Abstract: A light-weight and sound-damped brake rotor for a vehicle braking system includes a rotor hat and a rotor cheek supported by the rotor hat. The rotor hat includes an axially-protruding central hub and a flange that extends radially from and circumferentially around the central hub. The rotor cheek, which provides at least one braking surface, is formed from two or more separate and distinct pieces which are fixedly secured to the flange of the rotor hat. Located within the rotor cheek underneath the at least one braking surface is a vibration damping element. The brake rotor derives its vibration-deadening and sound-damping effects from the vibration damping element through the occurrence of relative frictional contacting movement.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment may include a product including a first brake rotor cheek having a first body and at least a first outer surface. A first hardened region may extend from the first outer surface towards the center of the body. In one embodiment, the first hardened region may include a nitro-carburized ferrous metal.

Abstract: A light-weight, sound-damped, composite brake rotor for a vehicle braking system includes a rotor hat and an annular rotor cheek supported by, and cast around, the rotor hat. The rotor hat includes an axially-protruding central hub and an integral flange that extends radially from and circumferentially around the central hub. The rotor cheek includes a top ledge and a bottom ledge that overly a top annular surface and a bottom annular surface, respectively, of the integral flange. An annular interfacial boundary present between an underside of the top and/or bottom ledges and their respective adjacent annular surfaces of the integral flange includes a vibration damping interface. The brake rotor derives its vibration-deadening and sound-damping effects from the vibration damping interface through the occurrence of relative frictional contacting movement.

Abstract: A method of and actuator/device for passively actuating or protecting a system, body or circuit during a lightning strike or other high voltage/current generation event, utilizing an active material element activated by the spike in current or voltage potential, and preferably a barrier connected in series to the element and configured to be overcome by the voltage/current event, so that the element is activated only during the event.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include products and parts including a frictional damping means and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment includes a method that calls for supporting an insert in a mold cavity of a casting die by way of one or more spacers, introducing a molten material into the mold cavity such that the one or more spacers are melted and consumed by the molten material, and wherein the one or more spacers and the molten material are of the same composition.

Abstract: An assembly of like two rib cores enclosing a splitter core are used to carry two or four sound damping inserts for sand mold casting of a pair of vented and damped brake rotors. Sand mold bodies are configured to define outboard surfaces of hub and rotor surfaces of the cast brake rotors. The three-piece core assembly is shaped to define the complex inner surfaces in casting of vented rotor bodies carrying one or two annular sound damping inserts.

Abstract: A brake assembly includes a brake pad, a bracket supporting the brake pad and having a first portion, a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, and a linkage interconnecting the first and second portions. The linkage is configured to transfer tensile loads between the first and second portion, but is characterized by the absence of any bending modes. The absence of bending modes prevents excitation of the linkage, thereby reducing sound generated during application of the brake assembly.

Abstract: A method including positioning an insert in a vertical mold including a first mold portion and a second mold portion; and casting a material including a metal around at least a portion of the insert.

Abstract: A method including positioning an insert in a vertical mold including a first mold portion and a second mold portion; and casting a material including a metal around at least a portion of the insert.

Abstract: A Coulomb friction damped disc brake caliper bracket, wherein damping is provided by Coulomb friction, most preferably at the outboard tie-bar thereof, by a Coulomb bar peripherally welded thereto. An inner surface of the Coulomb friction bar is in abutting contact with the external surface of the tie-bar, whereby because of the continuous peripheral edge welding, corrosion cannot find entry into the interface of the two surfaces, yet the two surfaces form are free to vibrate one as to the other in Coulomb friction fashion to thereby provide damping and reduction of brake squeal and other noise.

Abstract: A method including positioning an insert in a vertical mold including a first mold portion and a second mold portion; and casting a material including a metal around at least a portion of the insert.

Abstract: A component with a first number of natural modes of vibration. An insert may be coupled to the component. The insert may have a second number of natural modes of vibration which is a different number than the first number of natural modes of vibration of the component. The insert helps damp vibrations in the component when the component is vibrated.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment includes an automotive brake component, such as a brake drum or a brake rotor, and an inlay coupled to the automotive brake component. The inlay constituting at least a portion of a braking surface that is acted upon during a braking event. The inlay damping vibrations in the automotive brake component when the component is vibrated.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention may include a product including a body portion including a first face and a frictional damping insert overlying the first face of the body portion. The body portion may include a second face overlying the insert. The insert may have a throughhole and a portion of the body portion may extend from the first face through the throughhole and the insert to the second face of the body portion.

Abstract: An assembly of like two rib cores enclosing a splitter core are used to carry two or four sound damping inserts for sand mold casting of a pair of vented and damped brake rotors. Sand mold bodies are configured to define outboard surfaces of hub and rotor surfaces of the cast brake rotors. The three-piece core assembly is shaped to define the complex inner surfaces in casting of vented rotor bodies carrying one or two annular sound damping inserts.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a method including providing an insert, wherein at least a portion of the insert is attracted to a magnet; providing a mold including a first mold portion, a second mold portion, and a magnet having at least a portion thereof in or adjacent to at least one of the first mold portion or the second mold portion; positioning the insert in one of the mold portions such that the at least one magnet at least assists in holding the insert in place; and closing the mold and casting a molten material into the mold and around or adjacent to at least a portion of the insert and solidifying the material.

Abstract: A multi-piece sound dampened brake rotor comprises a relatively light weight hub with a hub flange and a heavier rotor body with a sound damping insert and a rotor body flange. The hub and rotor body are attached at their flanges. The flanges may be mechanically attached such as with bolts. Or the hub and rotor may be attached by casting the hub of a lower melting metal alloy against the rotor body and rotor body flange. The rotor body may have vanes for air cooling and a sound damping insert may be incased in either or both body portions sandwiching the vanes.

Abstract: One embodiment includes a damped product including a first portion, a second portion, a first cavity formed in one of the first portion or the second portion, and a frictional damping insert at least partially received in the first cavity so that the first portion and the second portion completely enclose the frictional damping insert and so that vibration of the product is damped by the insert.

Abstract: A method including positioning an insert in a vertical mold including a first mold portion and a second mold portion; and casting a material including a metal around at least a portion of the insert.