Abstract: A sealing-enhancing coating for a gasket or a portion of a gasket includes flaky particles of chemically exfoliated vermiculite, at least 90% by weight of the particles having a thickness of no more than 30 microns, and no dimension greater than 1 mm. The particles form 10 to 90 wt. % of the coating. The coating also includes 50 to 10 wt. % of an organic polymer binder which when formed into a film 1 mm or less in thickness and heated to 300° C. in free air for 24 hours either does not decompose or decomposes leaving a residue of at least 20% by weight of film.

Abstract: A flexible protective sleeve for use in protecting an elongated member comprises a generally-tubular wall which has a longitudinally-extending slit therethrough. The sleeve also comprises a lining contained in the space enclosed by said wall. The lining also has a longitudinally-extending slit therethrough which provides access to the interior thereof. Said lining is formed by a preformed tube made of resilient material.

Abstract: A ball joint 110 for a vehicle having a housing 120 partly enclosing a ball member 112 a cover member 150 provided by an annular, partially everted body of steel which at one end 158 surrounds the housing for attachment and at the other 156 is in-turned at 160 to approach the spherical surface 118 of the ball member radially and at about 45 degrees to the member housing axis. This other end 156 supports an elastomeric sealing ring 142 biased by the member 150 against the spherical surface to prevent contaminants being carried by the ball to the housing seat 126. To tailor the resilience, the cover member is provided with an array of slots 1681 . . . at the curved region 160 which are filled with plugs 1721 . . . of contaminant excluding elastomer and/or the ball sealing ring is biased against the housing adjacent the seat.

Abstract: A gasket is manufactured by a method which comprises applying heat to selected localised areas of a piece of sheet steel so that the structure of the steel is softened only in those areas. An opening is formed through said piece of sheet steel, the opening extending around a closed path in the sheet which passes through said softened areas. The opening has connecting webs extending across it at the softened areas. The method also comprises pressing said webs so that slots are formed in the top and bottom of each web, the slots connecting with the opening on both sides of the web. The method also comprises filling said opening and slots with resilient material which also forms sealing beads extending along said path and projecting from said opening and slots on both sides of the sheet.

Abstract: An axially, slidable brake disc system employs leaf springs between a hub of a suspension casting or knuckle to float the brake discs for axial sliding movement, while holding the discs against wobbling, and employs brake pads which are biased by springs to float on a stationary bridge so that the contact between the brake pads and discs is a light random contact thereby resulting in reduced residual torque drag and disc thickness variation. The rotating brake discs will shift axially, slightly from the braking position to the off-brake position with the brake pads urged by their spring forces to keep their pad faces parallel to and slightly spaced from adjacent brake disc surfaces to prevent corner engagement and localized rubbing contact thereby reducing pad wear, residual drag torque and disc thickness variation. The brake force applicator may be mounted at a 12:00 position and in an integral bore in the suspension knuckle to reduce the size, weight, and space envelope of the braking system.

Abstract: An ABS brake system employs two axially slidable brake discs and four brake pads that are biased to have floating light random contact therebetween in the off brake position. The ABS controller operates the brake pads with about one half of the usual brake pressure and about double the number of the usual braking and release cycles. The floating axially slidable brake discs and four brake pads have reduced residual torque drag during the brake release cycle and have reduced hystersis. The result is operation at a higher frequency and with less amplitude, than the usual sliding caliper and fixed brake system, and a resolution of a modulating scale for cycling that is usually associated with a much lower coefficient of friction surface than is actually present.

Abstract: A flexible protective sleeve for use in protecting an elongated member comprises a generally tubular wall for at least substantially surrounding the member. The sleeve also comprises permanent adhesive adhered to an interior surface of said wall. The adhesive is effective to stick the elongated member to the interior surface.

Abstract: A head gasket which acts, when clamped between a head and a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine, to form a seal around at least one lubricant or hydraulic fluid passage which extends between the head and the block. The gasket also comprises a non-return valve which extends across said passage and allows flow of liquid in said passage towards the head but prevents flow of liquid in said passage towards the block.

Abstract: A gasket (40) has a trough (44) in a supporting sheet (42) thereof. The trough has a bead (52) mounted therein. Said bead has a transverse cross section defined by lower (56) and side (58) surfaces which conform to and engage bounding surfaces of the trough, and also defined by an upper surface (60) which, in an uncompressed state of the bead, defines a projection (54) extending out of the trough. The surface (60) also defines a recess (62) extending parallel to said projection, the recess being formed within said trough. Said projection (54) is positioned on one side of the longitudinal center-line (70) of the bead (52) and said recess (62) is positioned on the other side of said center-line.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a brake pad comprising casting a back plate in a mould. The plate is formed with at least one integral projection which overhangs an adjacent surface of the plate. The mould is formed from frangible material and has a recess in the shape of the projection. The mould is formed from particulate material compressed around a projection made of resilient material which deforms to the shape of the projection. The resilient material is withdrawn to form the recess. Metal is cast in the mould including the recess. After solidification of the metal, the mould is broken away from the projection. The method also comprises pressing a mixture containing friction material and curable material against the plate including pressing the mixture around the projection so that it extends beneath the overhang and curing the curable material to form a block of friction material adhered to the plate.

Abstract: An axially, slidable brake disc system employs leaf springs between a hub of a suspension casting or knuckle to float the brake discs for axial sliding movement, while holding the discs against wobbling, and employs brake pads which are biased by springs to float on a stationary bridge so that the contact between the brake pads and discs is a light random contact thereby resulting in reduced residual torque drag and disc thickness variation. The rotating brake discs will shift axially, slightly from the braking position to the off-brake position with the brake pads urged by their spring forces to keep their pad faces parallel to and slightly spaced from adjacent brake disc surfaces to prevent corner engagement and localized rubbing contact thereby reducing pad wear, residual drag torque and disc thickness variation. The brake force applicator may be mounted at a 12:00 position and in an integral bore in the suspension knuckle to reduce the size, weight, and space envelope of the braking system.

Abstract: An ABS system brake system employs two axially slidable brake discs and four brake pads that are biased to have floating light random contact therebetween in the off brake position. The ABS controller operates the brake pads with about one half of the usual brake pressure and about double the number of the usual braking and release cycles. The floating axially slidable brake discs and four brake pads have reduced residual torque drag during the brake release cycle and have reduced hystersis. The result is operation at a higher frequency and with less amplitude, than the usual sliding caliper and fixed brake system, and a resolution of a modulating scale for cycling that is usually associated with a much lower coefficient of friction surface than is actually present.

Abstract: A reduction in size and weight of a vehicle wheel suspension is achieved by locating a brake force applicator at a top portion of a stub axle and adjacent a wheel turning axis and providing a pair of axially slidable brake discs engageable by four floating brake pads. Preferably, the force applicator is disposed within an opening or bore in a top portion of the stub axle adjacent the vertical turning axis which also passes through the stub axle. This is in contrast to the conventional sliding caliper that is mounted at either the front or the rear of a fixed brake disc and projects substantially further outward with respect to the vertical turning axis.

Abstract: A disc brake testing apparatus comprises operating means operable to operate pad moving means of the disc brake to urge pads of the brake towards the disc thereof. The operating means operable to urge the pads against the disc with a higher pressure sufficient to cause the pads to maintain constant contact with the disc and apply a significant braking force thereto. In order to simulate conditions which cause disc thickness variation, the operating means is alternatively operable to urge the pads against the disc with a lower pressure selected to cause the pads to make intermittent contact with the disc during each revolution of the disc.

Abstract: Sealing material comprises from 45% to 90% by weight exfoliated graphite, from 5% to 20% by weight thermosetting resin and from 5% to 50% by weight fibrous filler which is heat resistant at 250° C. The fibrous filler has fibres at least 90% of which have a fibre length of less than 200 &mgr;m, and an aspect ratio of less than 10:1.

Abstract: A machine tool comprises a support mounted for rotation about a machining axis, a first motor operable to rotate the support about the machining axis, a tool holder mounted on the support for rotation about a tool positioning axis which is parallel to and off-set from the machining axis, a second motor operable to rotate the tool holder about the tool positioning axis, and control means. For a constant diameter machining circle, the support and the tool holder are rotated about their respective axes at equal angular velocities so that they rotate as a unit. To adjust the diameter of the machining circle, one of the motors operates for a period at a different angular velocity to the other motor, thereby altering the position of the tool holder relative to the support about the tool positioning axis.

Abstract: A composite panel is formed by bonding together at least two overlying sheets of metal. The method comprises performing a first corrugating operation on each of said sheets, and positioning said sheets in overlying relationship with the corrugations of each sheet extending in a common first direction and the corrugations of each sheet nested into those of the other sheet. The method also comprises performing a second corrugating operation arranged to produce corrugations which extend in a second direction which is inclined at an angle of at least 10.degree. to said first direction. Each sheet is formed into parallel upstanding ridges separated by troughs. The troughs in each sheet are received within the ridges of the other sheet. The troughs have reentrant side walls and the ridges vary in width along their length.

Abstract: A suspension and braking assembly for a wheel of vehicle, comprises a suspension link, a hub mounted on the suspension link for rotation relative thereto, a brake disc mounted for rotation with the hub, friction material pads arranged on opposite sides of the disc, and a piston and cylinder assembly operable to urge the pads against the disc. The link comprises top and bottom mounts for supports. The suspension link also comprises the cylinder of said piston and cylinder assembly which is formed integrally with the remainder of the link. Said disc is mounted for limited movement on the hub in a direction generally parallel to the axis about which the hub rotates.

Abstract: A disc brake rotor (10; 50) provides two oppositely-facing annular friction surfaces (20, 22). The rotor (10; 50) comprises a first portion (16) which provides one of said annular surfaces (20), and a second portion (18) which provides the other of said annular surfaces (22). The first and second portions (16, 18) ar arranged in spaced parallel relationship and are joined by vanes (32) between which are defined cooling ducts (34). The ducts (34) extend radially of the rotor (10; 50) and are arranged so that, as the rotor (10; 50) is rotated, air passes through the ducts (34) and acts to cool the rotor (10; 50). In order to increase cooling efficiency, the transverse cross-sectional area of each duct (34) decreases progressively between an inlet (36) to the duct (34) and an intermediate region (40) thereof and increases between said intermediate region and an outlet (38) of the duct (34).