An annular workplace quenching method includes: cooling an annular workpiece with an inner die arranged radially inward of the workpiece heated at a quenching temperature; pressing the workpiece in a width direction at a low pressure and inserting the workpiece in an outer die with restraint of an inner peripheral surface of the workpiece continued, when the restraint is started by contact with the inner die, after a temperature of the workpiece is decreased to 500 C. or lower but before the temperature is decreased to a martensitic transformation start temperature (Ms point); and restraining the workpiece in the width direction by pressing the workpiece in the width direction at a high pressure, and restraining an outer peripheral surface of the workpiece that undergoes volume expansion due to martensitic transformation, using the outer die, after the temperature of the workpiece is decreased to the Ms point or lower.

An annular workplace quenching method includes: cooling an annular workpiece with an inner die arranged radially inward of the workpiece heated at a quenching temperature; pressing the workpiece in a width direction at a low pressure and inserting the workpiece in an outer die with restraint of an inner peripheral surface of the workpiece continued, when the restraint is started by contact with the inner die, after a temperature of the workpiece is decreased to 500 C. or lower but before the temperature is decreased to a martensitic transformation start temperature (Ms point); and restraining the workpiece in the width direction by pressing the workpiece in the width direction at a high pressure, and restraining an outer peripheral surface of the workpiece that undergoes volume expansion due to martensitic transformation, using the outer die, after the temperature of the workpiece is decreased to the Ms point or lower.

A method for the heat treatment of a steel reinforcing element (F) for a tire, comprises a step of reducing the temperature of the reinforcing element by continuous cooling: from an initial temperature of the austenite range, to a final temperature of the ferrite-pearlite range, passing through at least one transformation range of the steel, the transformation range(s) being distinct from the bainite range. The temperature reduction step comprises a transformation (C2, C3) from the austenitic microstructure to the ferritic-pearlitic microstructure. The temperature of the reinforcing element is strictly decreasing during the reduction step. The mean rate of temperature reduction during the transformation (C2, C3) of the steel microstructure is greater than or equal to 30 C..Math.s.sup.1 and less than or equal to 110 C..Math.s.sup.1.

The method for the heat treatment of a steel reinforcing element (F) for a tire comprises a transformation of the steel microstructure and in which the temperature of the reinforcing element (F) is reduced during the transformation of the steel microstructure by simultaneously extracting heat from the reinforcing element (F) and supplying heat to the reinforcing element (F).

The method for the heat treatment of a steel reinforcing element (F) for a tire comprises a transformation of the steel microstructure and in which the temperature of the reinforcing element (F) is reduced during the transformation of the steel microstructure by simultaneously extracting heat from the reinforcing element (F) and supplying heat to the reinforcing element (F).

The invention relates to a component in the form of a wheel comprising: a hub portion, a rim portion with an outer rim flange and an inner rim flange, a plurality of circumferentially distributed spokes extending between the hub portion and the rim portion, wherein the spokes and the hub portion are arranged offset with respect to a wheel center plane towards the outer rim flange and have an inner side facing the wheel center plane and an outer side directed away from the wheel center plane, wherein the outer rim flange has greater tensile residual stresses at least in a partial region than at least a partial region of the inner rim flange.

The invention relates to a component in the form of a wheel comprising: a hub portion, a rim portion with an outer rim flange and an inner rim flange, a plurality of circumferentially distributed spokes extending between the hub portion and the rim portion, wherein the spokes and the hub portion are arranged offset with respect to a wheel center plane towards the outer rim flange and have an inner side facing the wheel center plane and an outer side directed away from the wheel center plane, wherein the outer rim flange has greater tensile residual stresses at least in a partial region than at least a partial region of the inner rim flange.

A device for quenching a wheel includes at least one hub outer cooling unit for quenching the outer side of a hub portion of the wheel; at least one hub inner cooling unit for quenching the inner side of the hub portion; at least one spoke outer cooling unit for quenching outer sides of the spokes, and at least one rim cooling unit for quenching the rim portion. The cooling units are each configured to spray a cooling medium onto the wheel and are independently controllable by a control unit.

A device for quenching a wheel includes at least one hub outer cooling unit for quenching the outer side of a hub portion of the wheel; at least one hub inner cooling unit for quenching the inner side of the hub portion; at least one spoke outer cooling unit for quenching outer sides of the spokes, and at least one rim cooling unit for quenching the rim portion. The cooling units are each configured to spray a cooling medium onto the wheel and are independently controllable by a control unit.

The invention relates to a method for heating a vehicle wheel, in particular as a preparation for a subsequent shaping method, in which at least a part of the vehicle wheel is heated by means of inductive heating using an inductor.