Abstract: A composite material is manufactured from a formed mass of reinforcing material and matrix metal by introducing the reinforcing material mass into a pressure chamber and holding it there, introducing molten matrix metal into the pressure chamber so as to surround the reinforcing material mass, moving the reinforcing material mass from the pressure chamber into a casting chamber of substantially smaller volume than the pressure chamber while it is still being surrounded by molten matrix metal, and then allowing the molten matrix metal to solidify while applying pressure.

Abstract: First a reinforcing material mass is formed from a quantity of reinforcing material by binding it together with inorganic binder, and then this reinforcing material mass is compounded with matrix metal to form a composite material mass. Then the composite material mass is heated up so that the proportion of the matrix metal thereof which is in the liquid phase is at least 40%, and while still hot it is subjected to a plastic processing process to form the composite material object.

Abstract: A bearing cup is fixed in place in a Hooke's type universal joint by a device which features provision of an annular recess in a bearing cup receiving hole which is drilled in one of the yoke members of the universal joint, and a fixing plate which, before assembly, comprises a truncated conical configuration having four radial legs with the plate being plastically deformed under pressure into a flat configuration during assembly and while seated upon an upper surface of the bearing cup in order to secure the radical legs within the annular recess thereby fixing the bearing cup in place.