A single piece stent construction having a plurality of commissure posts, each of which extends upwardly from a solid ring along a bend line and generally along a central longitudinal axis of the stent.

Spiral forming devices, systems, and methods can be used to join edges of a of a stock material, in a curved configuration, along one or more joints to form tubular structures, such as conical and/or cylindrical structures (e.g., frusto-conical structures). A planar form of the stock material can be formed from a plurality planar sheets coupled to one another in an abutting relationship. By controlling relative orientation and shapes of the plurality of planar sheets forming the stock material and/or by controlling a position of a roll bender used to curve the planar form of the stock material into the curved configuration, the curved configuration of the stock material can be controlled through transitions between sheets to facilitate rolling the sheets to a desired diameter with a reduced likelihood of dimples or other errors and to facilitate fit up between adjacent sheets in the curved configuration.

A single piece stent construction having a plurality of commissure posts, each of which extends upwardly from a solid ring along a bend line and generally along a central longitudinal axis of the stent.

Spiral forming devices, systems, and methods can be used to join edges of a of a stock material, in a curved configuration, along one or more joints to form tubular structures, such as conical and/or cylindrical structures (e.g., frusto-conical structures). A planar form of the stock material can be formed from a plurality planar sheets coupled to one another in an abutting relationship. By controlling relative orientation and shapes of the plurality of planar sheets forming the stock material and/or by controlling a position of a roll bender used to curve the planar form of the stock material into the curved configuration, the curved configuration of the stock material can be controlled through transitions between sheets to facilitate rolling the sheets to a desired diameter with a reduced likelihood of dimples or other errors and to facilitate fit up between adjacent sheets in the curved configuration.

A sensor includes: a tubular needle member that includes a side wall and defines a hollow portion; and a linear detection member located in the hollow portion. The side wall of the needle member includes a thick portion that is thicker than another portion of the side wall in a cross-section of the needle member, and wherein the thick portion protrudes toward the hollow portion.

A metal plate includes: a recessed portion provided at one end surface by cutting out the metal plate in a planar direction of the metal plate, the recessed portion having an engaging portion inside the recessed portion; and a protruding portion provided at a position on another end surface, the position corresponding to that of the recessed portion, the protruding portion protruding in the planar direction, the protruding portion being engaged with the engaging portion by applying a bending process such that the engaging portion is hooked by the protruding portion, wherein a length from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion of the protruding portion before the bending process is applied is equal to or less than a depth of the recessed portion at a position of the recessed portion, the position facing an end surface of the proximal end portion of the protruding portion.

A method for manufacturing a strip having a variable thickness along its length, comprising the steps: an initial strip of constant thickness is provided; homogeneous cold rolling of the initial strip along its length in order to obtain an intermediate strip of constant thickness along the rolling direction; flexible cold rolling of the intermediate strip along its length in order to obtain a variable thickness strip, having, along its length, first areas with a first thickness (e+s) and second areas with a second thickness (e), less than the first thickness (e+s), continuous annealing of the strip. The plastic deformation ratio generated, after an optional intermediate recrystallization annealing, by the homogeneous cold rolling and the flexible cold rolling steps in the first areas is greater than or equal to 30%.

A method for manufacturing a clad steel pipe is provided, wherein the clad steel pipe is manufactured by using a clad steel plate as a raw material. The clad steel plate comprises a base layer (1) and a clad layer (2) roll-bonded with the base layer (1). The method for manufacturing a clad steel pipe comprises the steps of forming, welding, and deburring; both sides of the clad steel plate are bent towards the base layer (1) side of the clad steel plate, then the forming step is carried out, and after the forming step, the opening faces of the resultant pipe blank are all in a form of the clad layer (2). According to the method for manufacturing a clad steel pipe, a clad steel pipe is manufactured by using a clad steel plate as a raw material. Thus, continuance and high efficiency of a high-frequency longitudinal welding pipe unit is fully utilized, subsequent non-continuous processes are not necessary, and the corrosion resistance at the weld of the clad steel pipe is ensured.

Spiral forming devices, systems, and methods can be used to join edges of a of a stock material, in a curved configuration, along one or more joints to form tubular structures, such as conical and/or cylindrical structures (e.g., frusto-conical structures). A planar form of the stock material can be formed from a plurality planar sheets coupled to one another in an abutting relationship. By controlling relative orientation and shapes of the plurality of planar sheets forming the stock material and/or by controlling a position of a roll bender used to curve the planar form of the stock material into the curved configuration, the curved configuration of the stock material can be controlled through transitions between sheets to facilitate rolling the sheets to a desired diameter with a reduced likelihood of dimples or other errors and to facilitate fit up between adjacent sheets in the curved configuration.

A method and system for flanging a metal part is provided to improve the final dimensions of the part to a desired shape. Residual stresses from flanging operations can distort a final shape of the metal part. This disclosure provides an initial flanging step in which metal gainers are formed into the metal during a first flanging step. The metal gainers provide an increased amount of metal at select regions. Then, during a next flanging step, the metal gainers are smoothened or removed during that flanging step while the metal is additionally bent. The metal gainers help combat the residual stresses and allow the flange to better take the desired shape.