Abstract: A method of manufacturing a closed, hollow toroidal structure having a rigid internal annular plate includes treating one annular surface of the plate with a release coating, applying to the other annular surface of the plate an adhesion promoting coating and positioning the plate within a mold having a generally toroidal internal cavity. Next, a fluid conduit is juxtaposed partially within the internal cavity of the mold adjacent to the annular plate and partially outside the internal cavity of the mold. The mold cavity is then filled with an elastomer followed by curing under heat and pressure.

Abstract: A chopped textile reinforced shock absorber is made by chopping unvulcanized elastomer coated texile into lengths of about 0.25 of an inch (0.63 cm) to about 3.0 inches (7.62 cm) and preferably 1 to 5 cm and shaping the chopped unvulcanized elastomer coated textile into a thickness, width and length to function as a shock absorber when cured.

Abstract: This invention relates to an annular actuator (10) employing a closed toroidal elastomeric diaphragm (12) including in its interior a flat annular plate (14) adhered on one flat side (18) thereof to the interior peripheral surface (22) of the diaphragm (12). A shaft (114) or support may exit through a central passageway (16) in the center of the diaphragm. Hydraulic fluid is introduced into the actuator (10) to actuate the clutch (80) mechanism as a substitute for a hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A folding belt system having the head and tail pulleys twice the width of the support idler rolls and having a transition length of about 7 to 15 times the width of the belt between the fold or hinge lines, where transition width support rolls are located. The folding conveyor belt is composed of a central belt section which has specially constructed flexible areas at each edge extending longitudinally the length of the belt to which are attached cover flaps. The cover flaps completely enclose the load while it is conveyed. This reduces spillage, dust, and contamination while providing highly enhanced conveying capacity. The flaps may be of the same or different construction than the center section of the belt.

Abstract: Indefinite length tubular and sheeting products can be fabricated using either a continuous or step-wise method which uses a two-stage curing sequence. In the first curing stage, the center portion of a thermosetting web is fully cured leaving the lateral edges of the web in an uncured state. The uncured lateral edges are then spliced, either directly to one another, or spliced with a similar web having uncured edges to form either a flat sheet or a tubular preform having longitudinal uncured spliced seams. In the second curing stage, these uncured longitudinal splices are fully cured to form either tubular articles or flat sheeting having completely uniform physical properties throughout.

Abstract: In a belt there is provided an end region facilitating splicing or repair of the belt. The region includes a reinforcing core extending in the lengthwise direction of the belt and a separator layer. The separator layer is relatively non-adherent to the reinforcing core and facilitates removal of at least one of the outer cover layers for splicing or repair of the belt. The region is provided during manufacture of the belt.