Abstract: A method of making a rubber composition. The method includes the steps of: providing fibers of a desired length; treating the fibers with a treating liquid made up of a nitrile rubber-modified epoxy resin and an alkylphenol•formaldehyde resin; and dispersing the treated fibers in rubber.

Abstract: A power transmission belt having a body with a length, a width, an inside, and an outside. The body includes a rubber composition. The body further has a plurality of short fibers in the rubber composition. The plurality of short fibers may include a plurality of poly-p-phenylene benzobisoxazole fibers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a power transmission belt having a body with a length and a cushion rubber layer in which at least one carrying member is embedded so as to extend lengthwise of the body. The method includes the steps of: extrusion molding (a) a first rubber composition including rubber with short fibers therein and (b) a second rubber composition that is different than the first rubber composition to produce a first sheet in which the second rubber composition defines at least a part of the cushion rubber layer; applying the at least one load carrying member to the second rubber composition to produce a preform assembly; and processing the preform assembly to produce a power transmission belt.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition for a powder material used for slush molding. The thermoplastic elastomer composition consists of a polypropylene resin and 20 to 500 parts by mass of a hydrogenated block copolymer per 100 parts by mass of the polypropylene resin. The hydrogenated block copolymer has a) at least one polymer block A with a primary component that is a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer unit and b) at least one polymer block B with a primary component that is a hydrogenated butadiene monomer unit. The polymer block B has a hydrogenation degree of at least 90%. The vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon in the hydrogenated block copolymer is present in an amount more than 5 mass % and less than 25 mass %. The polymer block B before hydrogenation contains 62 mol % or more 1, 2 bonds on average. The melt flow rate (MFR) of the thermoplastic elastomer composition is at least 10 g/10 min at 230° C. under a load of 2.16 kgf in accordance with Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) K7210.

Abstract: A method of analyzing vibration in a longitudinal direction of a transmission belt that is trained around at least a drive pulley and a driven pulley in a power transmission system. The method includes the steps of using a vibration analysis model which involves a) generating data relative to the power transmission system; and b) calculating belt tension values, including a selected belt tension value, using the generated data. In the event that the selected belt tension value is calculated to be at or lower than a predetermined belt tension value, a correction is made in the selected belt tension value. The corrected, selected, calculated belt tension value is used to carry out the vibration analysis.

Abstract: A multilayer skin comprising an outer layer prepared by slush molding powder of a thermoplastic elastomer composition having a polypropylene resin, a hydrogenated styrene-butadiene random copolymer rubber, a process oil, an elastomer with high oil absorption capability, and a release agent. An inner layer is bonded to the outer layer, is prepared by slush molding, and is a blend of an elastomer with high oil absorption capability, an olefinic polymer with active hydrogen, and a catalyst which promotes isocyanate reaction. There is also a multilayer skin with a different composition as well as an article made with a multilayer skin having the compositions. There is further a thermoplastic elastomer composition for a layer of a multilayer skin.

Abstract: A method of bonding an ethylene•&agr;-olefin rubber composition with a fiber material. The method includes the steps of adhesion treating the fiber material with a resorcinol-formalin-rubber latex with an ethylene•&agr;-olefin elastomer latex and vulcanization bonding the adhesion-treated fiber material together with an unvulcanized ethylene•&agr;-olefin rubber composition.

Abstract: An air bag cover assembly having a core layer, a cushioning layer, and a door. The core layer has an opening through which an air bag which the air bag cover assembly operatively overlies extends as the air bag is changed from an undeployed state into a deployed state. The skin layer has oppositely facing forward and rear surfaces and is situated forwardly of the core layer. The door is changeable between a closed state and an open state. In the closed state, the door covers the core layer opening. The door has a weakening portion which separates as an incident of the air bag changing from the undeployed state into to the deployed state. The door has a first hinge with a curved portion which flexes to allow at least a first part of the door to pivot from a first position to a second position as an incident of the air bag changing from the undeployed state into the displayed state and the door changing from the closed state into the open state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a rubber sheet containing short fibers. The method includes the steps of: mixing short fibers in a flowable rubber matrix; forming the flowable rubber matrix with the fibers therein into a cylindrical shape with a circumferential extent; separating a portion of the circumferential extent from the cylindrical shape, and forming the cylindrical shape with the portion separated into a sheet form.

Abstract: A method of forming a conductive circuit pattern on a circuit board having a first region, on which a desired conductive circuit pattern is to be formed, and a second region. The method includes the step of applying a coating including a solution with conductive particles to the circuit board. The coating is heated to adhere the conductive particles to the circuit board. The conductive particles are removed in the second region. The second region is shielded and, with the second region shielded, a conductive film is formed on the first region.

Abstract: A power transmission belt having a body with a length, an inside, an outside, and laterally oppositely facing side surfaces. The body has a) a cushion rubber layer in which at least one load carrying element is embedded so that the at least one load carrying element extends lengthwise relative to the body, and b) a compression rubber layer. Fabric material is provided on one of the inside and outside of the body. The fabric material is treated with a mixture of carbon-black-dispersed liquid and resorcinol-formalin-latex liquid.

Abstract: A cutting system including a belt sleeve, a support subassembly, a cutting subassembly, an imaging subassembly, and a control system. The imaging subassembly generates an image of the actual lateral relationship between a cutting edge and a predetermined cutting location. The control system a) compares the image of the actual lateral relationship between the cutting edge and the predetermined cutting location to a reference image, b) determines deviation between the actual lateral relationship between the cutting edge and the predetermined cutting location and a preferred lateral relationship between the cutting edge and predetermined cutting location, and generates a signal indicative of the deviation. The signal is processed to reduce the deviation.

Abstract: An airbag door assembly consisting of an instrument panel section, a reinforcing assembly, and a lining assembly. The instrument panel section has a core portion with an inside surface and an outside surface. An expanding airbag can project through the core portion of the instrument panel section. The reinforcing assembly is placed against the inside surface of the instrument panel section. At least part of the reinforcing assembly resides between the core portion and the lining assembly. The lining assembly and core portion are vibration joined at at least one location so as to maintain a part of the reinforcing assembly captively between the core portion and the lining assembly.

Abstract: A power transmission belt having an endless body with a length, an inside, and an outside. The body has cogs on at least one of the inside and outside of the body and spaced along the length of the body so as to define alternating cog crests and cog troughs. The cog crests each have oppositely facing side surfaces with an apex between the oppositely facing side surfaces. There is a reinforcing fabric on the at least one of the inside and outside of the body. The reinforcing fabric has first and second spaced end portions with a first free end at the first end portion and a second free end at the second end portion. The first and second end portions overlap so that the first and second free ends are each at a side surface on a cog crest.

Abstract: A method of bonding an ethylene.&agr;-olefin rubber composition to a fiber cord. The method includes the steps of: treating a fiber cord with a first treating solution that is at least one of an isocyanate compound and an epoxy compound; after treating the fiber cord with the first treating solution, treating the fiber cord with a second treating solution including resorcinol-formalin-rubber latex; after treating the fiber cord with the second treating solution, treating the fiber cord with a third treating solution including a halogenated polymer and a vulcanizing agent; and after treating the fiber cord with the third treating solution, vulcanization-bonding an unvulcanized ethylene.&agr;-olefin rubber composition to the fiber cord.

Abstract: A multilayer skin comprising an outer layer prepared by slush molding powder of a thermoplastic elastomer composition having a polypropylene resin, a hydrogenated styrene-butadiene random copolymer rubber, a process oil, an elastomer with high oil absorption capability, and a release agent. An inner layer is bonded to the outer layer, is prepared by slush molding, and is a blend of an elastomer with high oil absorption capability, an olefinic polymer with active hydrogen, and a catalyst which promotes isocyanate reaction. There is also a multilayer skin with a different composition as well as an article made with a multilayer skin having the compositions. There is further a thermoplastic elastomer composition for a layer of a multilayer skin.

Abstract: A multilayer skin comprising an outer layer prepared by slush molding powder of a thermoplastic elastomer composition having a polypropylene resin, a hydrogenated styrene-butadiene random copolymer rubber, a process oil, an elastomer with high oil absorption capability, and a release agent. An inner layer is bonded to the outer layer, is prepared by slush molding, and is a blend of an elastomer with high oil absorption capability, an olefinic polymer with active hydrogen, and a catalyst which promotes isocyanate reaction. There is also a multilayer skin with a different composition as well as an article made with a multilayer skin having the compositions. There is further a thermoplastic elastomer composition for a layer of a multilayer skin.

Abstract: A power transmission belt having a body with a length, a first side, a second side, and laterally spaced side surfaces. The body has cog crests and cog troughs in at least a first layer on the first side of the body and alternating the length of the body. The body further has at least one cushion rubber layer and at least one load carrying cord embedded in the at least one cushion rubber layer and extending lengthwise of the body between the cog crests and the second side of the body. The at least first layer has a first joint that is in a cog crest and does not extend into a cog trough. At least one cushion rubber layer is made from a first material, with the first material from the at least one cushion rubber layer not penetrating the first joint. The invention is also directed to a method of forming a belt of this type.

Abstract: The combination of an air bag having an undeployed state and a deployed state, and an instrument panel. The instrument panel overlies the air bag with the air bag in the undeployed state. The instrument panel has a skin layer with oppositely facing front and rear surfaces, a foamed resin layer on the rear surface of the skin layer and having a thickness, a core layer having an opening bounded by an edge through which the air bag extends with the air bag in the deployed state, and a door at the opening. The door has a peripheral edge and is repositionable from a closed position into an open position as an incident of the air bag changing from the undeployed state into the deployed state. The skin layer has a break portion defined by a groove at which the skin layer ruptures as the air bag changes from the undeployed state into the deployed state. The groove has first and second spaced sides and a base between the first and second sides.

Abstract: A power transmission belt having a body with a length, an inside, an outside, and laterally spaced sides. The body has a bonding rubber layer in which elongate load carrying cords are embedded to extend lengthwise of the body. The body has a first layer on the inside of the bonding rubber layer in which a plurality of laterally spaced ribs are formed extending lengthwise of the body, and a second layer on the outside of the bonding rubber layer in which a plurality of laterally spaced ribs are formed extending lengthwise of the body. The bonding rubber layer has a sulfur-crosslinked rubber composition including an ethylene-&agr;-olefin elastomer. At least one of the first and second layers has a crosslinking product that is an organic peroxide-crosslinked rubber composition including an ethylene-&agr;-olefin elastomer.