechanism places and holds a part in a station for heat treatment. The conveyor moves the part to a subsequent station for further heat treatment. The conveyor mechanism holds the part stationary relative to the line of travel while the part is in a station being heat treated.

Abstract: A low-voltage electric heating device for application in a carburizing furnace is provided with an outer housing or sleeve for replaceable disposition within the furance, the outer housing radiating heat directly into said furnace; at least one current path conductor is positioned within the outer housing, the current path conductor being electrically connectable to a source of power and electrically insulated from a substantialy part of the outer housing. The heat radiated from the heating device is concentrated in the lower part because a current path has in series at least the current path conductor and at least a corresponding part of the outer housing, the resistance of the lower part of the outer housing being relatively large with respect to the remainder of the current path.

Abstract: In the manufacture of tubing, and particularly finned tubing, for use by the heat transfer industry in the manufacture of heat exchangers, annealed ends and lands are desirable in certain applications to facilitate the assembly of the tubes to headers and baffles by expanding techniques. Such spot-annealed portions can be produced on a continuous basis by the described apparatus in which the moving tube is passed through a heating chamber which reciprocates on a carriage in the direction of tube movement. The heating chamber has a pair of spaced, power-actuated clamps which grip the tubing at the ends of a discrete length portion. The heating chamber and carriage are moved with the tube while it is clamped to provide sufficient heating time to anneal the discrete length portion. The carriage then returns to its starting position. Heating of the discrete clamped tubing portion can be by a resistance technique through the clamps or by other techniques such as induction heating or gas radiant heat.

Abstract: In a method of treating a coil spring to improve its performance and reliability when operating at elevated temperatures, the spring is first stressed by applying a load of preselected magnitude and then, while the load is maintained, the spring is heated until it relaxes or collapses to a predetermined extent at which stage the heating is automatically discontinued and the applied load is afterwards removed. Apparatus for carrying out the method in relation to compression springs includes a spring supporting base, an overhead operating head with a vertically movable ram or plunger for applying the predetermined load, means for passing an electric heating current through each spring while beneath the operating head, and limit switch means which responds to the position of the ram or plunger and terminates the supply of heating current when the loaded spring has reached the required predetermined value of relaxation or collapse.

Abstract: In the heat treatment (quenching treatment, tempering treatment, etc.) of long metallic material, such as, large diameter steel pipe or the like, in order to stabilize the speed of travel of the material through a heat treating zone, i.e., a zone including a heating unit, such as, an induction heating coil or gas burning type heating furnace and a following cooling unit of the type utilizing either one or both of air blast and water cooling, the material is gripped by two cars which are arranged respectively at the entry and delivery ends of the zone and the cars are moved, while supporting the material by a plurality of free rotatable rollers, so as to move the material at a desired speed. In this case, one of the cars is driven and the other car applies a braking force, thus moving the material at the desired speed through the zone.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for producing low-oxygen iron-base metallic powder are disclosed. The low-oxygen iron-base metallic powder is produced by alloying and/or admixing iron-base metallic raw powder to be subjected to a final reduction, which has an apparent density in filled state corresponding to 16-57% of theoretical true density, an oxygen content of not more than 6% by weight and a particle size of not more than 1 mm, with carbon or carbonaceous granule in an amount corresponding to not more than an target alloying carbon content of a final product (% by weight) + an oxygen content of the powder just before the final reduction (% by weight) .times. 1.35 to form a starting powder, preheating the starting powder at a temperature of 780.degree.-1,130.degree. C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere having a theoretical oxygen partial pressure of not more than 2.1.times.10.sup.-1 mmHg and a dew point of not more than +5.degree. C.

Abstract: In the art electric heat treat furnaces have a frame and an open top housing of refractory brick therein including a plurality of inner walls defining a chamber throughout its height adapted to receive a molten bath such as a salt bath into which metal pieces are suspended for heat treatment. The chamber has a top entrant passage of rectangular shape. Electrodes extend transversely through the housing adjacent the chamber for the passage of current through the bath between the electrodes to maintain the bath at a predetermined heat treat temperature. A transformer having primary and secondary pads includes electric connectors between the pads and the electrodes. The improvement herein comprises a plurality of vertically spaced tiers of vertically spaced electrodes arranged along the height of the chamber.

Abstract: 1. A method of inducing rapid failure in a shape that is under stress and is composed of cold rolled steel comprising applying against a surface of said cold rolled steel shape a mixture composed of lithium metal, lithium chloride and potassium chloride, rapidly heating that mixture as well as the surface of the steel shape in contact therewith sufficiently to melt the mixture but below the annealing temperature of the steel, and maintaining that temperature until the steel shape cracks.