Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a shaft, and surfaces of a pair of metal sheets are polished, and the metal sheets are each bent into a cylindrical or arcuate shape. The polished end surfaces of the metal sheets are butted together with the end surfaces facing each other. The butted end portions are diffusion-joined, thereby forming a cylindrical member. The cylindrical member is cooled, and ends of the cylindrical member are joined to linking members to form the shaft.

Abstract: A method disclosed herewith is a method for producing a first seamless metal tube with a first wall thickness and a second seamless metal tube with a second wall thickness by using a three-roll-type inclined rolling mill, and the method includes a first inclination rolling step (#5), a setting changing step (#10), and a second inclination rolling step (#15). At the first inclination rolling step, a first workpiece is rolled by the inclined rolling mill. At the setting changing step, a setup condition of the inclined rolling mill is changed in a manner (a) or (b) as described below. At the second inclined rolling step, a second workpiece is rolled by the inclined rolling mill under the changed condition. (a) When the second wall thickness is smaller than the first wall thickness, the cross angle of each of the inclined rolls is made greater than the cross angle set for the first inclination rolling step.

Abstract: The object of the invention is an 1-profile preform which comprises an outer wall (1) of the first flange and two inner walls (2) of the first flange arranged with respect to the outer wall (1) of the first flange, a first web wall (3) and a second web wall (4) being arranged in a plane parallel with respect to the first web wall (3), an outer wall (5) of the second flange, and two inner walls (6) of the second flange arranged with respect to the outer wall (5) of the second flange, wherein the corresponding walls (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) are arranged with respect to each other while retaining a gap forming a closed empty inner space of an 1-profile preform, and wherein a valve element (7) is arranged on at least one wall (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). The object of the invention is also an 1-profile manufacturing method with the use of an 1-profile preform.

Abstract: A wrench is provided, including: a connection seat, including two seat bodies and a connection portion, the two seat bodies respectively including two first pivot portions; and a driving member, movably connected with the connection seat, the driving member including two second pivot portions, and the two second pivot portions being rotatably connected with the two first pivot portions.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ring includes clamping a first region of a metal sheet against a mandrel, and, while the first region of the metal sheet is clamped against the mandrel, bending the metal sheet around the mandrel to join opposite end faces of the metal sheet and form the ring shaped to the mandrel. A system for manufacturing a ring from a metal sheet includes (a) a mandrel having a ring-shaped surface, (b) a clamp facing the ring-shaped surface and configured to clamp a first region of a metal sheet to the mandrel, and (c) a plurality of dies configured to bend the metal sheet around the mandrel, while the clamp clamps the first region to the mandrel, to join opposite end faces of the metal sheet and form a ring shaped to the ring-shaped surface.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for producing a shaped sheet metal part from a billet by UO forming. First, a preform is created by the U-forming. Then, final forming to give a final form is carried out by the O-forming. The preform has in cross section a maximum width that is smaller than the maximum width of the final form produced after the O-forming.

Abstract: A system comprises a tube and a bender. The tube comprises a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion. An undulated portion is disposed between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion. Alternatively, the tube can comprise a plurality of cylindrical portions and undulated portions. The bender comprises a plurality of L-shaped brackets and a plurality of U-shaped brackets, and further includes a driving rod subassembly.

Abstract: Rack bar 10 for transmitting a steering operation to steered wheels while converting a rotational movement of a pinion shaft rotatably connected to a steering wheel into an axial movement, the rack bar being formed by conducting a die forging process on a material having an approximately circular cross section. A pair of face width-enlarged portions 15 is provided at both ends that rack teeth 14 have in face width direction. With this, it becomes possible to ensure face width dimension W of rack teeth 14 larger than outer shape S of a circular cross section of rack main body 13 (material), which results in an improvement of a contact gear ratio between the pinion teeth and the rack teeth.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for joining a predetermined geometrical profile shape from a sheet material (SM) includes a positioning assembly (12) including a base member (14) and a frame (16) that is operable to receive the sheet material (SM), to configure the sheet material in a predetermined orientation and to linearly translate the sheet material along a process direction (20). A Z-bar (22) is configured to guide a first longitudinal edge (FE) and second longitudinal edge (SE) of the sheet material (SM) into adjacent alignment along the process direction (20). A welding and forging assembly (60) welds and then forges a seam between the first longitudinal edge (FE) and the second longitudinal edge (SE) of the associated sheet material (SM).

Abstract: A method manufactures a closed-structure part by forming a flat plate-shaped workpiece into a closed structure including a bottom portion curved along a longitudinal direction. The method includes a first forming step of forming a plurality of first out-of-plane deformed portions and a bent portion, the first out-of-plane deformed portions being formed in a region of the workpiece corresponding to the bottom portion and arranged along the longitudinal direction, each of the out-of-plane deformed portions having a recessed shape or a protruding shape; and a second forming step of squashing the first out-of-plane deformed portions between a pad and a punch such that the region of the workpiece corresponding to the bottom portion is curved and bending bent portions by pressing the punch into a space between dies while the region of the workpiece corresponding to the bottom portion is clamped between the pad and the punch.

Abstract: A workpiece is formed into a curved shape that has curvatures in the longitudinal and width directions required for a final closed cross-sectional shape. The formed workpiece is bent in a direction that left and right side wall portions approach each other by clamping the bottom portions between a punch and pad in a plate-thickness direction. A pair of flange portions are butted against each other while the formed bottom portions of the workpiece are placed on a pad; and a die cavity having the same shape as the final closed cross-sectional shape is defined between a support surface of the pad supporting the bottom portion and pressing surfaces of a pair of pressure cams pressing the left and right side wall portions. Then, the pair of flange portions are depressed toward the cavity using depressing portions of a second punch disposed above the pair of flange portions.

Abstract: A square pipe manufacturing method includes: a first processing step of forming a first intermediate formed product 13 by bending both widthwise end portions of a rectangular metal plate 1; a second processing step of forming a second intermediate formed product 21 by bending both widthwise sides of a bottom surface 11 of the first intermediate formed product 13; a third processing step of obtaining a third intermediate formed product 23 by curving the side wall surfaces 17 to be convex outward in the width direction by pressing the flange parts 7, 7 toward the bottom wall surface 19 and then pressing the curved side wall surfaces 17 inward in the width direction; and a fourth processing step of crush-deforming corners 31, 31, 33, 33 of the third intermediate formed product 23.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for producing at least partially closed profiles from metal sheet, having a first tool part, a second tool part, and at least one supporting core. The insertion movement of the supporting core between the bending jaws is limited by a stop and, in its insertion position limited by the stop, protrudes with respect to the bending jaws in the direction of the die, in that the supporting core is arranged on a carrier that is movable relative to the die, and in that the bending jaws are assigned at least one displacement element connected rigidly thereto, the displacement element coming into contact with the carrier when the bent metal sheet portion engages around the supporting core.

Abstract: A method for producing a winding device for interconnected slats of a roller shutter, in which a sheet of metal having a pre-determinable length, width and thickness will be provided, seen over the length of the sheet of metal, with an eyelet formed out of the sheet of metal, and the sheet of metal, seen over the length of the sheet of metal, will be bent into the circumferential direction such that a contour is formed that differs from the cylindrical shape and the longitudinal edge of the sheet of metal, which is located opposite the eyelet, will take its bearing in the area of the eyelet, wherein, seen over the length of the sheet of metal, the marginal region of the longitudinal edge will be connected to the eyelet by welding.

Abstract: A square pipe manufacturing method includes: a first processing step of forming a first intermediate formed product 13 by bending both widthwise end portions of a rectangular metal plate 1; a second processing step of forming a second intermediate formed product 21 by bending both widthwise sides of a bottom surface 11 of the first intermediate formed product 13; a third processing step of obtaining a third intermediate formed product 23 by curving the side wall surfaces 17 to be convex outward in the width direction by pressing the flange parts 7, 7 toward the bottom wall surface 19 and then pressing the curved side wall surfaces 17 inward in the width direction; and a fourth processing step of crush-deforming corners 31, 31, 33, 33 of the third intermediate formed product 23.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing includes a polygonal shape closed structure part with a bent shape in the longitudinal direction only by press forming. The method uses two metal plates for manufacturing a curvilineal closed structure part and includes a press forming process of forming straight or bent folding lines in the longitudinal direction of the two metal plates at positions corresponding to a polygonal bent shape with a flange formed at least at one of the ends of the width direction of each plate, a process of forming a closed structure by laying the two metal plates to overlap each other flange to flange and end to end for ends without flanges and by welding the portions laid to overlap each other in the longitudinal direction of the metal plates, and a process of forming a polygonal shape closed structure having a bent shape in the longitudinal direction by holding both ends of the closed structure and by compressing it toward its central axis.

Abstract: A method manufactures a closed-structure part by forming a flat plate-shaped workpiece into a closed structure including a bottom portion curved along a longitudinal direction. The method includes a first forming step of forming a plurality of first out-of-plane deformed portions and a bent portion, the first out-of-plane deformed portions being formed in a region of the workpiece corresponding to the bottom portion and arranged along the longitudinal direction, each of the out-of-plane deformed portions having a recessed shape or a protruding shape; and a second forming step of squashing the first out-of-plane deformed portions between a pad and a punch such that the region of the workpiece corresponding to the bottom portion is curved and bending bent portions by pressing the punch into a space between dies while the region of the workpiece corresponding to the bottom portion is clamped between the pad and the punch.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electric resistance welding pipe is provided in which a lateral edge shape is made to be an appropriate shape immediately before electric resistance welding is performed, whereby penetrators are securely removed during the electric resistance welding and, consequently, an electric resistance welding pipe having excellent characterization of welded seam can be obtained. A fin shape in finpass forming is printed to lateral edges of a strip, whereby the lateral edges of the strip are shaped with predetermined tapering.

Abstract: A high-strength thick-walled electric resistance welded steel pipe has excellent low-temperature toughness and excellent HIC resistance and a yield strength of 400 MPa or more. The steel has a chemical composition consisting of C: 0.025% to 0.084%, Si: 0.10% to 0.30%, Mn: 0.70% to 1.80%, controlled amounts of P, S, Al, N, and O, Nb: 0.001% to 0.065%, V: 0.001% to 0.065%, Ti: 0.001% to 0.033%, and Ca: 0.0001% to 0.0035% on a mass percent basis and the remainder being Fe and incidental impurities, and satisfies Pcm of 0.20 or less.

Abstract: A method for the production of a hollow section from a blank, wherein the blank is introduced between two coreless halves of a die which have a desired section shape and can be displaced relative to one another and the blank is formed into a slotted hollow section by a closing movement of the halves of the die, includes preventing edges of the blank from sliding ahead during the closing movement of the die. A device for the production of hollow sections, which device has two coreless halves of a die which are positioned displaceably relative to one another and optionally a base plate, the halves of the die having the desired section shape of the hollow section which is to be formed includes means which, when the coreless halves are closing, prevent edges of a blank from sliding ahead to produce a slotted hollow section.

Abstract: A method of making a composite tube-shaped fabrication member by providing in coils a first planar member suitable to form a flange of a tube-shaped fabrication member, two second planar members suitable to form web portions of a tube-shaped frame member, and two third planar members suitable to form a portion of a flange of the tube-shaped member, uncoiling the coils for first, second, and third planar members and passing them through accumulators, aligning the first, second, and third planar members adjacent respective side portions and attaching side portions of each planar member to respective side portions of adjacent planar members to form a composite intermediate product, and cold-forming to form a composite fabrication member of a desired shape.

Abstract: A method of making a composite tube-shaped fabrication member by providing in coils a first planar member suitable to form a flange of a tube-shaped fabrication member, two second planar members suitable to form web portions of a tube-shaped frame member, and two third planar members suitable to form a portion of a flange of the tube-shaped member, uncoiling the coils fo first, second, and third planar members and passing them through accumulators, aligning the first, second, and third planar members adjacent respective side portions and attaching side portions of each planar member to respective side portions of adjacent planar members to form a composite intermediate product, and cold-forming to form a composite fabrication member of a desired shape.

Abstract: A flexible shaft arrangement is provided having a ductile shaft, a sleeve which surrounds the shaft as well as a jacket which surrounds the shaft and the sleeve. The sleeve extends within the jacket at least sectionally in arcuate form and thus produces a contact of the shaft at the inner contour of the sleeve point-wise. Vibrations or knocks of the shaft are thus effectively damped.

Abstract: Multi-layered pipes, machines for forming multi-layered pipes, and methods of forming multi-layered pipes, such as for use in the hydrocarbon industry as may form high-pressure pipelines including forming an inner metal tube from a first metal stock, and while forming the inner metal tube, forming at least a second metal tube around the inner tube from at least a second metal stock. In some methods, sheet metal is bent to form tubes having seams, which are welded while the tubes are being formed. Some methods are performed proximate to an installation site for the multi-layered pipe, such as a hydrocarbon extraction or transportation site. Some methods are performed on a vehicle and proximate to an installation site.

Abstract: A formation and rotation apparatus for use in forming and rotating interconnected sections of a cylindrical workpiece, including a frame and a head arranged within the frame, the head defining two slots and being operatively rotated via an integral drive assembly. A first slide block is slidably disposed within one of the two slots, and a second slide block is disposed within another of the two slots, each of the first and the second slide blocks include a cutting wheel and a beading wheel for successively forming each of the interconnected sections. An armature having an axis of rotation is also provided, along with a gripping mechanism being operatively connected to the armature. A drive mechanism selectively rotates the armature about the axis of rotation after the gripping means has closed about one of the interconnected sections.

Abstract: A machine-plate manufacturing device 30 includes a cylinder section 32 having an outer circumferential portion. A groove into which an engagement portion of the sheet is removably inserted is formed in the outer circumferential portion of the cylinder section 32. On the inner side of the outer circumferential portion of the cylinder section 32, magnetic attraction members 51 formed of a magnetic material are provided, and permanent magnets 53 are provided in such a manner that their orientation can be switched. Permanent-magnet switching means is provided to switch the orientation of the permanent magnets 53 between a magnetization position for magnetizing the magnetic attraction members 51 and a demagnetization position for demagnetizing the magnetic attraction members 51.

Abstract: The number of sub-parts of a closed structure part and the number of steps for manufacturing the closed structure part can be reduced and, therefore, the closed structure part can be efficiently manufactured. In a hemming press step, a punch is further lowered, and a pair of flange portions is inserted into a slit clearance. Hemming prongs are bent and each of the hemming prongs sandwiches the flange portion. The flange portion, which is one of the two flange portions, is joined to the other flange portion. At the same time, a pair of press forming surfaces of the punch presses a metal plate and performs press-forming on a pair of shoulder portions of a blank into a predetermined shape. The flange portion can be fixed to the other flange portion using the hemming prongs. The pair of shoulder portions of the blank can be press-formed into the predetermined shape.

Abstract: A feeding device (10) comprises: a support frame (12); an annular-shaped rotary frame (13); paired feeding rollers (15, 161) for nipping a strip-shaped member therebetween; a rotating motor (M1) for rotating the rotating frame (13); a feeding motor (M2) for rotating at least one (15) of the feeding rollers; and a driving force transmission mechanism (17) comprising a rotatable member relatively rotatable with respect to the rotating frame (13). The rotating frame (13) is rotated by driving of the rotating motor (M1) through a roller or a gear, and the at least one feeding roller (15) is rotated by the feeding motor (M2) through the driving force transmission mechanism (17), so that the strip-shaped member (100) is fed out in the form of a given helical configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a pole with a wrap-around saddle includes making corresponding bends in the pole and saddle in the same motion.

Abstract: A method for producing a mold tube from copper or a copper alloy for a continuous casting mold, a tube blank being formed on a mandrel, which determines the inner shape of the mold, by the external application of force, and, following the shaping process, the mandrel being removed from the mold tube (1, 1a); the action of force resulting in response to the movement of the tube blank relative to the die surrounding the same; the die having a shaping structure for a cold formed profile (6, 6a; 7, 7a) on the outer surface (5) of the mold tube (1, 1a), so that the cold formed profile (6, 6a; 7, 7a) is produced by the die upon shaping of the tube blank on the mandrel.

Abstract: An intravascular stent have a hybrid pattern is disclosed herein.

Abstract: An implantable endoluminal device that is fabricated from materials that present a blood or body fluid and tissue contact surface that has controlled heterogeneities in material constitution. An endoluminal stent-graft and web-stent that is made of an monolithic material deposited into a monolayer and etched into regions of structural members and web regions subtending interstitial regions between the structural members. An endoluminal graft is also provided which is made of a biocompatible metal or metal-like material. The endoluminal stent-graft is characterized by having controlled heterogeneities in the stent material along the blood flow surface of the stent and the method of fabricating the stent using vacuum deposition methods.

Abstract: A method of making a composite tube-shaped fabrication member by providing in coils a first planar member suitable to form a flange of a tube-shaped fabrication member, two second planar members suitable to form web portions of a tube-shaped frame member, and two third planar members suitable to form a portion of a flange of the tube-shaped member, uncoiling the coils fo first, second, and third planar members and passing them through accumulators, aligning the first, second, and third planar members adjacent respective side portions and attaching side portions of each planar member to respective side portions of adjacent planar members to form a composite intermediate product, and cold-forming to form a composite fabrication member of a desired shape.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high strength welded steel pipe superior in weld zone embrittlement crack characteristics and a method of production of the same, that is, a method of production of a welded steel pipe superior in hydrogen embrittlement cracking resistance of weld metal characterized by seam welding from the inner and outer surfaces by a tensile strength of 850 MPa or more, then expanding or reducing the size of the pipe for correction, which method of production of welded steel pipe characterized in that the hydrogen concentration of the preceding weld metal is 0.2 cc or less per 100 g at ordinary temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a steel Yankee cylinder (1), where the Yankee cylinder (1) is welded together from individual pre- or finish-machined cylinder sections (8, 9, 10). The invention also relates to a Yankee cylinder (1) that is manufactured using the manufacturing process according to the invention.

Abstract: There is provided a high-strength steel tube having excellent chemical conversion treatability and excellent formability and a method for manufacturing the high-strength steel tube. More specifically, in processing a mother steel sheet containing, on the basis of mass percent, 0.05% or more C, more than 0.7% Si, and 0.8% or more Mn into a pipe shape, the sum total of absolute circumferential surface strains each applied in individual process steps of the processing is 5% or more as nominal strain. A welded steel tube thus manufactured using a steel sheet even containing more than 0.7% Si can have excellent chemical conversion treatability without mechanical grinding or chemical pickling treatment.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for designing a metal material having mechanical properties with which a specified spring back angle can be achieved after any one of metal materials having a wide variety of mechanical properties and thicknesses has been formed by performing cylinder forming and a product formed by using the method.

Abstract: It is a problem of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing the seamless pipes having better mechanical properties, by means of a pipe manufacturing method with large energy-saving effect to continuously carry out processes from pierce-rolling to heat treatment. A method of manufacturing a seamless pipe comprising the steps of a pierce-rolling process, elongation rolling process, sizing process, reheating process, quenching process and tempering process, wherein the sizing process is completed with a temperature of the seamless pipe not less than 600° C. but less than 800° C., the seamless pipe is charged into a reheating furnace with a temperature not less than 400° C. and is reheated with a temperature not less than Ac3 transformation temperature but not greater than 1000° C. in the reheating process.

Abstract: A metal food can including a metal sidewall is provided. The diameter of the sidewall varies at different axial positions along the sidewall. The can includes a can end coupled to an end of the metal sidewall, and a plurality of circumferential beads formed in the metal sidewall. The shape of each circumferential bead varies based upon the diameter of the section of the sidewall in which the beads are formed.

Abstract: A microfluidic component made of a metal sheet having a structure which includes a closed fluid line and which is formed of a structured surface of a first section of the metal sheet and an adjoining structured or unstructured surface of a second section of the metal sheet, wherein the metal sheet is folded such that the sections integrally connected to each other are located on top of each other in a surface-parallel manner. The metal sheet further includes at least one third section having a contoured edge and is moreover folded such that the third section is also supported in a surface-parallel manner and the contoured edge forms a first wall section and the adjoining structured or unstructured surface of the first or second section forms a second wall section of an open fluid line. A microfluidic reactor comprising a plurality of such microfluidic components and a method for producing such components.

Abstract: A method of roll-forming sheet or plate into a round hollow, welding the round hollow with a welding alloy that matches the alloy of the round hollow to form a welded pipe, annealing the welded pipe at a minimum of 1950° F. to provide a carbide-free microstructure, ultrasonic inspecting to assure sound welds, and cold-working the annealed and inspected pipe via drawing or pilgering to the desired tensile strength. The compositional range alloys suitable for use in the method of the present invention in weight % is: 25.0-65.0% Ni, 15.0-30.0% Cr, 0-18.0% Mo, 2.5-48.0% Fe, 0-5.0% Cu, 0-5.0% Mn, 0-5.0% Nb, 0-2.0 Ti, 0-5.0% W, 0-1.0% Si, and 0.005-0.1% C. The process has been most preferably optimized for an alloy range consisting of 32.0-46% Ni, 19.5-28.0% Cr, 18.0-40.0% Fe, 3.0-8.0% Mo, 1.0-3.0% Cu, 0.6-1.2% Ti, 0.5-2.0% Mn, 0.1-0.5% Si, 0.01-0.08% C. The present invention also includes the pipe made thereby.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hollow profile-members having a longitudinal flange, wherein a plate which is arranged between the stamp and the first die being preshaped by introducing a stamp into a first die to form an U-shaped profile-member having a first member and a second member, and wherein the U-shaped profile-member being shaped with a second die to form an O-shaped profile-member having a longitudinal flange. In one aspect, the plate is preshaped to form the U-shaped profile-member, a longitudinal flange member portion is shaped in at least the first member and the longitudinal flange member portion is constructed during the shaping of the U-shaped profile-member to form an O-shaped profile-member substantially in a shape-retaining manner to form a portion of the longitudinal flange.

Abstract: Provided are a pipe which exhibits corrosion resistance against vapor of fuel such as gasoline, diesel oil, bioethanol or a biodiesel fuel, a method for manufacturing the pipe, and a steel sheet for manufacturing the pipe. A method for manufacturing a pipe having a bent portion which has excellent corrosion resistance against fuel vapor includes the steps of; preparing a steel sheet for manufacturing a pipe which is characterized by having a zinc-nickel (Zn—Ni) alloy layer where a nickel content is 4 to 16 at % on at least one surface of the steel sheet; forming the steel sheet for manufacturing a pipe into a tubular shape such that the Zn—Ni alloy layer forms an inner surface of the pipe, and applying bending to the pipe such that the elongation of the bent convex portion generated at the time of bending the pipe falls within 20%.

Abstract: A method of making an impression die comprises the steps of providing a substantially planar bendable bimetal plate 10 consisting of copper and steel bonded together, forming a relief pattern 14 in the surface of the copper for example by an etching process, forming the plate into a non-planar sleeve with the copper on the outside and joining the free edges of the sleeve together. Preferably the free edges of the sleeve 10 are joined together while the sleeve is mounted on a metal mandrel 15.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pipe coupling that prevents leakage including: forming a semi-tubular portion and flat portions along opposite sides of the semi-tubular portion; deforming the flat portions to produce larger bending depth and smaller width; bending portions of the flat portions so that the bent portions form acute angles in relation to the semi-tubular portion with sloping flat portions extending from the semi-tubular portion, and distal narrow flat portions; pushing the sloping flat portions away from the semi-tubular portion; pressing the semi-tubular portion, the sloping flat portions, and the narrow flat portions to produce a final shape; and removing burrs so that the semi-tubular portion of the final shape comes into close contact with an outer circumferential surface of a pipe, and the final flat portions are integrally formed along opposite side edges of the semi-tubular portion in a common plane.

Abstract: A method of forming a flexible conduit including: providing an elongated flexible metallic strip having a central portion disposed between a first and a second end portion, wherein at least a portion of the central portion includes a cross-sectional thickness TC which is less than a maximum cross-sectional thickness TM of the elongated shaped strip; rolling the first end portion in a first direction and the second end portion in a second direction generally opposite the first direction to form a shaped flexible strip; and helically winding the shaped flexible strip upon itself.

Abstract: Utilizing the technology and methods disclosed, the characteristics of flexibility and rigidity for intralumenal devices, including coaxial two piece devices such as stylet and needle sets, can be adapted by a physician or device manufacturer according to the type of procedure, the patient size and unique anatomical challenges of a given procedure. Rigidity and flexibility are actively controlled by the operator at predefined portions of a device through rotating the stylet within the cannula to bring about alignments of customized notches to impart target flexibility or rigidity profiles at specific spots on the device. The device operator is able to alter the relationship and orientation of specific notched and non-notched segments of either or both the stylet and cannula that are strategically located at said critical points along the length of the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method capable of accurately producing a metal closed-section member in a relatively simple manner.

Abstract: In a method of making a tubular structural part for a motor vehicle, a metal plate is contoured and preformed in at least one shaping step into a tubular body. Subsequently, the tubular body is end-formed into the structural part by internal high-pressure application while free contact regions snugly bear upon one another. The structural part is at least partially heated and quenched in a holding tool acted upon with a coolant.

Abstract: Provided is a novel high-nitrogen stainless-steel pipe which is not obtained with any conventional technique, the stainless-steel pipe having high strength, high ductility, and excellent corrosion and heat resistance and being obtained through size reduction of crystal grains and strengthening by slight plastic working besides formation of a gradient structure in which the concentration of solid-solution nitrogen continuously decreases gradually from the surface. Also provided are hollow materials of various shapes and sizes which are formed from the steel pipe and processes for producing the steel pipe and the hollow materials. An austenitic stainless-steel pipe is treated in a range of the temperatures not higher than the critical temperature for crystal grain enlargement of the steel pipe material to cause nitrogen (N) to be absorbed into the surface of the pipe and diffused into the solid phase, while minimizing the enlargement of crystal grains during the treatment.