A device for crimping a radially expandable and collapsible prosthetic valve comprises a crimping loop having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a loop portion extending between the first and second end portions and defining an opening configured to receive the prosthetic valve. The crimping loop is movable between a first state in which the opening has a first diameter and a second state in which the opening has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter such that when the prosthetic valve is positioned within the loop portion, movement of the crimping loop from the first state to the second state is effective to reduce a diameter of the prosthetic valve. A method for crimping a prosthetic valve comprises reducing a diameter of an opening of a crimping loop, thereby radially compressing an at least partially expanded prosthetic valve disposed within the opening.

A method of manufacturing a rectangular tube having a stepped portion includes: forming V-shaped grooves on a rectangular tube at surfaces of an end thereof in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction thereof; and pressing each of the surfaces having the V-shaped grooves formed thereon with a rotating roll from outside to inside, whereby the end of the rectangular tube is radially reduced.

A method of manufacturing a rectangular tube having a stepped portion includes: forming V-shaped grooves on a rectangular tube at surfaces of an end thereof in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction thereof; and pressing each of the surfaces having the V-shaped grooves formed thereon with a rotating roll from outside to inside, whereby the end of the rectangular tube is radially reduced.

A side-stand for a motorcycle enables both improvement in appearance and weight reduction by using a tapered pipe member. A side-stand for a motorcycle includes an elongate portion having a hollow structure, and a grounding portion. An outer shape of the elongate portion is tapered in appearance toward the grounding portion and, in a state in which the side-stand is unfolded, the elongate portion looks thinner as a whole in a side view than in a front view of a vehicle body. The elongate portion has a wall thickness on the distal end side equivalent to or smaller than a wall thickness on a proximal end side. The elongate portion is formed by increasing a diameter of a distal end side inner peripheral portion of a round pipe member by cutting, and then swaging an outer peripheral portion to reduce the diameter and obtain a tapered shape.

A high strength dual-swaged airbag inflator vessel comprising a high strength metal material, such as low carbon steel, has a swaged terminal end defining two distinct swaged portions. A reduction of diameter within one of the swaged portions is restricted to be less than or equal to about 30% and in certain variations, less than or equal to about 16% to minimize cold work strain hardening and to reduce loss of ductility. In certain aspects, a second swaged portion within the swaged terminal end has a length of less than or equal to about 10 mm. Methods for making such a dual-swaged airbag inflator vessel are likewise provided. Such dual swage designs have improved reliability and performance in high pressure inflator applications, as well as reduced manufacturing costs.

A high strength dual-swaged airbag inflator vessel comprising a high strength metal material, such as low carbon steel, has a swaged terminal end defining two distinct swaged portions. A reduction of diameter within one of the swaged portions is restricted to be less than or equal to about 30% and in certain variations, less than or equal to about 16% to minimize cold work strain hardening and to reduce loss of ductility. In certain aspects, a second swaged portion within the swaged terminal end has a length of less than or equal to about 10 mm. Methods for making such a dual-swaged airbag inflator vessel are likewise provided. Such dual swage designs have improved reliability and performance in high pressure inflator applications, as well as reduced manufacturing costs.

A tool assembly for forming a workpiece with an outer surface into a housing with a non-round design outer profile. The tool assembly includes a number of jaw segments, each jaw segment having an internal surface for engaging the outer surface. The jaw segments are movable between a first condition and a second condition, in which the internal surfaces of the jaw segments substantially define the design outer profile of the housing. Each internal surface has a preselected end point associated therewith defined by a radius centered on the preselected end point that is substantially coincident with the portion of the design outer profile defined by the internal surface. Each jaw segment is movable toward the preselected end point therefor when moved from the first condition to the second condition, and away from the preselected end point therefor when moved from the second condition to the first condition.

A tool assembly for forming a workpiece with an outer surface into a housing with a non-round design outer profile. The tool assembly includes a number of jaw segments, each jaw segment having an internal surface for engaging the outer surface. The jaw segments are movable between a first condition and a second condition, in which the internal surfaces of the jaw segments substantially define the design outer profile of the housing. Each internal surface has a preselected end point associated therewith defined by a radius centered on the preselected end point that is substantially coincident with the portion of the design outer profile defined by the internal surface. Each jaw segment is movable toward the preselected end point therefor when moved from the first condition to the second condition, and away from the preselected end point therefor when moved from the second condition to the first condition.

In a method of producing a tubular structure for a gas generator, a tubular body is positioned relative to a forming device having inner and outer tools, which are moved relative to an end portion of the tubular body until an inner circumferential surface of a neck of the end portion rests against a support surface of the inner tool to reduce a diameter of the end portion by a tool contour of the outer tool and thereby form a shoulder. The outer tool is held in position upon the end portion and the neck inner circumferential surface is calibrated by a calibrating surface on a calibrating member of the inner tool while an outer circumferential surface of the neck is supported by the outer tool, as the inner tool is removed from the end portion. The outer tool is then removed from the end portion of the tubular body.

In a method of producing a tubular structure for a gas generator, a tubular body is positioned relative to a forming device having inner and outer tools, which are moved relative to an end portion of the tubular body until an inner circumferential surface of a neck of the end portion rests against a support surface of the inner tool to reduce a diameter of the end portion by a tool contour of the outer tool and thereby form a shoulder. The outer tool is held in position upon the end portion and the neck inner circumferential surface is calibrated by a calibrating surface on a calibrating member of the inner tool while an outer circumferential surface of the neck is supported by the outer tool, as the inner tool is removed from the end portion. The outer tool is then removed from the end portion of the tubular body.