Abstract: An expansion hose adapted for smoothing pressure fluctuations in a hydraulic system having an inner tube, a textile reinforcement, and an outer cover. The reinforcement includes a plurality of yarns, which in turn have a plurality of filaments of first fiber material type and a plurality of filaments of second fiber material type, with first fiber type having elongation at break higher than the second fiber type by at least about 4% elongation. The expansion hose may be part of an assembly including at least one fitting, coupling, bracket, hose clamp, or other hose.

Abstract: A shaft coupling with a flexible annular sleeve, a driver end piece, and a driven end piece. The end pieces have a plurality of axially projecting prongs arranged so that the driver prongs loosely interlock in the spaces between the driven prongs with a gap between each pair of prongs. The sleeve fits snugly around the periphery of the loosely interlocked prongs. Each prong has at least one prong groove in its outer periphery. Each of two peripheral edges may be shaped to form a groove flank, and each set of two adjacent groove flanks on adjacent prongs may form a gap groove. The sleeve has a plurality of inner teeth including a plurality of groove teeth in alternating arrangement with a plurality of gap teeth. The prong grooves and groove teeth mesh, and the gap grooves and gap teeth mesh. Groove teeth may be bigger than gap teeth.

Abstract: A coupling sleeve for use in a sleeve-type, flexible, shaft-coupling device, having a generally annular body portion with one or more axially extending, polymeric or elastomeric teeth on at least one of its inner and outer periphery and having a rigid support band with a rigid, axially extending fin protruding radially into at least one of the teeth. The coupling sleeve has a cross sectional area with a rigid band portion that occupies the minor portion of the cross section relative to the polymeric portion. Torque applied to the teeth of the coupling sleeve during use is resisted by the fins and the tooth material is thus placed in compression.

Abstract: A flexible hose comprising a tube, a knit fabric, and a cover. The knit fabric comprises a hybrid yarn which comprises a first yarn of co-para-aramid fibers and a second yarn of meta-aramid fibers. The hose exhibits significantly improved burst pressure and/or improved impulse fatigue resistance.

Abstract: A shower receptor with improved control of moisture and trapped water comprising one or more of the following improvements: the flange is significantly higher above the threshold than prior art receptors; the threshold is disposed higher than the ledge area where the shower wall materials meet the receptor; weep valleys are provided in the corners of the ledge area and where the ledge meets the threshold; the ledge area comprises multiple steps adapted to meet the subwall and finish wall materials wherein the steps are sloped toward the base and the tile step is lower than the subwall step; a raised curb is provided along the outer edge of the horizontal surface of the threshold, the curb adapted to redirect water that leaks out of the door enclosure back into the shower receptor.

Abstract: An improved hose clamp having an annular band with an inner face, tensioning means, and an annular spring liner. The spring liner includes an outwardly projecting circumferential ridge; an inwardly projecting circumferential ridge on each side of the outwardly projecting ridge; and a circumferential shoulder near each circumferential edge of the spring liner; and the shoulders are adapted to abut the inner face of the annular band in the absence of clamp tensioning forces. The outwardly projecting ridge may or may not abut the inner face in the presence of clamp tensioning forces.

Abstract: A bonded part such as a rubber to metal bonded part and process for producing a bonded part including a rubber and metal part, and particularly for producing an automotive torsional vibration damper, comprising the steps of placing uncured elastomer composition comprising an elastomer, at least one curative, and preferably, at least one rubber-to-metal adhesive adjuvant into a shape-forming mold, and curing the elastomer in two stages, wherein in the first curing stage the elastomer composition is less than fully cured and in the second curing stage, preferably performed with the elastomer composition in contact with a metal surface of the rubber and metal part, the elastomer composition is at least substantially fully cured. According to one embodiment, the present invention allows for the elimination of the step of applying an adhesive to the metal surface prior to application of the elastomer composition.

Abstract: A power transmission belt with an embedded load carrier cord having a plurality of yarns and possessing a first twist corresponding to a first twist multiplier and a first twist direction, and possessing a second twist corresponding to a second twist multiplier in the opposite direction, such that the ratio of the first twist multiplier to the second twist multiplier is greater than about 1.5. The belt may be a multi-v-ribbed belt. The load carrying cord may have a plurality of twisted yarns having a first yarn twist and a second cord twist in a direction opposite the yarn twist and a ratio of yarn twist to cord twist from about 1.5:1 to about 4:1.

Abstract: An endless power transmission belt comprising load carrier cord comprising a cord formed from a plurality of strands, wherein the strands comprise fibers of para-aramid and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); and a method for increasing the flexural fatigue resistance and durability of an endless belt, comprising the step of selecting for the belt's load carrier cord a yarn comprising a fiber of para-aramid and PVP.

Abstract: An improved hose clamp having an annular band with an inner face, tensioning means, and an annular spring liner. The spring liner includes an outwardly-projecting circumferential ridge; an inwardly-projecting circumferential ridge on each side of the outwardly-projecting ridge; and a circumferential shoulder near one or both circumferential edge of the spring liner; and at least one shoulder is adapted to abut the inner face.

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper or other vibration damping device with a rubber vibration absorbing element. The rubber element is a peroxide-cured composition comprising 100 parts of ethylene-alpha-olefin elastomer, and 20 to 100 parts of substantially isobutylene or butene polymer having a viscosity average molecular weight greater than about 5000. The polymer may also be a copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene. The addition of the isobutylene polymer to the ethylene-alpha-olefin elastomer composition increases the vibration damping character of the rubber.