Abstract: A fuel cell includes an anode, a cathode, and an ion conducting membrane interposed between the anode and cathode. The ion conducting membrane includes a base layer that has an ion conducting polymer and additive layer that has a metal supported on an oxide support, the oxide support scavenging hydroxyl radicals formed during fuel cell operation.

Abstract: A car body is provided with a longitudinal beam structure that extends in essentially the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a front longitudinal beam, a rear longitudinal beam, and an intermediate piece that structurally connects the rear longitudinal beam to the front longitudinal beam. The longitudinal beam structure is connected to a reinforcing structure that bridges the intermediate piece and, referred to in the lateral direction of the vehicle, is arranged laterally offset to the longitudinal beam structure at least in certain areas.

Abstract: Control methods for regenerating particulate filter and an apparatus that includes an internal combustion engine, an exhaust gas conduit in fluid communication with and configured to receive exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine, and a particulate filter assembly in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit and configured to receive exhaust gas flowing therethrough. The particulate filter assembly includes a particulate filter to remove particulates from the exhaust gas, a heater device disposed near a front face of the particulate filter, to supply heat for regeneration of the particulate filter after shut-off of the internal combustion engine, and an air pump to input air into the particulate filter to transfer the supplied heat from the heater device to the particulate filter.

Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine structure, a first intake valve located in a first intake port, a first valve lift mechanism, a second intake valve located in a second intake port, a second valve lift mechanism, a first throttle valve, and a second throttle valve. The second intake valve may be displaced to an open position by the second valve lift mechanism during a first mode and the second intake valve may be maintained in a closed position by the second valve lift mechanism during a second mode. The first throttle valve may be in communication with an air source and the first intake port and control air flow from the air source to the first intake port. The second throttle valve may be in communication with the air source and the second intake port and control air flow from the air source to the second intake port.

Abstract: A car body is provided with a longitudinal beam that extends in essentially the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and with a first reinforcing element that borders thereon in the longitudinal direction and an end section of which that faces away from the longitudinal beam that is supported on a floor structure of the car body by a second reinforcing element.

Abstract: A reinforcement and method for reinforcing a hollow tubular structure includes a first sheet of flexible fiber material impregnated with resin. The first sheet is rolled into a tubular shape and a seam is provided between first and second lateral edges of the first sheet to form a tubular reinforcement. An inflatable bladder extends through the tubular reinforcement and is inflated to press the tubular reinforcement into contact with the inside wall of the tubular structure. Curing of the resin will bond the first sheet to the inside wall to reinforce the tubular structure. The first sheet can have a region of built-up thickness to provide additional reinforcement. The seam between the lateral edges of the first sheet can be a separable seam that separates when the bladder is inflated to allow the first sheet to contact with a region of the tubular structure that is of larger circumference than the circumference of the tubular reinforcement.

Abstract: Systems and methods of operation for internal combustion engines which employ molecular sieve technology to provide enhanced oxygen content in the air-fuel mixture during operation.

Abstract: New proton conducting membranes are made of sulfonated poly(arylene sulfide) polymers (SPAS) and a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer. A preferred poly(arylene sulfide) polymer is poly(p-phenylene sulfide). The membranes are used as a proton exchange membrane in PEM fuel cells operating at temperatures above 60° C., or at low relative humidity. According to methods of the invention, sulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide) (SPPS) films may be provided with a wide range of physical properties, which depend in part on the ion exchange capacity of the films. In particular, the degree or level of sulfonation can be tailored by adjusting reaction conditions such as temperature and time. In a preferred embodiment, an ionomer comprising perfluorosulfonic acid polymer is imbibed into the insoluble SPAS films by immersing the films in a solution or dispersion of the ionomers.

Abstract: A rotatable shaft is equipped with a measurement device that generates output signals corresponding to discrete angular positions of the shaft. Rotational angles of the shaft are measured for a complete rotational period. A true angular velocity of the shaft is determined. Angular velocity is calculated between contiguous pairs of the discrete angular positions. A velocity correction is determined, and a rotational angle error term is determined based upon the velocity correction.

Abstract: A method for error-proofing clamping operation performed with a reconfigurable clamp having a body, a locking member, a plurality of moveable pins for contacting an object, and a plunger is provided. The method includes applying a force to the plunger and sensing whether the plunger achieves a fully-depressed position, and releasing the force to the plunger and sensing whether the plunger achieves a fully-extended position. The method may additionally include applying the force to the plunger, contacting the object with the plurality of pins and sensing whether the clamp body achieves a predetermined position relative to a clamping device.

Abstract: A multi-speed transmission for a vehicle is provided with a selectable one-way braking clutch (SOWBC). The transmission has one or more planetary gear sets, and a set of intermeshing gears, which may be a planetary gear set. Multiple torque-transmitting mechanisms are engagable in different combinations to establish at least one reverse speed ratio and multiple forward speed ratios between an input member and an output member. A selectable one-way braking clutch is configured to brake in one rotational direction and is selectively reversible to brake in an opposite rotational direction, and freewheels in some speed ratios.

Abstract: A method is provided for sewing a seat cover to provide a front panel and a side panel with an L-shaped separable seam and inner and outer chutes for air bag deployment. The method comprises sewing the front panel and the inner chute together with permanent vertical extending and horizontal extending seams that will not break during air bag deployment, and sewing the side panel and the outer chute together with permanent vertical extending seams and horizontal extending seams that will not break during air bag deployment. And thereafter sewing the front panel and the side panel together with separable vertical extending seams and horizontal extending seams that will break upon the air bag deployment to allow inflation of the air bag while the inner chute remains attached to the front panel and the outer chute remains attached to the side panel to guide the inflating air bag.

Abstract: A longitudinal beam, which is provided for a chassis of a motor vehicle, has a curved section of a tubular member part horizontal reinforcement element. The reinforcement element is directly associated with the highest body of a lower horizontal limb of the tubular member part and is connected to an upper horizontal limb of the tubular member part. This draws the curved section in a crash of the vehicle a high degree of stability.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system is disclosed, the method including the steps of providing a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell assemblies, each fuel cell assembly having a proton exchange membrane disposed between a plurality of fuel cell plates, wherein water is purged from the fuel cell system during a shutdown operation, and a current is produced in the fuel cell system following the shutdown purge to produce product water to hydrate the proton exchange membrane.

Abstract: A torsion spring comprises an inner mounting segment. An outer mounting segment is located concentrically around the inner mounting segment. A plurality of splines extends from the inner mounting segment to the outer mounting segment. At least a portion of each spline extends generally annularly around the inner mounting segment.

Abstract: A gas diffusion media is described. The gas diffusion media comprises a conductive porous substrate; and a microporous layer; wherein a cathode effective transport length is in a range of about 700 to about 1900 ?m; wherein an overall thermal resistance is in a range of about 1.8 to about 3.8 cm2-K/W; and wherein a ratio of the cathode effective transport length to an anode effective transport length is greater than about 2.

Abstract: A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.

Abstract: A method for diagnosis of oil quality within an internal combustion engine includes analyzing input data from an oil level sensor and generating a warning if the input data includes an oil level change indicative of a sub-standard oil quality condition.

Abstract: Embodiments of a body of a motor vehicle are provided, as are embodiments of an energy absorbing element for a motor vehicle body. In one embodiment, the body of a vehicle includes a longitudinal member, a cross-member, and an energy absorbing element mounted between the longitudinal member and the cross-member and extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The energy absorbing element includes a tube section, which is formed from a single metal strip and which includes: (i) a cross-section having at least one concavity, as taken along a plane substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tube section, and (ii) opposing longitudinal edges disposed substantially adjacent one another and within the at least one concavity. The energy absorbing element further includes at least one weld seam joining the opposing longitudinal edges to the single metal strip.

Abstract: A method to diagnose a failed weld in a welding process includes monitoring a location of a weld created on a plurality of work pieces, diagnosing the weld as a failed weld based on said location with respect to a closest edge of one of the work pieces, and identifying said failed weld based on the diagnosing.