Abstract: A method of fabricating composite vehicle panels includes the steps of forming a first, upper panel having a depending peripheral lip, forming a second, lower panel of laid up woven mat or strips of a fibrous material such as fiberglass or carbon fibers and a plastic resin to form a corrugated panel having a depending peripheral lip, placing an adhesive on the raised portions of the corrugations and the peripheral lip of the second panel and securing the panels together at the corrugations and about their peripheral lips.

Abstract: A motor vehicle bed or bed liner is vacuum formed from a single layer or two layer panel of thermoplastic material having a scuffed or roughened surface. The single layer panel is typically extruded and is homogeneous, being either a single material such as HDPE or a uniform mixture of materials. The two layer panel is co-formed of two layers of material which will typically be distinct compositions and characteristics. The upper surface of the panel is scuffed or roughened by a brush which contacts the surface. A bank of individually adjustable rollers supports the panel during the roughening operation and facilitates adjustment of the extent of contact or impingement of the brush on the surface of the panel at a plurality of transverse locations across the panel. The roughened panel is then vacuum formed into, for example, a truck bed or bed or cargo compartment liner.

Abstract: Alpha branched esters for use in a metalworking fluid represented by the formula (I): wherein R1, R2, and R3 are each independently selected from a hydrocarbon group having one to thirty-six carbon atoms are described. The hydrocarbon groups may be independently an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, or an allyl group; substituted or unsubstituted; branched, cyclic, or linear. Also provided are metalworking concentrates comprising the alpha branched ester, as described above, and, optionally, a hydrocarbon oil, as well as metalworking fluids including water, and the alpha branched esters of the invention. The invention also includes methods of preparing the metalworking fluid and composition of the invention, as well as methods of improving the operating life of the fluid or composition.

Abstract: A tool for manipulating a fiber optic connector includes a handle portion having a first major axis and first and second ends. An intermediate support arm having a second major axis extends from the first end of the handle portion. First and second jaws extend from the intermediate support arm. Each jaw extends generally perpendicular to the second major axis of its respective intermediate support arm and generally orthogonal to the first major axis. Each jaw includes a gripping portion having a generally concave shape configured to complementarily receive a portion of the fiber optic connector. Movement of the handle portion moves the jaws between an open position in which the jaws are spaced apart for loosely receiving a fiber optic connector, and a closed position in which the jaws securely grip the fiber optic connector.