Abstract: Permanent domain refinement of grain oriented electrical steel strip is obtained in a high speed two-stage process. The process removes the glass in narrow regions which just expose the base metal. An electrolytic etch is then used to deepen the region into the base metal and minimize damage to the remaining glass film. Control of acid concentration and temperature in the electrolytic bath allows a greater increase in productivity. A further feature of the process is the use of permeability measurements to optimize the depth of the etched regions. The improved core loss produced by the process will survive a stress relief anneal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing permanent domain refinement continuously and at very high line speeds in grain oriented electrical steel having an aluminum nitride inhibitor system. After the final high temperature anneal, the glass film and insulative coating on the surface is removed in narrow bands (grooves or rows of spots). The steel is electroetched to increase the depth of the bands, coated with aluminum by electrophoresis and given a stress relief anneal to bond the aluminum coating to the base metal by diffusion. A localized stress field is induced during cooling which causes domain refinement due to the differential thermal contraction between the aluminum and the base metal.

Abstract: A duplex stainless steel which is economical and balanced to provide a good combination of properties in the as-cast condition and resists thermal transformation to martensite due the high levels of manganese. This steel is particularly suited for thin-walled castings for automotive underbody components. It is 30% to 60% ferrite and balance austenite and, in weight percent, consists essentially of:C - up to 0.07,Cr - 17 to 21.5,Ni - greater than 1 to less than 4,Mn - greater than 4 to 8,N - 0.05 to 0.15,Si - less than 2,Mo - less than 2,Cu - less than 1.5 and balance essentially Fe.

Abstract: Continuously hot dip aluminum coated ferritic chromium alloy steel strip. After the steel has been given a pretreatment to remove surface contaminants, the steel is protected in a hydrogen atmosphere until it is passed into the molten aluminum coating metal. The coating metal readily wets the steel surface to prevent uncoated areas or pin holes in the coating layer.

Abstract: Connecting a tubular string to a subsea installation. The tubular string includes a short first section and a longer second section. The length of the first section is approximately one-half the depth between the lowermost guide ring of a fixed platform and the top of the subsea installation. One end of the first section is provided with a connector and the other end with a connector and a funnel. The first section is lowered through the guide rings and connected to the subsea installation. One end of the second section is provided with a connector and the second section is lowered through the guide rings and into the funnel. Since the two adjacent ends are about midway between the subsea installation and the lowermost guide ring, the adjacent ends are easily bent into alignment by the camming action resulting when the end of the second section slides along the inside tapered surface of the funnel when the axes of the platform and subsea installation are offset.

Abstract: A ferritic alloy steel having good creep strength and cyclic oxidation resistance at elevated temperatures up to 982.degree. C. (1800.degree. F.) with an optional final anneal at 1010.degree.-1150.degree. C. (1850.degree.-2100.degree. F.) consisting essentially of from about 0.01% to about 0.30% carbon, about 2% maximum manganese, greater than 2.35% to about 4% silicon, about 3% to about 7% chromium, about 1% maximum nickel, about 0.15% maximum nitrogen, less than 0.3% aluminum, about 2% maximum molybdenum, at least one element selected from the group of niobium, titanium, tantalum, vanadium and zirconium in an amount up to 1.0% and the balance essentially iron.

Abstract: A flexible hose has a thermoplastic core tube, a reinforcing layer surrounding the core tube, an elastomeric sheath surrounding and bonded to the reinforcing layer, and a plastic fiber protection layer surrounding and adhering to the sheath. The hose can be made by applying a layer of viscous cement to the reinforcing layer applied around the core tube, wrapping the viscous cement layer, with an overlapping seam, with a calendered layer stock of elastomeric material, and applying an abrasion protection layer around the elastomeric material. The hose is self-curing at ambient temperature and can be made on conventional hose manufacturing equipment.

Abstract: A non-differential drive axle which utilizes a pair of bi-directional overunning clutches. The axle includes a housing within which a gear support is rotatably journalled. An intermediate shaft is connected to a gear support and is rotatably journalled at one end in the housing. The axle includes a pair of output shafts, one of which can be connected to the gear support for conjoint rotation by one of the overrunning clutches. The other output shaft can be connected to the intermediate shaft for conjoint rotation by the other overrunning clutch.

Abstract: A high ratio semi-floating drive axle is disclosed. The axle includes a pair of axle shafts which are prevented from pulling out of the differential side gears by retainer ring assemblies which engage grooves around the axle shafts and are held in the grooves by snap rings which encircle the retainer ring assemblies.

Abstract: Lightweight ring gear for an epicyclic gear differential. The ring gear is fastened to a radially outwardly extending flange and includes inner and outer perimeters and a surface which is adapted to abut the flange. There are a plurality of equidistantly spaced apart cavities in the surface which extend from the inner perimeter toward the outer perimeter.

Abstract: A transfer gear assembly connected to a transaxle in order to provide the transaxle with a power take-off. The transfer gear assembly includes a case with an access opening and a shaft connectable to the transaxle through a gear set by a clutch. The transfer gear assembly also includes an actuator for moving the clutch between its engaged and disengaged positions and a combined access opening cover and actuator shield fastened to the case.

Abstract: An internal shoe drum brake having a pair of hydraulically actuated brake shoes and an automatic brake adjusting mechanism. The brake adjusting mechanism includes a variable length strut disposed between the two brake shoes and actuated to increase in length by use of of a notched wheel which is rotated through engagement with a lever pivotally connected to one of the brake shoes and biased to rotate the wheel by use of a compression spring. The action of the one lever is controlled by a second lever also pivotally connected to the brake shoe and engageable by the strut and the one lever so that pivotal movement of the second lever permits a pivotal movement of the one lever of approximately three times the movement of the second lever away from the strut as great of the first lever.

Abstract: A cast or forged universal joint yoke having a hub from which extend a pair of arms in spaced apart parallel relation. Each arm as a generally U-shaped bearing cup receiving recess, each recess including a pair of arcuate bearing cup surfaces along the sides thereof. A depression is located in the bight portion of the recess and an integral bearing cup positioning and retaining lug protrudes from the depression. The depression extends on each side of the lug between the lug and adjacent support surfaces so that there is no radius or transition of material between the lug and the supporting surfaces.

Abstract: A driveshaft having a heat-treated aluminum alloy tube and a heat-treated aluminum alloy connection member partially telescoped within each end of the tube and joined to it by welding. The tube has a constant outside diameter and a wall thickness which is constant throughout most of the length and which increases adjacent each end.

Abstract: An automatic belt reel lock mechanism with a main housing, a reel axle with pertaining reel spring and a rolled-up belt as well as with a locking mechanism comprising a mass force sensor, a movably mounted locking pawl, a ratchet wheel and a control component which supports the mass force sensor and is mounted in the housing concentrically with the reel axle, and with a lock/drive disk concentric with the reel axle and mounted in a freely rotatable fashion in relation to it while serving the meshing of the locking pawl with the ratchet wheel through a control cam, and with a rotary inertial mass for actuating the locking pawl at excessive belt acceleration.

Abstract: A system for controlling the timing of an internal combustion engine having a rotatable power shaft including a timing mechanism coupled to an advance mechanism which produces a recurring ignition pulse. The timing mechanism produces a timing signal that recurs at a timing rate proportional to the rotational speed of the power shaft. The ignition pulse, which is initiated by the timing signal to establish the degree of spark advancement, is varied in response to an engine operating parameter, such as engine temperature to control spark advancement, and thereby reduce exhaust emissions.

Abstract: A seat belt webbing guide (100) for directing seat belt webbing material (120) from a retractor to a shoulder belt (130) includes a one-piece cover and housing (10) in which a lightweight load bearing wire loop (60) is disposed in a substantially triangular shaped configuration. The bottom portion of the wire loop is maintained straight by a tubular element (75) and an idler roller (80) surrounding the tubular element (75) enables the webbing material to extend partially around the roller (80) through the loop opening with a low friction rolling engagement. The roller (80) is mounted in a recessed area (86) of the housing (10) between two upright end flanges (90) which laterally retain the webbing. The ends (62, 64) of the wire loop (60) opposite the roller (80) are introduced from opposite directions into a length of wall tubing (70) and arranged to overlap each other.

Abstract: An improved self-locking adjust tongue plate including a sleeve surrounding a lock bar extending in slots provided on side flanges of the tongue. The sleeve spaces the lock bar from the walls of the slots so as to avoid metal to metal contact, which may adversely affect the lock-up angles of the adjust tongue.

Abstract: An integral plastic fastener for a plastic article in the form of a cylindrical lug extending from the article and a hollow core in the central portion of the lug, the length of the core being greater than the length of the lug, extending into the plastic article. The core has a substantially square or triangular shape. The diameter of the lug preferably is the same along its length.