Abstract: In one embodiment, a fiber treatment system includes a rotatable nubbed roller including an axis of rotation, a surface, and a number of spaced apart nubs projecting away from the surface, the number of spaced apart nubs imparting a number of spaced apart openings in a fiber tow. In another embodiment, the fiber treatment system further includes an optionally rotatable spreader roller for flattening the fiber tow. In yet another embodiment, the loosened, but still continuous fiber tow is chopped by a downstream chopper to form short fibers with reduced tow sizes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 19, 2015
Date of Patent:
November 27, 2018
Assignee:
United States Council For Automotive Research, LLC
Inventors:
Chen-Shih Wang, Charles William Knakal, Jeffrey Scott Dahl, Bhavesh Suresh Shah
Abstract: A fluid dispensing apparatus is provided and is configured to dispense two fluids to a vehicle. A rigid diesel spout delivers diesel, while a urea spout is slidably disposed on the diesel spout and configured to deliver urea to the vehicle. The urea spout includes a guide that cooperates with a rail on the diesel spout such that insertion of the diesel spout into the vehicle can slide the urea spout relative the diesel spout. A valve in the urea spout includes an area for receiving a projection member on the vehicle to open the urea spout when inserted into the vehicle. The vehicle correspondingly includes a diesel intake and a urea intake. A projection or pin is provided to cooperate with the dispensing apparatus to open the valve and allow urea to flow into the vehicle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 26, 2015
Date of Patent:
May 1, 2018
Assignee:
United States Council For Automotive Research, LLC
Inventors:
Michael George Zammit, Dean Chester Armstrong, Michael Levin, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Adam Cameron, David Simpson
Abstract: A front bumper beam and crush can (FBCC) system is provided for a vehicle. A bumper beam has an interior surface with a plurality of ribs extending therefrom. The ribs and the interior surface are made of a chopped fiber composite and cooperate to engage a crush can. The chopped fiber composite reinforces the engaging surfaces of the crush can and the interior surface of the bumper beam. The crush can has a tubular body made of a continuous fiber composite. The crush can has outwardly-extending flanges at an end spaced away from the bumper beam. The flanges are at least partially provided with a layer of chopped fiber composite to reinforce a joint between the outwardly-extending flange and the vehicle frame.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 9, 2015
Date of Patent:
March 21, 2017
Assignee:
UNITED STATES COUNCIL FOR AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH, LLC
Inventors:
Elisabeth Berger, Leland Decker, Dale Armstrong, James Truskin, Praveen Pasupuleti, Ramesh Dwarmpudi, Mark Doroudian