Abstract: A system. The system includes a liquid container and an energy absorbing system positioned The liquid container includes a wall which defines an interior volume of the liquid container. The energy absorbing system Is within an interior volume of the liquid container. The energy absorbing system is configured such that if an object passes through the wall of the liquid container and impacts the energy absorbing system, an amount of energy absorbed by the energy absorbing system is at least 18% greater than an amount of energy absorbed by the wall of the liquid container. The energy absorbing system includes one or more energy absorbing members, wherein at least one of the one or more energy absorbing members comprises a metal and has a Brinell hardness of at least 150.

Abstract: The instant invention is a pressure release safety system for a multi-piece wheel rim and tubeless tire combination, teaching designs for automatically relieving/releasing pressure as part of its disassembly. In this invention, fastening elements used to hold together portions of a wheel rim are provided with a blocking device or devices that prevents loosening and/or removal of fastening elements until said blocking device is first moved from a blocking position, where movement of the blocking device from its blocking position directly or indirectly opens or requires the opening of a pressure relief channel or channels—allowing, enabling and effecting depressurization of the sealed pressure vessel. When applied in the context of a tubeless two-piece wheel/tire assembly, the invention advantageously may include a blocking or safety device (typically in the form of a ring) that covers all or a critical portion of the nuts/studs that hold the two piece wheel together.

Abstract: A central tire inflation system. The system includes a central tire inflation valve and a hub bore manifold. The hub bore manifold is connected to and surrounds the central tire inflation valve. The hub bore manifold defines first and second air passageways which are in communication with the central tire inflation valve. The hub bore manifold is configured for removable connection to a hub of a vehicle and is also configured to fit within a central opening of a wheel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system. The system includes one or more self-sealing panels and a cap member. The one or more self-sealing panels substantially cover an exterior surface of a liquid container. The cap member covers at least one of the following: one or more portions of the exterior surface of the liquid container; and an exterior surface of at least one of the one or more self-sealing panels.

Abstract: Displacement encoder for a moving shaft, comprising a sleeve intended to be fitted onto the shaft and at least one permanent magnet forming at least one polarized magnetic mark. An elastomer layer lies between the permanent magnet and the sleeve. This elastomer layer is adhesively bonded to the permanent magnet and to the sleeve. The invention also relates to a device for a moving shaft comprising such an encoder and to the method of manufacturing the encoder.

Abstract: This is an apparatus and system for integration of Central Tire Inflation (CTI) valve functionality directly into a wheel. The CTI valve may be attached to the wheel or integrated into the wheel. In addition, the CTI valve may have a valve body or the valve components can be installed directly into the wheel. An air passageway between the vehicle air source and the CTI valve and/or an air passageway from the CTI valve to the tire cavity can also be employed.

Abstract: This CTI Valve manifold of this invention creates a wheel-manifold-CTI Valve combination such that an air passageway coming from the wheel hub through the manifold brings air to the valve, and an airway from the valve through the manifold provides air to the tire cavity, preferably via an air passageway in the wheel. The manifold also allows for the CTI valve to deflate the tire, a typical operational requirement for central tire inflation systems.

Abstract: This wheel has features allowing both integrated and non-integrated Central Tire Inflation (CTI) systems to be installed, without the need for a specialized manifold, adapter, or unique wheel to accommodate each specific system. Thus, a single, light-weight wheel in accordance with this invention can accept either non-integrated or integrated CTI valves, allowing the wheels of the invention to be used on newer vehicles with integrated CTI systems, as well as on older vehicles with non-integrated (external) CTI systems. In addition, a wheel with both integrated and non-integrated Central Tire Inflation (CTI) systems is much simpler to assemble since the valve mounts directly to the wheel and no brackets are required, unlike prior two-piece bolt-together wheels.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for installing a central tire inflation (CTI) valve containing member into the hub bore opening of a wheel so as to be in communication with an air passageway hub port in the vehicle hub. Preferably, the CTI valve containing member includes a CTI valve sealed to a hub bore manifold with the hub bore manifold being mounted to the wheel disc and/or the vehicle hub. The hub bore manifold seals against the vehicle hub and the wheel hub bore surface (and/or the front face of the wheel disc). An air passageway in the manifold runs from the vehicle hub port to the CTI valve, and other air passageway(s) connect the CTI valve to the tire interior, such that air can travels from the vehicle hub to and from the tire cavity by way of the manifold and CTI valve.

Abstract: This is an apparatus and system for integration of Central Tire Inflation (CTI) valve functionality directly into a wheel. The CTI valve may be attached to the wheel or integrated into the wheel. In addition, the CTI valve may have a valve body or the valve components can be installed directly into the wheel. An air passageway between the vehicle air source and the CTI valve and/or an air passageway from the CTI valve to the tire cavity can also be employed.

Abstract: A tire insert attachment apparatus includes a pin attached to a first part of the insert and extending into a second part of the insert to engage an actuator that draws the bolt into the second part. The actuator includes a tool engagement head that transmits rotational motion of a tool to a translator via a converter, the converter transforming the rotational motion of the head into linear motion imparted on the translator. The translator can be a rack and pinion setup or can be a thread arrangement. Preferably, the head rotates a worm, which rotates a pinion that has threads formed on an inner surface and engaging mating threads on the pin, the pin taking the form of a bolt, such as an eyebolt.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly includes a rim secured to a hub of a wheel, a tire secured to the rim, and a hollow stud. The hollow stud includes an air passageway and extends through a rim opening that one end secured to the hub. A lug nut is secured to the hollow stud at its other end. The one end is operably connected to a source of compressed air through the air passageway. A central tire inflation valve is secured to the rim. The rim includes a first internal passageway communicating with the air passageway and the valve, and a second internal passageway communicating with the valve and the interior of the tire.

Abstract: An automotive wheel rim has intermediate its ends a wall extending transversely of the axis of said rim and having formed therein a first air duct opening at one end on the outer periphery of the rim for communication with the interior of a tire mounted thereon, and at its opposite end on the outboard side of the wall. A second duct formed within the wall opens at one end on the outboard side of the wall and at its opposite end on the inboard side of the wall for connection to a tire inflation system. A tire inflation control valve is secured to the outboard side of the wall and has therein a pair of air inlet/outlet ducts sealingly secured in communication with the ends of the first and second ducts where they open on the outboard side of the wall.

Abstract: A two-piece tire rim is prepared from a molded, one-piece wheel casting which is generally cup-shaped in configuration. The casting, which is open at one end and closed at its opposite end, has an inner annular recess formed coaxially in the inner surface of its closed end, and has formed coaxially in its outer peripheral surface an external annular recess radially spaced from, and in axial registry with an internal annular recess. The casting is separated into two separate sections by cutting through the casting in a circular path extending from the external annular recess to the internal annular recess, thereby producing a generally annular shaped inner rim section, and a generally disc-shaped outer rim section. The two rim sections are then machined to final form, and are secured together to form the desired two-piece tire rim.

Abstract: The invention concerns a porous material, a method for making same and its applications. Said porous material comprises a mixture of cellulose fibres and at least an elastomer and is characterised in that it has a honeycomb structure having cells with a size ranging between 0.1 and 10 mm, a density of the order of 0.03 to 0.1, water absorbing capacity not less than 750%, and water holding capacity after manual wringing less than 100%. The invention is applicable for making in particular sponges and household goods comprising a spongy element such as brushes and squeegees for cleaning surfaces.

Abstract: A device for attenuating the periodic vibrations of a mechanical structure adapted to obtain cancellation of periodic vibrations of rotating machines including at least one transducer, detecting original vibrations, delivering a detected signal, a detector of the periodicity of these vibrations delivering a synchronizing signal, and a control circuit and a transducer generating compensation vibrations which are applied to the mechanical structure. The control circuit includes a circuit for synchronous filtering of the detected signal, controlled by the synchronizing signal and delivering a filtered signal whose frequency spectrum contains only the instaneous fundamental frequency of the detected signal. A circuit for regulating the filtered signal delivers an antivibration-control signal applied to a generating transducer in order to minimize the amplitude of the detected signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of marking the surface of articles, more particularly but not exclusively with a view to obtaining distinctive signs on non-plane surfaces such as the surface of balls.