A method for use in manufacturing a metal part is provided. The method may include casting liquid metal in a ceramic mold. The ceramic mold may be formed via an investment casting process in which a wax mold is used to as a form for the ceramic mold, and the wax is melted away from the ceramic mold prior to its use. The method may further include cooling the liquid metal in the ceramic mold to form a solid metal part, and then divesting the ceramic mold to release the metal part. The metal part may include an imperfection in a shape of the metal part. To correct the imperfection, the method may include shaping the metal part by near-net shape forging.

A check valve includes a container body and a valve body. The container body includes a cylindrical valve-body housing portion, an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a valve seat. The inlet portion is formed at one end portion of the valve-body housing portion, and the outlet portion is formed at the other end portion of the valve-body hosing portion. The valve seat is protruded at an inner circumferential surface of the valve-body housing portion. The valve body is provided in the container body and movable in the axial direction thereof.

A check valve includes a container body and a valve body. The container body includes a cylindrical valve-body housing portion, an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a valve seat. The inlet portion is formed at one end portion of the valve-body housing portion, and the outlet portion is formed at the other end portion of the valve-body hosing portion. The valve seat is protruded at an inner circumferential surface of the valve-body housing portion. The valve body is provided in the container body and movable in the axial direction thereof.

An embodiment for disposing a sleeve on a fluid conduit includes positioning a sleeve through lead rollers, pressing sleeve edges to flatten the sleeve against its normal geometry, aligning the flattened sleeve with opposing guide channels defined in an passage through a sleeve guide, feeding the sleeve through the passage, and compressing the sleeve in the passage, letting the edges of the sleeve ride against the guide channels to open the sleeve. A length of the compressed sleeve exiting the guide may be cut using a heated device that fuses the sleeve material, leaving the sleeve clear to receive a fluid conduit. A collar may be disposed around an end of the cut sleeve and over the conduit, then compressed, with an end of the sleeve captured between the collar and end of the conduit. This compressing may define at least one raised portion in the collar.

An embodiment for disposing a sleeve on a fluid conduit includes positioning a sleeve through lead rollers, pressing sleeve edges to flatten the sleeve against its normal geometry, aligning the flattened sleeve with opposing guide channels defined in an passage through a sleeve guide, feeding the sleeve through the passage, and compressing the sleeve in the passage, letting the edges of the sleeve ride against the guide channels to open the sleeve. A length of the compressed sleeve exiting the guide may be cut using a heated device that fuses the sleeve material, leaving the sleeve clear to receive a fluid conduit. A collar may be disposed around an end of the cut sleeve and over the conduit, then compressed, with an end of the sleeve captured between the collar and end of the conduit. This compressing may define at least one raised portion in the collar.

A fastening device for reducing the time required for insertion that includes an elongated shank portion extending longitudinally between a first and a second shank end; and a head portion arranged at the second shank end, wherein the head portion includes a drive arrangement configured and arranged for receiving a rotary driving force to drive the fastening device into at least one workpiece. The elongated shank portion includes a plurality of intertwined helical ridges (plural thread starts). Preferably, the tip portion is configured and arranged to create a hole and threads by softening the material of a workpiece. Additionally, a method for creating an assembly by attaching a first workpiece to a second workpiece via the use of such a fastening device.

A method is provided for manufacturing a catalytic converter housing arrangement with at least one sensor carrier for an exhaust system of a vehicle. The method includes the steps of: a) providing at least one sensor carrier sheet metal blank (42); b) forming at least one sensor mounting opening (48) in the sensor carrier sheet metal blank (42) by flow drilling such that a length (L) of the opening is greater than a thickness (D) of the material of the sensor carrier sheet metal blank (42) before step b) is carried out; and c) preparing an internal thread in the at least one sensor mounting opening (48) for providing a sensor carrier.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a precipitation strengthened Ni-based superalloy material having a predetermined composition, containing a blooming forging step of performing a forging at a temperature range of from Ts to Tm and performing an air cooling to form a billet having an average crystal grain size of #1 or more, an overaging thermal treatment step of heating and holding the billet at a temperature range of from Ts to Ts+50 C. and slowly cooling it to a temperature of Ts or lower, and a crystal grain fining forging step of performing another forging at a temperature range of from Ts150 C. to Ts and performing another air cooling, in which Ts is from 1,030 C. to 1,100 C., and an overall average crystal grain size is #8 or more after the crystal grain fining forging step.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a precipitation strengthened Ni-based superalloy material having a predetermined composition, containing a blooming forging step of performing a forging at a temperature range of from Ts to Tm and performing an air cooling to form a billet having an average crystal grain size of #1 or more, an overaging thermal treatment step of heating and holding the billet at a temperature range of from Ts to Ts+50 C. and slowly cooling it to a temperature of Ts or lower, and a crystal grain fining forging step of performing another forging at a temperature range of from Ts150 C. to Ts and performing another air cooling, in which Ts is from 1,030 C. to 1,100 C., and an overall average crystal grain size is #8 or more after the crystal grain fining forging step.

A forging method is provided. The forging comprises determining plans of second and third processes for each of a plurality of ingots, categorizing the plurality of ingots into first and second ingot sets, based on the plans of the second and third processes, evaluating the first and second ingot sets using a scoring function, determining an ingot set to be provided to a first heating furnace, based on the evaluating of the first and second ingot sets, and performing a first process, different from the second and third processes, on the ingot set provided to the first heating furnace.