Apparatuses, methods and systems for lighting fixture determining its power usage and monitoring its operational health are disclosed. One embodiment includes a method of a lighting fixture determining its power usage. The method includes sensing, by an ambient light sensor, an intensity of light emitted from the lighting fixture, and estimating power usage of the lighting fixture based on the sensed intensity of light.

A line voltage control circuit for use with a multi-string LED drive system which provides a common line voltage for multiple LED strings that are connected to respective current sink circuits at respective junctions. An error amplifier receives the minimum junction voltage and a reference ‘desired junction voltage’ at respective inputs, and a voltage regulator outputs the line voltage in response to a voltage applied to a feedback input. A comparator toggles an output when the maximum junction voltage (Vmax) exceeds a reference limit (Vlimit). A multiplexer receives the error amplifier output and a fixed voltage at respective inputs and provides one of the signals to the regulator's feedback input in response to the comparator output. When Vmax>Vlimit, the fixed voltage is provided to the feedback input and the line voltage is reduced, thereby protecting low voltage current sinks from potentially damaging high voltages.

A welding head is provided. The welding head includes a bracket and a plurality of blocks coupled to the bracket. Each of the plurality of blocks has a contact tip. The contact tips are adapted to receive an electrode. Further, at least one of the plurality of blocks is capable of variable positioning relative to the bracket.

A non-contact and non-disposable electric induction LED lamp includes a power source and a luminous-radiating unit combined together. The power source is formed with a power source module electrically connected with a first electric induction plate, while the luminous-radiating unit is provided with a second electric induction plate corresponding with the first electric induction plate and electrically connected with an LED module. Thus, the electricity of the power source can be transmitted to the luminous-radiating unit via electromagnetic induction produced between the first and the second electric induction plates to enable the LED module to emit light. The LED lamp of this invention can partially be replaced conveniently and has water proof and dustproof effects.

A sleigh for travel over a snow covered surface adapted to be disassembled or knocked down into a storage or transport position, from an operating position, is shown. Runners of the sleigh are pivotally connected to a floorboard along side edges thereof. The runners are locked into an operating position and may be unlocked to fold against a bottom surface of the floorboard in a stored position. An upper body including a seat is formed of multiple planar pieces which are dependently interlocked with each other for assembly and later disassembly. Means are provided for interlocking the runners to a hitching assembly to which a horse is conventionally harnessed.

A horse-drawn hitch cart has its tongue adjustably positioned laterally, by means of a clevis and plural hand-actuable locking pins, along an apertured drawbar suspended forwardly and below the floor level of the cart frame to be rotatable about a laterally-extending axis. A yoke bar is attached to the distal end of the tongue by means of a yoke ring circumscribing the tongue between two longitudinally spaced and hand-actuable stop pins preventing the ring from being disengaged from the tongue. The proximal stop pin position is adjustable to accommodate different length horses by virtue of a series of through holes defined along the tongue rearwardly of the most distal stop pin. A clutch assembly, actuable from the cart floor by means of a lever, permits a ground driven power takeoff unit to be selectively engaged quickly and easily without requiring the driver to leave his seat. A bias spring and a mechanical stop acting on the lever prevent inadvertent engagement and disengagement, respectively, of the clutch. Selective lateral positioning of a towed implement is made possible with a three-point hitch unit modified to permit rotation between the drive arms and the sidelinks about respective axes disposed in vertical planes.

A two wheeled, height adjustable cart for pulling farm implements and maintaining a stable height for the cart relative to the field includes a pair of spaced wheels to which main frame members are connected and extend upwardly therefrom. A work platform having a seat for an operator is slidably mounted on the main frame members and selectively movable between an elevated position and a lowermost position, and attached to the work platform is the farm implement which is raised and lowered concomitant with the movement of the work platform from the elevated position to the lowermost position. Foot pedals mounted on the work platform actuate the raising of the work platform to the elevated position and the lowering of the work platform to the lowermost position. In addition, position setting mechanisms mounted on the main frame members allows the operator to set the lowermost position to which the work platform will descend, and which determines the depth the farm implement will extend into the soil, and also allows the operator to raise the work platform and the attached farm implement when both are stationary, or when the cart is stationary for undergoing maintenance.

In a method for correcting a calibration table T(n,k) of a CT apparatus that contains calibration values, the CT apparatus having a detector system with N≧2 rows of detector elements following one another in the z-direction that include a first active row of detector elements in the z-direction and a last active row of detector elements in the z-direction, for correcting the calibration values of the aforementioned first and last active rows of detector elements, a reference vector R(k) is produced, the error is determined with respect to the first and last active rows of detector elements, and the error F(n,k) of the first and last active rows of detector elements is subtracted from the corresponding calibration values of the calibration table T(n,k) for determining corrected calibration values Tcor(n,k) with respect to the first and last active rows of detector elements.

A yttria sintered body is provided which includes yttria as a principal ingredient and 5 to 40 vol. % silicon nitride, and which exhibits enhanced corrosion resistance and mechanical strength.

A method and system are presented for enhancing one or more images of an object, so as to increase the visibility within the images of one or more structures within the object. The object may be an anatomical region of a patient, and may include one or more reference structures, for example skeletal structures or vertebral structures, and one or more treatment targets, for example tumors or lesions. An operator, for example a top-hat filter operator, selects at least a first neighborhood and a second neighborhood within the images. The operator selects within each neighborhood one or more pixels having an optimal pixel value, and eliminates the remaining pixels in these neighborhoods. When the operator is applied to the selected neighborhoods, only the pixels having the greatest pixel values remain in the selected neighborhoods, and the remaining pixels are eliminated in the selected neighborhoods. As a result, desired features can be located and enhanced in the images.

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for charging electrically powered devices. In accordance with the invention, the device is powered by two storage devices. One storage device is capable of receiving a substantial charge very rapidly while the other storage device requires a longer time to receive a charge. The advantage is that the powered device can be used almost instantly and continually while at the same time rebuilding electrical charge.

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for charging electrically powered devices. In accordance with the invention, the device is powered by two storage or charge receiving devices. One of these devices is capable of receiving a substantial charge very rapidly while the other device requires a longer time to receive a charge. The advantage is that the powered device can be used almost instantly and continually while at the same time rebuilding electrical charge. The present invention further relates to a system for protecting the charging device from being damaged from an electrical surge, such as from a lightening strike.

A device and method to facilitate wearing of jewelry items which have hoop and clasp closures, comprising: a base or clamp for stabilizing the device on a surface; a wire guide member protruding from the base and affixed securely thereto, the wire guide having hook at its opposite end for engaging a distal hoop or link on an unclasped jewelry item, thereby permitting a person to: a. engage one end of a jewelry object with a device, b. open a complementary jewelry clasp with one or both free hands, c. position a wrist or neck within the bight of the jewelry item, d. close the clasp upon the hoop link, and e. slidably remove the clasped jewelry item from the device.

A linear actuator for a variable-geometry member of a turbocharger includes a piston/rod assembly that can axially translate and also pivot to a limited extent. A permanent magnet is mounted in a fixed position within the actuator. A non-magnetized flux carrier is mounted in the piston/rod assembly, and its movement alters the magnetic field of the magnet. A Halls effects sensor detects the magnetic field and the signals produced by the sensor are used for determining axial position of the piston/rod assembly.

A compressor includes a housing; a compressor liner positioned within the housing and at least partially defining a first cylinder with an inlet and an outlet; a piston positioned within the first cylinder and configured to compress air flowing into the first cylinder through the inlet; a cylinder head at least partially defining the first cylinder; and a sealing assembly for sealing an interface between the compressor liner and the cylinder head. The sealing assembly includes a ring seal at an interface between the cylinder head and the compressor liner; a vent port on an opposite side of the ring seal from the first cylinder; and a vent tube extending between the vent port and the inlet such that air leaking through the ring seal from the first cylinder flows through the vent port, through the vent tube, and into the inlet.

Apparatus for drainage by well points, including a piston pump and a drive motor coupled to the piston pump by means of a transmission and provided with a drive shaft, which transmission is received in a housing and includes at least one crankshaft and a drive rod coupled thereto, the drive rod is coupled by means of a cross-head to a piston rod of the piston pump and the housing forms an oil sump and the transmission further includes an assembly of a worm and a worm wheel co-acting therewith and mounted on the crankshaft and the worm is provided on a worm shaft extending transversely relative to the crankshaft and vertically in operating mode of the apparatus for drainage by well points.

A fluid actuator includes a housing having a fluid chamber providing a first friction surface. An actuating member is arranged in the fluid chamber and has a second friction surface slideably engaging the first friction surface. The actuating member is configured to slide within the chamber between first and second positions. An insert is constructed from a first thermoplastic material and provides one of the first and second friction surfaces. A body structurally supports the insert and provides one of the housing or actuating member. The body is constructed from a second thermoplastic material molded about the insert and including short reinforcing fibers.

The present invention provides a variable displacement swash plate type compressor that reduces wear of cylinder bores and the amount of blow-by gas. Each piston of the compressor has a piston main body, which has a distal portion located at an end corresponding to the compression chamber. A tapering portion and an arcuate portion are formed in the distal portion. The arcuate portion is continuous with an end of the tapering portion that is closer to the compression chamber. The tapering portion and the arcuate portion each have a diameter that increases toward the skirt. The tapering portion has a tapering angle that is in a range from 0.45 degrees to 1.5 degrees. The distance between the distal end of the piston main body and a starting point of the tapering portion on an end closer to the skirt is set in a range from 1.5 mm to 5.0 mm.

The invention relates to a combination cylinder, including a service brake cylinder as an active service brake with at least one service brake piston actuated by a pressure medium, the piston actuating a brake mechanism via a service brake piston rod, and further including a spring-loaded brake cylinder as a passive parking brake with a spring-loaded brake piston actuated by a pressure medium against the action of at least one pre-loaded spring, wherein the spring-loaded brake piston in the event of the parking brake is actuated transmits the power of the at least one pre-loaded spring by means of a power-transmitting transmission to the service brake piston rod. According to the invention, the transmission is designed such that the movements of the spring-loaded brake piston and the service brake piston rod are coaxial and the power transmission increases with increasing stroke of the spring-loaded brake piston.

A leak-proof damper with a self-diagnostic feature. An auxiliary oil reservoir body is disposed externally with respect to the damper cylinder and generally adjacent the rod seal, wherein the auxiliary oil reservoir body is concealed by an end cap. The maximum volume of oil retainable by the auxiliary oil reservoir body is predetermined to coincide with a volume of oil which may be lost from the interior of the damper cylinder and yet the damper will still function properly. The auxiliary oil reservoir body may be a seal body having an internal cavity providing an oil retention volume or an absorbent body having an absorbency capacity that provides an oil retention volume.

The present invention relates to a position sensor and limit switch apparatus for an actuator. The actuator has a cylinder and a piston with at least one magnetized portion reciprocatingly disposed within the cylinder. The apparatus includes an elongate housing aligned parallel with the cylinder. A magnetostrictive linear displacement transducer is disposed within the housing for sensing the position of the at least one magnetized portion. The apparatus includes a switch means responsive to the transducer for operatively interrupting actuation of the piston upon the at least one magnetized portion reaching a limit position.

A piston-cylinder assembly, in particular for pneumatic, hydraulic or mechatronic systems, includes a cylinder housing and a piston. The piston is coupled to a piston rod and disposed in the cylinder housing such that it can move along a longitudinal axis. A measuring device for detecting piston or piston rod position is provided inside the cylinder housing.

Disclosed is a wobble plate type variable displacement compressor that uses a constant velocity universal joint mechanism, which comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, balls that are held between guide grooves of the inner ring and the outer ring to transmit power, wherein a wobble plate is connected and fixed to the outer ring. In the compressor, the wobble plate is provided with a cylindrical part which extends in the axial direction of a swash plate, and in the relative rotation structure between the swash plate, and the wobble plate and the outer ring, the swash plate is supported to be able to relatively rotate only in relation to the wobble plate via a bearing interposed at least between the cylindrical part and the inner diameter portion of the swash plate, without being supported to be able to rotate relative to the outer ring. With this wobble plate type variable displacement compressor using the specified constant velocity universal joint mechanism, the relative rotation structure between the wobble plate and the outer ring, and the swash plate, can be improved, workability and productivity can be improved, and the cost and weight can be reduced.

A metallic protecting cover is formed from two axially split members, i.e. a first protecting cover member secured to a mounting eye, and a second protecting cover member having an overall length shorter than that of each of first and second cylinders and having a predetermined gap between itself and the second cylinder. The second protecting cover member is press-fitted into the first protecting cover member secured to the mounting eye to integrate the first and second protecting cover members into the protecting cover. Accordingly, the lower end of the second cylinder can be caulked in a state where the second protecting cover member has been temporarily assembled to the second cylinder. Thus, it is possible to ensure the required strength of the protecting cover and to increase the degree of freedom in assembly process.

A hydraulic actuator system including an actuator and a valve assembly configured for bi-directional regeneration. The actuator may include a hollow body and a rod disposed within and extending outwardly from the hollow body. The rod may include a first chamber within the rod and a piston disposed at one end of the rod, defining a second chamber and a third chamber within the hollow body. A valve assembly may be in fluid communication with a first conduit, a second conduit, the first chamber, the second chamber, and the third chamber, wherein the valve assembly is configured to selectively couple one of the first conduit and the second conduit to one or more of the first port, the second port, and the third port, wherein one of the first conduit and the second conduit is configured as a pressure source.

To improve productivity and increase seizing resistance and abrasion resistance of a sliding surface of a tilt adjustment cylinder, a plurality of pistons are arranged cirumferentially in a cylinder block configured to rotate with a rotating shaft. Tip end portions of the pistons slide along the swash plate, and the pistons reciprocate. The swash plate is supported to tilt with respect to the rotating shaft. Further, a tilt adjustment driving portion is included. The tilt adjustment driving portion includes tilt adjustment large- and small-diameter cylinder chambers and tilt adjustment large- and small-diameter pistons configured to slide in the cylinder chambers to change the tilt angle of the swash plate. A sliding surface of the inner peripheral surface of each of the cylinder chambers includes a quenched portion formed by quenching using laser light, the sliding surface being a surface on which the tilt adjustment piston slides.

An apparatus comprising a downhole tool having a body defining an outer surface, a plurality of standoffs distributed about the outer surface, and a hydraulic circuit operatively coupled to the standoffs. The hydraulic circuit includes a plurality of hydraulically actuated pistons, each of which is operatively coupled to a respective one of the standoffs to extend and retract the respective standoff. The pistons are hydraulically coupled and sized to extend or retract the respective standoffs at substantially the same rate in response to a hydraulic control signal.

A variable displacement fluid working machine includes an inward ring and an outward ring, one of the inward ring and the outward ring including a rotatable ring cam coupled to a drive shaft, the other including a plurality of radially extending piston cylinders circumferentially spaced around the respective ring. The outward ring has first and second axially spaced structural members and a plurality of demountable blocks demountably retainable therebetween, the demountable blocks having either piston cylinders or ring cam segments. The demountable blocks are removable radially to facilitate maintenance and repair and to facilitate radial access to the inward ring.

High pressure pump systems with reduced pressure ripple for use with waterjet systems and other systems are described herein. A pump system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes four reciprocating members operably coupled to a crankshaft at 90 degree phase angles. The reciprocating members can include plungers operably disposed in corresponding cylinders and configured to compress fluid (e.g., water) in the cylinders to pressures suitable for waterjet processing, such as pressures exceeding 30,000 psi.

A fluid cylinder mechanism (1) equipped with a cylinder (10) having a base end (12) and an open end (11), and a piston (20) having a flange portion (21) disposed inside the cylinder and a rod portion (25) that passes through the open end of the cylinder, in which a space inside the cylinder is partitioned by the flange portion of the piston into a first pressured chamber (14) on a side of the base end and a second pressurized chamber (15) on a side of the open end, is characterized by including: a first flow path (22) that permits flow of a fluid from the first pressurized chamber to the second pressurized chamber; a second flow path (32) that permits flow of the fluid from the second pressurized chamber to the first pressurized chamber; and an opening and closing means (35) for opening and closing the second flow path.

A piston engine may include a heat pipe capable of transferring heat away from a portion of the piston engine such as a combustion section. The heat pipe may be included as part of a piston assembly, a cylinder, or both. The heat pipe may be filled with a suitable heat pipe fluid that may undergo a phase change such as, for example, water, ethanol, ammonia, sodium, other fluids or combinations thereof. Boiling and condensing of the fluid within the heat pipe may utilize the latent heat of the fluid during heat transfer. Multiple heat pipes may be used in some instances.

A transmission may include gears and a clutch to allow the transfer of torque, at a variety of gear ratios, between an input shaft and an output shaft. The clutch may include a cushion piston to decrease the velocity of a transmission piston before the transmission piston engages a clutch element. The cushion piston may be contained within the transmission piston and configured so the cushion piston ceases movement toward the clutch element before the transmission piston. The pistons may be coupled together such that the cushion piston may resist movement of transmission piston toward the clutch element.

A compressible fluid powered device includes a dose chamber. An inlet supplies pressurized fluid to the dose chamber. An outlet for releases pressurized fluid from the dose chamber. A moveable divider divides the dose chamber into a primary space and a secondary space, movement of the divider expanding one space at the expense of the other. At least one flow pathway from one space to the other, which collectively allow gas to flow in both directions past the divider and pressure to equalize across the divider, the flow pathway being much more limited than the outlet.

The invention is an accumulator system in which multiple elastomeric accumulators are attached in series or parallel in order to generate total differential pressure in excess of that generated in a non-series system. Also disclosed is a “stacked” accumulator system. The system stores energy when the accumulators deform from their original shape in response to the flow of a pressurized fluid. The stored energy is available for use when the fluid is released from the accumulators and the accumulators return to their original shape.

A hydraulic cylinder includes a cylinder assembly having a cylinder, defining an inner hydraulic chamber and being for reciprocating receipt of a piston and piston rod therein; a piston rod extending from the inner hydraulic chamber exteriorly of the cylinder; and a piston head assembly connected with the piston rod and disposed for reciprocation within the cylinder assembly. The piston head assembly includes a piston head and a valve assembly including a passageway defined in the piston head and a valve member having an outer surface and being sized and configured for reciprocation in the passageway between extended and retracted positions therein, the valve member defining at least one flat defined along the outer surface and at least one transition surface between the outer surface and the flat, the transition surface forming an angle with the flat of between about 40 and 50 degrees.

The invention relates to a rotary machine with pistons (22) and a turret (25), including: —a frame (2), through which a shaft (1) extends, having a geometrical axis x-x' and mounted in a stationary manner relative to the frame (2); —a thrust plate (9) rotatably mounted on the shaft (1); —an oscillating plate (15) bearing on the thrust plate (9); —a torsion bar (18), a first end of which is pivotably connected to the frame (2) and a second end of which is pivotably connected to the oscillating plate (15); —a spherical female bushing (14) rigidly connected to the oscillating plate (15) and pivotably connected around a spherical male knuckle centered on the shaft (1), the knuckle including a spherical male bushing (10) rotatably mounted relative to the shaft (1), characterized in that the rotary machine includes a means for rotating the spherical male bushing (10) about the geometric axis x-x'.

A port shield assembly includes a cup, a fitting, and a retaining pin. The cup includes a top with a hole, a sidewall, a cavity defined by the top and the sidewall, and a side port in the side wall. The fitting includes a body with a first end and a second end, a flange at the first end, and a central bore extending from the first end. The fitting also includes a port that communicates with the central bore, and a cross bore near the second end. The fitting extends through the hole of the cup and a retaining pin is disposed in the cross bore to retain the cup between the first end and the second end of the fitting.

Primer apparatus and methods are described herein. An example primer apparatus includes a flexible body defining an internal chamber to be fluidly coupled to a fuel system. The body includes a first layer material having a low permeation characteristic to substantially prevent diurnal emissions from escaping the fuel system, a second layer material adjacent the first layer material having a relatively high resiliency compared to the first layer material to enable the body to return to an uncompressed shape when the body is deflected and released by a user, and a third layer material adjacent to the first layer material such that the first layer material is disposed between the second layer material and the third layer material and having a relatively high resiliency compared to the first layer material to enable the body to return to the uncompressed shape when the body is deflected and released by the user.

A disc for use in a pneumatic valve includes a stiffening insert encased in a flexible body. The stiffening insert acts to protect a central actuation region of the disc against radial compression, which may arise if the disc is used to seal against a bore hole, and against material flow towards the actuation region away from a clamped periphery. The behavior of the disc in a valve assembly is therefore more predictable and reproducible. The flexible body may further be tensioned across the stiffening insert.

The present disclosure relates to a piston-cylinder unit with a device for determining position, the device comprising at least one exciter that is indirectly or directly electrically connected with the cylinder jacket and the cylinder piston of the piston-cylinder unit, and that excites the electrical oscillating circuit formed by the piston-cylinder unit and the contact lines to oscillate at its resonant frequency, it being possible to measure an electrical signal characterizing the resonant frequency on the piston-cylinder unit. The invention also relates to a construction machine or piece of hoisting equipment with such a piston-cylinder unit.

A rodless power cylinder includes a cylinder body, a piston assembly adapted to reciprocate in the cylinder body, a magnet mounted at each of the two ends of the piston assembly, a valve mounted at each of the two ends of the cylinder body for guiding a flow of air or fluid in and out of the cylinder body to cause the piston assembly to reciprocate, a magnetic sensor mounted in a sensor mounting groove at each of the two valves for sensing the position of the respective magnet, a movable member mounted around the cylinder body and coupled to the piston assembly by a magnetic force for synchronous reciprocating motion.

A piston ring has a body member for sitting in a ring groove of a piston. The body member has an inner periphery, upper wall, lower wall and an outer periphery. The outer periphery has a concavity therein for storing lubricant therein. The upper wall has an outer section proximate to the outer periphery is constructed to be resiliently flexible between a flexed and unflexed position such during a portion of a power stroke, the volume of the concavity to store the lubricant is decreased by the flexing of the upper wall to the flexed position for expelling lubricant therefrom to a wall of the cylinder. The wall resiliently returns to the unflexed position during other times to allow excess lubricant from the wall of the cylinder to pass into the concavity.

A brake cylinder for pneumatic vehicle brakes, especially for commercial vehicles, includes in addition to a pneumatic locking mechanism, a manual release mechanism for manually releasing the spring brake section, and a device designed to visually recognize the manual release condition of the spring brake section outside of the housing.

A rotating cylinder includes a cylinder body, a piston, a piston shaft assembly, a main body and a guiding assembly. The cylinder body defines a receiving chamber. The piston, the piston shaft assembly, the main body and the guiding assembly are received in the receiving chamber. The piston shaft assembly is fixed to the piston, and defines at least one guiding groove lengthwise thereof. Each guiding groove includes a spiral portion and an extending portion. The main shaft is non-rotatably connected to the piston shaft assembly away from the piston and exposed out of the cylinder body. The guiding assembly sleeves on the piston shaft assembly and is slidably connected with the at least one guiding groove. The main shaft is driven to rotate when the guiding assembly engages the spiral portion, and move lengthwise when the guiding assembly is slidably connected with the extending portion.

Cam follower roller device, notably for an internal combustion engine fuel injection pump, comprising a tappet (12) and a roller (14) mounted to rotate on the tappet and intended to press against a cam. The tappet (12) comprises a roller support body (16), a shaft (26) for mounting the roller on the said body, and a guide sleeve (18) attached to the support body and at least partially surrounding the said body. The ends of the shaft are fixed in through-holes in the support body.

A device for actuating a flap, in particular a wastegate flap in an exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine, includes a control rod, which can be moved by an actuator substantially in an axial direction and is guided in a fist gate via a first pin at the side thereof facing away from the actuator. A carriage is articulated on the first pin and is guided in the first gate via a second pin on the side facing away from the first pin, wherein a pivot lever is articulated on the second pin and, on the side facing away from the second pin, the pivot lever is rotatably mounted in a machine housing, preferably a turbine housing, and the flap is arranged on the pivot lever on the side facing away from the second pin. By way of the articulated design, a non-linear adjustment of the flap is possible.

A device for the pulsed release of an amount (3) of fluid that is stored in a storage housing (2) includes a piston (5) biased by a first spring (4) and movable within the storage housing (2) to dispense the fluid by the spring bias, when triggered by an actuator (6) to release a lock holding the piston in place (7). The lock (7) has individual catches (8) keeping the piston (5) in its pretensioned position and, when actuated by the actuator (6), releases the piston (5).

An end member for a gas spring assembly is dimensioned to receivingly engage an end of a flexible wall. The end member can be formed from polymeric material and can include a side wall receiving the end of the flexible wall. The end member can also include a base wall extending transverse to the side wall and dimensioned to abuttingly engage a jounce bumper of the gas spring assembly. The end member can include a mounting ridge or a mounting channel for engaging an associated structural component. A gas spring assembly including such an end member is also included.

A cylinder liner for insert casting which is excellent in heat conductivity with a cylinder block is provided, the cylinder liner for insert casting of the present invention comprising a cylinder liner for insert casting 2 which is formed with projections 5 with heights of 0.3 to 1.2 mm and undercut parts 6 in a ratio of 20 to 80/cm2 on an outer circumferential surface 4 over which, in turn, a thermally sprayed layer 7 is covered, wherein the thermally sprayed layer 7 is comprised of a ferrous material and wherein a ratio of a surface area of a thermally sprayed layer 7 surface at a certain region on the outer circumferential surface 4 of the liner with an area of the region is 12 to 23. The thermally sprayed layer preferably has a thickness of 0.01 to 0.2 mm. The thermally sprayed layer is preferably formed using a wire shaped thermal spraying material.

A method of creating a bend in a construction component for use in a transportation vehicle. The method comprises providing a plurality of cuts in the construction component so as to create a region of increased flexibility in the construction component. The method further comprises bending the construction component in the region of increased flexibility so as to cause the construction component to acquire a bent shape, and then rigidifying the construction component in the region of increased flexibility so as to cause said construction component to maintain the acquired bent shape.