A swaging device includes a top die and a bottom die that can move in a vertical direction between an open position and a closed position. Each die includes an inclined surface, and the device further includes swaging elements each having a complementary inclined surface that is in contact with the inclined surface of each die, both in the open position and in the closed position. The swaging elements are arranged opposite one another such that in at least any position other than the open position, they are in contact by certain non-inclined surfaces opposite the complementary inclined surfaces.

A method for thickening a plastically deformable hollow body wall of a hollow body includes the steps of arranging the hollow body in an outer mold, arranging an inner supporting body inside the hollow body, applying a compressive force to the hollow body wall by means of two application members moving towards one another in an axial direction with a continuous compressing movement, and performing an axial relative movement of the application members performing the continuous compressing movement on the one hand and of the outer mold on the other hand. Due to the compressing movement of the application members, material of the hollow body wall is plasticized and flows into an expansion space of the outer mold, an axial extent of the expansion space increasing due to the axial relative movement of the application members performing the continuous compressing movement and of the outer mold.

A method for thickening a plastically deformable hollow body wall of a hollow body includes the steps of arranging the hollow body in an outer mold, arranging an inner supporting body inside the hollow body, applying a compressive force to the hollow body wall by means of two application members moving towards one another in an axial direction with a continuous compressing movement, and performing an axial relative movement of the application members performing the continuous compressing movement on the one hand and of the outer mold on the other hand. Due to the compressing movement of the application members, material of the hollow body wall is plasticized and flows into an expansion space of the outer mold, an axial extent of the expansion space increasing due to the axial relative movement of the application members performing the continuous compressing movement and of the outer mold.

A swaging system for attaching surgical needles to sutures and testing the attachment strength includes a frame, a bottom swaging die mounted on the frame, and a top swaging die mounted on the frame and being moveable up and down along a swaging axis that is aligned with the bottom swaging die. The bottom swaging die includes a hinge mechanism with a bottom plate mounted to the frame and a top plate overlying the bottom plate. The top and bottom plates are pivotally connected for enabling the top plate to pivot relative to the bottom plate. The bottom swaging die includes a swaging tool that extends toward the top swaging die along the swaging axis, and a load cell disposed between the top and bottom plates for monitoring load. The system includes a control system having one or more pull test programs stored therein for conducting pull tests on armed surgical needles to determine if the armed surgical needles are acceptable or unacceptable.

A swaging system for attaching surgical needles to sutures and testing the attachment strength includes a frame, a bottom swaging die mounted on the frame, and a top swaging die mounted on the frame and being moveable up and down along a swaging axis that is aligned with the bottom swaging die. The bottom swaging die includes a hinge mechanism with a bottom plate mounted to the frame and a top plate overlying the bottom plate. The top and bottom plates are pivotally connected for enabling the top plate to pivot relative to the bottom plate. The bottom swaging die includes a swaging tool that extends toward the top swaging die along the swaging axis, and a load cell disposed between the top and bottom plates for monitoring load. The system includes a control system having one or more pull test programs stored therein for conducting pull tests on armed surgical needles to determine if the armed surgical needles are acceptable or unacceptable.

Provided are an oil receiver (20) having an annular recess portion (52) which faces an entire circumference of an outer circumferential edge of a concave spherical portion (36), and a guide member (21) which guides lubricating oil, which has flowed out from a spherical engagement portion between a convex spherical portion (24) and a concave spherical portion (36), toward an annular recess portion (52).

Provided are an oil pan (20) which has an annular recess portion (52) facing an outer circumferential edge of a spherical concave portion (36) throughout a whole circumference; and a cover (21) which is constituted in a tubular shape, of which one axial end portion is rotatably supported by a part adjacent to a radially inner side of the annular recess portion (52), and of which an axially opposite end portion is rotatably supported by a part of a shaft-equipped spherical seat (18) on the one axial end side.

To provide a method of manufacturing a shaft for a steering device, the shaft including a spline shaft part to be coupled with an input shaft, a stopper part to be coupled with an output shaft, and an intermediate shaft part that couples the spline shaft part with the stopper part. The method includes: a step of forming a hole part recessed in an axial direction from one end of a pillar-shaped material by forging; and a step of pressing the material in which the hole part has been formed into a die to perform drawing in a radial direction on a portion of the material at which the stopper part is formed and prolonging a length along the axial direction of the hole part at the same time by forging.

A swaging system for attaching surgical needles to sutures and testing the attachment strength includes a bottom swaging die and a top swaging die that is configured to move up and down along a swaging axis that is in alignment with the bottom swaging die. The bottom swaging die includes a swaging tool mounted thereon that extends toward the top swaging die along the swaging axis. The swaging tool includes an upper end having a top surface with a swaging notch for swaging a needle to a suture to form an armed surgical needle, and a testing notch, adjacent the swaging notch, for conducting a pull test on the armed surgical needle.

A swaging system for attaching surgical needles to sutures and testing the attachment strength includes a bottom swaging die and a top swaging die that is configured to move up and down along a swaging axis that is in alignment with the bottom swaging die. The bottom swaging die includes a swaging tool mounted thereon that extends toward the top swaging die along the swaging axis. The swaging tool includes an upper end having a top surface with a swaging notch for swaging a needle to a suture to form an armed surgical needle, and a testing notch, adjacent the swaging notch, for conducting a pull test on the armed surgical needle.