Abstract: A vehicle body includes a first door member and an opening/closing mechanism. The first door member can rotate between a first position in which it covers the part of a opening of a storage section and a second position in which it opens the part of the opening. The opening/closing mechanism that rotates the first door member includes a rotation shaft that supports the first door member. The rotation shaft is disposed at a position in which the first door member does not come out from a rotation area overlapping the first door member that is in the first position vertically when the first door member rotates. The opening/closing mechanism moves the first door member up to a third position in which the first door member does not interfere with a vehicle main body when the first door member rotates between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A power source is provided for a resistive heating element that heats a catalyst bed of a reactor that receives a monopropellant fuel and reacts the fuel in the presence of the catalyst bed to provide hot gas driving a turbine. The power source is a capacitor that discharges its charge across the resistive heating element so that its temperature is elevated to a point where the reaction of the monopropellant fuel occurs. The power source may be used in airborne applications, such as emergency power systems for aircraft, where it is desirable to minimize the weight of the unit and to allow the unit to use safer monopropellant fuels.

Abstract: An air quality system comprising at least one air cleaner unit in communication with an interior air space. In one embodiment, an air quality system for an aircraft comprises a first set of air cleaner units in communication with a lower plenum of the aircraft recirculation system and a second set of air cleaner units in communication with an upper plenum of the aircraft recirculation system. Each air cleaner unit comprises at least one adsorbent unit in combination with at least one photocatalytic oxidation unit. In one embodiment, an air cleaner unit comprises a relatively weak adsorbent material upstream from a photocatalytic oxidation unit, and a relatively strong adsorbent material downstream from the photocatalytic oxidation unit. Methods for removing a pollutant from an air stream and for making an air cleaner unit are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for purifying breathing air using a carbon-based monolith structure impregnated with copper, silver, zinc, and molybdenum species and triethylenediamine, wherein the monolith structure is impregnated by a multiple step process. The method of impregnation results in a carbon-based monolith structure that purifies nuclear, biological, or chemical contaminants under conditions of high flow rate and low pressure drop.

Abstract: In a hydrogen gas fuel cell a polymer electrolyte membrane, or “PEM,” is located between two layers composed of a catalyst material such that a sandwich-like assembly is formed. An anode electrode and a cathode electrode, each composed of a thin sheet of porous material that is permeable to liquid and gas, are situated on either side of the sandwich-like assembly such that one surface of each electrode abuts a catalyst layer. The remaining surface of each electrode abuts a conductive nonporous bipolar plate having grooves cut therein. Wicking strands composed of a trilobed fiber are located in between each catalyst layer and the adjacent PEM, and arranged in a repetitive pattern such that the strands do not cross over each other. Each wicking strand abutting the PEM surface facing the anode electrode has one end situated in a reservoir of liquid water. Each wicking strand abutting the PEM surface facing the cathode electrode drains into an exhaust reservoir.

Abstract: A rebar forming apparatus includes a malleable material supply station for continuously supplying a malleable planar material and a malleable material forming station for forming the malleable material into first and second corresponding shell portions and related rebar products. The apparatus also includes a core pultrusion station and a cladding forming station for respectively forming core and cladding layers. A shell forming station is positioned downstream of the core and cladding forming stations which unites the first and second shell portions to form an outer shell with the core and cladding layers contained therein. The rebar product includes shell portions which are matably configured to form a disposable outer shell over the core and cladding layers. Related reinforcing composite product forming methods also include the use of a removable outer shell.

Abstract: A rebar forming apparatus includes a malleable material supply station for continuously supplying a malleable planar material and a malleable material forming station for forming the malleable material into first and second corresponding shell portions and related rebar products. The apparatus also includes a core pultrusion station and a cladding forming station for respectively forming core and cladding layers. A shell forming station is positioned downstream of the core and cladding forming stations which unites the first and second shell portions to form an outer shell with the core and cladding layers contained therein. The rebar product includes shell portions which are matably configured to form a disposable outer shell over the core and cladding layers. Related reinforcing composite product forming methods also include the use of a removable outer shell.

Abstract: A cutout fuse tube assembly installation tool includes a body member having first and second ends. A longitudinal axis passes through the body member. A protrusion extends outward from the first end of the body member and includes a head end spaced apart from the body member. The second end of the body member includes a bracket that has first and second arms spaced apart by an opening. A bracket axis passes through the opening. The bracket, the bracket axis and the protrusion are configured such that the bracket axis passes between the head end of the protrusion and the body member. A movable gate device is mounted on one or both of the first and second arms. The gate device facilitates opening and closing of an access to the opening through the ends of the first and second arms.

Abstract: In an electrochemical device, such as a fuel cell or electrocatalytic oxidation cell, a catalyst electrode is comprised of a catalytic structure having multiple layers of varied densities to enhance gas diffusion throughout the electrode. A first catalyst layer has a first density, and a second catalyst has a second density that is about 33 to 50% of the first density and any additional layers having a density which are less than the previous layer. A gas diffusion layer is adjacent the second catalyst layer.

Abstract: A rebar forming apparatus includes a malleable material supply station for continuously supplying a malleable planar material and a malleable material forming station for forming the malleable material into first and second corresponding shell portions and related rebar products. The apparatus also includes a core pultrusion station and a cladding forming station for respectively forming core and cladding layers. A shell forming station is positioned downstream of the core and cladding forming stations which unites the first and second shell portions to form an outer shell with the core and cladding layers contained therein. The rebar product includes shell portions which are matably configured to form a disposable outer shell over the core and cladding layers. Related reinforcing composite product forming methods also include the use of a removable outer shell.

Abstract: A rebar forming apparatus includes a malleable material supply station for continuously supplying a malleable planar material and a malleable material forming station for forming the malleable material into first and second corresponding shell portions and related rebar products. The apparatus also includes a core pultrusion station and a cladding forming station for respectively forming core and cladding layers. A shell forming station is positioned downstream of the core and cladding forming stations which unites the first and second shell portions to form an outer shell with the core and cladding layers contained therein. The rebar product includes shell portions which are matably configured to form a disposable outer shell over the core and cladding layers. Related reinforcing composite product forming methods also include the use of a removable outer shell.

Abstract: This invention discloses regeneration methods to remove carbon monoxide (CO) from reformate fuel using an adsorption and electro-catalytic oxidation (ECO) approach. One method of the invention comprises a first ECO cell and a second ECO cell, and the other method comprises a first ECO cell and a first charge storage device. Both methods eliminate the requirement of an external power supply that leads to higher cost, additional power consumption and more processor complexity for the CO removal processor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus removes carbon monoxide from hydrogen rich fuel by means of a catalytic material that preferentially adsorbs with carbon monoxide. The catalytic material is regenerated by an oxidizing agent that reacts with the carbon monoxide absorbed by the catalytic material. The reaction is initiated by an electrical current is generated either galvanically or electrolytically through the catalytic material.

Abstract: A rebar forming apparatus includes a malleable material supply station for continuously supplying a malleable planar material and a malleable material forming station for forming the malleable material into first and second corresponding shell portions and related rebar products. The apparatus also includes a core pultrusion station and a cladding forming station for respectively forming core and cladding layers. A shell forming station is positioned downstream of the core and cladding forming stations which unites the first and second shell portions to form an outer shell with the core and cladding layers contained therein. The rebar product includes shell portions which are matably configured to form a disposable outer shell over the core and cladding layers. Related reinforcing composite product forming methods also include the use of a removable outer shell.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming reinforcing structural rebar comprises: resin supply means for supplying a first resin; a first shaping die; means for impregnating a first reinforcing material with the first resin; means for pulling the resin-impregnated first reinforcing material through the shaping die to form the core of the structural rebar; material applying means for applying material for the outer cladding of the structural rebar to the core; and mold means for molding the outer cladding layer into a desired configuration on the core. The material applying means for applying the outer cladding includes means for applying an inner cladding layer over the core and means for applying an outer cladding layer over the inner layer. The inner cladding layer includes a second thermosetting resin containing a second reinforcing material, and the inner cladding layer applying means is configured so that the second reinforcing material is applied substantially unidirectionally along the longitudinal axis of the core.

Abstract: A structural rebar of the present invention includes: an inner core formed by pultruding reinforcing fibers of a first reinforcing material through a bath or injection system of a first resin material; and an outer cladding comprising an inner cladding layer and an outer cladding layer. The inner core contains at least about 40 percent by weight reinforcing fibers of the first reinforcing material. The inner cladding layer comprises a second resin material reinforced with reinforcing fibers of a second reinforcing material. The fibers of the second reinforcing material are preferably unidirectional and oriented substantially parallel to the fibers of the first reinforcing material. The outer cladding layer comprises a corrosion-resistant third resin material reinforced with a third reinforcing material. Rebar of this configuration can have sufficient strength, rigidity, and corrosion resistance to be suitable for use in cementitious structural members.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reinforcing structural rebar. The rebar comprises an inner core formed by pultruding reinforcing fibers through a bath of a first resin material, the inner core typically containing at least about 40 percent by weight reinforcing fibers and an outer cladding of a corrosion resistant and reinforced second resin material.

Abstract: A structural rebar of the present invention comprises: an inner core formed by pultruding reinforcing fibers of a first reinforcing material through a bath or injection system of a first resin material; and an outer cladding comprising an inner cladding layer and an outer cladding layer. The inner core contains at least about 40 percent by weight reinforcing fibers of the first reinforcing material. The inner cladding layer comprises a second resin material reinforced with reinforcing fibers of a second reinforcing material. The fibers of the second reinforcing material are preferably unidirectional and oriented substantially parallel to the fibers of the first reinforcing material. The outer cladding layer comprises a corrosion-resistant third resin material reinforced with a third reinforcing material. Rebar of this configuration can have sufficient strength, rigidity, and corrosion resistance to be suitable for use in cementitious structural members.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reinforcing structural rebar. The rebar comprises an inner core formed by pultruding reinforcing fibers through a bath of a first resin material, the inner core typically containing at least about 40 percent by weight reinforcing fibers and an outer cladding of a corrosion resistant and reinforced second resin material.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming reinforcing structural rebar comprising a core of a thermosetting resin containing reinforcing material and an outer of sheet molding compound is provided. The apparatus comprises layer reinforcing material supply, a thermosetting resin supply means, a shaping die, means for impregnating the reinforcing material the reinforcing material with resin, means for pulling the reinforcing material through the shaping die to form the core of the thermosetting resin containing reinforcing material, sheet molding compound supply, guide means for guiding the sheet molding compound onto the core, and mold means for molding the outer layer of sheet molding compound onto the core.