PRODUCTIVITY OPERATIONS SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY FOR IMPROVING MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY
Granted: January 14, 2010
Application Number:
20100010879
A method for improving productivity operations may include receiving elements of a first and second array which produces a productivity matrix. Further included may be receiving matrix events having an input, an output, and an activity step, receiving the input and activity step, and outputting the output. The input, activity step, and output may enable standardization of productivity improvement. A method may also include supplying elements of the first and second array to produce a…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A CLOSURE
Granted: December 31, 2009
Application Number:
20090322120
A system and method for assembling a closure for a vehicle. The system includes first, second and third closure manipulators adapted to engage different areas of the closure, a first hinge manipulator configured to receive and fasten a first hinge to the closure, and a nab pin manipulator configured to position and secure a nab pin in a fixed position relative to the door and the hinge.
AUTOMOTIVE ROTATABLE POWER TRANSFER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME
Granted: December 31, 2009
Application Number:
20090325000
A rotating power transfer system for an automotive fuel cell vehicle includes one of an impeller and turbine in fluid communication with a fuel cell stack, an electric machine and a shaft operatively associated with the one of impeller and turbine. The system also includes a heating element disposed within the shaft. The heating element is configured to be selectively electrically coupled with a stator coil of the electric machine.
COMPUTER-BASED VEHICLE ORDER TRACKING SYSTEM
Granted: December 17, 2009
Application Number:
20090313072
A computer-implemented system for receiving a delivery estimated time of arrival (ETA) of an expected vehicle at a customer location is provided. The system comprises at least one customer system for receiving the ETA of the expected vehicle at the customer location from at least one tracking tool. The at least one tracking tool is configured to receive historical vehicle order average information which corresponds to known ETAs of one or more delivered vehicles over a predetermined time…
SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INTERACTIVELY OPTIMIZING SHIPPING DENSITY FOR A CONTAINER
Granted: December 3, 2009
Application Number:
20090299790
A system and method for interactively optimizing shipping density of racked parts by a user is provided. The system includes a user computer system, a communications network, a remotely located computer system, a data storage device a computer-generated model of a component part; a computer-generated model of a container for transporting the component part and an executable shipping density optimization software program. The methodology includes the steps of the user selecting the…
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR APPLICATION SUPPORT KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER BETWEEN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ORGANIZATIONS
Granted: December 3, 2009
Application Number:
20090299944
A computer network system for implementing a knowledge transfer process includes one or more local computers. The processors of the computers may access a knowledge database stored in local computer memory. The system also includes remote computers. The processors of the remote computers may access the knowledge database stored in local computer memory. The processors in at least one local and/or remote computer may automatically score individual and/or team performance, and may detect…
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY TESTING MULTIPLE COMMUNICATION CHANNEL INPUTS TO A VEHICLE COMPUTER
Granted: November 26, 2009
Application Number:
20090292416
An embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus for remotely testing a plurality of communication channel inputs to an automobile computer. The apparatus may include a microprocessor electrically connected to a persistent memory. The memory may have stored therein communication channel test messages corresponding to each of two or more communication channel inputs to an automobile computer. At least one of the communication channels is a wireless communication channel. The…
AUTOMOTIVE POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME
Granted: November 12, 2009
Application Number:
20090278500
A battery control module monitors discharge voltages associated with a traction battery of an automotive vehicle. The battery control module cycles the traction battery at a discharge-voltage dependent charge/discharge profile to generate heat within the traction battery.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING AN ASSEMBLY CONFIGURATION
Granted: November 12, 2009
Application Number:
20090281651
A bill of material and a design layout are aligned to generate a configuration for a virtual vehicle. The bill of material includes a part number and usage associated with a part. The design layout includes a CAD model of the part. CAD models in vehicle position are generated from the design layout. Logical positions are identified based on the usage and the CAD models in vehicle position are associated with the logical positions. Feature conditions are applied to the CAD models in…
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING CONFIGURATION CONSTRAINTS FOR COMPUTER MODELS
Granted: November 12, 2009
Application Number:
20090281780
A bill of material and a design layout are aligned to generate a configuration for a virtual vehicle. The bill of material includes a part number and usage associated with a part. The design layout includes a CAD model of the part. CAD models in vehicle position are generated from the design layout. Logical positions are identified based on the usage and the CAD models in vehicle position are associated with the logical positions. Feature conditions are applied to the CAD models in…
PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL HUMIDITY SENSOR
Granted: October 15, 2009
Application Number:
20090255323
A humidity sensing device for determining the amount of humidity in at least one primary fluid stream that is passed to a fuel cell stack is provided. The sensing device includes an outer housing and an inner housing. The outer housing is positioned within at least one conduit such that the outer housing and the conduit coact with each other to generate at least one secondary fluid stream from the primary fluid stream. The inner housing is positioned within the outer housing such that…
ANODE LEAK TEST IMPLEMENTATION
Granted: October 15, 2009
Application Number:
20090255326
A system and method is provided for detecting an anode leak of an anode stream in a fuel cell stack. The system comprises a controller that stores at least one first predetermined control value that corresponds to a first pre-selected pressure level. The controller generates at least one first operational control value. The controller controls a pressure regulator device to adjust the pressure of the anode stream to reach the first pre-selected pressure level with the at least one first…
AUTOMOTIVE FUEL CELL WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME
Granted: October 8, 2009
Application Number:
20090252998
Actuators are attached with plates of a fuel cell stack. Electrical power is provided to the actuators to drive the actuators to mechanically excite the plates to agitate liquid water restricting or blocking flow fields formed in the plates.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PURGING WATER FROM A FUEL CELL STACK
Granted: August 20, 2009
Application Number:
20090208789
A system for delivering an input fuel stream to a fuel cell stack to generate electrical current and to discharge an unused fuel stream is provided. A supply produces a supply fuel stream. An ejector combines a purged fuel stream and the supply fuel stream and controls the flow of the input fuel stream to the fuel cell stack. A purging arrangement receives the unused fuel stream which includes impurities and purges the impurities from the unused fuel stream to generate the purged fuel…
VENTILATION SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE FUEL CELL STACK ENCLOSURE
Granted: July 30, 2009
Application Number:
20090191805
A fuel cell stack is housed within a fuel cell stack enclosure. Air is used to ventilate the fuel cell stack enclosure. The air may be pulled from an air stream used to cool a high voltage battery. The air may also be pulled from a vehicle compartment such as a vehicle trunk or vehicle cabin. Filters are used to remove particulate matter from the air.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A MOTIVE POWER SYSTEM OF AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE
Granted: July 30, 2009
Application Number:
20090192660
Environment conditions expected to be encountered by a vehicle are used as inputs in determining operating modes of a motive power system of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. A vehicle operating in charge depleting mode may transition to operate in charge sustaining mode if the vehicle is expected to encounter circumstances where it is desirable to allow the vehicle to more quickly respond to sudden requests for torque.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE
Granted: July 23, 2009
Application Number:
20090183355
A system and method for assembling a vehicle body structure. The system includes first and second end effectors for positioning first and second body structure components. The second end effector engages the first end effector to position the second body structure component relative to the first body structure component.
HYDROGEN RECIRCULATION SYSTEM USING INTEGRATED MOTOR GENERATOR ENERGY
Granted: June 4, 2009
Application Number:
20090142644
A system for delivering a supply fluid stream to a fuel cell stack that discharges an unused fluid stream is provided. A fuel supply is adapted to provide a pressurized supply fluid stream. An expander is in fluid communication with the fuel supply and is configured to receive the pressurized supply fluid stream to reduce the pressure of the pressurized supply fluid stream and to generate mechanical energy in response to reducing the pressure of the pressurized supply fluid stream. An…
WET-ON-WET TWO-TONE PAINTING
Granted: March 19, 2009
Application Number:
20090074968
In at least one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and system of painting an article having two or more base coats, and to articles prepared in accordance therewith. In at least one embodiment, the method comprises applying a primer composition to a first and second area of the article; applying a first base composition to the first area of the article; curing the primer composition and the first base composition to form a primer and a first base coat; masking at least…
Rotary Fill Member for a Die Assembly
Granted: February 26, 2009
Application Number:
20090049879
A rotary fill slide assembly for a sheet metal forming die that has a working element that performs an operation on a portion of a sheet metal blank. The rotary fill slide assembly has a motor that is controlled based upon a press cycle timing mechanism. The rotary fill slide is assembled to the die to fill a space adjacent to a portion of the blank when the blank is in position for the working element to perform the operation on the blank. A linkage connects the motor to the rotary fill…
