Abstract: An individual transportation system (10) includes a track system (12), including a primary track section (14), a switching track section (16) and loading/unloading section (18). The transportation system (10) additionally includes a plurality of carriages (20) supported by the track system (12), and a plurality of underslung passenger vehicles (22) each matably engageable with one of the carriages, and adapted to hold at least one passenger therein. The transportation system (10) further includes a storage facility (24) for storing the vehicles (22) when they are disengaged from the carriage, whereby a carriage and vehicle combination traveling on the primary track can be switched between primary track section (14) via an associated switching track section (16), and can be switched to the loading/unloading track (18), wherein the vehicle may be disengaged from carriage (20) and stored in the storage facility (24).

Abstract: An individual transportation system (10) includes a track system (12), including a primary track section (14), a switching track section (16) and loading/unloading section (18). The transportation system (10) additionally includes a plurality of carriages (20) supported by the track system (12), and a plurality of underslung passenger vehicles (22) each matably engageable with one of the carriages, and adapted to hold at least one passenger therein. The transportation system (10) further includes a storage facility (24) for storing the vehicles (22) when they are disengaged from the carriage, whereby a carriage and vehicle combination traveling on the primary track can be switched between primary track section (14) via an associated switching track section (16), and can be switched to the loading/unloading track (18), wherein the vehicle may be disengaged from carriage (20) and stored in the storage facility (24).

Abstract: A damper for an air passageway comprises a rigid carrier plate having opposed faces defined by a periphery with a shape generally corresponding to but smaller than the shape of a cross-section of the air passageway and formed of a material having a melting point above an activation temperature range; a heat-expandable sealing material mounted to at least one of the opposed faces of the rigid carrier plate and which is adapted to expand at a temperature in the activation temperature range; the sealing material, when activated, is adapted to expand radially from the rigid carrier plate to form an integral seal with the carrier plate. The heat-expandable sealing material can be integrally molded to the outer periphery of the carrier plate. A process for making the damper with integral seal is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dashmat for use in a vehicle passenger compartment comprising a firewall separating the passenger compartment from an engine compartment and a floorboard extending rearwardly from the firewall. The dashmat comprises a decoupling layer shaped to span the width of the vehicle passenger compartment. The decoupling layer has a lower surface adapted to abut the firewall and floorboard, and an upper surface adapted to face an interior of the passenger compartment. A header is formed in a front portion of the decoupling layer and is adapted to connect to a supply duct from a vehicle HVAC system. An air distribution channel is formed in the decoupling layer and extends rearwardly from the header through a substantial portion of the decoupling layer for distribution of conditioned air from the header throughout at least a front portion of the vehicle passenger compartment.

Abstract: Molding of relatively large articles such as automobile body parts by gas-assisted injection molding with sequential gating of injected thermoplastic resin into the mold cavity. Elongated ribs in the parts form gas channels and strengthening ribs for the parts. Structural parts are made by adhesively joining two such parts made by gas-assisted injection molding through a combination of hollow ribs and joining flanges at sides of the parts.

Abstract: Molding of relatively large articles such as automobile body parts by gas-assisted injection molding with sequential gating of injected thermoplastic resin into the mold cavity. Elongated ribs in the parts form gas channels and strengthening ribs for the parts. Structural parts are made by adhesively joining two such parts made by gas-assisted injection molding through a combination of hollow ribs and joining flanges at sides of the parts.

Abstract: A lightweight expandable baffle for sealing a cavity of a vehicle body at a predetermined cross section of the cavity defined by cavity walls includes a rigid support plate having an outer periphery with a shape generally corresponding to but smaller than the shape of the cross section of the cavity, a heat expandable sealing material mounted only to the outer periphery of the rigid support plate and having an activation temperature range at which the material expands, the support plate being formed of a material having a higher melting point than the activation temperature range, and the sealing material, when activated, expands radially from the rigid support plate to fill the cross-sectional cavity between the rigid support plate and the cavity wall.

Abstract: Molding of relatively large articles such as automobile body parts by gas-assisted injection molding with sequential gating of injected thermoplastic resin into the mold cavity. Elongated ribs in the parts form gas channels and strengthening ribs for the parts. Structural parts are made by adhesively joining two such parts made by gas-assisted injection molding through a combination of hollow ribs and joining flanges at sides of the parts.

Abstract: In a rotary fan (10) having a tubular drive shaft (14) and a lower cylindrical hub (16), an isolator bushing (20) interconnects the drive shaft (14) and hub (16) so as to substantially reduce vibrations. The bushing (20) is elastomeric, tapered and mounted within the hub (16) in an uncompressed state to maintain vibration-reducing properties. The drive shaft (14) extends into and terminates within a central bore (42) of the bushing (20), and the end portion of the shaft (14) is secured at a lower portion of the bushing (20). The hub (16) is secured to an upper end surface of the bushing (20) and the length of the bushing (20) provides dampening of vibrations caused by rotary motion. The tapering of the bushing (20), while maintained in an uncompressed state, provides dampening of vibrations caused by resonant frequency characteristics.