Abstract: An insulator is provided having opposing first and second sides and adapted for placement between a brake pad and one of a piston and caliper of a disc brake system. The insulator includes first and second metal layers. A viscoelastic layer is disposed between, and spans substantially the entirety of the first and second metal layers. A friction enhancing coating is disposed on at least one of the first and second sides. The friction enhancing coating preferably includes a plurality of particles, such as generally spherical glass beads.

Abstract: A method of forming a panel constrained layer damper treatment from a laminate, having a panel and a visco-elastic layer attached thereto, by forming a panel constrained layer damper from the laminate to a predetermined shape is provided. Additionally, the method of the present invention includes attaching the panel constrained layer damper to a substrate to form the panel constrained layer damper treatment. The method may also include subjecting the panel constrained layer damper to heat energy to bond the visco-elastic layer to the substrate. In addition, various methods of attaching the panel constrained layer damper to the substrate are provided.

Abstract: An improved method for welding a laminated metal structure is presented herein. In one embodiment, the method includes: placing the laminated structure against a second work piece, feeding a consumable metal cored wire electrode to the weld zone, feeding a stream of shielding gas to the weld zone, and melting the consumable metal cored wire electrode. If the weld joint is a plug weld, the method also includes forming a plug hole in one of the work pieces, melting the consumable metal cored wire electrode along the circumference of the plug hole, and thereafter progressively spiraling the welding gun inwards towards the center of the plug hole to fill it with the melted electrode. The method may also include determining if melting the electrode is causing sputtering, and delaying spiraling the welding gun inwards until the sputtering subsides. A welded laminate metal structure is also provided herein.

Abstract: Bimetal laminate structures and an improved method for manufacturing the same are provided herein. In one preferred embodiment, the laminate structure includes a first constraining layer that is fabricated from a metallic material, such as stainless steel. A second constraining layer that is appreciably thicker than the first is also included. The second constraining layer is fabricated from a different metallic material, such as low-carbon cold rolled steel. An adhesive layer spans between and rigidly bonds the first and second constraining layers. The first and second constraining layers have a thickness ratio, a yield strength ratio, and a springback ratio that are collectively optimized such that the laminate structure can be formed, preferably through a deep drawing operation, to define one or more depressions/basins of a predetermined depth without delaminating or cracking. The adhesion strength of the adhesive layer is also engineered to prevent separation of the two constraining layers.

Abstract: The Invention is a reinforced plastic sonar dome having a low acoustical insertion loss combined with sufficient mechanical strength. Acoustical and structural fibers are stochastically mixed and formed into a blended yarn. The blended yarn is woven into a blended fabric. The blended fabric is ordered into a stack having multiple layers of blended fabric. The blended fabric is incorporated into a polymer resin while the polymer resin is in liquid form using a vacuum assist. The acoustical fibers and the vacuum assist modify the acoustical properties of the resulting composite sonar dome.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bimetal laminate structure and improved method for manufacturing the same. The method includes: applying a layer of adhesive to a metallic substrate; and laminating a decorative metallic sheet to the metallic substrate in such a manner that substantially all surface defects and all read through appearance along an outer surface of the decorative metallic sheet are eliminated. The resultant bimetal laminate includes a decorative metallic layer consisting of a first metallic material, and a metallic substrate consisting of a second metallic material that is different from the first metallic material. The metal substrate has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the decorative metallic layer. An adhesive layer is disposed between, and spans substantially the entirety of the decorative metallic layer and metallic substrate to rigidly attach the same.

Abstract: A shim structure is provided for damping vibration and attenuating noise in a brake system. The brake system includes a forcing member operable to urge a friction member against a rotating member to slow or stop the same. The shim structure includes a shim body that is adapted to be interposed within the brake system. The shim body includes one or more tabs that are configured to oscillate out-of-phase with vibrations generated by the brake system during urging of the friction member against the rotating member to thereby dissipate vibrational energy generated by the brake system. The dimensions, orientation, and/or location of each tab are selected or engineered to provide predetermined levels of vibration and noise attenuation. A mass may be attached to each tab. The geometry, location, and/or size of each mass may be selectively modified to provide predetermined levels of vibration and noise attenuation.

Abstract: A damp rail assembly for a garage door opening system is provided. The rail assembly includes a beam member configured for mounting to a support structure, and for slidably supporting a trolley member. A viscoelastic laminate structure is attached to the beam member to absorb and attenuate vibration and structure-borne noise directly therefrom. The viscoelastic laminate structure includes a constraining layer and a viscoelastic layer spanning substantially the entirety of the constraining layer and bonded thereto. The viscoelastic laminate structure may include a plurality of planar viscoelastic laminate structures each having an adhesive layer spanning substantially the entirety of a respective viscoelastic layer such that each of the planar viscoelastic laminate structures may be individually adhered at different predetermined locations along the beam member. Alternatively, the viscoelastic laminate structure and beam member may be preformed as a single, unitary structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method of manufacturing constrained layer dampers with a vulcanized rubber viscoelastic core. The method includes the steps of: applying a first layer of adhesive to a first constraining layer; applying a layer of unvulcanized rubber solved in a solvent to the first layer of adhesive to form a first laminate structure; applying a second layer of adhesive to a second constraining layer to form a second laminate structure; laminating the first laminate structure with the second laminate structure; coiling the laminated first and second laminate structures; and increasing the temperature of the coiled first and second laminate structures to thereby vulcanize the layer of rubber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laminate structure for attenuating vibration and damping noise, and a method for manufacturing the same. The laminate structure includes first and second metallic constraining layers, and a viscoelastic layer disposed between and bonded to both constraining layers. The viscoelastic layer includes an amount of an external cross-linking agent, such as metal acetylacetonate, in excess of a stoichiometric quantity thereof. The laminate structure also includes a layer of 100% inorganic, hexavalent chrome free pretreatment, such as aqueous chromium (III) phosphate-silicate, disposed between and bonded to the viscoelastic layer and each constraining layer.

Abstract: A rotor is provided for use with a vehicle brake assembly that includes a forcing member operable to urge a friction member into mechanical communication with the rotor to thereby oppose movement of the same. The rotor includes a rotor body with an annular rim portion having first and second opposing contact faces. One or more loose-mass damper systems are interposed between the first and second contact faces, and operable to dissipate kinetic energy directly therefrom. Each of the loose-mass damper systems includes at least one mass operable to repeatedly impact against first and second inner faces respectively opposing the first and second contact faces to reduce oscillation of the rotor. Reducing oscillation of the rotor is independent of temperature and pressure. The loose-mass damper systems are preferably oriented proximate to an outer peripheral edge of the annular rim portion generally circumferentially equidistant from one another.

Abstract: A fire door includes an inner plate forming an inner side of the fire door; an outer plate opposing the inner plate to form an outer side of the fire door; adhesive layers applied to opposing surfaces of the inner and outer plates; a pair of reinforcing brackets vertically attached to opposite edge portions between both of the inner and outer plates; and a sound absorbing material filled in a space defined by the inner and outer plates and the reinforcing brackets. The inner and outer plates are made of a bonded steel plate, which includes a surface sheet exposed to the inner or outer side of the fire door, a backing sheet supporting the surface sheet, and an adhesive material interposed between the surface sheet and the backing sheet and bonding the surface sheet and the backing sheet together. The fire door has excellent sound absorbing and fireproof properties.

Abstract: Provided is a shim structure adapted to be interposed between a friction member and a forcing member configured to urge the friction member against a rotating member of a brake system. The shim structure includes a sheet member having opposing first and second surfaces defining a substantially uniform thickness of sufficient magnitude to not deform during urging of the friction member. There is no viscoelastic layer on the first or second surfaces. The first and second surfaces also define a waveform cross-section having an amplitude and a wavelength extending substantially the entire length of the sheet member; the amplitude and wavelength are of sufficient ratio to provide selective noise and vibration damping, isolation, and thermal dissipation for the brake system. Additionally, the amplitude and wavelength are configured to be variably tunable, providing different predetermined levels of noise and vibration absorption and attenuation. The wave-form cross-section is preferably sinusoidal.

Abstract: An elevator panel having excellent sound-absorbing and vibration-damping characteristics, and an elevator car using the same. The elevator panel includes a surface plate; a backing plate backing the surface plate; and an adhesive resin interposed between the surface plate and the backing plate to bond the surface plate and the backing plate with each other, wherein the adhesive resin has a thickness from about 0.02 mm to about 0.1 mm. Thereby, the elevator panel can reduce the cost of production, provide an external appearance equal to that of the conventional elevator panel formed of expensive metal material, and produce excellent effects of isolating and absorbing sounds such as noise from the outside.

Abstract: A bonded plate for a sink bowl, which has excellent sound-absorbing, vibration-damping, and heat-insulating characteristics, and a method of forming the sink bowl using the same through pressing. The bonded plate includes a surface plate, a backing plate backing the surface plate, and an adhesive resin interposed between the surface plate and the backing plate and bonding the surface plate and the backing plate with each other, wherein the adhesive resin has a thickness from about 0.02 mm to about 0.1 mm. Thereby, the adhesive resin layer of the bonded plate can have sound-absorbing, vibration-damping, and dew-condensation-preventing functions. Further, the sink bowl is produced using the bonded plate, so that it can reduce the cost of production, can provide formability equal to that of the conventional sink bowl, and can produce excellent sound-absorbing, vibration-damping, and dew-condensation-preventing effects.

Abstract: A method of determining damping performance of an article of manufacture includes moving an article of manufacture along a production line, directing a laser beam at a surface of the moving article and then measuring the velocity of a reflection of the beam simultaneously with measuring vibrational excitation in an environment of the production line. The method then includes calculating the damping performance of the moving article of manufacture based on the velocity and vibrational excitation measurements. The calculated damping performance may also be based on a predetermined correlation factor of damping performance of a reference article calculated based on the online system compared with damping performance of the reference article calculated in a controlled offline environment. A system for determining damping performance online is also provided.

Abstract: An improved multilayer laminate is provided that provides increased flexural stiffness and increased damping. The laminate includes a thick and stiff lightweight core layer; a first and second constraining layer flanking the core layer; a first damping layer in contact with one of the first and the second constraining layers and spanning substantially the entirety of the respective first or second constraining layer with which it is in contact; and wherein the stiff core layer has a thickness at least approximately 10 times the first damping layer. The stiff core layer has a thickness at least approximately 20% of the multilayer laminate. The laminate may include a second damping layer in contact with the other of the first and the second constraining layers. The shear modulus of the stiff core layer is at least approximately a factor of 10 higher than the shear modulus of the first damping layer.

Abstract: A method includes providing a sheet having layers characterized by different softnesses, providing a die component having a leading surface that is generally concave, and causing the leading surface to puncture the sheet thereby to cut a part from the sheet. The method provides improved flatness of parts cut from sheets having layers of varying softness and prevents soft material from exiting the sheet because the peripheral edge of the leading surface applies maximum pressure to the sheet during the puncturing step.

Abstract: The Invention is a reinforced plastic sonar dome having a low acoustical insertion loss combined with sufficient mechanical strength. Acoustical and structural fibers are stochastically mixed and formed into a blended yarn. The blended yarn is woven into a blended fabric. The blended fabric is ordered into a stack having multiple layers of blended fabric. The blended fabric is incorporated into a polymer resin while the polymer resin is in liquid form using a vacuum assist. The acoustical fibers and the vacuum assist modify the acoustical properties of the resulting composite sonar dome.

Abstract: The invention seeks to minimize the vibration and noise in a clutch plate system, by damping either or both the clutch plate and pressure plate with the use of various engineered viscoelastic materials. A clutch plate assembly is provided, comprising a plate body having a first surface and a second surface. In a first embodiment of the invention, the plate body is formed from a laminated sheet structure including two layers of steel having a viscoelastic core between the two layers and coextensive with the two layers. The viscoelastic core may be tunable to damp at different temperatures. In a second embodiment of the invention, an engineered viscoelastic material is used as a layer of bonding material for the first and second surface of the plate body. A method for damping a clutch plate assembly is provided.