Abstract: A low temperature light weight brake rotor including an aluminum rotor having an inner section integrally formed with an outer section and a braking surface formed about the outer face of each section. A ceramic coating is adhered to each braking surface. The coating is of a consistent thickness of between 0.015 inch to 0.020 inch. Also, a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially spaced cooling apertures are arranged between the sections and act to vent heat away from the disc. This arrangement brings about a situation where braking temperatures of up to 2000.degree. F. are created on the ceramic coating while the temperature of the aluminum rotor is held below 260.degree. F. The coating consists of at least one of aluminum oxide, aluminum titanium and magnesium zirconate.

Abstract: A shock absorbing spring device (A,C) is illustrated which includes a plurality of elongated, slender spring elements (B). The device may also include a central shock absorbing unit (10). Spring elements (B) comprise fiber reinforcing strands (32) embedded in the matrix material (31). Spring elements (B) have a contoured profile which includes a thickened medial bend (38) and a reverse bend (44) formed at ends (34,36). In this manner, spring elements (B) deflect outwardly from their longitudinal axis in a reliable manner when ends (34) and (36) are loaded with compression. In one embodiment of the device (A) spring elements (B) are arranged to deflect radially with respect to longitudinal axis (37) of the device. In another embodiment (C) medial portion (38) of spring elements (B) deflect circumferentially in a row about longitudinal axis (43) of the device.