Abstract: A halogen-free flame-retardant compound and method of forming a continuous material therefrom includes compounding poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) with fire-retardant ingredients melamine cyanurate (MC) and melamine polyphosphate (MPP). The compound is then formed into pellets and/or extruded as a thin film or sheet, and also as a filament or yarn, including monofilaments and multifilaments.

Abstract: A method and assembly for protecting a device connected to a wiring harness is disclosed. The assembly includes a protective shield having a bore for receiving the device and a positioning device. An elongated wiring harness extends from the device being protected and through the bore of the protective shield. The positioning device is formed having a band that surrounds a central space. At least one flexible, resilient finger extends radially inwardly from the band into the central space. At least one of the fingers forcibly engages the harness sleeve to maintain the positioning device and the protective shield in a predetermined protection position along the harness sleeve at least partially surrounding the device being protected.

Abstract: A heat shield assembly includes shroud or housing fabricated from a heat shielding material having at least one pair of spring arms extending from side walls of the shroud for engaging a member to which the heat shield assembly is to be attached, and one or more retention tabs projecting into a longitudinal channel in position to limit longitudinal movement of the assembly relative to the member when the member is attached to the spring arms.

Abstract: A metal gasket formed from a suitable iron-nickel chromium alloy includes at least one embossment that exhibits essentially full functional recovery at temperatures exceeding 1000° F. and including in the range of 1100° F. to 1600° F. or more and which is made from sheet material that is work hardened and strengthened by cold rolling, or a combination of cold rolling and precipitation hardening, without any post embossment heat treating that would act to further harden the material. Suitable iron-nickel-chromium alloys include those comprising, by weight, greater than 18% nickel; greater than 14% chrome and 0.1-10% of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo, Ti, V, Al, Co, Nb, Ta and Cu, with the balance being substantially Fe, wherein the gasket sheet alloy has a deformed microstructure.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a gasket for sealing multiple fluids and a method of forming the gasket. The gasket includes a carrier, a first elastomeric material, and a second elastomeric material different than the first elastomeric material. The first and second elastomeric materials are disposed in contact with the carrier in a flowable state such that the first and the second materials flow together to form a third elastomeric material comprising a mixture of the first and second elastomeric materials. The first and second elastomeric materials include cure systems that are compatible to ensure sufficient bonding within the third elastomeric material. Adhesive materials that are compatible with each of the first, second, and third elastomeric materials and the carrier are used to bond the elastomeric materials to the carrier.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a friction stir tool that has an axis of rotation and a welding tip that is made of powdered metal material.

Abstract: A brake pad assembly (10) comprising a molded material (26) affixed to a backing plate (12) having opposed faces (14, 16), one or more non-circular extrusion openings (24, 38) through its thickness, and tab-like extensions (22) or other integral attachment for incorporating the assembly (10) by location and support into a vehicle brake system. The molded material (26) extends over both opposed faces (14, 16) of the backing plate (12) by being extruded through the extrusion openings (24, 38) to provide a unitary structure wherein molded material (26) at one side of the backing plate (12) functions as a friction-generating pad material (28) and the portion of the molded material (26) at the opposite side of the backing plate (12) functions as the assembly shim-like noise attenuating element (32) due to vibration damping properties.

Abstract: A sleeve bearing assembly and method of construction therefor includes a woven inner portion bonded to an injection molded elastic outer portion. The inner portion includes a first yarn of lubricious yarn material and a second yarn of material that is different than the first yarn. The first yarn substantially provides an inner bearing surface and the second yarn substantially provides an outer surface that is bonded to the outer portion. The first and second yarns are woven together so that the first yarn is woven in one of a weft direction corresponding to a circumferential direction of the journal bearing surface or a warp direction corresponding to an axial direction of the journal bearing surface to substantially provide the bearing surface and the second yarn is woven in a direction different than the first yarn to substantially provide the outer surface bonded to the outer portion.

Abstract: A metal gasket has at least two metal layers having an aligned fluid-conveying opening. One of the metal layers includes a carrier layer and an active layer. The active layer has a raised metal sealing bead circumscribing the opening. The carrier layer and the active layer are at least partially coplanar and are spaced from one another within the plane by at least one cut-out region between the carrier layer and the active layer. The cut-out region allows the active layer to move out of the plane of the carrier layer, and thus, the active layer is able to self-adjust for sealing engagement between opposing surfaces in assembly and during use.

Abstract: A monolithic, multi-layer heating element forms the high temperature tip of a glow plug assembly. The heating element includes a conductive core which is surrounded by an insulator layer, which in turn supports a resistive layer. An optional conductive jacket can surround the resistive layer. These layered components are pre-formed in prior operations and then assembled one into the other to form a precursor structure. The precursor structure is transferred to a die, where it is compressed to form a so-called green part having dimensional attributes proportional to the finished heating element. The individual layers remain substantially intact, with some boundary layer mixing possible to enhance material-to-material bonding. The green part is sintered to bond to various materials together into an essentially solid mass. Various finishing operations may be required, following which the heating element is assembled to form a glow plug.

Abstract: A process and apparatus utilizing at least one conformable anode (40) in a plating process to apply a plating to an article (10). A wire or other material suitable for an anode is shaped to conform to the approximate shape of a region of the article to be coated. The anode is powered by an electrical power source (44), and the article serves as the cathode. The anode and article are both immersed in a plating bath (38). The article and anode are rotated relative to one another about a central axis (22) of the article. The relative movement between the anode and the article causes a uniform plating (46) to be applied to selected regions of the article that pass the anode. Another anode (50) can be arranged in fixed relation with the article to cause plating to a separate selected region of the article concurrently with the other anode.

Abstract: An improved compression load ball joint assembly consisting of a metal housing having an open end and an internal cylindrical chamber which at least partially encloses a portion of a movable stud member, a lower metal bearing, an upper metal split bearing, and a Belleville washer. The upper metal split bearing is disposed opposite the lower metal bearing to engage the movable stud member and the housing simultaneously. The upper metal split bearing is configured to slide within the housing to provide for a constant wear surface against the movable stud member. The lower metal bearing, upper metal split bearing, Belleville washer, and movable stud member are contained within the housing by a cover plate concentrically disposed about the movable stud member and secured within the open end of the housing.

Abstract: A thrust bearing assembly includes an upper thrust bearing and a lower thrust bearing for an engine assembly of a vehicle and which, are preferably, identically configured. The thrust bearings each include an arcuate bearing shell with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, and each includes a pair of axially spaced flanges extending radially outwardly of the bearing shells. The flanges may be formed as one piece with the bearing shell, and one flange is thicker than the other flange. The thicker flanges are load bearing and preferably contoured, whereas the thinner flanges are not. The bearings are installed with the thick flange of each bearing matched radially opposite the thin flange of the companion bearing to minimize fatigue and failure normally attributed to repeated seating and unseating of bearing assemblies having flanges of equal thickness caused by changing bending loads imparted by a shaft.

Abstract: A wiper arm assembly and method of construction thereof includes a mounting head and a wiper arm configured for relative rotation during assembly from a disassembled position to a shipping position, wherein the wiper arm and mounting head are locked against rotation toward the disassembled position once in the shipping position. The mounting head and wiper arm have locking surfaces configured for locked engagement with one another while in the shipping position. The locking surfaces are brought into engagement with one another by a force imparted by a spring while rotating the mounting head relative to the wiper arm from the disassembled position toward the shipping position. When in the shipping position, the locking surfaces confront each other and prevent the mounting head and the wiper arm from rotating back toward the disassembled position from the shipping position.

Abstract: A wiper arm assembly and method of assembly thereof includes a mounting head and a wiper arm configured for relative rotation during assembly from a disassembled position to a shipping position, wherein the wiper arm and mounting head are locked against rotation toward the disassembled position once in the shipping position. The mounting head and wiper arm have locking surfaces configured for locked engagement with one another while in the shipping position. The locking surfaces are brought into engagement with one another by a force imparted by a spring while rotating the mounting head relative to the wiper arm from the disassembled position toward the shipping position. When in the shipping position, the locking surfaces confront each other and prevent the mounting head and the wiper arm from rotating back toward the disassembled position from the shipping position.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a radial shaft seal assembly. The method includes the step of stretching an inner diameter of a ring-shaped polytetrafluoroethylene seal radially outward from an axis with a mandrel to a first stretched condition on a mold core element. The method also includes the step of defining a substantially enclosed mold cavity around the polytetrafluoroethylene seal stretched over the mold core element with at least one mold element. The method also includes the step of locating a rigid casing within the mold cavity spaced from the stretched polytetrafluoroethylene seal. The method also includes the step of introducing a liquefied rubber elastomer into the mold cavity. The method also includes the step of molding the liquefied rubber elastomer under heat and pressure such that the rigid casing and polytetrafluoroethylene seal in a stretched state are bonded to a solid rubber elastomer member.

Abstract: An ignition device for an internal combustion engine and method of construction therefore includes a housing with an insulator secured therein. A center electrode is mounted within the insulator. A ground electrode extends from the housing with a portion of the ground electrode defining a spark gap across from the center electrode. The center electrode has a firing tip, wherein a resistance weld joint initially bonds the firing tip to the center electrode and a continuous bead of overlapping first weld pools formed substantially from the material of the firing tip further bonds the firing tip to the electrode. A continuous bead of overlapping second weld pools formed radially outwardly from the first weld pools forms a rounded shoulder surface extending from the first weld pools to an outer surface of the center electrode.

Abstract: A sleeve bearing assembly and method of construction therefore has an inner portion constructed from a plurality of yarns to provide a journal bearing surface for receipt of a journal for relative movement therein and an elastic outer portion injection molded at least partially about the inner portion. The plurality of yarns are woven together with at least some of the yarns being woven in a warp direction corresponding to a length of the journal bearing surface and in a weft direction corresponding to a circumferential direction of the journal bearing surface to form a backing of the inner portion. At least one of the plurality of yarns is provided as a self-lubricating yarn woven with the backing in a weft direction to substantially form the bearing surface radially inwardly of the backing.

Abstract: An insulator including alumina in an amount between about 90 and about 99% by weight and an oxide mixture or glass mixture including Boron Oxide, Phosphorus Oxide, or both Boron and Phosphorus Oxide.