Abstract: A parking pawl assembly having a housing, a parking pawl having a pin bore, a support sleeve fitted in the pin bore, and a pivot pin inserted through the support sleeve. The pivot pin is attached to the housing, thus pivotally attaching the parking pawl to the housing. The parking pawl includes a first end and a second end spaced from the first end. The first end defines the pin bore having an interior bore surface. The support sleeve includes an exterior surface fitted to the interior bore surface of the parking pawl. The exterior surface of the support sleeve may include outer diameter rolled threads or other locking features. The interior bore surface of the parking pawl may include inner diameter rolled threads operable to receive the outer diameter rolled threads of the support sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus for localized patterned surface hardening for light-weight alloys to increase wear resistance under lubricated contact is provided. The apparatus includes a first metallic structure and a second metallic structure. The second metallic structure includes a contact surface and is disposed in lubricated contact with the first metallic structure at the contact surface, wherein the second metallic structure is constructed with a lighter-than-steel material and wherein the contact surface includes a localized surface hardened pattern.

Abstract: A method of making a die cast part having high wear resistance is provided. The method comprises providing a mold and an insert pin. The mold comprises an interior surface defining a cavity. The mold comprises a bore formed through the interior surface. The insert pin has a magnetic core having a magnetic field and a barrier disposed about the magnetic core. The insert pin is disposed in the bore and extends into the cavity. The method comprises filling the mold with metallic material such that the metallic material is in contact with the insert pin to define a contact layer. The method comprises modifying iron content within the contact layer with the magnetic field to define an outer layer and an inner layer formed between the outer layer and the insert pin. The inner layer has 3-5 wt % Fe and the outer layer has 0.01-0.5 wt % Fe.

Abstract: A method of eliminating microstructure inheritance of hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys. The method includes heating a first amount of the Al—Si alloy to a predetermined temperature above a liquidus temperature of the Al—Si alloy to form a first amount melt; holding the first amount melt at the predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time; stirring the first amount melt during the predetermined amount of time; heating a second amount of the Al—Si alloy above the liquidus temperature of the Al—Si alloy to form a second amount melt; and mixing the first amount melt and the second amount melt to form a processed Al—Si casting alloy. The predetermined temperature is between about 750° C. to 850° C. The predetermined amount of time is between 0.1 hour to 0.5 hour. The processed Al—Si casting alloy contains about 30 wt % to about 40 wt % of the first amount of the Al—Si alloy.

Abstract: A method of eliminating microstructure inheritance of hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys. The method includes heating a first amount of the Al—Si alloy to a predetermined temperature above a liquidus temperature of the Al—Si alloy to form a first amount melt; holding the first amount melt at the predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time; stirring the first amount melt during the predetermined amount of time; heating a second amount of the Al—Si alloy above the liquidus temperature of the Al—Si alloy to form a second amount melt; and mixing the first amount melt and the second amount melt to form a processed Al—Si casting alloy. The predetermined temperature is between about 750° C. to 850° C. The predetermined amount of time is between 0.1 hour to 0.5 hour. The processed Al—Si casting alloy contains about 30 wt % to about 40 wt % of the first amount of the Al—Si alloy.

Abstract: A method of eliminating microstructure inheritance of hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys. The method includes heating a first amount of the Al—Si alloy to a predetermined temperature above a liquidus temperature of the Al—Si alloy to form a first amount melt; holding the first amount melt at the predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time; stirring the first amount melt during the predetermined amount of time; heating a second amount of the Al—Si alloy above the liquidus temperature of the Al—Si alloy to form a second amount melt; and mixing the first amount melt and the second amount melt to form a processed Al—Si casting alloy. The predetermined temperature is between about 750° C. to 850° C. The predetermined amount of time is between 0.1 hour to 0.5 hour. The processed Al—Si casting alloy contains about 30 wt % to about 40 wt % of the first amount of the Al—Si alloy.

Abstract: A hydraulic gerotor pump for an automatic transmission may comprise a housing and a gear set rotatably disposed within the housing. The gear set may comprise an inner gear and an outer gear having radially opposed intermeshing teeth that together define a plurality of circumferentially disposed variable volume pumping chambers therebetween. The housing may be made of a first aluminum-based material, and the inner gear and the outer gear of the gear set may be made of a second aluminum-based material. The linear coefficient of thermal expansion of the first aluminum-based material may be substantially the same as that of the second aluminum-based material.

Abstract: An enhanced aluminum alloy galvanically compatible with a magnesium alloy component is disclosed. The aluminum alloy comprises aluminum, less than 0.2 weight percent copper, less than 0.2 weight percent iron, 6.0 to 9.0 weight percent silicon, 0.6 to 1.5 weight percent magnesium, and greater than 0.8 weight percent manganese. The aluminum alloy further comprises less than 2 weight percent zinc, less than 0.1 weight percent nickel, less than 0.2 weight percent tin, less than 0.05 weight percent titanium; and 0.008 to 0.02 weight percent strontium. Manganese and iron have a weight ratio of at least 30:1. Furthermore, iron and manganese combined content is less than 2.0 weight percent.

Abstract: An enhanced aluminum alloy galvanically compatible with a magnesium alloy component is disclosed. The aluminum alloy comprises aluminum, less than 0.2 weight percent copper, less than 0.2 weight percent iron, 6.0 to 9.0 weight percent silicon, 0.6 to 1.5 weight percent magnesium, and greater than 0.8 weight percent manganese. The aluminum alloy further comprises less than 2 weight percent zinc, less than 0.1 weight percent nickel, less than 0.2 weight percent tin, less than 0.05 weight percent titanium; and 0.008 to 0.02 weight percent strontium. Manganese and iron have a weight ratio of at least 30:1. Furthermore, iron and manganese combined content is less than 2.0 weight percent.

Abstract: A wear-resistant component includes a substrate formed from a metal, defining a bore, and having a bore surface. The substrate includes a first region having a first microstructure adjacent the bore surface and a first average particle size. The substrate also includes a second region having a second microstructure adjacent the first microstructure and a second average particle size. The first average particle size is larger than the second average particle size. A system and a method of forming the wear-resistant coating are also described.

Abstract: A joining material for bonding overlapping components of a power electronic device together via a liquid phase sintering process. The joining material includes a mixture of composite particles. Each of the composite particles exhibits a core-shell structure having a core made of a copper-based material and a shell surrounding the core that is made of a low melting point material having a melting temperature or a solidus temperature less than that of the copper-based material of the core. The mixture of composite particles includes a first particulate fraction having a first median particle size and a second particulate fraction having a second median particle size. The first median particle size is at least one order of magnitude larger than the second median particle size.

Abstract: Aluminum alloys having improved properties are provided. The alloy includes about 13 to about 17 weight percent silicon, about 0.3 to about 0.6 weight percent magnesium, and at least 75 weight percent aluminum. The alloy may include copper up to about 2.0 weight percent; iron up to about 0.8 weight percent; manganese up to about 1.0 weight percent; nickel up to about 1.0 weight percent; zinc up to about 0.8 weight percent; titanium up to about 0.5 weight percent; zirconium up to about 0.5 weight percent; vanadium up to about 0.5 weight percent; and other trace elements up to about 0.1 weight percent. In addition, the alloy may contain about 50 to about 1000 ppm of strontium and about 10 about 100 ppm phosphorus. Also disclosed is a die cast article, such as transmission clutch housing.

Abstract: A ladle, process, and system for casting an aluminum-based alloy includes a casting ladle. The casting ladle includes a cup and the cup defines an opening. The ladle also includes an ultrasonic transducer including an end immersed in the cup, wherein the cup exhibits a first depth and the ultrasonic transducer is immersed in the cup at a second depth in a range of 5 percent to 100 percent of the first depth. An aluminum-based alloy melt is introduced into an opening of a casting ladle, an ultrasonic transducer immersed in the aluminum-based alloy melt is activated, and the aluminum-based alloy melt is transferred onto a casting surface.

Abstract: A hydraulic gerotor pump for an automatic transmission may comprise a housing and a gear set rotatably disposed within the housing. The gear set may comprise an inner gear and an outer gear having radially opposed intermeshing teeth that together define a plurality of circumferentially disposed variable volume pumping chambers therebetween. The housing may be made of a first aluminum-based material, and the inner gear and the outer gear of the gear set may be made of a second aluminum-based material. The linear coefficient of thermal expansion of the first aluminum-based material may be substantially the same as that of the second aluminum-based material.

Abstract: An apparatus for localized patterned surface hardening for light-weight alloys to increase wear resistance under lubricated contact is provided. The apparatus includes a first metallic structure and a second metallic structure. The second metallic structure includes a contact surface and is disposed in lubricated contact with the first metallic structure at the contact surface, wherein the second metallic structure is constructed with a lighter-than-steel material and wherein the contact surface includes a localized surface hardened pattern.

Abstract: Implementations are described for creating a playlist of excerpts from audio recordings. In one implementation, a selection of a first audio recording for playback by a media player, a selection that identifies a first keyword of interest, and a selection of a user interface element in the media player, are accepted from a user. Data that identifies a first excerpt, from the first audio recording, that includes a mention of the first keyword of interest, is added to a playlist. A selection of a second audio recording for playback and another selection of the user interface element are accepted from the user. Data that identifies a second excerpt, from the second audio recording, that includes a mention of a second keyword of interest, is added to the playlist.

Abstract: A wear-resistant component includes a substrate formed from a metal, defining a bore, and having a bore surface. The substrate includes a first region having a first microstructure adjacent the bore surface and a first average particle size. The substrate also includes a second region having a second microstructure adjacent the first microstructure and a second average particle size. The first average particle size is larger than the second average particle size. A system and a method of forming the wear-resistant coating are also described.

Abstract: Aluminum alloys having improved properties are provided. The alloy includes about 13 to about 17 weight percent silicon, about 0.3 to about 0.6 weight percent magnesium, and at least 75 weight percent aluminum. The alloy may include copper up to about 2.0 weight percent; iron up to about 0.8 weight percent; manganese up to about 1.0 weight percent; nickel up to about 1.0 weight percent; zinc up to about 0.8 weight percent; titanium up to about 0.5 weight percent; zirconium up to about 0.5 weight percent; vanadium up to about 0.5 weight percent; and other trace elements up to about 0.1 weight percent. In addition, the alloy may contain about 50 to about 1000 ppm of strontium and about 10 about 100 ppm phosphorus. Also disclosed is a die cast article, such as transmission clutch housing.