Molding tools with biomimetic conformal venting passageways and methods for forming biomimetic conformal venting passageways in molding tools
Granted: August 10, 2021
Patent Number:
11084189
A method of forming a molding tool includes performing a computer aided engineering (CAE) analysis on a molding tool design. The CAE analysis predicts flow of injection molded material and a location of gas entrapment within a molding recess of the molding tool design. At least one venting design constraint is applied to the molding tool design as a function of the gas entrapment location. Also, a biomimetic shaped passageway for venting gas away from the gas entrapment location is…
Optimizing alignment of steering column and steering wheel during vehicle production
Granted: July 13, 2021
Patent Number:
11059511
A vehicle is able to be set to operate in a factory mode (as opposed to a normal mode) in which certain features are disabled, such as an alarm system, a power liftgate, etc. This allows assembly workers to assemble, test, and calibrate the vehicle without various systems in the vehicle being undesirably activated. While in the factory mode, the vehicle can accomplish multiple ignition on/off cycles while being tested or driven between stations. A steering column and connected steering…
Device and method for detecting a cylinder deactivation mode using inferred compression
Granted: July 6, 2021
Patent Number:
11053908
A method of verifying a cylinder deactivation mode on an engine is provided. The method can include activating an ignition device in a deactivated cylinder during an exhaust stroke of the deactivated cylinder. The method can include measuring a voltage of the ignition device. The method can include comparing at least one of an amplitude and a timing of a measured spike of the voltage against a baseline voltage spike. The method can include indicating a status of the deactivation mode…
Method for tapping an engine component to orient a spark plug
Granted: July 6, 2021
Patent Number:
11052478
A device and method of tapping an engine component to orient a spark plug includes measuring a tap pitch, measuring a first distance between a tap end surface and a full tap tooth center at a first rotational location, calculating a phantom first tap tooth based on the pitch and first distance, determining a tap rotational offset from the first location to a location where the end surface intersects the phantom first tooth, calculating a tap rotational starting orientation that is the…
Surface roughening tool with translatable swaging blades
Granted: July 6, 2021
Patent Number:
11052468
A surface roughening tool includes a cylindrical body and at least one grooving blade outwardly radially projecting from the body and configured to form grooves and peaks into a surface. The surface roughening tool also includes at least one swaging blade outwardly radially projecting from the body and configured to deform the peaks. The at least one swaging blade is aligned with the at least one grooving blade along a circumference of the body.
Hydroforming of porthole extrusion with non-equiangular seams
Granted: July 6, 2021
Patent Number:
11052445
A method of forming a part includes extruding a billet through a die, forming a round, closed geometry tube from the billet, and hydroforming the round, closed geometry tube. The extrusion die contains an orifice with a central mandrel, a plurality of bridges, and a corresponding plurality of portholes between the bridges. A spacing of the bridges around the mandrel is non-equiangular. As a result, the round, closed geometry tube has non-equiangular welds after emerging from the die.
Autonomous vehicle self-scheduled refueling
Granted: June 15, 2021
Patent Number:
11034338
Vehicles can be equipped to operate in both autonomous and occupant piloted mode. Refueling stations can be equipped to refuel autonomous vehicles without occupant assistance. Refueling stations can be equipped with wireless networks that communicate with vehicles to permit autonomous vehicles to self-schedule refueling at fueling stations serving a mixture of autonomous, semi-autonomous and occupant piloted vehicles.
Mechanical applicator for use in stamping die process to apply thermo-chromatic ink to aluminum heat treated panels
Granted: June 15, 2021
Patent Number:
11033943
A system and method for applying a marking to a part in a stamping die is provided by the present disclosure. The system includes a mechanical application device having a controlled volume of a marking medium that is coupled to movement of the stamping die. In one form, the controlled volume of the marking medium is not regulated by either an external pneumatic source of an external electrical source.
Device for scraping debris from metal wire
Granted: June 8, 2021
Patent Number:
11027321
A device and related method for removing debris from a metal wire formed by a process utilizing a lubricant is provided. The device includes at least two segments forming a passage through which the wire passes, each having a leading edge for stripping debris from the wire, and a resilient member positioned around the at least two segments and applying a force to the segments sufficient to cause contact between the leading edges and at least the debris on the metal wire passing through…
Method and system for performing a vehicle height-radar alignment check to align a radar device provided in a vehicle
Granted: June 8, 2021
Patent Number:
11029390
The present disclosure is directed toward a method and system for checking a vehicle height and radar aim of a vehicle. The method includes estimating, by a forward imaging system disposed in a vehicle, a vehicle height, and determining whether the estimated vehicle height is within a predefined height tolerance. The method further includes performing, by a radar system disposed in the vehicle, a radar alignment test to determine whether a radar device of the radar system is aligned…
Fuel cell system for a vehicle
Granted: June 1, 2021
Patent Number:
11024860
A fuel cell system and a method of controlling the fuel cell system is provided. A fuel cell generates power, and a coolant system provides coolant flow through the stack. A controller is configured to, in response to at least one of an ambient temperature and a coolant temperature being below a threshold value after a vehicle shut down command or event, command the coolant system to circulate coolant through the stack to reduce ice formation in the stack prior to commanding a purge of…
Method of manufacturing a lightweight vehicle window glass article
Granted: June 1, 2021
Patent Number:
11020941
A window including a layer of optically clear structural polymer core and two layers of optically clear silicone applied to first and second sides of the core. A method is disclosed for manufacturing a window that comprises injection molding a layer of optically clear structural polymer and solidifying the structural polymer core. Optically clear silicone is then injected onto the entire surface of both of the first and second sides of the optically clear structural polymer core.
Acetaldehyde scavenger treatment
Granted: May 25, 2021
Patent Number:
11015036
A method of reducing aldehyde concentration in a vehicle cabin air, the method includes applying a solution comprising aldehyde scavenger(s) onto an outer surface of a foam article located or to be located within a vehicle cabin to form a top layer of the article such that aldehyde species are trapped within the article and prevented from being released into the cabin air.
Warm die trimming in hot forming applications
Granted: May 25, 2021
Patent Number:
11014137
A method of forming a part is provided by the present disclosure. The method includes forming a blank from a material, heating the blank, stamping the blank into a panel, and trimming the panel in a trim die. Trimming the panel includes heating a portion of the trim die locally adjacent a trim area of the panel at a temperature below an austenitizing (phase transformation) temperature of the material and trimming the panel with a cutting member.
Process for molding thin-walled skins
Granted: May 18, 2021
Patent Number:
11007693
A method of forming a thin-walled skin includes coating at least one side of a mold cavity of a molding tool, evacuating air from the mold cavity, and filling the mold cavity with a molten polymeric resin. Among other optional variations of the disclosed method, an inert gas is injected into the molten polymeric resin simultaneously with the step of filling the mold cavity with a molten polymeric resin. As a result, high quality, large, thin-walled skins are produced by the teachings of…
Mechanical roughening by a tool with translatable swaging blades
Granted: April 20, 2021
Patent Number:
10981233
A method includes positioning a cylindrical tool having one or more rows of blades within a cylindrical bore having a surface, forming annular grooves and peaks into the surface with the grooving blades when the swaging blades are in the retracted position, and translating the swaging blades from the retracted position to the extended position to deform the peaks. The one or more rows of blades includes fixed grooving blades and translatable swaging blades having retracted and extended…
Method for predicting plastic strain ratio from stamping simulation
Granted: March 23, 2021
Patent Number:
10956634
A method of evaluating a sheet metal stamping simulation is provided. The method may include defining elements of a finite-element mesh representing a stamped panel, operating on the elements to simulate deformation of the panel during stamping to generate, for each of the elements, incremental differential major and minor plastic strain values, applying a weighting factor to temporally adjacent pairs of the values to generate smoothed values, deriving, from the smoothed values and for…
Autonomous vehicle fueling with centralized scheduling
Granted: March 23, 2021
Patent Number:
10953759
Vehicles can be equipped to operate in both autonomous and occupant piloted mode. Refueling stations can be equipped to refuel autonomous vehicles without occupant assistance. Refueling stations can be equipped with a fueling control computer that communicates with vehicles via wireless networks to move vehicles between waiting zones, service zones and served zones. Refueling stations can include liquid fuel, compressed gas and electric charging.
Composite ultrasonic material applicators with individually addressable micro-applicators and methods of use thereof
Granted: March 9, 2021
Patent Number:
10940501
A method of controlling application of at least one material to a substrate is provided. The method includes configuring at least one array having a plurality of micro-applicators such that a subset of the micro-applicators is individually addressable to apply the at least one material to the substrate. Individually addressing the subset of micro-applicators provides control of a pattern width of a coating applied to a substrate, control of a flow rate of the material applied to the…
Rivet tape mending process and system
Granted: March 9, 2021
Patent Number:
10940526
A method for repairing rivet tape includes steps of cutting portions of the rivet tape on each side of a break to define at least three aligned coplanar rivet tape edges, abutting the at least three aligned coplanar rivet tape edges to define a seam, and joining the at least three aligned coplanar rivet tape edges to one another. The seam may define a Z shape. One or more rivets may be removed to expose rivet apertures on each side of the break before the steps of cutting, abutting, and…
