A motor-driven conveyor roller includes a cylindrical roller body extending along a longitudinal axis of rotation, an axle unit coaxially aligned with the roller body with respect to the longitudinal axis of rotation, a drive unit arranged in the roller body, which is coupled to the roller body and the axle unit to produce a rotational movement between the axle unit and the roller body about the longitudinal axis of rotation, and an end lid which closes the roller body at a first axial end and through which an axle section of the axle unit extends. The end lid has an outer wall formed of stainless steel and an inner wall cast on the outer wall and formed of a light metal.

Methods are provided for manufacturing a component. In one method, first material is cast into a first body. At least a portion of the first body is machined. Second metal material is cast onto at least the machined portion of the first body to form a monolithic second body. A first portion of the second body is formed by the first metal material. A second portion of the second body is formed by the second metal material. The second metal material is different from the first metal material.

A variable stiffness device, including a core including a low melting point alloy, an encapsulation surrounding the core, the encapsulation made of an elastic material and sealing the core, and a heating device arranged around the encapsulation, configured to heat the core, wherein the elastic material of the encapsulation is subject to a tensile stress in a direction along a longitudinal extension of the thread-like variable stiffness device.

A variable stiffness device, including a core including a low melting point alloy, an encapsulation surrounding the core, the encapsulation made of an elastic material and sealing the core, and a heating device arranged around the encapsulation, configured to heat the core, wherein the elastic material of the encapsulation is subject to a tensile stress in a direction along a longitudinal extension of the thread-like variable stiffness device.

A bi-metallic component including a tubular stud member extending from an open first end to an open second end, and a cast member cast around the open second end of the tubular stud member is provided. The cast member is formed from first material, such as an aluminum alloy; and the tubular stud member is formed from a second material, such as steel. The tubular stub member has an interior surface which sealingly receives a removable core member for preventing molten first material from flowing through the stub member between the open ends thereof during casting of the cast member around the second end. The bi-metallic component can be used in a variety of automotive applications, for example in a cradle, frame, twist axle, control arm, door pillar, instrument panel support, or bumper assembly.

An automotive disk brake assembly installed in an automobile having a wheel. The assembly includes a floating caliper supporting an inner and outer brake pad and a brake rotor having a disk, and a hat, and wherein the hat is bolted to the wheel. A hydraulic cylinder is adapted to push the inner brake pads into the disk surface, causing the floating caliper to move bringing the outer brake pad into contact with the disk. Finally, the rotor is made such that a complete 100 kilometer per hour, 0.9 gross vehicle weight braking causes the disk to expand in thickness by at least 0.15 mm and to cool to shrink in thickness, relative to its expanded thickness, by at least 0.1 mm within 60 seconds of the cessation of braking, in an ambient temperature of less than 30° C.

A method comprises providing a line-start synchronous motor. The motor has a stator, a rotor core disposed within the stator, and a motor shaft. In accordance with a step of the method, a coupling for coupling a load to the motor is provided. The coupling has a motor shaft attachment portion configured to provide substantially concentric contact around the shaft at the end of the motor shaft. The coupling has a load attachment portion configured to operatively connect to a load. In accordance with a step of the method, a load is coupled to the motor with the coupling, and driven from start to at least near synchronous speed during steady state operation of the motor with a load coupled thereto. The motor shaft attachment portion may comprise a bushing assembly with matching and opposed tapered surfaces that cooperate to secure the motor shaft attachment portion around the motor shaft.

A vehicle subframe is provided with a main body formed in a hollow shape by a core unit. The subframe includes: a top parallel section and a bottom rear parallel section provided to the top and the bottom of the main body; a top left sand elimination opening and a top right sand eliminating opening formed at the top parallel section; and a left bottom rear sand elimination opening and a right bottom rear sand elimination opening formed at the bottom rear parallel section. The left bottom rear sand elimination opening is provided to a site opposing the top left sand elimination opening, and is formed in a shape equivalent to the top left sand elimination opening. The right bottom rear sand elimination opening is provided to a site opposing the top right sand elimination opening, and is formed in a shape equivalent to the top right sand elimination opening.

A vehicle subframe is provided with a main body formed in a hollow shape by a core unit. The subframe includes: a top parallel section and a bottom rear parallel section provided to the top and the bottom of the main body; a top left sand elimination opening and a top right sand eliminating opening formed at the top parallel section; and a left bottom rear sand elimination opening and a right bottom rear sand elimination opening formed at the bottom rear parallel section. The left bottom rear sand elimination opening is provided to a site opposing the top left sand elimination opening, and is formed in a shape equivalent to the top left sand elimination opening. The right bottom rear sand elimination opening is provided to a site opposing the top right sand elimination opening, and is formed in a shape equivalent to the top right sand elimination opening.

The invention provides a device (200, 300, 400) for heating a continuous flow fluid. Said device (200, 300, 400) consists of a steel conduit (3, 3′, 3″) through which the fluid to be heated flows and of at least one sheathed resistor (2, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) that is parallel to the steel conduit (3, 3′, 3″) and that is in thermal contact therewith. The steel conduit (3, 3′, 3″) and the at least one heating element (2, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) are incorporated in a die-casting element made of an aluminium alloy.