Abstract: A fan idler pulley having a threaded hub for attaching a fan shaft. The pulley also comprises a receiving portion for engaging a bearing. The bearing is further engaged with a cup. The entire assembly is mounted by a pin press fit though the cup into a mounting surface such as an engine block or front cover. The pulley may be engaged to either the inner race or the outer race of the bearing.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal matrix component and product that comprises forming scrap sheet metal material, shredding the scrap sheet metal material to a predetermined size range, filling the shredded scrap sheet metal material into a compacting die, adding an adhesive material to the shredded scrap sheet metal material in the compacting die, compressing the shredded scrap sheet metal material and curing the adhesive to form a metal matrix component. The product comprises an inertia ring that may be used in a crankshaft damper.

Abstract: The invention comprises a crankshaft damper having an integral pulse ring. The crankshaft damper comprises an inner hub and outer pulley with an elastomeric connecting member between each. The elastomeric ring dampens a crankshaft vibration. The integral pulse ring is manufactured as part of the inner hub by flow forming a sheet metal blank.

Abstract: A belt installation tool for installing a belt without rotating the pulley or the tool about a pulley axis of rotation. The tool comprises a ramp that engages a pulley flange. The ramp comprises a connecting member for connecting the ramp to the flange. After the ramp is connected to a pulley flange a belt is loosely engaged with the ramp. A first lever arm connected to the ramp is used to pry the ramp and belt outward by pivoting about the first connecting member until a second connecting member is engaged with the pulley flange. The ramp further comprises a member for laterally urging the belt. Once the ramp is fixed on the pulley flange a second lever arm, connected at a pivot point, urges the belt laterally onto the pulley. The second lever arm is moveable in a direction normal to the movement of the first lever arm, thereby laterally urging the belt onto a pulley.

Abstract: A crankshaft damper and a method of crankshaft damper assembly using interlocking beads. A crankshaft damper having a hub portion and pulley ring and an elastomeric member disposed in an annular space between them is clamped in a tool after initial assembly. A tool having jaw teeth on oppositely disposed, cooperating jaws engages the crankshaft damper hub portion and pulley ring on either side of the elastomeric member. The tool jaws press on the hub portion and pulley ring to create beads or crimps on the hub portion and the pulley ring. The beads or crimps are formed in cooperating groups or sets. They press the elastomeric member into the form of a curve or wave. The curve or wave mechanically locks the hub portion and pulley ring together, thereby locking the elastomeric member in place between them.

Abstract: A method of flow forming sintered metal parts. The first step is forming a round disk by conventional powder metal process. The disk can be a donut shape part with or without a flange on one side of its outer diameter. The disk can then be copper impregnated or used as is, depending on the requirements. The disk is placed in a spinner held in proper tooling and grooves are spun in its outer diameter. The spinning can be done with a finishing roller or by a pre-finishing roller, followed by a finishing roller. This process not only creates a part with great accuracy, it also densifies and eliminates the powder metal porosities on the surface layer by the pressures inserted in spinning.

Abstract: A belt installation tool for installing a belt without rotating the pulley or the tool about a pulley axis of rotation. The tool comprises a ramp that engages a pulley flange. The ramp comprises a connecting member for connecting the ramp to the flange. After the ramp is connected to a pulley flange a belt is loosely engaged with the ramp. A first lever arm connected to the ramp is used to pry the ramp and belt outward by pivoting about the first connecting member until a second connecting member is engaged with the pulley flange. The ramp further comprises a member for laterally urging the belt. Once the ramp is fixed on the pulley flange a second lever arm, connected at a pivot point, urges the belt laterally onto the pulley. The second lever arm is moveable in a direction normal to the movement of the first lever arm, thereby laterally urging the belt onto a pulley.

Abstract: The invention comprises a crankshaft damper having an integral pulse ring. The crankshaft damper comprises an inner hub and outer pulley with an elastomeric connecting member between each. The elastomeric ring dampens a crankshaft vibration. The integral pulse ring is manufactured as part of the inner hub by flow forming a sheet metal blank.

Abstract: A method of flow forming sintered metal parts. The first step is forming a round disk by conventional powder metal process. The disk can be a donut shape part with or without a flange on one side of its outer diameter. The disk can then be copper impregnated or used as is, depending on the requirements. The disk is placed in a spinner held in proper tooling and grooves are spun in its outer diameter. The spinning can be done with a finishing roller or by a pre-finishing roller, followed by a finishing roller. This process not only creates a part with great accuracy, it also densifies and eliminates the powder metal porosities on the surface layer by the pressures inserted in spinning.

Abstract: A load spreader for use in pulley assemblies, where the load spreader engages the bearing and not the axle bolt, thereby allowing a single sized load spreader to be utilized with various sized axle bolts. The load spreader comprises a planar surface having a bore, and at least two arms disposed about the bore, with the arms extending substantially perpendicular from the planar surface which engage a bearing inner surface.

Abstract: A crankshaft damper and a method of crankshaft damper assembly using interlocking beads. A crankshaft damper having a hub portion and pulley ring and an elastomeric member disposed in an annular space between them is clamped in a tool after initial assembly. A tool having jaw teeth on oppositely disposed, cooperating jaws engages the crankshaft damper hub portion and pulley ring on either side of the elastomeric member. The tool jaws press on the hub portion and pulley ring to create beads or crimps on the hub portion and the pulley ring. The beads or crimps are formed in cooperating groups or sets. They press the elastomeric member into the form of a curve or wave. The curve or wave mechanically locks the hub portion and pulley ring together, thereby locking the elastomeric member in place between them.

Abstract: A method of forming a highly accurate sprocket or gear using a combination of spin forming and ironing. An edge of a metal blank disk is split and spin formed into a “T” shape using known methods. A profile, such as a toothed profile, is spin formed into the “T” shaped blank edge to form a sprocket or gear having initial rough dimensions. The spin formed sprocket is then ironed in an ironing die to achieve the final desired dimensions.

Abstract: The invention comprises a cam die. The cam die comprises at least one cam ring. The cam ring comprises a plurality of moveable cam teeth. The cam teeth are moveable on a normal toward an axis of the cam die by a cam actuator. The cam actuator has an inside diameter that is less than an outside diameter of the cam ring. As the cam actuator moves parallel to the cam die axis along an outside circumference of the cam ring, the cam teeth are progressively engaged and pressed inwardly toward a work piece. The work piece is moved simultaneously with the cam actuator by action of a punch that is concentric with the cam actuator and within the diameter of the cam ring. Each cam tooth is simultaneously engaged with the work piece as the work piece passes. A resilient member returns each cam tooth to a starting position after the cam actuator is withdrawn, allowing ejection of a finished part.

Abstract: A method of flow forming in a tensile direction. More particularly, it comprises flowing the metal on the surface of a sheet (or plate) metal blank from a center radially outwards. A roller is initially engaged near or at the center of a rotating metal blank. The roller is then moved radially outward to the edge of the metal blank, gathering the metal as it moves. A mandrel tool surface is used to accumulate the gathered metal to form a predetermined shape at the edge of the workpiece, such as v-belt or multi-ribbed v-belt profile, or gear or sprocket tooth profile.

Abstract: The invention comprises a cam die. The cam die comprises at least one cam ring. The cam ring comprises a plurality of moveable cam teeth. The cam teeth are moveable on a normal toward an axis of the cam die by a cam actuator. The cam actuator has an inside diameter that is less than an outside diameter of the cam ring. As the cam actuator moves parallel to the cam die axis along an outside circumference of the cam ring, the cam teeth are progressively engaged and pressed inwardly toward a work piece. The work piece is moved simultaneously with the cam actuator by action of a punch that is concentric with the cam actuator and within the diameter of the cam ring. Each cam tooth is simultaneously engaged with the work piece as the work piece passes. A resilient member returns each cam tooth to a starting position after the cam actuator is withdrawn, allowing ejection of a finished part.

Abstract: The invention comprises a tensioning idler. An outer belt bearing ring is resiliently engaged to an inner ring. The belt bearing ring and inner ring each rotate about an axis of rotation. The belt bearing ring is connected to the inner ring with the resilient material whereby the belt bearing ring rotates about an axis of rotation that is eccentrically moveable in a plane with respect to an inner ring axis of rotation. The resilient material imparts a belt tension as the belt bearing ring rotates. The resilient material may comprise springs, compressible fluids, incompressible fluids, or elastomers or a combination of the foregoing. The tensioner is mounted on an engine, bracket, or other device.