Abstract: A system 10 and method for laser cutting a plurality of parts, for example metal chassis components, using a plurality of laser cutting apparatuses is provided. The system 10 includes a plurality of the laser cutting apparatuses 14 disposed in a single enclosed cell 12 for simultaneously trimming multiple parts. The system 10 also includes at least one inner chamber 22 and at least one set of double doors 16, 18 for transferring the parts in and out of the enclosed cell 12 without any light escaping the cell 12. The parts are conveyed through the first door 16 to the inner chamber 22 while the second door 18 is closed, and through the second door 18 to the enclosed cell 12 while the first door 16 is closed. The system 10 also includes robots 24 continuously preloading and unloading the parts to maximize the laser trimming time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining conditions of malfunction or inefficiency of HVAC systems, within a plurality of monitored households, in which there are no sensors for directly measuring the power consumption per specific HVAC. The said method comprise the steps of: a. monitoring the power consumption of a plurality of households; b. monitoring the concurrent environmental conditions at the location of the said plurality of households; c. analyzing each household's power consumption, and extracting weighted failure indications of inefficient or malfunctioning HVAC systems; d. determining the probability of various HVAC conditions of malfunction of inefficiency, according to the said weighted indicators; and e. emitting a an alert in relation to the said condition of HVAC malfunction of inefficiency, comprising at least one of: HVAC malfunction type, probability, probable cause, and suggested action.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forecasting load and managing a control plan for households having electric appliances wherein the control plan determines the activation of the electric appliances at pre-defined control periods.

Abstract: A method may include displaying an output, e.g., a figure, a data set, a symbolic expression or equation, a model, or any object with a representation that can be manipulated, e.g., a tree, a list, or a control loop, from executing program code. The method may include receiving an indication that the output has been modified through one or more manipulations, and generating code that represents modifications to the output, such that executing the code with the program code generates the output that has been modified.

Abstract: A system and method for laser cutting a plurality of parts, for example metal chassis components, using a plurality of laser cutting apparatuses is provided. The system includes a plurality of the laser cutting apparatuses disposed in a single enclosed cell for simultaneously trimming multiple parts. The system also includes at least one inner chamber and at least one set of double doors for transferring the parts in and out of the enclosed cell without any light escaping the cell. The parts are conveyed through the first door to the inner chamber while the second door is closed, and through the second door to the enclosed cell while the first door is closed. The system also includes robots continuously preloading and unloading the parts to maximize the laser trimming time.

Abstract: An automotive component (20) is manufactured by depositing a non-metallic coating (24) on a surface of a steel blank (26) before hot stamping the steel blank (26). The non-metallic coating (24) is typically applied by physical vapor deposition. The non-metallic coating (24) is formed of one to three layers (32) each having a different composition. The non-metallic coating (24) includes at least one of silicon and carbon, and can also include oxygen, nitrogen, ceramic compounds, and carbides. The total thickness of the non-metallic coating (24) is less than 300 nm. A metallic coating (30) can be applied to the steel blank before the non-metallic coating (24). The non-metallic coating (24) provides numerous advantages, including reduced scaling during the hot stamping process.

Abstract: A system and method for orienting a workpiece on an assembly line to prepare the workpiece for an operation is provided. The method includes positioning a flexible fixture on the assembly line. The flexible fixture has a base and at least one adjustable component. The workpiece is positioned on the flexible fixture. A first orientation of the workpiece relative to the flexible fixture is detected with a detection device and transmitted to a calibrator. The calibrator determines a difference between the detected first orientation of the workpiece and a predetermined fixture orientation and transmits instructions from the calibrator to the flexible fixture to move the workpiece from the detected first orientation to the predetermined fixture orientation. The workpiece is moved with the at least one adjustable component into the predetermined fixture orientation and is fixedly held with the adjustable component.

Abstract: A door assembly for a vehicle is provided. The door assembly includes an inner panel and an outer panel which are joined together to define a central space therebetween. The central space has a front which faces towards the front of a vehicle and a back which faces towards a back of the vehicle. Both the inner and outer panels are made of aluminum, and at least one reinforcement beam made of steel is disposed in the central space between the aluminum inner and outer panels to provide the door assembly with increased impact resistance.

Abstract: An explosion forming apparatus (10) that preferably utilizes a shock wave (42) directed along a work piece (12) to progressively conform the work piece to a contour die cavity (44).

Abstract: The invention is intended to improve a method for explosive forming of a workpiece by means of gas explosion, in which the workpiece is arranged in a intake area of a moulding tool, wherein the intake area is at least partially filled with liquid and the explosion is triggered by ignition of an explosive gas mixture, to the effect that the method is suitable and simplified for mass production. This object is solved by a method for explosive forming of a workpiece by means of gas explosion, in which the workpiece is arranged in a intake area of a moulding tool, wherein the intake area is at least partially filled with liquid and the explosion is triggered by means of ignition of an explosive gas mixture, in which the explosive gas mixture is provided at least partially above the surface of the liquid before the ignition.

Abstract: An assembly (100) for a vehicle includes two longitudinal members (1, 2) and a crossmember (3) connected therebetween at a connection point (6) of the crossmember (3) to the longitudinal members (1, 2). The crossmember (3) is made predominantly of fiber composite material and the longitudinal members (1, 2) are made predominantly of a metal material. The connection point (6) between the crossmember (3) and the longitudinal member (1, 2) comprises an overlapping region (B), in which a connection segment (8) of the longitudinal member (1, 2), which is predominantly composed of metal material, overlaps at least in some segments with a part of the crossmember (3), which is predominantly composed of fiber composite material.

Abstract: A system 10 and method for laser cutting a plurality of parts, for example metal chassis components, using a plurality of laser cutting apparatuses is provided. The system 10 includes a plurality of the laser cutting apparatuses 14 disposed in a single enclosed cell 12 for simultaneously trimming multiple parts. The system 10 also includes at least one inner chamber 22 and at least one set of double doors 16, 18 for transferring the parts in and out of the enclosed cell 12 without any light escaping the cell 12. The parts are conveyed through the first door 16 to the inner chamber 22 while the second door 18 is closed, and through the second door 18 to the enclosed cell 12 while the first door 16 is closed. The system 10 also includes robots 24 continuously preloading and unloading the parts to maximize the laser trimming time.

Abstract: Through the invention, an ignition device for explosive forming of work pieces in a forming die, which has an ignition mechanism and an ignition tube, and in which the ignition tube guides the explosion ignited by the ignition mechanism into the work piece inserted in the forming die, is to be improved, in that it permits, in practice, an arrangement of the ignition mechanism and forming die that is easier to handle and geared toward the occurring explosion forces. This task is solved by an ignition device, in which a curved guide is provided between the ignition mechanism and the forming die.

Abstract: The invention is intended to improve a method for explosive forming of a workpiece by means of gas explosion, in which the workpiece is arranged in a intake area of a moulding tool, wherein the intake area is at least partially filled with liquid and the explosion is triggered by ignition of an explosive gas mixture, to the effect that the method is suitable and simplified for mass production. This object is solved by a method for explosive forming of a workpiece by means of gas explosion, in which the workpiece is arranged in a intake area of a moulding tool, wherein the intake area is at least partially filled with liquid and the explosion is triggered by means of ignition of an explosive gas mixture, in which the explosive gas mixture is provided at least partially above the surface of the liquid before the ignition.

Abstract: With the invention, a method and device for explosive forming of work pieces, in which at least one work piece is arranged in at least one die and deformed by means of an explosive to be ignited, is to be improved, in that an ignition mechanism that is technically simple to handle, is produced with the shortest possible setup time, which permits the most precise possible ignition of the explosive with time-repeatable accuracy. This task is solved by a method and device, in which at least one work piece is arranged in at least one die and deformed by means of an explosive to be ignited, in which the explosive is ignited by means of induction.

Abstract: An assembly (100) for a vehicle includes two longitudinal members (1, 2) and a crossmember (3) connected therebetween at a connection point (6) of the crossmember (3) to the longitudinal members (1, 2). The crossmember (3) is made predominantly of fibre composite material and the longitudinal members (1, 2) are made predominantly of a metal material. The connection point (6) between the crossmember (3) and the longitudinal member (1, 2) comprises an overlapping region (B), in which a connection segment (8) of the longitudinal member (1, 2), which is predominantly composed of metal material, overlaps at least in some segments with a part of the crossmember (3), which is predominantly composed of fibre composite material.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a crush can for a vehicle frame including a crush can body having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional shape that is at least approximately a 10-sided polygon. In another aspect, the invention is directed to a crush can for a vehicle frame including a crush can body having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional shape that includes a plurality of outwardly pointing apexes and a plurality of inwardly pointing apexes.

Abstract: An automotive component (20) is manufactured by depositing a non-metallic coating (24) on a surface of a steel blank (26) before hot stamping the steel blank (26). The non-metallic coating (24) is typically applied by physical vapor deposition. The non-metallic coating (24) is formed of one to three layers (32) each having a different composition. The non-metallic coating (24) includes at least one of silicon and carbon, and can also include oxygen, nitrogen, ceramic compounds, and carbides. The total thickness of the non-metallic coating (24) is less than 300 nm. A metallic coating (30) can be applied to the steel blank before the non-metallic coating (24). The non-metallic coating (24) provides numerous advantages, including reduced scaling during the hot stamping process.

Abstract: A door assembly for a vehicle is provided. The door assembly includes an inner panel and an outer panel which are joined together to define a central space therebetween. The central space has a front which faces towards the front of a vehicle and a back which faces towards a back of the vehicle. Both the inner and outer panels are made of aluminum, and at least one reinforcement beam made of steel is disposed in the central space between the aluminum inner and outer panels to provide the door assembly with increased impact resistance.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a crush can for a vehicle frame including a crush can body having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional shape that is at least approximately a 10-sided polygon. In another aspect, the invention is directed to a crush can for a vehicle frame including a crush can body having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional shape that includes a plurality of outwardly pointing apexes and a plurality of inwardly pointing apexes.