Abstract: The vehicle door assembly includes an outer panel which has a rocker sill area and a beltline area. A reinforcement member, which is made of one or more pieces, is attached with the outer panel along at least a portion of an outer periphery of the outer panel. The door assembly further includes a module which is made as a single integral piece and is fixedly attached with the reinforcement member. The module has an inner beltline reinforcement and supports a pair of window channels and a window regulator for controllably raising and lowering a window between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing bipolar plates includes passing a metal sheet through at least one tension roller disposed either upstream or downstream to a BPP forming roll to establish a longitudinal tension on the metal sheet as it passes through the BPP forming roll. A first pair of inner and outer lateral tension features are formed along a first side of the metal sheet and a second pair of inner and outer later tension features are formed along a second side of the metal sheet for use in establishing a lateral tension on the metal sheet as it passes through the BPP forming roll. The inner and outer lateral tension features in each of the first and second pairs have varying or different heights to advantageously provide a more consistent application of the lateral tension to the metal sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.

Abstract: A cradle for being used in automotive vehicles for supporting various automotive components includes a structure with variable thickness, defining a variable gauge cradle. The variable gauge cradle has a minimum thickness and maximum thickness, with various other thicknesses therebetween. The minimum thickness is less than an original thickness of a reference cradle in which the thickness is the same. The variable gauge cradle allows specific locations to be locally increased in thickness to achieve the desired stiffness at the areas requiring the increased stiffness, while leaving areas requiring a lower stiffness at a lesser thickness. The variable gauge cradle therefore may have a lower mass than the reference cradle. The thickness may be increased relative to the minimum thickness using patches that are bonded to a base layer or panel of the cradle. The patches may be distributed at different locations to create different thicknesses.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.

Abstract: A multi-opening oven assembly for simultaneously heating a plurality of blanks, for example aluminum blanks, before forming the heated blanks in a production line is provided. The oven assembly includes vertically aligned shelves to present a plurality of chambers for heating the blanks. A table including an entry side platform and an exit side platform moves vertically along the oven assembly. A rail system extends along the platforms and the shelves to convey the blanks in and out of the chambers. Once one set of heated blanks is removed from a first chamber, the table moves vertically to a second chamber and is ready to receive the next set of heated blanks. A continuous supply of heated blanks is provided for high throughput. The oven assembly is preferably disposed in a press adjacent a forming station of an existing production line and thus, no additional floor space is required.

Abstract: A cradle for being used in automotive vehicles for supporting various automotive components includes a structure with variable thickness, defining a variable gauge cradle. The variable gauge cradle has a minimum thickness and maximum thickness, with various other thicknesses therebetween. The minimum thickness is less than an original thickness of a reference cradle in which the thickness is the same. The variable gauge cradle allows specific locations to be locally increased in thickness to achieve the desired stiffness at the areas requiring the increased stiffness, while leaving areas requiring a lower stiffness at a lesser thickness. The variable gauge cradle therefore may have a lower mass than the reference cradle. The thickness may be increased relative to the minimum thickness using patches that are bonded to a base layer or panel of the cradle. The patches may be distributed at different locations to create different thicknesses.

Abstract: The vehicle door assembly includes an outer panel which has a rocker sill area and a beltline area. A reinforcement member, which is made of one or more pieces, is attached with the outer panel along at least a portion of an outer periphery of the outer panel. The door assembly further includes a module which is made as a single integral piece and is fixedly attached with the reinforcement member. The module has an inner beltline reinforcement and supports a pair of window channels and a window regulator for controllably raising and lowering a window between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: The vehicle door assembly includes an outer panel which has a rocker sill area and a beltline area. A reinforcement member, which is made of one or more pieces, is attached with the outer panel along at least a portion of an outer periphery of the outer panel. The door assembly further includes a module which is made as a single integral piece and is fixedly attached with the reinforcement member. The module has an inner beltline reinforcement and supports a pair of window channels and a window regulator for controllably raising and lowering a window between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A multi-window platen oven for simultaneously heating a plurality of blanks, for example aluminum blanks, before forming the heated blanks in a production line is provided. The oven includes a plurality of vertically aligned shelves disposed in an existing press assembly so that no additional floor space is required. The shelves are attachable to an upper press bed and one another. The upper press bed lifts the attached shelves to present an open window for receiving an unheated blank and/or removing a heated blank from the oven. The remaining windows remain closed and continue heating while the blanks are transferred to and from the oven. After closing the one open window, another window opens to receive another unheated blank and/or remove another heated blank. Thus, the multi-window platen oven continuously provides blanks which are ready for warm or hot forming.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.

Abstract: The vehicle door assembly includes an outer panel which has a rocker sill area and a beltline area. A reinforcement member, which is made of one or more pieces, is attached with the outer panel along at least a portion of an outer periphery of the outer panel. The door assembly further includes a module which is made as a single integral piece and is fixedly attached with the reinforcement member. The module has an inner beltline reinforcement and supports a pair of window channels and a window regulator for controllably raising and lowering a window between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A non-metallic coating for a steel substrate or for a coated steel substrate includes a first layer fabricated from at least one of a silicon oxide, a silicon nitride, and a silicon oxynitride, as well as a second layer fabricated from chromium nitride. The second layer has a thickness between 3 nm and 30 nm, and the first layer and the second layer together form a stacked-layer structure having a total thickness of not more than 300 nm.

Abstract: A multi-window platen oven for simultaneously heating a plurality of blanks, for example aluminum blanks, before forming the heated blanks in a production line is provided. The oven includes a plurality of vertically aligned shelves disposed in an existing press assembly so that no additional floor space is required. The shelves are attachable to an upper press bed and one another. The upper press bed lifts the attached shelves to present an open window for receiving an unheated blank and/or removing a heated blank from the oven. The remaining windows remain closed and continue heating while the blanks are transferred to and from the oven. After closing the one open window, another window opens to receive another unheated blank and/or remove another heated blank. Thus, the multi-window platen oven continuously provides blanks which are ready for warm or hot forming.