A method of expanding an elongated and at least regionally planar metal element that has two respective marginal regions oppositely disposed and extending in a longitudinal direction and a central region arranged therebetween and including cuts, the marginal regions of the metal element are moved apart transversely to the longitudinal direction and in parallel with a planar extent of the metal element such that connection portions of the central region formed by the cuts and connecting the two respective marginal regions to one another are folded, the method includes displacing the two respective marginal regions with respect to one another transversely to the planar extent of the metal element to form a displaced state, and subsequently moving apart the two respective marginal regions in the displaced state.

A method for manufacturing electrodes for lead-acid batteries includes producing a profiled strip blank in a casting process, wherein the casting process alone is sufficient to cause the strip blank to be formed of greater thickness on one side in a region corresponding to the upper frame element or the lower frame element than in another region corresponding to the meshed region; and producing the meshed region with the openings in a subsequent expanded metal process. In addition, an electrode produced by the method has an upper frame element, or a lower frame element, or both, and a meshed region extending away from the upper frame element, or the lower frame element, or both and having a plurality of openings. The upper frame element, the lower frame element, or both, is of greater thickness than the meshed region.

A pump body of a high-pressure pump includes a pressure chamber formed in a deep portion of a cylinder. The pump body closes the pressure chamber on a side opposite to a plunger. The plunger reciprocates within the cylinder to vary a volume of the pressure chamber. The large-diameter portion provided at an end of the plunger on a side protruding to the pressure chamber has an outside diameter larger than an inside diameter of the cylinder and smaller than an inside diameter of the pressure chamber. In this case, the large-diameter portion is engaged with a step portion between the cylinder and the pressure chamber in a state before attachment of the high-pressure pump to an internal combustion engine. Accordingly, separation of the plunger from the cylinder is avoidable.

The invention relates to an expanded metal, comprising: a sheet of expanded sheet metal including openings configured as loops that are essentially introduced without a material loss and which are defined by a loop width, a loop length and a loop shape; and bars that envelop the loops and that are defined by a bar width and a bar thickness, wherein plural loops are arranged in columns behind one another and in rows adjacent to each other. It is an object of the invention to find new applications for expanded metal in the production of automobiles by providing an expanded metal with new properties. The object is achieved by an expanded metal with the features of claim 1, in particular its characterizing features, wherein columns of first loops differ from columns of second loops in a loop width and/or in a loop length so that the sheet of the expanded metal is provided with openings with different loop shapes.

A method may comprise providing an M-flange of a gas turbine engine, wherein the M-flange may comprise a bolt hole therethrough defined by a bolt hole circumference between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the M-flange; heating a mandrel; inserting the heated mandrel into the bolt hole such that an outer edge of the heated mandrel contacts the bolt hole circumference; and plastically deforming the bolt hole circumference to strengthen the bolt hole circumference in response to the applying the heated mandrel, producing a plastically deformed bolt hole.

A method may comprise providing an M-flange of a gas turbine engine, wherein the M-flange may comprise a bolt hole therethrough defined by a bolt hole circumference between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the M-flange; heating a mandrel; inserting the heated mandrel into the bolt hole such that an outer edge of the heated mandrel contacts the bolt hole circumference; and plastically deforming the bolt hole circumference to strengthen the bolt hole circumference in response to the applying the heated mandrel, producing a plastically deformed bolt hole.

A processing system employs a processing tool to process workpieces, for example cold working holes and/or installing expandable members into holes. Sensors sense various aspects of the processing. Information regarding performance of the process and/or materials may be stored, for example a hole-by-hole or a workpiece-by-workpiece basis, allowing validation of processing. Information also allows dynamic operation of the processing tool. Analysis of response relationships (e.g., pressure or force versus position or distance) may provide insights into the process and materials, and/or facilitate the real-time feedback including control, alerts, ordering replacement for consumable components.

A processing system employs a processing tool to process workpieces, for example cold working holes and/or installing expandable members into holes. Sensors sense various aspects of the processing. Information regarding performance of the process and/or materials may be stored, for example a hole-by-hole or a workpiece-by-workpiece basis, allowing validation of processing. Information also allows dynamic operation of the processing tool. Analysis of response relationships (e.g., pressure or force versus position or distance) may provide insights into the process and materials, and/or facilitate the real-time feedback including control, alerts, ordering replacement for consumable components.

Rather than using a conventional stamping forming process with steels having high ultimate tensile strength and relatively low initial yield, tubular hydroforming techniques are introduced to synergize with BIW part forming, or forming of other load bearing parts. Such steels can have ultimate tensile strengths of greater than 1000 MPa and initial yields of less than 360 MPa In some embodiments, the steels have elongation of at least 40%. Such steels can include retained austenite.

Rather than using a conventional stamping forming process with steels having high ultimate tensile strength and relatively low initial yield, tubular hydroforming techniques are introduced to synergize with BIW part forming, or forming of other load bearing parts. Such steels can have ultimate tensile strengths of greater than 1000 MPa and initial yields of less than 360 MPa In some embodiments, the steels have elongation of at least 40%. Such steels can include retained austenite.