A torque bar manufactured by an additive manufacturing process is provided. The torque bar may include a torque bar body made of more than one metallic material. The torque bar may also include a geometry that comprises one or more voids and one or more webs, as well as a varied geometry in the direction of a longitudinal axis. The torque bars can exhibit characteristics, such as vibration damping, tuned stiffness, and tuned bending resistance in order to enhance dynamic stability.

A vehicle power steering assembly has a pinion housing comprised of first, second, and third housings. The first housing is a drawn tube formed from a first material. The second housing is a casting formed from a second material. The third housing is a stamping formed from a third material. The second housing is press fit into the first housing. The third housing is press fit and welded to the first housing. The second material has a lesser unit weight than each of the first and third materials. The first, second, and third housings together form the pinion housing.

Systems and methods are provided for a cylinder block having one or more bulkheads. The bulkheads provide a dual-wall structure that may enhance the stiffness of the cylinder block in bending and torsion. The bulkheads may also provide an oil drain to allow oil to directly drain through a hollow core of the bulkhead. An overflow outlet may be formed in an inner wall of a bulkhead. In some implementations, a cylinder block with bulkheads may increase an oil capacity of an engine.

Systems and methods are provided for a cylinder block having one or more bulkheads. The bulkheads provide a dual-wall structure that may enhance the stiffness of the cylinder block in bending and torsion. The bulkheads may also provide an oil drain to allow oil to directly drain through a hollow core of the bulkhead. An overflow outlet may be formed in an inner wall of a bulkhead. In some implementations, a cylinder block with bulkheads may increase an oil capacity of an engine.

A spout for a tub. The spout includes a spout shell having opposite first and second sides. The spout further includes an inlet portion extending from the first side. The spout further includes an outlet portion extending from the second side. The outlet portion includes an outlet bore that is in fluid communication with the inlet portion. The spout further includes a plastic engine configured with waterway connection geometry and one or more locking lips, where the plastic engine is installed in the spout shell through the annular inlet portion and is secured in place by the one or more locking lips prior to reaching the annular outlet portion.

A spout for a tub. The spout includes a spout shell having opposite first and second sides. The spout further includes an inlet portion extending from the first side. The spout further includes an outlet portion extending from the second side. The outlet portion includes an outlet bore that is in fluid communication with the inlet portion. The spout further includes a plastic engine configured with waterway connection geometry and one or more locking lips, where the plastic engine is installed in the spout shell through the annular inlet portion and is secured in place by the one or more locking lips prior to reaching the annular outlet portion.

The present application discloses a ceramic preform, a method of making a ceramic preform and a metal matrix composite comprising a ceramic preform. In one exemplary embodiment, the ceramic preform comprises a ceramic compound compressed into the shape of a cylinder by rotational compression molding. The cylinder has an inner surface and an outer surface. A first liner may be attached to the inner surface of the cylinder and a second liner may attached to the outer surface of the cylinder. The metal matrix composite of the present application may be formed as a brake drum or a brake disc.

The present application discloses a ceramic preform, a method of making a ceramic preform and a metal matrix composite comprising a ceramic preform. In one exemplary embodiment, the ceramic preform comprises a ceramic compound compressed into the shape of a cylinder by rotational compression molding. The cylinder has an inner surface and an outer surface. A first liner may be attached to the inner surface of the cylinder and a second liner may attached to the outer surface of the cylinder. The metal matrix composite of the present application may be formed as a brake drum or a brake disc.

A blade preform includes a strut connecting a plat-form to a blade root portion extending longitudinally in an upstream-downstream direction, an upstream web and a downstream web, which each extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the blade root and are formed at the upstream and downstream ends of the strut. The upstream and downstream webs connect the upstream and downstream ends of the plat-form to the upstream and downstream ends of the blade root. The blade root extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the blade root over a distance smaller than that of the upstream and downstream webs and the side edges of each web are extended by walls that converge at the flanks of the blade root.

A blade preform includes a strut connecting a plat-form to a blade root portion extending longitudinally in an upstream-downstream direction, an upstream web and a downstream web, which each extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the blade root and are formed at the upstream and downstream ends of the strut. The upstream and downstream webs connect the upstream and downstream ends of the plat-form to the upstream and downstream ends of the blade root. The blade root extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the blade root over a distance smaller than that of the upstream and downstream webs and the side edges of each web are extended by walls that converge at the flanks of the blade root.