Abstract: A vibration generating device for simulating a fault in a bearing includes a housing having a cavity and a base attached to or integrally formed with the housing and removably connectable with the bearing to couple the housing with the bearing. A hammer is disposed within the cavity, linearly displaceable along a travel axis, and has a strike end impactable against an anvil surface on an anvil member connected with the base, the base or the bearing. An actuator is disposed within the cavity and configured to displace the hammer along the axis. The actuator preferably reciprocatably displaces the hammer along the axis such that the hammer strike end periodically impacts the anvil surface and generates a vibration signal within the bearing. The actuator is preferably adjustable by a controller to vary a period of the hammer impacts such that a frequency of the vibration signal is increased or decreased.

Abstract: A vehicle component such as an axle spindle or suspension beam (3) is connected to a tubular vehicle axle (1) by fitting a connector sleeve (2) onto the axle and subjecting the assembly to a crimping operation in which plural depressions (206,2018) are formed by indentation in the connector sleeve and the axle wall at the connection region (11,12) to fix the connector sleeve on the tubular axle. In the described proposals a solid lubricant (4) such as molybdenum disulphide is applied at the connection region between the connector sleeve (2) and axle (1), before crimping. The further vehicle component (3) is then connected to the connector sleeve (2) by welding.

Abstract: An axle/suspension system (1) has an axle (5) supported from the frame of the vehicle by a pair of rigid longitudinal beams (4) pivoted to frame hangers (3). Air springs (7) and shock absorbers (8) connect between the rigid beams (4) and the frame above to control suspension movement. The axle/suspension system is particularly suited as a mid-lift axle on the tractor of a tractor-trailer vehicle. A characteristic feature is the pivotal connection (21) between each hanger (3) and beam (4), which is through a resilient bush (6) having a compliance ratio—being a ratio of the longitudinal spring rate to the vertical spring rate—of at least 10:1.

Abstract: A vehicle component such as an axle spindle or suspension beam (3) is connected to a tubular vehicle axle (1) by fitting a connector sleeve (2) onto the axle and subjecting the assembly to a crimping operation in which plural depressions (206,2018) are formed by indentation in the connector sleeve and the axle wall at the connection region (11,12) to fix the connector sleeve on the tubular axle. In the described proposals a solid lubricant (4) such as molybdenum disulphide is applied at the connection region between the connector sleeve (2) and axle (1), before crimping. The further vehicle component (3) is then connected to the connector sleeve (2) by welding.

Abstract: An axle/suspension system (1) has an axle (5) supported from the frame of the vehicle by a pair of rigid longitudinal beams (4) pivoted to frame hangers (3). Air springs (7) and shock absorbers (8) connect between the rigid beams (4) and the frame above to control suspension movement. The axle/suspension system is particularly suited as a mid-lift axle on the tractor of a tractor-trailer vehicle. A characteristic feature is the pivotal connection (21) between each hanger (3) and beam (4), which is through a resilient bush (6) having a compliance ratio—being a ratio of the longitudinal spring rate to the vertical spring rate—of at least 10:1.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for regenerating function in the nervous system. The method includes implanting in a central or peripheral nervous system environment neurons programmed for a selected function in the implant environment. The neurons are programmed using a multi-electrode device or micro-patterning. A suitable implantable neuronal network construct includes a conductive polymer substrate and neurons programmed for a selected function residing on the substrate.