Abstract: The disclosure relates to a spindle drive for a tailgate of a vehicle which can be adjusted between two drive end positions, in particular between a retracted position and an extended position, two drive connections being provided for diverting drive movements and a drive train between the drive connections, the drive train comprising a motor unit and a drive worm gear downstream of the motor unit in drive terms, the drive worm gear having a spindle with an external spindle drive and a spindle nut with an internal spindle nut thread which is in screw engagement with the external spindle thread, a brake assembly being provided for braking at least a part of the drive train of the spindle drive. The brake assembly can be adjustable in relation to its braking action and that the brake assembly is coupled for adjustment thereof with a component of the drive train.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an energy storage system includes a battery module mounting area with a plurality of battery module compartments, each of the battery module compartments configured to house a respective battery module, and a venting arrangement configured to define a set of air channels that permits pressure equalization between the plurality of battery module compartments and an external environment. The venting arrangement is configured with an air-permeable, liquid-tight seal at least between (i) the plurality of battery module compartments and (ii) the external environment.

Abstract: An embodiment is directed to a multi-layer contact plate configured to establish electrical bonds to battery cells in a battery module. The multi-layer contact plate includes two or more primary conductive layers (e.g., Al, Cu, etc.), and a cell terminal connection layer (e.g., steel, Al, Cu, etc.) that is joined with, and sandwiched by, the two or more primary conductive layers. A portion of the cell terminal connection layer is configured to form a set of bonding connectors (e.g., bonding ribbons) to provide a direct electrical bond between the multi-layer contact plate and terminals (e.g., positive terminals, negative terminals, or a combination thereof) of at least one group of battery cells (e.g., a single group of battery cells, two groups of battery cells that are connected in series, etc.).

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for powder bed fusion additive manufacturing involve a multiple-chamber design achieving a high efficiency and throughput. The multiple-chamber design features concurrent printing of one or more print jobs inside one or more build chambers, side removals of printed objects from build chambers allowing quick exchanges of powdered materials, and capabilities of elevated process temperature controls of build chambers and post processing heat treatments of printed objects. The multiple-chamber design also includes a height-adjustable optical assembly in combination with a fixed build platform method suitable for large and heavy printed objects.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus pertaining to recycling and reuse of unwanted light in additive manufacturing can multiplex multiple beams of light including at least one or more beams of light from one or more light sources. The multiple beams of light may be reshaped and blended to provide a first beam of light. A spatial polarization pattern may be applied on the first beam of light to provide a second beam of light. Polarization states of the second beam of light may be split to reflect a third beam of light, which may be reshaped into a fourth beam of light. The fourth beam of light may be introduced as one of the multiple beams of light to result in a fifth beam of light.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus pertaining to polarization combining in additive manufacturing may involve emitting two or more beams of light with a first intensity. Each of the two or more beams of light may be polarized and may have a majority polarization state and a minority polarization state. A respective polarization pattern may be applied on the majority polarization state of each of the two or more beams of light. The two or more beams of light may be combined to provide a single beam of light.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus involve applying a pattern on an addressable patternable cathode unit. The cathode unit is stimulated to emit an electron beam pattern. A patterned image in the electron beam pattern is positioned to a desired position such directly to as a powder bed for additive manufacturing or to an electron beam addressed light valve for controlling spatial patterns on an optical signal for powder bed manufacturing.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include restricting, by an enclosure, an exchange of gaseous matter between an interior of the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure. The method may further include running multiple machines within the enclosure. Each of the machines may execute its own process of additive manufacture. While the machines are running, a gas management system may maintain gaseous oxygen within the enclosure at or below a limiting oxygen concentration for the interior.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include creating, by a 3D printer contained within an enclosure, a part having a weight greater than or equal to 2,000 kilograms. A gas management system may maintain gaseous oxygen within the enclosure atmospheric level. In some embodiments, a wheeled vehicle may transport the part from inside the enclosure, through an airlock, as the airlock operates to buffer between a gaseous environment within the enclosure and a gaseous environment outside the enclosure, and to a location exterior to both the enclosure and the airlock.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacture suitable for large and high resolution structures is disclosed. The method may include sequentially advancing each portion of a continuous part in the longitudinal direction from a first zone to a second zone. In the first zone, selected granules of a granular material may be amalgamated. In the second zone, unamalgamated granules of the granular material may be removed. The method may further include advancing a first portion of the continuous part from the second zone to a third zone while (1) a last portion of the continuous part is formed within the first zone and (2) the first portion is maintained in the same position in the lateral and transverse directions that the first portion occupied within the first zone and the second zone.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus pertaining to recycling and reuse of unwanted light in additive manufacturing can multiplex multiple beams of light including at least one or more beams of light from one or more light sources. The multiple beams of light may be reshaped and blended to provide a first beam of light. A spatial polarization pattern may be applied on the first beam of light to provide a second beam of light. Polarization states of the second beam of light may be split to reflect a third beam of light, which may be reshaped into a fourth beam of light. The fourth beam of light may be introduced as one of the multiple beams of light to result in a fifth beam of light.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an expansion component (e.g., expanding foam element, inflatable pad, a pneumatic or hydraulic mechanism, etc.) is arranged inside of a battery module compartment (e.g., on a bottom interior surface of the battery module compartment). A battery module is inserted into the battery module component and is fixated, or secured, within the battery module compartment at least in part based upon the expanding component which starts to expand or continues to expand after the insertion. In a further embodiment, the battery module may be removed from the battery module compartment after a contraction function (e.g., collapse of the foam element, deflation of the inflatable pad, etc.) of the expansion component is initiated.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacture suitable for large and high resolution structures is disclosed. The method may include sequentially advancing each portion of a continuous part in the longitudinal direction from a first zone to a second zone. In the first zone, selected granules of a granular material may be amalgamated. In the second zone, unamalgamated granules of the granular material may be removed. The method may further include advancing a first portion of the continuous part from the second zone to a third zone while (1) a last portion of the continuous part is formed within the first zone and (2) the first portion is maintained in the same position in the lateral and transverse directions that the first portion occupied within the first zone and the second zone.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system including a two-dimensional energy patterning system for imaging a powder bed is disclosed. Improved optical systems supporting beam combining, beam steering, and both patterned and unpatterned beam recycling and re-use are described.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include creating, by a 3D printer contained within an enclosure, a part having a weight greater than or equal to 2,000 kilograms. A gas management system may maintain gaseous oxygen within the enclosure atmospheric level. In some embodiments, a wheeled vehicle may transport the part from inside the enclosure, through an airlock, as the airlock operates to buffer between a gaseous environment within the enclosure and a gaseous environment outside the enclosure, and to a location exterior to both the enclosure and the airlock.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include restricting, by an enclosure, an exchange of gaseous matter between an interior of the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure. The method may further include running multiple machines within the enclosure. Each of the machines may execute its own process of additive manufacture. While the machines are running, a gas management system may maintain gaseous oxygen within the enclosure at or below a limiting oxygen concentration for the interior.

Abstract: An embodiment is directed to a multi-layer contact plate configured to establish electrical bonds to battery cells in a battery module. The multi-layer contact plate includes two or more primary conductive layers (e.g., Al, Cu, etc.), and a cell terminal connection layer (e.g., steel, Al, Cu, etc.) that is joined with, and sandwiched by, the two or more primary conductive layers. A portion of the cell terminal connection layer is configured to form a set of bonding connectors (e.g., bonding ribbons) to provide a direct electrical bond between the multi-layer contact plate and terminals (e.g., positive terminals, negative terminals, or a combination thereof) of at least one group of battery cells (e.g., a single group of battery cells, two groups of battery cells that are connected in series, etc.).

Abstract: An embodiment is directed to a battery module, including a plurality of battery cell groups that are connected in series with each other, each of the plurality of battery cell groups including a plurality of battery cells that are connected to each other in parallel, a first terminal component at a first terminal of the battery module, the first terminal corresponding to either a positive terminal of the battery module or a negative terminal of the battery module, and a first heat pipe positioned in proximity to the first terminal component and configured to transfer heat away from the first terminal component.

Abstract: An embodiment is directed to a method of fabricating a multi-layer contact plate, comprising providing a layer stack with first, second and third conductive layers, inserting brazing material into holes first and/or second conductive layers of a layer stack, and brazing the layer stack after the inserting. Another embodiment is directed to a multi-layer contact plate, comprising a layer stack with first, second and third conductive layers, with at least one inter-layer connection including a brazed area where the second conductive layer is brazed to each of the first and third conductive layers, and where the first and third conductive layers are directly brazed to each other through a hole in the second conductive layer.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a battery module is provided with a cooling tube configured to carry liquid coolant for cooling a set of battery cells inside the battery module. A portion of the cooling tube being arranged beneath the set of battery cells and includes an integrated turbulator component configured to transition a flow of the liquid coolant from a laminar flow to a turbulent flow. In an example, the integrated turbulator component may be formed by integrating a turbulent component into a tube (e.g., a straight tube), and then bending the tube to produce the cooling tube portion.