Abstract: A drive assembly for a vehicle drive train includes a base assembly including a base hub configured for non-rotatably connecting to an outer circumferential surface of a transmission input shaft. The base assembly includes a torsional damper fixed to the base hub. The torsional damper includes an input section and an output section drivingly connected by springs. The springs allow relative rotation between the input section and the output section. The output section of the torsional damper is non-rotatably fixed to the base hub. The drive assembly also includes a raw hub extension configured for non-rotatably connecting to an engine crankshaft. The raw hub extension is non-rotatably fixed to the input part of the torsional damper at an engine side of the torsional damper. The torsional damper allows relative rotation between the raw hub extension and the base hub.

Abstract: The present device is a vertically oriented wind turbine blade having a rectangular simple curvilinear shaped blade, which includes a top edge, a bottom edge, an outer edge, an inner edge, an inner surface and an outer surface. The blade is curved using a series of bent section to approximate as airfoil shape from the inner edge to the outer edge (relative to the turbine center or hub).

Abstract: A method for producing a contoured ring rolling product for a rotating application from a ring blank, with a ring rolling machine controlled in a process-monitored manner. At least one process window, extending over the rolling time, is defined in relation to preselected process parameters for the specific product on the basis of calibrating specimens brought into their final form by the ring rolling machine. The process window(s) monitored during the process is/are determined by the process parameters of calibrating specimens which produced rolled products meeting the requirements demanded of the ring rolling product. The preselected process parameters comprise at least two of ring growing rate, axial rolling force, radial rolling force, rolling time, and ring blank temperature.

Abstract: A hot press forming apparatus that hot press forms a blank to process the blank into a formed product includes: a conduction heating mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus, the conduction heating mechanism clamping the fed blank at a predetermined conducting position so as to be in a conveyance-stopped state, and performs conduction heating onto the blank; a die quenching type hot press mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus and disposed thermally isolated downstream of the conduction heating mechanism, the hot press mechanism hot pressing the blank subjected to conduction heating at a predetermined processing position; and a conveying mechanism installed in the hot press forming apparatus. The conveying mechanism conveys the blank subjected to conduction heating at least from the conducting position to the processing position, to supply the blank to the hot press mechanism.

Abstract: A technique for manufacturing a product involves receiving material, providing plastic deformation to the material to at least partially form the product, and applying electric current to the material while providing the plastic deformation to the material. The electric current is configured to reduce flow stresses within the material during plastic deformation. In some arrangements, the electric current is a series of high-density, short electric pulses which increases plasticity due to increasing the dislocation mobility of the deformed material. In some arrangements, the electric current provides an electric current density through the material of at least 1000 Amperes per square millimeter with each electric pulse lasting no longer than 0.01 seconds.

Abstract: An electric heating type rolling device comprises work rolls for rolling a metal strip, a power supply for generating a pulse current, a pair of upstream contact members which are disposed in a location before the metal strip passes through the work rolls, and a pair of downstream contact members which are disposed opposite to the upstream contact members in a location after the metal strip has been rolled by the work rolls and passed thereby. The contact members are electrically connected to the power supply. Each contact member includes a first contact portion contacting the metal strip, a flat portion which is extended from the first contact portion toward the work rolls while being spaced apart from the metal strip, and a second contact portion which is extended from the flat portion to contact the metal strip.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a suspension damper with a welded rod fitting includes attaching a piston rod to a piston assembly. The piston assembly with the attached piston rod is inserted into a tube so that the piston rod extends from the tube. Hydraulic fluid is added to the tube either before or after the piston assembly is inserted. A rod guide assembly is slidingly received over the piston rod and is secured to the tube. An end fitting is secured in a weld fixture. The tube, containing hydraulic fluid, the piston assembly, the secured rod guide and the extending piston rod is positioned so that the piston rod abuts the end fitting. An electrical current is passed through the end fitting and the piston rod. The piston rod is moved away from the end fitting forming a gap as the electrical current is passing through the end fitting and the piston rod so that an arc is established across the gap to weld the end fitting to the piston rod.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for controlling the temperature of dies and workpiece throughout a deformation process. Dies are capable of receiving external current to resistively heat the workpiece and dies during the deformation operation, the external current being modulated by feedback temperature readings taken from the workpiece. External current may be provided from a homopolar generator capable of producing pulsed dc current at controllable intervals and magnitudes simultaneously through the dies and workpiece.

Abstract: An electrical caulking method for a work made from a magnesium or a magnesium alloy wherein a caulking pin integrally projects from a body, wherein an electric caulking apparatus having two opposing electrodes is used. The work is held between the opposing electrodes so that one electrode contacts the caulking pin and the other electrode contacts the body while an electric current is applied between the electrodes and pressure is exerted therebetween, thereby caulking the caulking pin into a desired shape, and providing at least the one electrode that is brought into contact with the caulking pin of the work of a material having low thermal diffusivity and which is difficult to alloy with magnesium.

Abstract: A superplastic forming machine having ceramic platens which are oriented to each other with heating elements of each platen arranged at a substantially right angle relationship to the heating elements of the other platen. The heating elements are formed as wires in rectangular sections which overlie each other to permit the increased preferable heating of the areas of greatest heat loss, such as the corners and the periphery of a superplastic metal forming heated platen.

Abstract: An apparatus for hot forming a polygonal head on an end of a tie rod includes a split electrode for gripping a tie rod and a reciprocating electrode for deforming the tie rod end. One of the electrodes defines a die cavity having walls forming a polygonal contour and a depth greater than a predetermined thickness of the tie rod head to be formed, and the other electrode includes a boss positioned in registry with the die cavity such that the boss may enter the cavity upon movement of the reciprocating electrode into abutment with the split electrode, thereby forcing the heated end of a tie rod into the polygonal contour of the cavity. The preferred method includes intermediate steps of lightly gripping the rod by the split electrodes and lightly contacting the rod tip by the reciprocating electrode to locate the rod accurately with respect to the die cavity.

Abstract: Methods of forming metallic workpieces into ring-shaped components of selected cross-sectional configuration in which roll electrodes both heat the workpiece by electrical resistance and provide the pressure so that the workpiece becomes plastic and flows into the wanted configuration. Apparatus in which the method can be carried out, and tooling for controlling the configuration into which the workpiece is formed.

Abstract: Improved extrusion-fusion-type intercell connectors and process involving: casting the plate strap lugs to be welded from a hypoeutectic lead-antimony alloy containing at least about 2 percent by weight antimony; initially extruding the lugs into contact through an aperture in a battery intercell partition, the contact area being between 15 and 75 percent of the area of the aperture; and gradually heating the lug extrusions through a softening stage, an antimony-rich-phase melting stage, and an antimony-lean-phase melting stage. Force applied by rapid-response, declining-force welding electrodes causes (1) the softened extrusions to reshape somewhat prior to melting, and (2) the antimony-rich-phase of the alloy to exude out of the welding zone filling voids in the aperture before any substantial melting of the antimony-lean-phase occurs.

Abstract: Metal forming methods in which a workpiece is heated and subjected to pressure, causing the metal to become plastic and flow into a selected configuration. Apparatus in which the method can be carried out and tooling for use in the methods and apparatus.

Abstract: Metal forming apparatus in which a workpiece is heated and subjected to pressure, causing the metal to become plastic and flow into a selected configuration.

Abstract: Metal forming methods in which a workpiece is heated and subjected to pressure, causing the metal to become plastic and flow into a selected configuration. Apparatus in which the method can be carried out and tooling for use in the methods and apparatus.

Abstract: Methods for positive displacement casting and/or for positive displacement bonding and, more particularly, for automatically locating the bonding apparatus with respect to the workpieces, locking thereon, and, thereafter forming, on a continuous, reproducible basis, fusion bonds devoid of structural, electrical and cosmetic defects between two or more workpieces by moving a heated electrode into the area to be bonded so as to uniformly heat and melt the portions of the workpieces to be bonded while, at the same time, displacing substantially all of the molten material from the area to be bonded into a storage area or reservoir surrounding the heated electrode where such molten material is maintained in its uniformly heated molten state, and then retracting the electrode so as to permit the molten material to return to the cavity formed by the electrode in the workpieces where such molten material is allowed to cool and solidify, thus forming a flawless bond between the workpieces--thermal or fusion bonds are