A tie bar tensioning system that allows a bending machine operator to removably couple an upper end of a bend die post of the bending machine to a base of the bending machine via a tie bar, and to lock the tie bar in a tensioned position. The tensioning system includes a stationary member and a rotatable member, each with aligned tie bar passages for receiving the one end of the tie bar. Both the stationary member and the rotatable member include respective engagement surfaces, with the rotatable member engagement surface being rotatable relative to the stationary member engagement surface between a released position and a tensioned position whereat the rotatable member is selectively lockable. The rotation of the rotatable member with the rotatable member engagement surface in engagement with the stationary engagement surface longitudinally displacing the rotatable member relative to the stationary member.

A tie bar tensioning system that allows a bending machine operator to removably couple an upper end of a bend die post of the bending machine to a base of the bending machine via a tie bar, and to lock the tie bar in a tensioned position. The tensioning system includes a stationary member and a rotatable member, each with aligned tie bar passages for receiving the one end of the tie bar. Both the stationary member and the rotatable member include respective engagement surfaces, with the rotatable member engagement surface being rotatable relative to the stationary member engagement surface between a released position and a tensioned position whereat the rotatable member is selectively lockable. The rotation of the rotatable member with the rotatable member engagement surface in engagement with the stationary engagement surface longitudinally displacing the rotatable member relative to the stationary member.

Not only a reduction in the load resistant performance of a structural member in a vehicle body having a quenched portion with a tensile strength of 1,470 MPa or greater, but also a reduction in the shock absorbing performance associated with the HAZ softening by welding are suppressed. In a joining structure (10) for a member in a vehicle body in which a first member (11) that is made of steel, has a closed hollow cross-section having no outward flange, and is provided with a quenched portion having a tensile strength of 1,470 MPa or greater, a base material portion having a tensile strength of less than 700 MPa, and a transition portion (17) between the quenched portion (16) and the base material portion (18) in a longitudinal direction thereof, and a second member (12) that is made of steel and overlaps the first member (11) are welded to each other in an overlapping portion, the overlapping portion exists over the base material portion (18) from the quenched portion (16) of the first member (11) through the transition portion (17), and a welding portion (13) formed by welding exists in the transition portion (17) or the base material portion (18) in the first member (11).

Not only a reduction in the load resistant performance of a structural member in a vehicle body having a quenched portion with a tensile strength of 1,470 MPa or greater, but also a reduction in the shock absorbing performance associated with the HAZ softening by welding are suppressed. In a joining structure (10) for a member in a vehicle body in which a first member (11) that is made of steel, has a closed hollow cross-section having no outward flange, and is provided with a quenched portion having a tensile strength of 1,470 MPa or greater, a base material portion having a tensile strength of less than 700 MPa, and a transition portion (17) between the quenched portion (16) and the base material portion (18) in a longitudinal direction thereof, and a second member (12) that is made of steel and overlaps the first member (11) are welded to each other in an overlapping portion, the overlapping portion exists over the base material portion (18) from the quenched portion (16) of the first member (11) through the transition portion (17), and a welding portion (13) formed by welding exists in the transition portion (17) or the base material portion (18) in the first member (11).

A manufacturing method for a bent member of the present invention includes a holding step of holding one end portion of a long steel material having an opening end in a longitudinal direction by a chuck, a feeding step of feeding the steel material in the longitudinal direction with the one end portion as a head after the holding step, a heating step of performing high-frequency induction heating on a portion of the steel material in the longitudinal direction to form a heated portion, a bending step of moving the chuck in a three-dimensional direction to apply a bending moment to the heated portion, and a cooling step of injecting a cooling medium to the heated portion to cool the heated portion after the bending step. When the heating step is started, the chuck is cooled by the cooling medium in a state where a heating amount applied to the one end portion when the heated portion is formed on the one end portion is greater than that of an upstream side adjacent portion adjacent to the upstream side of the one end portion as seen along a feeding direction of the steel material.

A manufacturing method for a bent member of the present invention includes a holding step of holding one end portion of a long steel material having an opening end in a longitudinal direction by a chuck, a feeding step of feeding the steel material in the longitudinal direction with the one end portion as a head after the holding step, a heating step of performing high-frequency induction heating on a portion of the steel material in the longitudinal direction to form a heated portion, a bending step of moving the chuck in a three-dimensional direction to apply a bending moment to the heated portion, and a cooling step of injecting a cooling medium to the heated portion to cool the heated portion after the bending step. When the heating step is started, the chuck is cooled by the cooling medium in a state where a heating amount applied to the one end portion when the heated portion is formed on the one end portion is greater than that of an upstream side adjacent portion adjacent to the upstream side of the one end portion as seen along a feeding direction of the steel material.

A machine for cooling and truing cast components made from cast material, and includes a construction for holding cast components and a holder to supply cooling liquids. A method to treat a cast component after removal of the cast component from the casting mold, the cast component being loaded immediately with a cooling liquid in a water spray.

A method for hot forming sheets having complex shapes includes providing a die having a first and second clamping section, the first clamping section defining a first arcuate pressing surface and the second clamping section defining a second arcuate pressing surface complementary to the first pressing surface. The first and second clamping sections have a plurality of heaters disposed therein. The die is heated to a predetermined temperature. The first and second clamping sections are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. A precursor sheet is positioned therebetween such that the precursor sheet is spaced apart from the first arcuate pressing surface by a spacing distance. The first and second clamping sections are pressed into engagement with the precursor sheet to form a production sheet having a predetermined shape by engagement with the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface via a predetermined pressing force for a predetermined pressing time.

A rotary chuck includes a clamp assembly, a first drive mechanism for operating the clamp assembly to clamp an associated workpiece, a frame rotationally fixed to the clamp assembly, and a second drive mechanism for rotating the frame and the clamp assembly. The second drive mechanism can rotate the frame and the clamp assembly around 360 degrees. A pair of alignment springs are engaged with a mounting plate upon which the second drive mechanism is mounted. The mounting plate can pivot relative to a stable surface to which it is mounted, and the springs limit the pivotal movement. Each first and second drive mechanism includes a motor, and are connected to a microprocessor for operation of the respective motor.