Abstract: A vehicle underbody includes a tray structure, a battery pack having a plurality of footers and a bracket; and an enclosure surrounding the battery pack. The bracket has a wall attached to the enclosure, a ledge attached to the footers, and a stepped deformation region between the wall and ledge. The stepped deformation region deforms in response to impact to absorb energy associated with the impact.

Abstract: A traction battery assembly for a vehicle includes an array of cells stacked on a tray. The array of cells defines opposing longitudinal sides and opposing lateral sides. First and second L-shaped components are attached to the tray. Each of the components includes an end wall and a sidewall that are integrally formed to define a substantially 90° corner. The first and second components are attached together such that each of the sidewalls is disposed adjacent one of the longitudinal sides and each of the end walls is disposed adjacent one of the lateral sides to form a housing around the tray that has an open top and an open bottom.

Abstract: A vehicle including a pair of spaced apart battery cell arrays, a pair of sub-structures configured to retain the arrays, and a thermal plate assembly disposed between the arrays is provided. Each of the sub-structures may include opposing endplates and opposing upper and lower sidewalls secured to the endplates and each having a flange extending toward and overlapping with the respective flange of the other sub-structure to join the sub-structures without mechanical fastening. The thermal plate assembly may be disposed between the overlapping flanges and the arrays to form a sandwich formation. The thermal plate assembly may include at least one thermal interface component disposed on a side of a thermal plate, and in contact with a portion of at least one of the battery cell arrays.

Abstract: A traction battery assembly for a vehicle includes an array of cells stacked on a tray. The array of cells defines opposing longitudinal sides and opposing lateral sides. First and second L-shaped components are attached to the tray. Each of the components includes an end wall and a sidewall that are integrally formed to define a substantially 90° corner. The first and second components are attached together such that each of the sidewalls is disposed adjacent one of the longitudinal sides and each of the end walls is disposed adjacent one of the lateral sides to form a housing around the tray that has an open top and an open bottom.

Abstract: This invention relates to polyphenolic compounds, in particular ethoxylated polyphenolic compounds and the use of such compounds in disease prevention, disease treatment, and life extension in humans and animals. The invention also relates to methods of preparing ethoxylated polyphenolic compounds, and preparation of compositions comprising the compounds, including dietary supplements and foods. The inventors describe how modified C-glycosidic ellagitannins are safe, palatable and effective at medium and high doses, and produce broad and profound health outcomes in mammals.

Abstract: A composting apparatus (1) comprising a compost heap (2) comprising compostable material. There is at least one ventilation pipe (4) and air moving means (6). The ventilation pipe (4) comprising a pipe wall (8) defining a conduit for gas. The ventilation pipe has a connection end (10) and a ventilation portion (12). The ventilation portion has a plurality of aeration holes (14) extending through the pipe wall (8). The ventilation portion (12) is located within the compost heap (2) and the connection end (10) is coupled to the air moving means (6) such that, when active, the air moving means (6) causes movement of air through the aeration holes (14). The invention also extends to a method of ventilation compost.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of ventilating a compost heap.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering fine solids from a liquid feed suspension is disclosed. The apparatus has an operating cycle including a concentration part of the cycle in which solids present in the feed suspension are concentrated and a backwash part of the cycle in which supply of feed suspension to the concentrator is interrupted, the concentrator comprises a shell (11), and a plurality of elastic, hollow, microporous, polymer fibers (12) being fixed at their ends within the shell (11). Pressurized feed suspension is supplied to the outside of the fibers during said concentration part of the cycle and the filtrate may be withdrawn from the fiber lumens during the operating cycle. During the backwash cycle the concentration part of the cycle is terminated by ceasing supply of feed to said exterior surface of the fibers (12). The shell (11) is then sealed and the remaining filtrate removed from the lumens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the fouling effect of a feedstream on a filter having known characteristics disclosed. The method comprises passing the feedstream through a filter (5) having known characteristics; determining the change in resistance to flow of the feedstream across the filter, either continuously or over a number of time intervals and from this data, calculating a feed fouling index (FFI) representative of the fouling characteristics of the feedstream with respect to the filter. A method and apparatus for monitoring the operation of a filtration system is also disclosed the method comprising sampling system parameter values at selected locations within the filtration system at a predetermined sampling rate; generating a parameter profile characteristic from the sampled parameter values at predetermined intervals of time; and analysing the parameter profile characteristic to determine correct operation of the filtration system.

Abstract: A failed hollow fiber is located in a membrane filtration module by supplying a gas under pressure to the space between fibers and shell, wetting the ends of fibers, and monitoring the ends of the fibers for bubble formation.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprises a porous membrane (8) of electrically insulating composition, the membrane having pores (not illustrated) communicating from one side of the membrane to another, a working electrode (5) disposed on one side and a counter or pseudo-reference electrode (7) disposed on the other side. A target area (11) of one electrode is liquid permeable and extends over the surface of membrane (8) without blocking underlying pores of the membrane. Optional insulating layers (9,10) cover the electrodes (5,7) and opening defines the target area (11). Preferably, the porous membrane is impregnated with reagents, for example GOD/Ferricyanide.