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.

Abstract: A test apparatus for measuring surface friction of a damping material such as brake pad insulator material includes a rotor configured to support the damping material for rotation therewith, an actuator pressurizable to apply axially-inward force to the damping material and a stator configured to support the actuator. A sensor determines the force applied to the actuator and a torque cell is axially aligned with the rotor for measuring torque of the rotor in relation to force applied to the damping material. The calculation of surface friction of the damping material is possible based on the measured load and torque. A method of measuring surface friction of a brake pad insulator material as well as a method using a brake dynamometer is also presented.

Abstract: A damper component for absorbing and dissipating vibration and/or noise resonating from a device is provided. The damper component includes a viscoelastic damper layer, and a continuous constraining layer intimately contacting and encasing the damper layer. The constraining layer has a greater stiffness and higher modulus of dynamic shearing elasticity than the damper layer. The constraining layer is a molded sheet molding compound that is substantially immiscible with the viscoelastomer to provide a discrete interface between the constraining layer and the damper layer.

Abstract: A disc drive assembly is provided including a head disc assembly, a housing having a base and a cover cooperating with one another to form a chamber in which the head disc assembly is housed, and a damper structure in operative association with the housing for dampening noise and/or vibration emanated from the head disc assembly. The damper structure includes a viscoelastic damper layer and a continuous, polymeric constraining layer intimately contacting and encasing the viscoelastic damper layer. The constraining layer has a greater stiffness and higher modulus of dynamic shearing elasticity than the viscoelastic damper layer, and is molded from a high density filler and a moldable compound that is immiscible with the viscoelastic damper layer to provide a discrete interface between the constraining layer and the viscoelastic damper layer.

Abstract: A damped windage tray for an engine including a windage tray formed from a laminate. The laminate operates to damp vibrations of the windage tray. The laminate includes a first constraining layer, a second constraining layer and a viscoelastic damping layer disposed between the first and second constraining layer. The viscoelastic damping layer spans substantially the entirety of the first and second constraining layers. Additionally, a method of forming the windage tray is provided.

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: 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: A disc drive assembly is provided including a head disc assembly, a housing having a base and a cover cooperating with one another to form a chamber in which the head disc assembly is housed, and a damper structure in operative association with the housing for dampening noise and/or vibration emanated from the head disc assembly. The damper structure includes a viscoelastic damper layer and a continuous, polymeric constraining layer intimately contacting and encasing the viscoelastic damper layer. The constraining layer has a greater stiffness and higher modulus of dynamic shearing elasticity than the viscoelastic damper layer, and is molded from a high density filler and a moldable compound that is immiscible with the viscoelastic damper layer to provide a discrete interface between the constraining layer and the viscoelastic damper layer.

Abstract: A damper component for absorbing and dissipating vibration and/or noise resonating from a device is provided. The damper component includes a viscoelastic damper layer, and a continuous constraining layer intimately contacting and encasing the damper layer. The constraining layer has a greater stiffness and higher modulus of dynamic shearing elasticity than the damper layer. The constraining layer is a molded sheet molding compound that is substantially immiscible with the viscoelastomer to provide a discrete interface between the constraining layer and the damper layer.

Abstract: A coated metal article includes a ferrous metal substrate, and an abraded metallic coating on the substrate, wherein the abraded metallic coating has a substantially uniform patterned appearance which simulates the surface appearance of polished stainless steel. A top coating, which may be a relatively thick PVC coating or a thin coating of polyester, epoxy, or acrylic, may overlie the abraded metallic coating on an obverse side of the substrate. The metallic coating may be a Zinc-Nickel alloy and a pre-treatment coating may be applied beneath the top coating. A primer coating may be applied beneath the PVC top coating.

Abstract: A vibration damping laminate includes a magnetic layer and an uncoated constraining layer joined by a viscoelastic layer, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the viscoelastic layer is substantially less than that of either of the other two layers. The laminate is magnetically attached to an associated source of vibrations by the magnetic layer, and substantially all vibrational damping is effected by the viscoelastic layer.

Abstract: A tub is configured for attachment to a vehicle floor to receive a collapsed vehicle seat therein. The tub is formed from a laminated sheet structure including two layers of cold rolled steel having a viscoelastic layer therebetween spanning the entirety of both steel layers. The tub body has a rim, side walls extending downward from the rim, and a bottom supported by the side walls. The tub body is approximately 10? deep from the rim to the bottom. The laminated sheet structure has a bending rigidity between approximately 9.7 and 16.5 Nm to enable the forming of the side walls.

Abstract: The Invention is a fastening apparatus and method for transferring a load to a core of a composite structure, such as a composite panel used in ship construction. The apparatus comprises an insert. The insert is adapted to receive a tension load and adapted to transfer the tension load substantially to the core of the composite structure. The strain response characteristics of the insert in tension generally minimize the strain response of the core in shear.

Abstract: A finished laminate is provided. The laminate includes an imperforate metal layer having a metallic surface, and a metallic felt layer having a first surface attached to the metallic surface and an exposed second surface facing away from the metallic surface. Also provided is multi-layer tubing including a thermally conductive metal layer having a metallic surface, and a substantially thermally non-conductive, metallic felt layer having an outer felt layer surface attached to the metallic surface and an exposed inner felt layer surface. The metal layer and the metallic felt layer collectively form a laminate configured as a substantially cylindrical structure with the metallic felt layer positioned radially inward of the metal layer. In certain embodiments, the metal the laminate has opposite side edge portions overlapping and coupled to one another at a coupling portion, without a thermally conductive path through the coupling portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating sheet material with thermoset material. In certain embodiments, first and second different induction furnaces are provided, with the coated sheet first proceeding into and through the first furnace, and then into and through the second furnace. The first furnace may be maintained at a temperature less than the second furnace, so that out-gassing of volatile materials is achieved in the first furnace and thereafter heightened cross-linking conversation rates are achieved in the second furnace at higher temperatures.

Abstract: A powder atomizer comprises a rotatable powder conveying brush operably associated with a powder supply. A powder receptacle has an inlet and an outlet. The powder conveying brush extends along the inlet and supplies powder to the receptacle. A rotatable powder metering brush is operatively associated with the outlet and withdraws powder from the receptacle. A rotatable powder atomizing brush is operatively associated with and receives powder from the metering brush and discharges the powder. A shoe is operatively associated with the atomizing brush, and is pivotable about a pivot axis between a first and a second position.

Abstract: A method of making polymeric particulates wherein polymeric scrap material, virgin polymeric material and mixtures thereof are supplied to intermeshing extruder screws which are rotated to transport the polymeric material along their length and subject the polymeric material to solid state shear pulverization and in-situ polymer compatibilization, if two or more incompatible polymers are present. Uniform pulverized particulates are produced without addition of a compatibilizing agent. The pulverized particulates are directly melt processable (as powder feedstock) and surprisingly yield a substantially homogeneous light color product.

Abstract: There is provided a vibration damping structure having an inner metal skin and an outer metal skin and a damping layer secured between the metal skins, with each of said metal skins having a cut therein. The damping layer is a viscoelastic material which is capable of adhering to the metal skins. The cuts are circular, encompassing and isolating an area wherein the vibration damping structure is connected to another body. The cuts extend through the inner metal skin and the outer metal skin to the damping layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating sheet material with thermoset material. In certain embodiments, first and second different induction furnaces are provided, with the coated sheet first proceeding into and through the first furnace, and then into and through the second furnace. The first furnace may be maintained at a temperature less than the second furnace, so that out-gassing of volatile materials is achieved in the first furnace and thereafter heightened cross-linking conversation rates are achieved in the second furnace at higher temperature(s).

Abstract: A laminate comprises first and second metal layers, and a metallic felt layer disposed between the metal layers and attached to each to provide vibrational damping and thermal insulation. In one embodiment, the layers are tubular in shape and form an automotive exhaust pipe. In another embodiment the layers are annular in shape and form a disk of a brake rotor. In another embodiment the laminate is a damping structure for a brake pad assembly, wherein the first metal layer may either be the backing plate of the brake pad assembly or be attached to the backing plate. The damping structure may include additional metallic felt and metal layers. Various modes of attachment of the metallic felt layer to the metal layers are disclosed. The metallic felt layer may be completely surrounded by metal.