A rack bar includes: a rack tooth row including a plurality of rack teeth meshing with pinion teeth; a hardened layer provided continuously over an entire circumference of the rack tooth row; and a center portion provided inside the hardened layer and having lower hardness than the hardened layer. When the rack bar is viewed in an axial direction of the rack bar, a depth of the hardened layer from the following positions i), ii), and iii) increases in this order: i) a bottom land of the rack teeth; ii) a side of the rack bar relative to the bottom land; and iii) a back of the rack bar relative to the bottom land.

Adjustable system and methods are provided that are used in curing a foam item. Induction heating assemblies, cooling mechanisms and a dynamic conveyance mechanism may be used in combination to heat and cool a mold containing the foam item as it is conveyed. The dynamic conveyance mechanism may have removable rollers that allow for chambers, such as the induction heating assemblies, to be placed into areas where removable rollers have been removed. As such, chambers may be placed into, taken out of, and moved around the dynamic conveyance mechanism. The flexibility of a dynamic conveyance mechanism allows for a curing process to be automated, adjusted, and customized.

A magnetic core material contains an Fe-based soft magnetic powder in which an inorganic insulating film 4b is formed on a surface of an Fe-based soft magnetic particle 4a, and an epoxy resin 4c containing a curing agent. The Fe-based soft magnetic particle 4a is formed of a pure iron powder or a low-alloy steel powder. A content of the epoxy resin containing the curing agent is 2 to 5 mass %. The epoxy resin is a mixture of a bisphenol A-type epoxy resin and a novolac-type epoxy resin.

In an aspect, a method of manufacturing a high purity copper-based alloy comprises providing in a melting furnace a feedstock and melting the feedstock. The method additionally includes bubbling an inert gas into the molten copper-based alloy to form the high purity copper-based alloy. Aspects are also directed to an apparatus and a method of fabricating an apparatus for manufacturing the high purity copper-based alloy.

A heating component for insertion into and vaporization of an aerosol-forming medium includes: a shell, provided with a cavity; a heating medium filled in the cavity for heating in an alternating magnetic field; and a temperature control element accommodated in the cavity and for measuring a temperature. In an embodiment, the temperature control element is at least one of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element, a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) element, or a thermocouple.

Disclosed is an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The apparatus includes a heating zone for receiving at least a portion of an article including smokable material; an outlet for permitting volatilized components of the smokable material to pass from the heating zone towards an exterior of the apparatus when the article is heated in the heating zone in use; a heating element that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the heating zone, wherein a first section of the heating element is located between a second section of the heating element and the outlet, and wherein the second section of the heating element is heatable in use by thermal conduction from the first section of the heating element; and a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field that penetrates the first section of the heating element and avoids the second section of the heating element.

Disclosed is an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The apparatus includes a heating zone for receiving at least a portion of an article including smokable material; an outlet for permitting volatilized components of the smokable material to pass from the heating zone towards an exterior of the apparatus when the article is heated in the heating zone in use; a heating element that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the heating zone, wherein a first section of the heating element is located between a second section of the heating element and the outlet, and wherein the second section of the heating element is heatable in use by thermal conduction from the first section of the heating element; and a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field that penetrates the first section of the heating element and avoids the second section of the heating element.

There is provided an aerosol-generating device including a housing defining a cavity configured to receive an aerosol-generating article through an open end of the cavity; and a constricting member connected to the housing and being moveable between an open position and a constricting position to selectively constrict at least a portion of the cavity, thereby allowing the aerosol-generating article to be selectively gripped or released. An aerosol-generating system is also provided.

A method of removing a foil shield from a cable. The method includes: positioning the cable proximate a heating source; heating the foil shield in a designated area to weaken the foil shield; and removing an outer insulation of the cable and the foil shield after the foil shield has been heated.

A method of removing a foil shield from a cable. The method includes: positioning the cable proximate a heating source; heating the foil shield in a designated area to weaken the foil shield; and removing an outer insulation of the cable and the foil shield after the foil shield has been heated.