Method for processing metal body and apparatus for processing metal body

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for processing a metal body which can turn a metal structure of the metal body into a finer grain structure thus obtaining the high strength and the high ductility. In a method or an apparatus for processing a metal body which turns the metal structure of the metal body into the finer grain structure by forming a low deformation resistance region where the deformation resistance is locally lowered in the metal body and by deforming the low deformation resistance region by shearing, using a non-low deformation resistance region forming means which forms a non-low deformation resistance region by increasing the deformation resistance which is lowered in the low deformation resistance region, the non-low deformation resistance region is formed along the low deformation resistance region.

1 . An apparatus for processing a metal body comprising:
 low deformation resistance region forming means for forming a low deformation resistance region which traverses the metal body by locally lowering the deformation resistance of the metal body which extends in one direction;   non-low deformation resistance region forming means for forming a non-low deformation resistance region by increasing the deformation resistance which is lowered in the low deformation resistance region, and   displacement applying means for displacing one side of the metal body which sandwiches the low deformation resistance region with another side of the metal body relative to another side of the metal body, wherein   the apparatus turns the metal structure of the metal body into the finer grain structure by deforming the low deformation resistance region by shearing along with the displacement applied by the displacement applying means.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 1 , wherein the displacement applying means comprises means for applying to the metal body a vibratory motion including vibratory motion components in directions which intersect the extending direction of the metal body. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 1 , wherein the displacement applying means comprises means for applying to the metal body a one-way rotational motion including about a one-way rotational axis substantially parallel to the extending direction of the metal body. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 1 , wherein the displacement applying means comprises means for applying to the metal body a both-way rotational motion including about a both-way rotational axis substantially parallel to the extending direction of the metal body. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 1 , wherein the low deformation resistance region forming means is heating means for heating the metal body to a predetermined temperature or higher. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-low deformation resistance region forming means comprises cooling means for cooling the metal body. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes supply means for supplying the metal body along the extending direction. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 7 , wherein the low deformation resistance region forming means includes preheating means for heating the metal body to a second heating temperature after heating the metal body to a first heating temperature and holding the first heating temperature for a given time. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 8 , wherein the preheating means is such that the first heating temperature is a temperature which is necessary for solution heat treatment of the metal body. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 7 , wherein the apparatus includes aging treatment means for performing aging treatment of the metal body whose metal structure is turned into the finer grain structure by holding the metal body at a temperature which prevents the metal structure from becoming coarser. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 7 , further comprising a forming guide body for forming the metal body in a given shape by being brought into contact with the low deformation resistance region. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 11 , wherein the forming guide body comprises heating means for heating the metal body. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 11 , wherein the forming guide body comprises cooling means for cooling the metal body. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 7 , wherein the metal body is a cylindrical body having a hollow portion, and the apparatus includes flattening means for cutting along the extending direction of the metal body the metal body whose metal structure is turned into the finer grain structure so as to form the metal body into a planar configuration. 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 1 , wherein the low deformation resistance region forming means comprises means for forming the low deformation resistance region in a vacuum. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 1 , wherein the low deformation resistance region forming means comprises means for forming the low deformation resistance region in a high pressure atmosphere. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 1 , wherein the low deformation resistance region forming means comprises means for forming the low deformation resistance region in an active gas atmosphere. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 17 , further comprising means for supplying nitrogen gas as the active gas. 
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 17 , further comprising means for supplying methane gas and/or carbon monoxide as the active gas. 
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 1 , wherein the low deformation resistance region forming means includes powdery material spraying means for spraying a powdery material onto the low deformation resistance region. 
   
   
       21 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 1 , wherein the low deformation resistance region forming means includes ion doping means for doping ions to the low deformation resistance region. 
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 1 , wherein the low deformation resistance region forming means comprises means for forming the low deformation resistance region by heating the metal body while the metal body is immersed in a liquid at a predetermined temperature or higher. 
   
   
       23 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 22 , further comprising means for lowering heat conductivity of a periphery of the low deformation resistance region while forming the low deformation resistance region. 
   
   
       24 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 22 , further comprising means for forming bubbles in a periphery of the low deformation resistance region while forming the low deformation resistance region. 
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for processing a metal body comprising:
 moving means for moving a metal body which extends in one direction along the extending direction;   heating means for heating the metal body to a temperature for performing solution heat treatment;   cooling means for quenching the metal body heated by the heating means; and   shearing deformation means for deforming by shearing a portion of the metal body which is cooled by the cooling means.   
   
   
       26 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 25 , wherein the shearing deformation means comprises means for applying to the metal body a vibratory motion which includes vibratory motion components which perform the vibratory motion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the metal body. 
   
   
       27 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 25 , wherein the shearing deformation means comprises means for applying to the metal body a one-way rotational motion which rotates the metal body about a one-way rotating axis substantially parallel to the extending direction of the metal body. 
   
   
       28 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 25 , wherein the shearing deformation means comprises means for applying to the metal body a both-way rotational motion which rotates the metal body about a both-way rotating axis substantially parallel to the extending direction of the metal body. 
   
   
       29 . An apparatus for processing a metal body comprising:
 moving means for moving the metal body in a heated state extending in one direction along the extending direction;   cooling means for forming a non-low deformation resistance region by increasing the deformation resistance by cooling the metal body; and   vibratory motion applying means for applying a vibratory motion to the non-low deformation resistance region, wherein   the metal structure in the metal body before being supplied to the cooling means is turned into the finer grain structure by the deformation by shearing due to the vibratory motion applied by the vibratory motion applying means.   
   
   
       30 . An apparatus for processing a metal body comprising:
 first low deformation resistance region forming means for forming a first low deformation resistance region which traverses the metal body by locally lowering the deformation resistance of the metal body which extends in one direction;   second low deformation resistance region forming means for forming a second low deformation resistance region which traverses the metal body by locally lowering the deformation resistance of the metal body at a position spaced apart from the first low deformation resistance region by a given distance;   non-low deformation resistance region forming means for forming between the first low deformation resistance region and the second low deformation resistance region a non-low deformation resistance region by increasing the deformation resistance which is lowered in the first low deformation resistance region and the second low deformation resistance region between the first low deformation resistance region and the second low deformation resistance region, and   displacement applying means for applying displacement for deforming by shearing the first low deformation resistance region and the second low deformation resistance region to the non-low deformation resistance region, wherein   the apparatus turns the metal structure of the first low deformation resistance region and the second low deformation resistance region into the finer grain structure.   
   
   
       31 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 30 , wherein the displacement applying means comprises means for applying to the non-low deformation resistance region a vibratory motion including vibratory motion components in directions which intersect the extending direction of the metal body. 
   
   
       32 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 30 , wherein the displacement applying means comprises means for applying to the non-low deformation resistance region a one-way rotational motion including about a one-way rotational axis substantially parallel to the extending direction of the metal body. 
   
   
       33 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 30 , wherein the displacement applying means comprises means for applying to the non-low deformation resistance region a both-way rotational motion including about a both-way rotational axis substantially parallel to the extending direction of the metal body. 
   
   
       34 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 30 , wherein the first low deformation resistance region forming means and the second low deformation resistance region forming means comprise heating means for heating the metal body to a given temperature or more. 
   
   
       35 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 30 , wherein the non-low deformation resistance region forming means comprises cooling means for cooling the metal body. 
   
   
       36 . An apparatus for processing a metal body according to  claim 30 , wherein the apparatus includes supply means for supplying the metal body along the extending direction.