Extruded 3D ramp/packaging device for tight package requirements
Granted: January 29, 2019
Patent Number:
10189433
An air curtain delivery assembly includes an arcuate extruded unitary channel and an inflatable air curtain. The channel includes a longitudinal length defining an arc substantially matching a fore-aft curvature of a vehicle roof panel and having an open mouth defining a ramp for directing deployment of the inflatable air curtain from an interior of the channel and inboard of a vehicle side structure. The channel may further be configured and dimensioned for attaching to a portion of the…
Polymer electrolyte composition and polymer electrolyte membrane, polymer electrolyte membrane with catalyst layer, membrane electrode assembly, and polymer electrolyte fuel cell each using the same
Granted: January 22, 2019
Patent Number:
10186725
An excellent polymer electrolyte composition has excellent chemical stability of being resistant to strong oxidizing atmosphere during operation of fuel cell, and achieves excellent proton conductivity under low-humidification conditions, excellent mechanical strength and physical durability. A polymer electrolyte membrane, a membrane electrode assembly, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell each use the same. The polymer electrolyte composition contains an ionic group-containing polymer…
Portable aeroacoustic wind tunnel and method of testing a vehicle for wind noise
Granted: January 15, 2019
Patent Number:
10180372
A portable aeroacoustic wind tunnel includes a modular building structure. The wind tunnel is assembled together on-site at an assembly plant outdoors and on the ground and disassembled into sub-assemblies for transportation. A separate control building includes fan controls, acoustic measurement controls and windows for visual observation. A portable generator provides power to the wind tunnel that is equipped with acoustic dampening features. The modular building structure and control…
Sensor cover
Granted: January 15, 2019
Patent Number:
D838231
Sensor cover
Granted: January 15, 2019
Patent Number:
D838230
Plastic panel attachment joint for fascia to fender execution
Granted: January 8, 2019
Patent Number:
10173734
An attachment joint for attaching a first panel to a second panel includes a threaded bolt, a cooperating speed nut, and a support plate interposed between the speed nut and a surface of the first panel opposite a mating surface of the first panel. The support plate is configured to engage and support a contour formed in an edge of the first panel. A motor vehicle panel subassembly including a first panel having a mating surface and an opposed surface and including at least one contour…
Shutdown and storage method for fuel cell system at below freezing temperatures
Granted: January 1, 2019
Patent Number:
10170781
Improved methods are disclosed for shutting down and storing a fuel cell system, particularly for below freezing temperature conditions. The methods comprise stopping power production from the fuel cell stack, monitoring the amount of energy remaining in an energy supply, monitoring the stack temperature, and repeatedly performing a predetermined warming operation if the stack temperature falls to a normal threshold temperature and if the amount of energy remaining exceeds a certain…
Biodiesel resistant PVC/NBR rubber composition
Granted: January 1, 2019
Patent Number:
10166863
A PVC/NBR rubber composition includes (A) 100 PHR polyblend (33-45 ACN) PVC/NBR, (B) 20-50 PHR conductive carbon black, (C) 2-20 PHR rice husk ash containing at least 90% SiO2, wherein the rubber composition has electrical resistivity of less than 1×106? measured according to SAE J2260.
Laser hardened crankshaft
Granted: December 25, 2018
Patent Number:
10161014
A method of crankshaft laser hardening includes grinding one or more surfaces of a green crankshaft to produce a green ground crankshaft and to define journal geometry thereon prior to hardening of the surfaces to avoid loss of compressive stresses associated with grinding a hardened crankshaft. The method also includes laser hardening the surfaces of the green ground crankshaft to induce compressive stresses.
Heat treatment for reducing distortion
Granted: December 25, 2018
Patent Number:
10161027
Methods of processing an aluminum alloy component are disclosed. The method may include solution heat treating the component at a solution heat treatment (SHT) temperature of 500° C. to 535° C., quenching the component in a liquid quenching medium having a temperature of 75° C. to 95° C., and artificially aging the component at an artificial aging (AA) temperature of 200° C. to 250° C. to a yield strength of at least 200 MPa. The component may be a 6XXX series aluminum alloy, which…
Biodiesel resistant PVC/NBR rubber composition
Granted: December 25, 2018
Patent Number:
10160313
A PVC/NBR rubber composition includes (A) 100 PHR polyblend (33-45 ACN) PVC/NBR, (B) 20-50 PHR conductive carbon black, (C) 1-100 PHR carbon black, (B) being more electrically conductive than (C), and (D) 5-30 PHR synthetic amorphous silica, wherein the rubber composition has electrical resistivity of less than 1×106? measured according to SAE J2260.
Mechanical roughening profile modification
Granted: December 25, 2018
Patent Number:
10160129
Tools and methods for forming modified mechanical roughening profiles are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, an engine block is provided including a body defining a cylinder bore having a bore surface. The bore surface may have defined therein a plurality of grooves extending from the bore surface and each groove may have a base and a top portion. The top portion may have opposing chamfered edges. The chamfered edges may be formed by a tool including at least one cutting element…
Rivet tape mending process and system
Granted: December 11, 2018
Patent Number:
10150155
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…
Casting assembly and method to provide magnetic retention for over-molded inserts in die cast tooling
Granted: November 13, 2018
Patent Number:
10125720
An exemplary casting assembly for an engine block includes, among other things, an insert and at least one magnet configured to retain the insert in a predefined position within an engine block mold cavity. An exemplary engine block casting method includes, among other things, positioning at least one insert in a mold cavity, retaining the insert in position with at least one magnet, introducing material into the mold cavity to form an engine block, and solidifying the material to secure…
Reactant manifolds for fuel cell stacks operating below freezing
Granted: November 6, 2018
Patent Number:
10122040
At below freezing temperatures, ice blockages can be prevented in the reactant outlet manifolds of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stacks by modifying the internal design of the manifolds. The reactant outlet manifold comprises a divider dividing the manifold into an upper duct section and a lower main flow section and the divider comprises a plurality of ports fluidly connecting the duct section to the main flow section. The reactant manifold also comprises at least one separating…
Multi-purpose, dual side tape with pull-down peel tab
Granted: October 16, 2018
Patent Number:
10100228
An attachment system for attaching a first component and a second component includes a dual sided tape assembly having a dual sided tape, a release liner having a pull-down peel tab and a base release liner releasably attached to the dual sided tape, and a retainer for holding the pull-down peel tab to the base. The retainer may be either a sleeve or an adhesive pad. If the retainer is a sleeve, the release liner includes an intermediate portion between the pull-down peel tab and the…
Vehicle exhaust isolator
Granted: October 2, 2018
Patent Number:
10087811
An isolator is disclosed for attaching an exhaust system to a frame pin on a vehicle frame. The isolator includes a vibration damping body that defines a frame pin receiving opening and an exhaust pin receiving opening. A tab is provided on an upper end of the vibration damping body that is manually engaged to bend the upper end of the body away from and toward the frame pin to facilitate inserting the frame pin in the frame pin receiving opening.
Glass substrate with pigmented ceramic enamel layer
Granted: September 25, 2018
Patent Number:
10081164
A vehicle windshield assembly including a glass layer, a first layer, and a second layer is disclosed. The glass layer has inner and outer surfaces. The first layer contacts the inner surface of the glass layer, and defines voids in the first layer in a shape of a design. The second layer contacts the first layer and occupies the voids. The first and second layers have a color contrast to enhance visibility of the design.
Collapsible spacer and spacing method for forming
Granted: September 4, 2018
Patent Number:
10065228
An exemplary die assembly includes a die member, a blankholder, and a collapsible spacer moveable back-and-forth between an extended position and a collapsed position. The collapsible spacer establishing a first gap between the die member and the blankholder in the extended position. The collapsible spacer establishing a second, smaller gap between the die member and blankholder in the collapsed position. An exemplary forming method includes maintaining a distance between a die member…
Fuel cell with selectively conducting anode
Granted: September 4, 2018
Patent Number:
10069148
Use of a selectively conducting anode component in solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells can reduce the degradation associated with repeated startup and shutdown, but can also adversely affect a cell's tolerance to voltage reversal along with its performance. It was shown that these adverse affects can be mitigated against in certain ways. However, improved results can be obtained by employing a selectively conducting component which comprises a mixed layer of a selectively conducting…
