Abstract: A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger array that includes stacking a plurality of heat exchanger units in an aligned configuration with respective first ports of the plurality of heat exchanger units aligned. The method can further include generating heat in the first coupling elements at the same time and at a temperature sufficient to generate a first plurality of respective couplings between adjacent sheets of adjacent heat exchanger units about adjacent first ports and without a coupling being generated between the first and second sheets of a given heat exchanger unit.

Abstract: Manufacturing cell based vehicle manufacturing systems and methods for a wide variety of vehicles are disclosed. In one aspect, a manufacturing cell configured for assembling a frame of a vehicle is disclosed. The manufacturing cell includes a positioner, a robot carrier and a robot. The positioner is configured to receive a fixture table configured to hold the frame. The robot carrier includes a vertical lift. The robot is configured to assemble the frame. The positioner is configured to support the frame in a vertical position during an assembling process. In another aspect of the disclosure, a system for manufacturing a vehicle based on a manufacturing cell is disclosed. In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for manufacturing a vehicle based on a manufacturing cell is disclosed.

Abstract: A twin-vaned nozzle ring for a turbine nozzle of a turbocharger nozzle ring is made by assembling the nozzle ring from three separately formed parts. A center part includes a first ring of circumferentially spaced first vanes and a second ring of circumferentially spaced second vanes, the first and second rings being axially spaced and integrally joined to each other. The first vanes are circumferentially offset from the second vanes, and exits from the first vane passages are radially aligned with and circumferentially interleaved with exits from the second vane passages. First and second side walls are provided as separate parts. Finally, the first side wall is joined to a distal or outer face of the first ring, and the second side wall is joined to a distal face of the second ring to complete the assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides cube-shaped satellite primary structures, each comprised of six identical, or nearly identical, rectangular truss panels and internal struts. The struts, all adjustable in length, connect, and are directed between all cube opposite corners and all cube opposite panel centers. All struts meet at the cube center where they attach rigidly to either a block called the “nucleus fitting” or to a hollow sphere. Each strut attaches to either a ball-socket corner fitting located at the interior corner of the cube, or to a ball-socket panel center fitting located at the panel center interior to the cube.

Abstract: A new and highly optimized solar photovoltaic (PV) system including: 1) field deployable fully automated solar PV robotic array assembly and installation system, 2) solar PV panel wiring and power conversion system designed to allow tracking panel-to-panel shading while maintaining maximized power output, 3) combined structural and electrical inter-panel connector system supporting the new wiring scheme, 4) panel structural supports for the automated assembly and new inter-panel connector systems, and 5) fully automated post installer for posts supporting the large robotically assembled solar array sections. It is a fully integrated system for rapid installation, lower cost, higher energy output, and higher quality assembly of PV arrays, including tracking and floating arrays, which together create a transformative advancement for the solar energy industry.

Abstract: A height adjustable wheelchair docking system for releasably securing a wheelchair to the floor of a transport vehicle includes: a base frame with an open end, and for rigid attachment to the floor of a transport vehicle; a middle frame for sliding back and forth in a horizontal direction within the base frame and through the open end; means to slide the middle frame in relation to the base frame; and a top frame for covering at least a part of the base frame and middle frame, and to move up and down in a vertical direction in relation to the base frame when the middle frame is sliding back and forth in a horizontal direction within the base frame and through the open end. The top frame further includes a female or male docking fixture for locking engagement with a male or female docking fixture on a wheelchair.

Abstract: A clinching machine and method for using a clinching machine are provided. In another aspect, a hand-held clinching machine and method employ a movable jaw, a cam wedge, and a rocker arm to control opening and closing movement of the clinching jaw. Another aspect of a clinching machine and method includes a movable clinching jaw, a fluid activated piston, a manually actuated switch which causes fluid actuated rotation of a lever, a manually actuated trigger to fluidically advance a piston and a block attached to a forward end of a piston rod, and an abutting stop surface movable with the movable jaw, where the stop surface abuts against the lever in an operating condition to limit opening rotation of the movable jaw to an intermediate position between a fully open position and a fully closed and clinching position.

Abstract: A method for printing a structure, the structure including a plurality of pillars. The method for printing can include ejecting only a first drop of a print material such as a liquid metal sequentially at each of a plurality of pillar locations, then ejecting only a second drop of the print material sequentially onto the first drop at each of the plurality of print locations. Additional drops can be ejected at two or more of the pillar locations to form the plurality of pillars. Ejecting only a first drop at each pillar location allows the first drop to cure (i.e., cool or dry) before ejecting the second drop. The printer continues printing while the drops cure, thus improving processing efficiency and increasing production throughput.

Abstract: A composite roll for rolling having a structure comprising centrifugally cast outer and intermediate layers of an Fe-based alloy integrally fused to an inner layer of ductile cast iron; the outer layer having a composition comprising by mass 1-3% of C, 0.3-3% of Si, 0.1-3% of Mn, 0.5-5% of Ni, 1-7% of Cr, 2.2-8% of Mo, 4-7% of V, 0.005-0.15% of N, and 0.05-0.2% of B, the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities; the intermediate layer containing 0.025-0.15% by mass of B; the B content in the intermediate layer being 40-80% of that in the outer layer; and the total amount of Cr, Mo, V, Nb and W in the intermediate layer being 40-90% of that in the outer layer.

Abstract: Provided is a method for promoting densification of a metal body by utilizing metal expansion induced by hydrogen absorption. The hydrogen absorption expansion refers to a volume expansion effect produced by absorbing hydrogen on some metal blocks or metal powder in a hydrogen atmosphere under certain temperature conditions. Hydrogen is introduced into a rigid closed mold filled with a hydrogen absorption expansion material or filled with the hydrogen absorption expansion material and a material to be densified, and the mold and/or the material to be densified are/is densified by using the volume expansion effect of the hydrogen absorption expansion material. The present method may be used for eliminating residual pores from a metal material so as to improve the properties of the material.

Abstract: A method of inspecting an elongated metal plate is provided, including measuring longitudinal direction metal plate thicknesses, measuring width direction metal plate thicknesses, and selecting the metal plate that satisfies condition (1), (B/A)×100 (%) is 5% or less, A being an average value of the longitudinal direction metal plate thicknesses, and B being obtained by multiplying a standard deviation of the longitudinal direction metal plate thicknesses by 3, and that satisfies condition (2), (C/X)×100 (%) is 3% or less, C being a value obtained by multiplying a standard deviation of the width direction metal plate thicknesses by 3, and X being a central portion width direction metal plate thickness obtained when the width direction metal plate thicknesses are measured to calculate the standard deviation of the metal plate thicknesses in the width direction.

Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for forming a conduit embedded within a component of a semiconductor manufacturing device (e.g., an ion implanter) using an additive manufacturing process (e.g., 3-D printing), wherein the conduit is configured to deliver a fluid throughout the component to provide heating, cooling, and gas distribution thereof. In one approach, the conduit includes a set of raised surface features formed on an inner surface of the conduit for varying fluid flow characteristics within the conduit. In another approach, the conduit may be formed in a helical configuration. In another approach, the conduit is formed with a polygonal cross section. In another approach, the component of the ion implanter includes at least one of an ion source, a plasma flood gun, a cooling plate, a platen, and/or an arc chamber base.

Abstract: A coupling for connection of an encoder to an electrical machine includes an encoder shaft end piece for coupling to a shaft of the encoder, and a machine shaft end piece for coupling to a shaft of the electrical machine. At least one of the end pieces has a carrier which is formed with a cavity filled with granular material, preferably steel powder, to effect a dampening of vibrations and impacts.

Abstract: A lock defining a rotating axis and being installed on a door includes a mounting plate, a fastening member and a first handle set. The mounting plate is disposed on a side of the door and includes a mounting plate body and a protruding lug connected to the mounting plate body. The mounting plate body includes a locking slot structure. The protruding lug includes a fastening hole. The fastening member is inserted through the fastening hole of the protruding lug to fix the mounting plate on the door. The first handle set is assembled on the mounting plate. The first handle set includes an engaging structure and a decoration cover. The engaging structure is engaged with the locking slot structure to fix the first handle set on the mounting plate. The decoration cover covers the mounting plate and includes an opening corresponding to the fastening hole.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a seal comprising fabricating a seal body that includes a first friction surface including nickel and cobalt. The first friction surface on the seal body is contacted with a metal counter-body surface including nickel. Pressure and heat is applied between the seal body and the counter-body, and motion is applied between the seal body and the counter-body with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the first friction surface, followed by separating the seal from the counter-body.

Abstract: A method of repairing a superalloy component includes a series of sequential steps. The steps are, cleaning the component, applying brazing material to the component, heat treating the component, inspecting the component, preparing the surface of the component, welding the component, and performing a second inspection of the component. The superalloy component is comprised of a high gamma prime superalloy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a grill system that achieves direct and indirect heat functionality through one or more mechanisms including a heat deflector within the cooking chamber that is adjustable through a repositioning means that allows a user to reposition the heat deflector in relation to the burner from a location external to the cooking chamber when the grilling system is in cooking operation. The system may also provide a drip tray with louvers or other apertures placed over the burner area for further optimizing transfer of direct heat to the cooking area.

Abstract: A material engagement element sheet formed from a sheet material (10) incorporates a pattern of material engagement element slots (14), each slot containing an array of material engagement elements (20) which have a tapered distal section (30), a flange section (34) and a proximal section (32) which is attached to an edge of the slots in the sheet material. The material engagement element sheet material may be a single layer of shape memory material, or the sheet material may be a composite of different layers some of which may include pre-strained shape memory materials with distinguishable activation parameters. The material engagement element slot configuration allows for the simultaneous processing of the material engagement elements. The material engagement elements may be processed such that they are in a state that is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the material engagement element sheet.

Abstract: The ball joint manufacturing method for manufacturing a ball joint including a ball stud which includes a substantially spherical metal ball section, and a resin housing rotatable accommodating the ball section of the ball stud, includes: a step of forming the housing to cover an outer periphery of the ball section; an induction heating step of subjecting the ball section to induction heating in a state in which the ball section is accommodated in an accommodation section of the housing until the temperature of the ball section reaches a predetermined target temperature; and a cooling step of cooling the ball section which has been subjected to the induction heating, wherein a torque adjustment step including the induction heating step and the cooling step is repeatedly performed.

Abstract: A method directed to gear cutting tools and gear cutter job consolidation resulting in a single cutter capable of cutting a plurality of different members of a part family. The method comprises a multi-step approach comprising a first step of defining a temporary master. A second step creates a virtual master which is especially well-suited for accommodating the requirements of the jobs in the consolidation variety. A third step determines cutting depths and optimized machine settings for all consolidation jobs using the virtual master.