Abstract: A wheel cover assembly for a vehicle wheel may include a cover body having a cover body outer surface, a cover body inner surface, and a cover body outer edge having an outer diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of a stiffener rib extending inward from an inner surface of the wheel rim and less than an inner diameter of an open end flange of the wheel rim. The wheel cover assembly may further include a cover mounting mechanism operatively connected to the cover body and having a locking position wherein the cover mounting mechanism engages the stiffener rib when the cover body inner surface is facing and engaging the stiffener rib and a cover locking position wherein the cover mounting mechanism engages the stiffener rib to secure the wheel cover assembly to the vehicle wheel.

Abstract: The present invention, in some embodiments, is a method the includes obtaining a sheet of a non-ferrous alloys as feedstock having a first edge and a second edge, heating the feedstock using a transverse flux induction heating system to form a heat treated product and concomitant with the heating step, cooling at least one of the first edge and the second edge of the feedstock by cross-flowing at least one fluid across the at least one of the first edge and the second edge of the feedstock.

Abstract: A fastening system includes a fastener having a bolt with a pull portion having at least one pull groove, and an outer sleeve having a head with an inner face, the bolt being inserted within the sleeve. The fastening system includes a fastener installation tool having a puller with at least one tooth and a front face. The inner face of the head of the sleeve is angled at an included angle measured transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fastener, while the front face of the puller of the fastener installation tool is angled at an included angle measured transverse to a longitudinal axis of the puller. The included angles are chosen to match or be substantially the same.

Abstract: A locking member for a fastener, such as a nut or a collar, includes a shank portion and a flanged portion, a bore extending the shank portion and the flanged portion and including a first interior portion located within the shank portion and a containment cavity located within the flanged portion, and an inner wall defining the containment cavity. The containment cavity includes an inner diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of the first interior portion of the bore. The inner wall of the containment cavity includes one or a combination of flat/linear surfaces, concave surfaces, and convex surfaces.

Abstract: A latch includes a base having a bore extending therethrough defining an axis, a plunger positioned within the bore and rotatable about the axis, a drive shaft positioned adjacent the base and engaged with the plunger such that rotation of the plunger about the axis causes corresponding rotation of the drive shaft about the axis, a bracket positioned adjacent the base and the drive shaft and engaged with the drive shaft such that rotation of the drive shaft about the axis causes movement of the bracket, and a closure element coupled to the bracket such that movement of the bracket causes the closure element to move between a position wherein the closure element allows a structure to move with respect to an adjacent structure and a position in which the closure element prevents the structure from moving with respect to the adjacent structure.

Abstract: A fastener including a bolt having an elongated shank having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a threaded portion having an external bolt thread, the bolt thread including a bolt pitch. The fastener includes a nut having a first end, a second end opposite the first end of the nut, and an internal nut thread extending between the first and second ends of the nut and adapted to engage threadedly the bolt thread of the bolt. The nut thread includes a nut pitch and a hardness that changes gradationally between the first and second ends of the nut. The bolt pitch of the bolt thread of the bolt is mismatched with the nut pitch of the nut thread of the nut.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy product and method for producing the aluminum alloy product that, in some embodiments, includes an aluminum alloy strip having at least 0.8 wt. % manganese, at least 0.6 wt % iron, or at least 0.8 wt. % manganese and at least 0.6 wt % iron. A near surface of the aluminum alloy strip, in some embodiments, is substantially free of large particles having an equivalent diameter of at least 50 micrometers and includes small particles. Each small particle, in some embodiments, has a particular equivalent diameter that is less than 3 micrometers, and a quantity per unit area of the small particles having the particular equivalent diameter is at least 0.01 particles per square micrometer at the near surface of the aluminum alloy strip.

Abstract: A glazing system for holding glazing units to a frame member has an aluminum pressure plate and a composite plate co-extruded from a plurality of polymers and having a pair of gaskets and a central isolator. A pair of polymer extrusions extend from the isolator and have ledges at the end that embrace and seal against the metal plate. The metal and composite plates are coupled together by a pair of ribs extending from the composite plate into a pair of slots in the metal plate.

Abstract: A latch including a housing having side members each having an elongated slot, a bolt mounted rotatably to the housing and positioned between the side members of the housing, a trigger mounted rotatably to the housing, and a pin and roller positioned slidably within the elongated slots of the side members of the housing. The bolt is moveable between a first, closed position and a second open position. The trigger is moveable between a first position, in which the pin and roller are engaged with the bolt when the bolt is in its first position, and a second position, in which the pin and roller are disengaged from the bolt. The latch can be opened automatically when a defined load is provided on the bolt, or manually by depressing the trigger to disengage the pin and roller from the bolt.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy brazing sheet has a 3XXX, 1XXX or 6XXX core, an interliner and a 4XXX brazing layer without added Mg. The interliner has Bi and Mg, the magnesium migrating to the surface of the brazing sheet during brazing and reducing the aluminum oxide to facilitate brazing without flux in a controlled inert atmosphere with reduced oxygen.

Abstract: New 6xxx aluminum alloys are disclosed. The new 6xxx aluminum alloys may include 1.05-1.50 wt. Mg, 0.60-0.95 wt. % Si, where the (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Si) is from 1.30 to 1.90, 0.275-0.50 wt. % Cu, and from 0.05 to 1.0 wt. % of at least one secondary element, wherein the secondary element is selected from the group consisting of V, Fe, Cr, Mn, Zr, Ti, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for method for joining materials includes a rivet that may extend through a first sheet to be resistance welded to a second sheet. The head of the rivet has a cavity and vents allowing adhesive extruded from a pilot hole to be received in the cavity and vented in a direction parallel to the first sheet. The rivet is deformed to an hourglass shape that fills the pilot hole and displaces the first sheet into the cavity. Rivet dimension allow for holding with a robotic gripper that can be withdrawn before welding. Methods of monitoring joint quality include comparing welding parameter profiles and images of good and discrepant joints.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rolling aluminum sheet uses a texture roll to roll the sheet while is it hot and has reduced yield strength. The texture rolling may be used to remediate defects in the sheet at a variety of stages in rolling, and may facilitate subsequent rolling stages.

Abstract: A wheel cover assembly for a vehicle wheel may include a wheel rib that is attachable to a rim inner surface of a wheel rim of the vehicle wheel, a cover body having a cover body outer surface, a cover body inner surface, and a cover body outer edge having an outer diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of the wheel rib and less than an inner diameter of an open end flange of the wheel rim. A cover mounting mechanism operatively connected to the cover body has a cover locking position wherein the cover mounting mechanism engages the wheel rib to retain the wheel rib between the cover mounting mechanism and the cover body and secure the wheel cover assembly to the vehicle wheel when the wheel rib is attached to the rim inner surface.

Abstract: New 2xxx aluminum alloys containing vanadium are disclosed. In one embodiment, the aluminum alloy includes 3.3-4.1 wt. % Cu, 0.7-1.3 wt. % Mg, 0.01-0.16 wt. % V, 0.05-0.6 wt. % Mn, 0.01 to 0.4 wt. % of at least one grain structure control element, the balance being aluminum, incidental elements and impurities. The new alloys may realize an improved combination of properties, such as in the T39 or T89 tempers.

Abstract: Provided herein are thermal break structural members for use in fenestration assembly products. In some embodiments, the thermal break structural member is monolithic with an infill retainer, being designed to bear a structural load while maintaining the overall integrity and thermal performance of the conjoint fenestration unit.

Abstract: A system and method that includes, in an embodiment, a prism, a camera, a light source, and a plate. The system, in an embodiment, is configured for scanning a roll and generating an image of the roll surface. The prism, in an embodiment, is positioned below the camera and above the plate. In an embodiment, the plate is positioned below the prism and above the roll surface. In an embodiment, the light source is positioned above the prism. In an embodiment, the light source and the prism are positioned to provide light to the roll surface at an angle of at least 75 degrees measured from a line normal to the roll surface. In an embodiment, the prism is configured to refract light from the light source, the camera is a line scan camera that includes a row of pixel sensors, and the light source includes light emitting diodes.

Abstract: New 6xxx aluminum alloy strips having an improved combination of properties are disclosed. The new 6xxx new aluminum alloy strips are rolled to a target thickness in-line via at least a first rolling stand and a second rolling stand. In one approach, the 6xxx new aluminum alloy strips may contain 0.8 to 1.25 wt. % Si, 0.2 to 0.6 wt. % Mg, 0.5 to 1.15 wt. % Cu, 0.01 to 0.2 wt. % manganese, 0.01 to 0.2 wt. % iron; up to 0.30 wt. % Ti; up to 0.25 wt. % Zn; up to 0.15 wt. % Cr; and up to 0.18 wt. % Zr.

Abstract: New 6xxx aluminum alloys having an improved combination of properties are disclosed. Generally, the new 6xxx aluminum alloys contain 1.00-1.45 wt. % Si, 0.32-0.51 wt. % Mg, wherein a ratio of wt. % Si to wt. % Mg is in the range of from 2.0:1 (Si:Mg) to 4.5:1 (Si:Mg), 0.12-0.44 wt. % Cu, 0.08-0.19 wt. % Fe, 0.02-0.30 wt. % Mn, 0.01-0.06 wt. % Cr, 0.01-0.14 wt. % Ti, and ?0.25 wt. % Zn, the balance being aluminum and impurities, wherein the aluminum alloy includes ?0.05 wt. % of any one impurity, and wherein the aluminum alloy includes ?0.15 in total of all impurities.

Abstract: An expansion joint configured to connect first and second vertical mullions of a curtain wall is disclosed. The first and second vertical mullions may each include an elongated body having an inner contour defining a hollow slot, and an inner sleeve may extend through the hollow slot of both of the first and second vertical mullions. The expansion joint may comprise a body, and an inner contour defining a central inner slot configured to receive the inner sleeve therethrough. The expansion joint may further comprise a first raised lip projecting from a lower surface of the body and configured to be inserted inside of the inner contour of the first vertical mullion, and a second raised lip projecting from an upper surface of the body and configured to be inserted inside of the inner contour of the second vertical mullion. The expansion joint may be formed from a polymeric elastomer.