A method for manufacturing a hollow spring member having a hollow steel spring rod having terminal sealed portions at both ends thereof. Each terminal sealed portion has a rotationally symmetric shape in which an axis passing through a center of the spring rod is an axis of symmetry. Each terminal sealed portion has an end wall portion including an end face; an arc-shaped smoothly curved surface between an outer peripheral surface of the spring rod and the end face, and a hermetically closed distal-end-center closure portion on the axis passing through the center of the spring rod. The method includes forming each of the end portions of the spring rod by forming a chamfered portion on an inner or outer peripheral side of the end portion of a hollow wire, the end portion having an opening portion at a distal end, heating the end portion of the hollow wire having the chamfered portion, and spinning the heated end portion to be gathered toward the axis from the outer peripheral side by a jig. The end wall portion, which includes the distal-end-center closure portion, is formed by the distal end of the end portion being joined together on the axis.

A spring induction heater assembly is shown and described. The device has a quench tank incorporated into the design. A motor and drive mechanism provide rotation of a spring about one axis from a first position used for loading, to a second position for heat treatment with an induction coil and a third position where the spring is released dropped into a quench tank. Another rotational system is operational to rotate the spring on a spindle in the second or horizontal position while the spring is located between at least two legs of an induction coil. The induction coil provides even heating to the spring coils thereby providing desired changes to the material properties. The quench tank can have an automated system to remove the springs from the quench tank.

A martensitic stainless steel sheet has a composition containing, (mass %), from 0.10 to 0.15% of C, from 0.05 to 0.80% of Si, from 0.05 to 2.00% of Mn, 0.040% or less of P, 0.003% or less of S, from 0.05 to 0.50% of Ni, from 11.0 to 15.0% of Cr, from 0.02 to 0.50% of Cu, from 0.005 to 0.06% of N, from 0.001 to 0.20% of Al, from 0 to 1.00% of Mo, from 0 to 0.50% of V, from 0 to 0.01% of B, balance Fe and unavoidable impurities. An M value=420C−11.5Si+7Mn+23Ni−11.5Cr−12Mo−10V+9Cu−52Al+470N+189 is 100 or more. A carbonitride number density having a circle equivalent diameter of 1.0 μm or more is 15.0 or less per 0.01 mm.sup.2. 0.2% yield strength is 1,100 N/mm.sup.2 or more.

A valve spring which has an excellent fatigue limit is provided. A chemical composition of the valve spring according to the present embodiment contains, in mass %, C: 0.50 to 0.80%, Si: 1.20 to less than 2.50%, Mn: 0.25 to 1.00%, P: 0.020% or less. S: 0.020% or less: Cr: 0.40 to 1.90%, V: 0.05 to 0.60%, Ca: 0.0001 to 0.0050%, and N: 0.0100% or less, with the balance being Fe and impurities. In the valve spring, a number density of V-based precipitates having a maximum diameter ranging from 2 to 10 nm is 5000 to 80000 pieces/μm.sup.3, and a numerical proportion of Ca sulfides with respect to a total number of oxide-based inclusions and sulfide-based inclusions is 0.20% or less.

A steel wire which has excellent cold coiling workability, and which has an excellent fatigue limit when made into a spring is provided. A chemical composition of the steel wire according to the present, embodiment containing, in mass %, C: 0.50 to 0.80%, Si: 1.20 to less than 2.50%, Mn: 0.25 to 1.00%, P: 0.020% or less, S: 0.020% or less, Cr: 0.40 to 1.90%, V: 0.05 to 0.60%, and N: 0.0100% or less, with the balance being Fe and impurities. In the steel wire, a number density of V-based precipitates having a maximum diameter ranging from 2 to 10 nm is 5000 to 80000 pieces/μm.sup.3.

A damper spring which has an excellent fatigue limit is provided. A chemical composition of the damper spring according to the present embodiment contains in mass %, C: 0.50 to 0.80%, Si: 1.20 to less than 2.50%, Mn: 0.25 to 1.00%, P: 0.020% or less, S: 0.020% or less, Cr: 0.40 to 1.90%, V: 0.05 to 0.60%, and N: 0.0100% or less, with the balance being Fe and impurities. In the damper spring, a number density of V-based precipitates having a maximum diameter ranging from 2 to 10 nm is 5000 to 80000 pieces/m3.

An austenitic stainless steel consists of 0.010 to 0.200% by mass of C, 2.00% by mass or less of Si, 3.00% by mass or less of Mn, 0.035% by mass or less of P, 0.0300% by mass or less of S, 6.00 to 14.00% by mass of Ni, 20.0 to 26.0% by mass of Cr, 3.00% by mass or less of Mo, 0.01 to 3.00% by mass of Cu, 1.000% by mass of less of Ti, 0.200% by mass or less of Al, 0.1000% by mass or less of Ca, 0.100 to 0.250% by mass of N, and 0.0080% by mass or less of 0, the balance being Fe and impurities.

An austenitic stainless steel consists of 0.010 to 0.200% by mass of C, 2.00% by mass or less of Si, 3.00% by mass or less of Mn, 0.035% by mass or less of P, 0.0300% by mass or less of S, 6.00 to 14.00% by mass of Ni, 20.0 to 26.0% by mass of Cr, 3.00% by mass or less of Mo, 0.01 to 3.00% by mass of Cu, 1.000% by mass of less of Ti, 0.200% by mass or less of Al, 0.1000% by mass or less of Ca, 0.100 to 0.250% by mass of N, and 0.0080% by mass or less of 0, the balance being Fe and impurities.

A nitrogen-containing microalloyed spring steel and a preparation method thereof are provided. The chemical components are: 0.45-0.52% of carbon, 0.15-0.35% of silicon, 0.90-1.10% of manganese, 0.90-1.15% of chromium, 0.10-0.25% of molybdenum, 0.10-0.20% of vanadium, 0.025-0.04% of niobium, 0.007-0.012% of nitrogen, less than or equal to 0.03% of lead, tin, zinc, antimony, and bismuth, less than or equal to 25 ppm of oxygen and hydrogen, less than or equal to 0.02% of sulfur and phosphorus, less than or equal to 0.2% of copper, less than or equal to 0.35% nickel, and a balance of iron. The spring steel has significantly improved properties, including high mechanical strength, large elongation, high reduction of area, and good anti-fatigue performance.

A nitrogen-containing microalloyed spring steel and a preparation method thereof are provided. The chemical components are: 0.45-0.52% of carbon, 0.15-0.35% of silicon, 0.90-1.10% of manganese, 0.90-1.15% of chromium, 0.10-0.25% of molybdenum, 0.10-0.20% of vanadium, 0.025-0.04% of niobium, 0.007-0.012% of nitrogen, less than or equal to 0.03% of lead, tin, zinc, antimony, and bismuth, less than or equal to 25 ppm of oxygen and hydrogen, less than or equal to 0.02% of sulfur and phosphorus, less than or equal to 0.2% of copper, less than or equal to 0.35% nickel, and a balance of iron. The spring steel has significantly improved properties, including high mechanical strength, large elongation, high reduction of area, and good anti-fatigue performance.