Abstract: An air actuator has a rigid piston at one end and a rigid housing and end cap at the other end with an intervening elastomeric flexible sleeve extending therebetween which forms a fluid pressure chamber. The rigid piston, elastomeric flexible sleeve, and rigid housing are all injection or blow molded as one integral piece of preferably a thermoplastic elastomer, while the end cap is injection or blow molded as a second integral piece of preferably a thermoplastic elastomer that is thereafter welded to the rigid housing to define an internal chamber that is pressurizable. The first piece consisting of the piston, flexible membrane and housing, is configured such that the walls of the housing and piston are thick and rigid while the walls of the flexible membrane are thin and thus flexible, thereby allowing the membrane to roll and bend such that the piston may axially move in relation to the housing.

Abstract: A method of testing a tire for rain groove wander is provided which allows a tire to be objectively tested in a laboratory wherein the objective test results closely correlate with subjective field analysis type data, thereby allowing for the subjective tire performance to be predicted while precluding the need for subjective field analysis of the particular tire. The method also allows objective testing of a single tire size by varying the radial loading in the laboratory test set, thereby precluding the construction of multiple tire sizes each having the same tread design. The method simulates rain groove road conditions and correlates objective analysis data obtained via the laboratory test methodology with subjective field analysis data of rain groove wander tire performance of other tires, thereby providing a substantially accurate technique for identifying the subjective performance of the tire without having to conduct the field testing to obtain such subjective field analysis data.

Abstract: An air spring having a flexible sleeve is mounted between a pair of movable support components to maintain the components in a spaced relationship. The flexible sleeve has a hollow interior which forms an internal fluid chamber. A connector is mounted in one end of the sleeve and receives a tube for controlling the flow of fluid into and out of the chamber. The connector has a main body molded into the sleeve end and a collet member telescopically rotatably mounted in a hollow interior of the main body. The collet member has a plurality of flexible fingers which grip the end of a tube when inserted therein and have one-way barbs which grip to tube to prevent it from being pulled out once it is inserted within the connector. An elastomeric seal is mounted within the body to provide a fluid seal between the tube and body interior.

Abstract: A method for high velocity coating optical fibers includes passing a fiber with diameter l at velocity V through a coating container to which liquid coating material with viscosity .mu. is supplied under pressure p. Unwanted bubble formation in the coating is prevented by adjusting one or more of the parameters V, l, .mu., and p using the relationship:S=pl/.mu.Vwhere S is a constant characteristic of the coating container/die structure.

Abstract: A technique for estimating the harmonic content of a tread pattern design and specifically a tire pitch sequence. Pitch sequence harmonic content is obtained and analyzed as a function of position along the sequence, i.e., along the circumference of the tire tread. This localized harmonic content information may be used to assess the noise performance of a particular tire tread and further may be used as a criteria for selecting an optimal tire tread pitch sequence along with other performance criteria such as traction, tread wear, etc.

Abstract: The specification describes a process for making gate electrodes for silicon MOS transistor devices. The gate electrode is a composite of a first layer of tungsten suicide, a second layer of tungsten silicide nitride, and a third layer of tungsten silicide. The absence of polysilicon as a main constituent of the gate electrode eliminates depletion effects. The presence of nitride in the composite gate electrode impedes updiffusion of boron from the source and drain. The layers are preferably formed in situ in an PVD apparatus.

Abstract: The specification describes techniques for attaching double sided circuit boards having plated through holes to interconnection substrates using solder bump arrays. The through holes are filled with a high melting point solder which allows solder bumps to be located directly on the through hole thus saving board area and reducing the interconnection length.

Abstract: A reaction cell system for measurement of catalyst demand includes a spherical chamber having an inlet with a diametrically opposed outlet. An optical cylinder traverses the spherical chamber above an agitator maintained at the bottom thereof. The optical cylinder has a slit passing therethrough adjacent a wall of the spherical cylinder such that laminar and uniform flow of fluid within the chamber passes through the slit. The valving between the inlet and outlet of the chamber is such that the inlet valve opens before and closes after similar actuation of the outlet valve. A source of catalyst and indicator communicate with diaphragm dispensers which are operative to inject precise volumes of catalyst and indicator into the spherical chamber. A valve network allows for passage of the catalyst and indicator into the chamber or into measurement standards. Additionally, the valve network communicates with the source of fluid that feeds the chamber to allow for complete and total flushing of the system.

Abstract: A method for monitoring various physical conditions of pneumatic tires and to a tire which includes a memory device mounted on the interior of the tire within the pressurizable cavity and a separate monitoring device mounted on the tire rim. The memory device contains a battery, an antenna and stored data pertaining to the tire. The monitoring device uses an active self-powered programmable electronic circuitry which obtains data from the memory device and in addition contains one or more sensors which obtains engineering conditions such as temperature, pressure, tire rotation and/or other operated conditions of the pneumatic tire along with the stored information from the memory device.

Abstract: An air actuator has a pair of axially spaced end members and an intervening elastomeric flexible sleeve extending therebetween which forms a fluid pressure chamber. An annular clamp ring having a smooth inner diameter coacts with an annular wall on the end cap having an outer diameter with annular indentations formed therein to clamp the ring on the end cap. The annular wall defines clamping surfaces in between and adjacent to the annular indentations. The annular indentations form a series of pinch areas with the intervening sleeve, which sealingly clamp the sleeve therebetween. The indentations receive portions of the sleeve and change the direction of reinforcing cords within the sleeve. The clamp ring abuts against a radially extending surface or shoulder of the end cap to reduce axial movement of the ring during operation of the air spring.

Abstract: An air spring has a pair of spaced end members for mounting the spring at spaced locations on a structure. A flexible sleeve of elastomeric material is sealingly engaged with the end members and forms a pressurized fluid chamber therebetween. A post is mounted on one of the end members and extends into the fluid chamber. A shock absorbing two-piece bumper includes a rigid metal base which is formed as an inverted cup-shaped member with a cylindrical sidewall. The base is secured to one of the end members with the post extending into an open end of the base member. An elastomeric member is snap-fitted into a hole formed in an end closure wall of the base member and engages the opposite end member upon the air spring failing or experiencing a large deflection. In an alternate embodiment, a plurality of flexible fingers are formed from the cylindrical sidewall of the base and are snap-fit to the post to mount the base member on the post and on the one end member of the air spring.