Abstract: A spring assembly for a non-rail wheeled or tracked vehicle is provided. The spring assembly includes a piston, and a sleeve with variable thickness. The sleeve is made from an unreinforced synthetic elastomeric material and being free of reinforcing fibers. The sleeve is coupled with a plurality of end components and defines a deformable pressure vessel, and the deformable pressure vessel supplies a support force.

Abstract: A method for forming an air spring for a vehicle including a frame coupled to the air spring includes heating an elastomeric base material to a melting point of the elastomeric base material, thereby forming a melted elastomeric base material, forming a sleeve from the melted elastomeric base material, the sleeve being substantially free of textile reinforcing fibers, and engaging the sleeve with end components, the sleeve and the end components defining a deformable pressure vessel, where the deformable pressure vessel supplies a supporting force.

Abstract: A steering knuckle is used in a motor vehicle and is typically positioned adjacent a front wheel thereof. The steering knuckle includes a central portion, a steering knuckle arm, an upper portion and a lower portion. The steering knuckle arm, the upper portion and the lower portion may each be contoured with full or partial roulette contoured surfaces (i.e., surfaces defined by roulette curves), and the upper portion may transition from a hollow lower portion to a solid upper portion defining an I-beam. A dual-beam horizontal support is formed in the central portion. The steering knuckle is formed from a casting process, and the roulette curvature of the steering knuckle arm, the upper portion and the lower portion provide draft to the surfaces of the steering knuckle which are perpendicular to the parting line of the casting mold, allowing the steering knuckle to be easily removed from the casting mold.

Abstract: A method for forming an air spring for a vehicle including a frame coupled to the air spring includes heating an elastomeric base material to a melting point of the elastomeric base material, thereby forming a melted elastomeric base material, forming a sleeve from the melted elastomeric base material, the sleeve being substantially free of textile reinforcing fibers, and engaging the sleeve with end components, the sleeve and the end components defining a deformable pressure vessel, where the deformable pressure vessel supplies a supporting force.

Abstract: A steering knuckle is used in a motor vehicle and is typically positioned adjacent a front wheel thereof. The steering knuckle includes a central portion, a steering knuckle arm, an upper portion and a lower portion. The steering knuckle arm, the upper portion and the lower portion may each be contoured with full or partial roulette contoured surfaces (i.e., surfaces defined by roulette curves), and the upper portion may transition from a hollow lower portion to a solid upper portion defining an I-beam. A dual-beam horizontal support is formed in the central portion. The steering knuckle is formed from a casting process, and the roulette curvature of the steering knuckle arm, the upper portion and the lower portion provide draft to the surfaces of the steering knuckle which are perpendicular to the parting line of the casting mold, allowing the steering knuckle to be easily removed from the casting mold.

Abstract: To provide access to a bird feeder to desirable species while excluding House Sparrows (Passer domesticus), a loop is mounted above the feeder and extends outwardly a few inches. The excluder is fastened to the bird feeder by staples or adhesives.