Abstract: High pressure gas vessels can have a sensitivity to temperature of the compressed gas. Over-temperature conditions in particular may cause decreased durability and/or vessel damage, including gas leakage to the environment. Articles of manufacture, methods, and systems are provided for over-temperature protection using a passive device. The passive closing device does not require electrical power and no controller, sensors, or wiring is needed. This affords cost savings in comparison to other systems. Pressure vessels using the passive closing device can protect themselves, independent of the compressed gas fueling station configuration.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the health of a DC motor, such as a DC motor on a vehicle. The method includes measuring a current output signal of the DC motor, determining a mean of the measured current signal over a predetermined time period and determining a variance estimation of the mean of the measured current. The method then uses the variance estimation to determine the health of the motor, including an end-of-life prediction of the motor, and uses the mean of the measured current to determine the performance (torque) of the motor.

Abstract: An axial body for a windshield wiper device of a motor vehicle is provided. The axial body can include a pivot bearing receptacle, in which a wiper axis can be pivoted. In addition, the axial body can include a slide bearing guide, along which the axial body as a whole can be shifted when the axial body is exposed to a defined force.

Abstract: Load-matched photo-voltaic power units incorporating a plurality of photo-voltaic cells for delivery of electrical power are described. A photo-voltaic system incorporates temperature and solar irradiance sensors, whose outputs are used to estimate the photo-voltaic system maximum power output voltage. Appropriate numbers of cells are suitably interconnected to assemble at least one photo-voltaic power unit intended to both satisfy the electrical requirements of a load and enable operation of the unit at an efficiency of 90% or greater of its maximum efficiency. In an embodiment, voltage-to-voltage convertors may be used to better match the photo-voltaic power unit capabilities to the load requirements. In another embodiment an alert is issued if the photo-voltaic power unit delivers a voltage which differs by a predetermined amount from an estimated maximum power voltage.

Abstract: A method to operate an internal combustion engine having a fuel delivery system and a heat exchanger located to affect a fuel temperature within the fuel delivery system includes monitoring a desired heat transfer between a flow through the heat exchanger and fuel within the fuel delivery system, determining a required flow through the heat exchanger based upon the desired heat transfer, and controlling a flow control device for the heat exchanger based upon the determined required flow.

Abstract: Methods for making battery electrode system are disclosed herein. In an example of the method, a mixture of a polymer binder, an active material and a conductive filler is deposited on a current collector. The deposited mixture is exposed to an external field having a field direction that is normal to a surface of the current collector. The exposure aligns, outward from and normal to the surface of the current collector, the active material and the conductive filler to form a plurality of discrete structures that extend outward from and normal to the surface of the current collector and are respectively aligned with a field line of the external field. Each of the plurality of discrete structures includes some of the active material and some of the conductive filler.

Abstract: A method of forming an article attachable to an exterior surface of a vehicle includes heating a thermoplastic system to form a workpiece. The thermoplastic system includes a substrate having an end surface, and a film disposed on the substrate and having a distal surface adjoining the end surface. The workpiece has a first surface adjoining the distal surface to define a distal edge, and a second surface spaced opposite the first surface and adjoining the end surface to define a proximal edge between the second and end surfaces. The method includes disposing the workpiece between a mold surface and a pressure surface. After disposing, the method includes conforming the first surface to one of the pressure and mold surfaces to form a preform, and depositing an injection-moldable polymer onto the preform to form a protective layer thereon that contacts and covers the distal surface. An article is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid retention assembly for a vehicle transmission has a valve body, a first member, a second member, and a biasing member. The valve body has a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and defines a central bore having a sealing portion. The first member is disposed at least partially in the central bore of the valve body and includes a shaft portion and a sealing portion. The second member defines a plurality of fluid apertures. The second member is attached to the shaft portion of the first member opposite the sealing portion. The biasing member is disposed at least partially in the central bore of the valve body coaxial with the first member and has a biasing force that biases the sealing portion of the first member against the sealing portion of the valve body.

Abstract: Systems and methods allow detection and location of die coolant leaks while a die is in a die cast machine and at operating temperature. The testing can be performed during normal down time of the die casting assembly and repeated as desired. Cooling circuits of the die can be tested in zones where zones are sorted to identify particular cooling circuits as having leaks as necessary. Valving, leak sensors, air decay units, and added machine control are provided in the die cooling system to enable onboard leak testing of the die while installed in the die casting machine.

Abstract: A conveyor system includes pulleys spaced mutually along a length of the conveyor system; and roller assemblies, each roller assembly aligned with one of the pulleys, including a first ring driveably connected to one of the pulleys, a second ring surrounding the first ring, and a third ring located radially between and contacting the first and second rings, and alternately transmitting rotary motion from the first ring to the second ring and discontinuing said transmission of rotary motion depending on presence and absence of frictional engagement between the third ring and at least one of the first ring and the second ring.

Abstract: A towing device for motor vehicles is provided. The towing device includes a connecting unit for mechanically connecting a first vehicle to a second vehicle, and a data link between the first vehicle and the second vehicle. Control devices of the second vehicle can be accessed from the first vehicle via the data link.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are provided for generating voltage commands used to control operation of a permanent magnet machine. For example, a control system is provided that generates voltage command signals for controlling a permanent magnet machine during a transition from an initial operating condition to a final operating condition. The control system includes a processor configured to execute software instructions, and a memory configured to store software instructions accessible by the processor. The software instructions comprise a voltage command generator module. Based on an electrical angular frequency of the permanent magnet machine, and synchronous reference frame current signals, the voltage command generator module is configured to generate ramped voltage command signals that each change linearly in accordance with a slope during a transition period that is set to a rise time.

Abstract: Switches of a matrix converter are protected from potentially damaging charge-pump voltage build-up during a transition (dead) time by pulsing On (temporarily closing) any “at risk” switch during the transition (dead) time. The temporary closing of the “at risk” switch discharges any voltage build-up across a parallel coupled capacitor, which protects the at risk switch from damage or failure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, systems and apparatus for controlling operation of an electric machine in a vector controlled motor drive system when the electric machine operates in an overmodulation region. The disclosed embodiments can reduce variations/errors in the phase voltage command signals applied to the multi-phase machine so that phase current may be properly regulated thus reducing current/torque oscillation, which can in turn improve machine efficiency and performance, as well as utilization of the DC voltage source.

Abstract: An ion conducting membrane for fuel cells involves coupling a compound having a sulfonic acid group with a polymeric backbone. Each of the compounds having a sulfonic acid group and the polymeric backbone are first functionalized with a halogen.

Abstract: A method for actuating a clutch for coupling a manual change-speed transmission of a motor vehicle, in which the clutch can be actuated with the help of a clutch pedal, is provided. The method includes sensing a rotational speed of a motor of the motor vehicle that can be coupled to the change-speed transmission via the clutch and/or sensing a travelling speed of the motor vehicle and actuating the clutch independently of a position of the clutch pedal when the sensed rotational speed undershoots a predefined limit rotational speed and/or the sensed travelling speed undershoots a predefined limit travelling speed.

Abstract: An air splitter panel is attached to a vehicle fascia panel. One of the panels has a plurality of longitudinal extending slots and the other of the panels has a plurality of fastener holes that register with the slots. Fasteners are mounted in each of the holes and extend through the slot registered therewith to attach the panels together while permitting sliding movement of the splitter panel relative to the fascia panel. A yieldable detent acts between the fastener and the one of the panels with the slot to block the sliding movement of the splitter panel until a force applied upon the splitter panel overcomes the yieldable detent to permit the sliding movement of the splitter panel.

Abstract: A method of constructing a bedplate assembly for retention of a crankshaft in an internal combustion engine having an engine block includes forming a bedplate insert in a first pattern tool. The bedplate insert is defined by a height, a width, and a thickness. The bedplate insert also includes a shape having a variation in the width along the height. The method also includes arranging the formed bedplate insert in a second pattern tool. The method additionally includes forming in the second pattern tool a bedplate frame around the formed bedplate insert to generate the bedplate assembly. During forming of the bedplate frame, the variation in the width of the bedplate insert generates an internal rib in the bedplate frame that is configured to fix and retain the bedplate insert inside the bedplate frame and decrease deflection of the bedplate frame under crankshaft loads during operation of the engine.

Abstract: A welding electrode for resistance spot welding includes a weld face comprising rings of ridges that project outwardly from a base surface of the weld face. The rings of ridges are positioned on the weld face to contact and impress into a sheet metal workpiece surface during resistance spot welding. If the welding electrode is used during resistance spot welding of light metal alloy workpieces, such as those of aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy, the rings of ridges on the weld face can contribute to improved welding performance.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system, for selectively actuating a safety mechanism, to protect against electrical shock, using a transformable material. The system includes the transformable material, being: (1) connectable electrically to an electrical component having an unwanted electrical charge and (2) changeable between a deformed shape and an undeformed shape based on electrical input resulting from the electrical charge at the electrical component. The transformable material is also (3) connected mechanically to the safety mechanism so that change in the transformable material causes movement of the safety mechanism. The transformable material is further (4) configured and arranged in the system to, in response to being exposed to the electrical input, change to its undeformed shape and thereby actuate the safety mechanism.