Abstract: Apparatus is provided to allow a liquid penetrable material, such as a gasket part made of compactible gasket material, while being conveyed flatwise along a given path, to be coated with a liquid dispersion of polymer or polymers, by first preheating the liquid penetrable material to a temperature sufficient to prevent any substantial penetration of liquid into the material when the material at the preheated temperature is coated with the liquid dispersion of polymer or polymers. The preheated material is then coated with the liquid dispersion of polymer or polymers in an amount sufficient to form a fluid-impermeable barrier over the material and the coated material is supported on a plurality of pointed projections through a drying section until the coating is in a tack-free condition. After drying the material to a tack-free condition, it is supported on a conveyor through a curing station to cure the coating.

Abstract: A liquid penetrable material such as a compactible gasket material is coated with a liquid dispersion of polymer or polymers, by first preheating the liquid penetrable material to a temperature sufficient to prevent any substantial penetration of liquid into the material when the material at the preheated temperature is coated with the liquid dispersion of polymer or polymers. The preheated material is then coated with the liquid dispersion of polymer or polymers in an amount sufficient to form a fluid-impermeable barrier over the material and the coated material is supported on a plurality of support members through a drying section until the coating is in a tack-free condition. After drying the material to a tack-free condition, it is supported on a conveyor through a curing station to cure the coating. Thereafter the material is delivered by suitable conveyors to an inspection and packaging station, but may be passed en route through another coating station, this time to receive a suitable release coating.

Abstract: A shim is clamped between a component of a vehicle bumper assembly and a support member to provide a desired spacing for bumper alignment. The weight of the shim and the cost of material for its manufacture are minimized by forming the shim from sheet metal half the thickness or less of the desired spacing, and by folding the metal over inserts to provide multiple thicknesses in selected load bearing and other regions. A number of openings may be provided to further reduce the weight. Additional folded areas may be used for applications where loading is not restricted to areas adjacent the bolts, and ribs may be embossed in the shim to facilitate mounting of the shim and enhance its stiffness. The composite shim is finally "bumped" to give it a uniform taper.

Abstract: A method of making vehicle bumper shims preferably using a progressive die wherein the areas which receive the clamping bolts are built up with separate pieces of the same temper steel commonly used to make a shim of one piece flat shim, and which are spot welded to the base piece and produce a shim of the same general type as shown in Farnam et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,160,561, but which can be tailored to varying thicknesses as required and most importantly, torque retention properties at least as high as a one piece flat shim. The invention includes also the articles produced by the above method.

Abstract: A shim is clamped between a component of a vehicle bumper assembly and a support member to provide a desired spacing for bumper alignment. The weight of the shim and the cost of material for its manufacture are minimized by forming the shim from sheet metal half the thickness of the desired spacing, and by folding the metal to provide double thickness in selected load bearing regions. A number of openings may be provided in other regions further to reduce the weight. Additional folded areas may be used for applications where loading is not restricted to areas adjacent the bolts, and serrations may be embossed in the shim to facilitate mounting of the shim and enhance its stiffness.

Abstract: The method of making a gasket structure for sealing mating parts together in which the body portion of the gasket structure is formed by convolutely wound annular alternate discrete layers of a carrier material and a fluid impermeable polymeric material adhered thereto of substantially uniform thickness from layer to layer, and cured, and characterized by having the body portion of the gasket structure, throughout substantially its entire extent, compacted to a substantially uniform density. The gasket structure may be formed with a bead of relatively low density, as compared to the body portion, on at least one surface thereof to compensate for surface contour variations, and a coating layer may be provided covering the gasket structure, which is cured after application and which is characterized by its impermeability to, and resistance to, the fluids which are to be sealed off, and to minimize the clamping forces required for compaction to completely seal the mating parts.

Abstract: Method for a unitized valve plate assembly in which a suitable gasket is firmly bonded to one or both sides of a metal plate with the unitized assembly having one or more die-cut holes or apertures therethrough and with the unitized plate assembly being particularly suitable for use as a valve plate unit in automatic transmissions, but having other uses as well.

Abstract: A high temperature gasket structure particularly useful in automotive carburetors but useful in other applications in which the gasket body is formed from a special type of semirigid asbestos board having a minimal elastomeric binder content, and with the bolt hole areas densified in part by embedded steel washers in the gasket body to minimize carburetor flange flexing and maintain high torque retention under heat. The gasket structure is intended to serve as a heat insulator and as a partial sound and vibration dampener and can be formed, when required, with upstanding beads to further minimize flexing of the carburetor flange while maintaining a seal.

Abstract: Methods for forming heat-insulative gasket structures permitting the selective variance of components thereof whereby high torque retention, heat-insulative and fluid-tight sealing characteristics are obtained in an internal combustion engine between the intake manifold and the carburetor throttle body or between the carburetor throttle body and bowl. The method provides for densified and non-compressible bolt hole portions to be achieved by mechanical compression, provision for suitable insert members, or a combination of the two. Such portions provide desirable characteristics to control spring action and torque retention of the structures. The method also provides for formation of fluid-tight compressible sealing beads from the gasket material on one or both sides of the insulator member.