Federal-mogul World Wide, Inc.

Brunswick Corporation

Jian Lu

George Robert Schmidt

Walter L Winterbottom

Jason M Unruh

Dan V Chirieac

A ventilated brake rotor () includes vent holes () between inboard () and outboard () friction plates. The vent holes () are separated by ribs () spaced in regular circumferential increments about the rotor (). The rib pattern () is divided into two or more sectors () of equal angular measure. Within each sector (), an attenuation region () interrupts two or more ribs () by replacing the ribs () with a cluster of individual pins () which may be arranged in radial and circumferential rows. Each attenuation region () spans a territory within each sector () that is preferably at least 20% and less than 55% of the sector () real estate. The rotor () completely or at least substantially eliminates vibration modes in objectionable, audible frequencies without adversely affecting the structural integrity, cooling capabilities or functional attributes of the disc brake assembly ().

Vented disc brake rotor

An improved bearing for use in movable sockets and suspension joints. The improved bearing is annular, having an outer dimension sized to seat within the housing of a suspension joint or movable socket. An inner surface of the bearing is configured to receive the head of an articulating stud within the housing. Three or more radial slots are disposed on the inner surface. Each radial slot disposed on one-half of the bearing inner surface has a unique radial dimension, such that the radial slots are optimally configured to minimize stress and stiffness within the improved bearing, whereby the bearing can be seated within the housing in a radially and rotationally locked configuration, but remain movable in an axial direction.

Suspension joint bearing

A method of producing a semi-solid material without stirring, including heating a metal alloy to form a metallic melt, transferring a select amount of the melt into a vessel, nucleating the melt by regulating the transferring of the melt into the vessel, and crystallizing the melt within the vessel by cooling the melt at a controlled rate to produce a semi-solid material having a microstructure comprising rounded solid particles dispersed in a liquid metal matrix. In one form of the invention, a temperature-controlled shot sleeve is provided for receiving and cooling an amount of metallic melt at a controlled rate to produce the semi-solid material. The shot sleeve has a number of heat transfer zones adapted to independently control the temperature of the melt disposed adjacent various portions of the shot sleeve. The shot sleeve also includes a ram operable to discharge the semi-solid material directly into a die mold to form a near-net-shape part.

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Ballwin, MO, United States of America

Jian Lu