Forming method and die assembly using a bead with a step
Granted: August 21, 2018
Patent Number:
10052673
An exemplary die assembly includes, among other things, a first die having a male bead, a second die having a female bead configured to receive the male bead to hold a workpiece between the first die and the second die, and a step in the male bead, the female bead, or both. An exemplary forming method includes, among other things, holding a workpiece between a male bead of a first die and a female bead of a second die, wherein the male bead, the female bead, or both have at least one…
Freeze start method for fuel cells
Granted: August 7, 2018
Patent Number:
10044053
A method for starting operation of a solid polymer fuel cell from a temperature below 0° C. is disclosed that prevents certain problems with ice formation as the fuel cell thaws. During startup, the method involves providing the volumetric oxidant flow at a rate less than two thirds of its maximum when the coolant temperature is near 0° C.
Method and apparatus for manufacturing a transmission case
Granted: July 31, 2018
Patent Number:
10035233
A method of manufacturing a transmission case housing is provided wherein a minimum quantity of lubrication as a compressed air/oil mist is supplied as the housing is rough bored and face milled. The transmission case defines a plurality of transmission fluid drainage holes for draining transmission fluid from the transmission when installed in a vehicle. The housing is positioned with the fluid drainage holes below a central axis of the housing and a plurality of internal bores and…
Tractor unit vehicle
Granted: July 17, 2018
Patent Number:
D823169
Method and system for enhancing rivetability
Granted: May 1, 2018
Patent Number:
9957584
A joined sheet stack and a method and system for forming the stack are disclosed. The stack may include a steel sheet and a second sheet. The steel sheet may include a bulk portion having a first tensile strength and one or more fastener regions having a second tensile strength that is lower than the first tensile strength and a microstructure that includes tempered martensite. A fastener may extend through each fastener region joining the steel sheet to the second sheet. The method may…
Bilayer cathode catalyst structure for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell
Granted: April 10, 2018
Patent Number:
9941523
Use of noble metal alloy catalysts, such as PtCo, as the cathode catalyst in solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells can provide enhanced performance at low current densities over that obtained from the noble metal itself. Unfortunately, the performance at high current densities has been relatively poor. However, using a specific bilayer cathode construction, in which a noble metal/non-noble metal alloy layer is located adjacent the cathode gas diffusion layer and a noble metal layer is…
Method and apparatus for limiting compression between flanges of a sealed structure
Granted: March 27, 2018
Patent Number:
9926958
A two-part fastener for an assembly having a sealed joint formed by at least two flanges or sealing surfaces. A first flange defines a first opening, a second flange defines a second opening with a seal being disposed between the first and second flanges. The flanges and seal are secured together with a bolt and a receiver that defines a threaded hole for receiving the bolt. The receiver includes an end face engaging the first flange and a shoulder engaging the second flange. The spacing…
Vehicle front upper grille
Granted: February 27, 2018
Patent Number:
D811283
Vehicle front upper grille
Granted: February 27, 2018
Patent Number:
D811282
Sensor cover
Granted: February 13, 2018
Patent Number:
D809995
Fuel cell stacks with increased natural frequency
Granted: January 23, 2018
Patent Number:
9876249
In certain configurations and applications, fuel cell stacks can be subject to damage arising from resonance. For instance, the natural frequency of lengthy automotive fuel cell stacks can be low enough to be problematic. Incorporating appropriate support bars between the compression straps holding such stacks together and the fuel cells in the stack can suitably increase the natural frequency in a relatively compact manner.
Relief design for fuel cell plates
Granted: December 26, 2017
Patent Number:
9853314
Flow field plates in solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells can be subject to ice blockages in certain areas during freeze start-up, e.g. the backfeed ports and slots used in some flow field plate designs which connect an outlet plenum channel for a reactant to its outlet. By incorporating a similar and adjacent relief backfeed port, slot and plenum channel arrangement in which the relief plenum channel is separated from the outlet plenum channel by a landing, a relief outlet for the…
Vehicle front upper grille
Granted: December 26, 2017
Patent Number:
D805967
Vehicle wheel cap
Granted: November 21, 2017
Patent Number:
D803137
Vehicle rear bumper step pad
Granted: November 21, 2017
Patent Number:
D803125
System and method for forming holes onto a sheet-metal assembly
Granted: November 14, 2017
Patent Number:
9815217
Various approaches for forming holes onto a sheet-metal assembly are described. In one implementation, a sheet-metal assembly is received through a conveyor system within a manufacturing cell. Once received, the type of sheet-metal assembly is identified based on associated information. Corresponding to the identified sheet-metal assembly, a set of position coordinates corresponding to one or more points on the sheet-metal assembly are obtained. Subsequently, a work-performing apparatus…
Honing tool
Granted: November 14, 2017
Patent Number:
9815169
A head assembly of a honing tool includes a carrier having a proximal end connectable to a spindle, a distal end, and a plurality of stones. The head assembly also includes a pilot cap connected to the distal end, and defining an end face and a sidewall. A transition surface defined by the pilot cap extends between the end face and the sidewall. The transition surface extends at a first angle forming a first angled relief and then at a second angle forming a second angled relief.
Tooling and method for drawing and flanging a prototype part
Granted: October 10, 2017
Patent Number:
9782815
A prototype part drawing/flanging tool is provided that are arranged in a draw die set-up and a flange die set-up. The draw die set-up includes a binder ring, a pad; a flange forming ring, and a punch. The flange die set-up includes the flanging ring, the pad, and the punch. The draw die set draws a blank and the flange die set forms a flange on the blank in two separate operations using the same die parts in the two operations. A method is disclosed for making a formed and flanged part…
Vehicle wheel
Granted: October 3, 2017
Patent Number:
D798787
Vehicle wheel cap
Granted: September 26, 2017
Patent Number:
D798218
