Abstract: A self-locating bus bar assembly for locating a bus bar on a cell terminal of a battery cell includes a bus bar locating tab adapted for attachment to the bus bar; an assembly bracket; a tab opening in the assembly bracket, the tab opening sized and configured to accommodate the bus bar locating tab; and a bracket terminal opening in the assembly bracket, the bracket terminal opening sized, configured and located to accommodate the cell terminal of the battery cell when the bus bar locating tab is disposed within the tab opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous epoxy resin blend dispersion of a high mw epoxy resin and a liquid epoxy resin with a dispersant having an interfacial tension such that a drop of the mixture of the dispersant in a melt of the epoxy resin blend against water is less than 2 dynes/cm, preferably less than 1 dyne/cm, and a process for preparing this epoxy resin blend dispersion. Specifically, the process is a solvent free melt kneading or shearing dispersion process wherein the dispersion is processed at from 50 to 150° C., and the resulting dispersion is stable.

Abstract: A temperature control arrangement for transmission oil in a motor vehicle comprises a coolant circuit which fluidly connects an internal combustion engine and a cooler. The coolant circuit includes a thermostat configured to direct at least a fraction of a coolant leaving the internal combustion engine back to the internal combustion engine, either directly or through the cooler. The temperature control arrangement is configured to direct some of the coolant, flowing back through the cooler or directly, first through the heat exchanger and then to the internal combustion engine. The thermostat is fluidly connected to an interior heater, to the cooler, and to a bypass configured to direct a fraction of the coolant directly back to the internal combustion engine, bypassing the cooler. A suitable method for controlling the temperature of transmission oil in a motor vehicle using a temperature control arrangement of this kind is furthermore indicated.

Abstract: A mobile device having a transceiver, a microphone, and a processor programmed to control a vehicle function at a vehicle computing system based on a received voice command via the microphone. The transceiver is configured to receive key fob security codes having predefined key assignments from the vehicle computing system. The microphone is configured to receive voice command inputs associated with the key fob security codes. The processor is programmed to configure a mobile device application to initiate vehicle control functions using the security codes, and in response to a voice command, transmit a vehicle function request to the vehicle computing system via the transceiver.

Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a beam and a rigid device. The beam is at least partially spaced from a vehicle fascia. The rigid device is disposed on the beam in a space defined between the fascia and the beam. The rigid device is configured to transmit and at least partially absorb a force applied to the fascia and limit damage to a rear of the vehicle. The exemplary bumper assembly may further include at least one crush can disposed on the beam. The rigid device is generally aligned with the crush can but on opposing surfaces of the beam.

Abstract: A mortar contains cement, one or more than one mineral additive, superplasticizer, aggregates, a hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose and water, wherein the hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose is characterized by the sum of its hydroxyethyl molecular substitution and methyl degree of substitution is 1.90 or higher and 2.30 or lower and its viscosity as a 2 weight-percent aqueous solution that is below 30,000 milliPascals*seconds.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a base configured to engage a frame stem of a bicycle and first and second handlebar brackets rotatably coupled to the base about a pivot. The first and second handlebar brackets selectively support bicycle handlebars. The apparatus further includes a locking mechanism coupled to the base and selectively rotatably fixing each of the first and second handlebar brackets about the pivot at first and second positions with respect to the base.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle with a transmission. In one example approach, a method for a vehicle comprises, during a transmission shift having a first engine speed profile, adjusting a transmission shift indication provided to a vehicle operator based on a desired perceived shift time and a desired engine deceleration rate.

Abstract: An illuminable mat adapted for use in a variety of settings is provided. The illuminable mat includes an illuminable region and a light source that illuminates the illuminable region. The light source is powered by a receiver that is wirelessly supplied by a transmitter.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a vibration-isolating bracket assembly includes an elastic donut including a main aperture, a first bracket including a tongue with at least a portion thereof being received within the main aperture, the tongue including a first through-aperture, a first portion of the elastic donut being received within the first through-aperture, and a second bracket to support the elastic donut.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting updating a vehicle's powertrain calibration table. The table is updated with data generated on-board a given vehicle while being matured with data downloaded from a cloud-based network, the downloaded data generated on-board one or more other vehicles having matching powertrain characteristics. Regions of a vehicle's calibration table where sufficient data is not generated on-board a given vehicle is populated with data from one or more other vehicles having sufficient data for those corresponding regions.

Abstract: A vehicle system having at least one sensor configured to output a range signal and a range-rate signal. The range signal represents a distance from a host vehicle to the front vehicle and the range-rate signal represents range-rate information of the front vehicle relative to the host vehicle. A processing device is configured to output an alarm signal based on the range signal, the range-rate signal, and whether a driver of the host vehicle is determined to be distracted.

Abstract: A recirculating-ball style gearbox for a vehicle steering system is provided. The gearbox has a rack with rack-teeth that are capable of providing variable ratio steering, where the rack-teeth are in mesh with the involute-teeth of a tapered sector gear. The involute-teeth of the sector gear have arrays of helical meshing lines extending across the meshing surfaces of the teeth, wherein the array of helical meshing lines have leads that decrease in length moving radially outward across the meshing surfaces.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a vehicle seatback stabilization device includes a seatback stabilization portion to be connected to a seatback, and a vehicle body connection portion including an aperture to receive a connector of a vehicle body load-bearing structure. The seatback stabilization portion may include first and second stabilization panels positioned with an angle relative to each other. The vehicle body connection portion may extend away from the second stabilization panel such that the second stabilization panel is positioned between the first stabilization panel and the vehicle body connection portion.

Abstract: A trailer brake controller for a motor vehicle may include a control unit configured to be mounted to a spoke of a steering wheel of the vehicle, and a brake lever coupled to the control unit and extending along a longitudinal axis of the control unit. The brake lever may be configured to be actuated by a driver of the motor vehicle by being pulled in a forward motion toward the driver. The brake lever may be further configured to transmit a force applied to the lever by the driver to the control unit. The control unit may be configured to generate a manual trailer brake control signal based on the force applied to the lever.

Abstract: A heat-curable structural adhesive includes at least one non-rubber-modified epoxy resin; an optional rubber or toughener, one or more epoxy curing agents, one or more epoxy curing catalysts; and a flame retardant mixture that includes (i) alumina trihydrate, (ii) zinc borate and (iii) melamine or a melamine derivative. The structural adhesive is useful for bonding metals to other materials or metals to other metals. The structural adhesive strongly resists ignition when welding is performed in the presence of the uncured material, and does not interfere significantly with weld performance.

Abstract: A supplemental vehicle lighting system that is responsive to a trailer backup assist system is provided. The system includes a rear vehicle fixture defining a keylock hole customarily used in conjunction with a corresponding keylock cylinder. A light assembly is provided in the place of a keylock cylinder and operably coupled to the keylock hole. The light assembly includes a housing having a barrel that is concentrically aligned with the keylock hole and includes a distal end and a proximal end. A lighting device is disposed inside the housing and operable to emit light through the barrel beginning from the proximal end. A lens is coupled to the distal end of the barrel and is disposed to at least partially coincide with the keylock hole, wherein the lens is configured to disperse light emitted from the lighting device to illuminate a rear vehicle area.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus or process for devolatilization of flowable materials (such as molten polymers with entrained or dissolved solvent or unreacted monomers or comonomers) using a plate heater having heating channels, the design or operation of which heating channels maintains the flowable material above its bubble point pressure during passage through a larger first zone and then induces flashing in, or downstream of, a smaller second zone of the heating channel. The apparatus enables a higher throughput per heating channel while achieving equivalent or better devolatilization, as compared to current devolatilization apparatus.

Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seating surface. A plurality of polymeric mats each include a memory metal encased therein, a first side operably coupled with an underlying support structure, and a second side proximate the seating surface. An electrical source is operably coupled to the memory metal in each polymeric mat and is configured to supply energy to the plurality of memory metals in each polymeric mat. A controller is in communication with the plurality of polymeric mats and is configured to deliver a predetermined electrical input to the memory metal of each polymeric mat. The predetermined electrical input manipulates each polymeric mat to a deformed state, which operates a cushion between a multitude of comfort positions. An air bladder is disposed below the plurality of polymeric mats. The air bladder is operable between an inflated condition and a deflated condition.

Abstract: An assembly comprising a first composite fiber reinforced part that is joined to a second part by a clinch joint. The first part includes a first layer of resin that is reinforced with fibers and a second layer of resin that is devoid of fibers and applied to one side of the first layer of fiber reinforced resin. The second part contacts the first layer of the first part. The first part and second part are joined by a clinch joint including a pressed out portion that is pressed into a clinching portion. The second layer of resin contains the fibers in the first part. An alternative assembly has fiber-free intended clinch joint forming areas that extend through the first part. A method is provided in which a first part including a first layer of resin reinforced with fibers is molded with a second layer of resin on one side of the first layer is joined by a clinch joint to a second part.