Abstract: A pneumatic actuator adapted for placement between a pair of spaced members for controlling relative movement between said members is formed of two different hardness plastic materials and includes a rigid base and a flexible top member forming an internal air chamber therebetween. The top member is movable between collapsed and expanded positions by pressurized air introduced into the internal chamber for relative movement of the spaced members. The base has a sidewall terminating in a peripheral edge on which the top member is sealingly secured by a hot welded joint. A central portion of the top member has a raised thickened portion which engages one of the spaced members. A stop is located within the internal chamber to maintain the central portion of the top member above the peripheral edge of the base to prevent contact of the spaced member with the sealed joint when the top member is in the collapsed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for seaming roofing membranes to one another, wherein one of the membranes is secured to an underlying support structure by at least one protruding fastener, the apparatus including a wheeled carriage having an upwardly extending push/pull bar, a power supply carried by the carriage, the power supply driving the wheeled carriage, a heating assembly carried by the carriage and powered by the power supply, the heating assembly including a fan and a heating element, wherein the fan blows ambient air over the heating element and generate a heated airflow sufficient to fuse the roofing membranes to one another, a nozzle coupled to the heating assembly for directing the heated airflow between the two membranes, the nozzle having a pair of outer channels and an elevated center channel disposed between the pair of outer channels, the elevated channel passing over the at least one protruding fastener, and a variable pressure roller assembly coupled to the carriage, the roller assembly having a pair of out

Abstract: An integral one-piece end plate and bracket combination is formed of a high strength plastic and is mounted in an airtight sealing engagement with an open end of a flexible elastomeric sleeve which forms the fluid pressure chamber of an air spring. The end plate includes a semi-circular wall which extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the air spring and a semi-circular opening. The bracket includes an upstanding wall perpendicular to the semi-circular wall of the end plate and a half dome-shaped wall, which together with the upstanding wall, forms an auxiliary fluid chamber which is in fluid communication through the semi-circular opening with the main fluid chamber of the flexible sleeve. The upstanding wall includes attachments for securing the bracket and end plate to a support structure which aligns with a longitudinal axis of the air spring.

Abstract: A method of recycling EPDM rubber including the steps of devulcanizing previously cured EPDM rubber and adding the devulcanized EPDM rubber to a composition for forming an elastomeric membrane for roofing, the composition including a rubber mixture including from about 50 to about 95 parts by weight virgin EPDM rubber, and from about 5 to about 50 parts by weight of the devulcanized EPDM rubber, to total one hundred parts by weight rubber, from about 75 to about 300 parts by weight phr of a filler, from about 35 to about 135 parts by weight phr of a processing oil, and a cure package.

Abstract: A method for constructing a ballasted roof system (20) includes the steps of installing a roofing membrane (14) onto a roof structure (12). A ballast (16, 32) is disposed on the roofing membrane, wherein the ballast has applied thereto a reflective paint (21) to improve the solar reflective properties of the ballasted roof system. The improved roofing system has solar reflective properties at least 35%.

Abstract: An air spring has a pair of axially spaced end members and an intervening elastomeric flexible sleeve extending therebetween which forms a fluid pressure chamber. A plurality of axially spaced ribs and intervening grooves are formed on an inner surface of a ring which align with corresponding ribs and grooves formed on an axial sealing surface of one of the end members to form a fluid tight seal with the elastomeric sleeve clamped therebetween. An annular radially extending projection is formed on each of the ring and end member which cooperatively mate with each other to provide a mechanical interlock therebetween which is free of intervening elastomeric material, to securely retain the ring in position with respect to the end member sealing surface.

Abstract: A vibration damping device is mounted between two spaced portions of a vehicle for absorbing road forces exerted on the vehicle. A cylindrical housing forms an internal piston chamber and is connected at one end to one portion of the vehicle, with an outer end of the rod of a piston which is slidably mounted within the piston chamber, being connected to another portion of the vehicle. A fluid transfer duct is formed between the housing and piston and provides communication between fluid subchambers formed on opposite sides of the piston within the piston chamber. An electrode is attached to either the housing or piston for applying a voltage across the duct to affect the rheological response of an electrorheological (ER) fluid flowing therethrough to provide a controllable mechanism to modify the damping force characteristics of the device. Each end of the piston rod is slidably supported by a slide bushing assembly which is mounted within an end of the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle (e.g., a truck) rubber air spring is bonded to a seat of a fixturing sleeve. A bead of the air spring has a rubber primer thereon and the seat of the fixturing sleeve has a fixturing primer thereon. An adhesive located between the rubber and fixturing primers permanently secures the air spring to the sleeve seat.

Abstract: An adhesive rubber article of the type having a release liner covering its tacky, adhesive surface to prevent the adhesive rubber article from adhering to various substrates or to itself prior to its intended use includes an impression or mark presented on one or more surfaces for facilitating the alignment and application of the adhesive rubber article on one or more substrates. The release liner has been scored, perforated or otherwise cut in a longitudinal direction of the article such that the scoring of the release liner further produces a visual guide on the adhesive rubber article. Thus, upon removal of the release paper, the guide may be used to align and apply the adhesive rubber article to the various substrates. These adhesive rubber articles are particularly useful within the roofing industry for bonding panels of rubber membranes together or for use as flashing.

Abstract: An air spring has a piston formed of a high strength plastic material consisting of a main shell and a bottom end sealing plate extending between a pair of concentric inner and outer annular walls. A pair of internal auxiliary reservoirs or subchambers are formed within the piston and are in fluid communication with each other and with the main air chamber formed by a flexible bellows extending between the piston and an end plate. A plurality of radially extending reinforcing ribs extend between the inner and outer annular walls of the shell and a rigid central post. A central planar support surface having an area approximately 20% than that of the piston base area provides a reduced surface area for mounting the piston on a smaller support surface.