Abstract: This disclosure details electrified vehicle drive systems equipped with electric machine integrated axle assemblies. An exemplary electrified vehicle drive system includes a leaf spring assembly and an axle assembly mounted to the leaf spring assembly. The axle assembly may include a cradle and an electric machine mounted within the cradle. Shocks and stabilizer bar assemblies may extend between the cradle and a vehicle frame of the electrified vehicle.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a duct assembly including an internal component part such as a silencer is disclosed. The duct assembly may be made in a blow-molding operation in which first and second duct parts are formed from a single parison as a combined part that is then split apart to receive a component part in a housing and subsequently closed by a closure part. Alternatively, the first and second housing parts may be separately formed and a component part may be inserted into a housing defined by one or both of the first and second duct parts. The first and second duct parts may be joined and sealed by injection molding a ring over telescopically assembled ends of the first and second parts.

Abstract: A protective cage assembly includes a frame, a bracket assembly mounted to a first tubular member of the frame, a gusset of the bracket assembly extending between the bracket assembly and a second tubular member of the frame, and a third tubular member of the frame removably received by the bracket assembly. The protective cage assembly may be mounted within a cargo space of an electrified vehicle for both protecting the battery pack and establishing a load bearing floor of the cargo space.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a duct assembly including an internal component part such as a silencer is disclosed. The duct assembly may be made in a blow-molding operation in which first and second duct parts are formed from a single parison as a combined part that is then split apart to receive a component part in a housing and subsequently closed by a closure part. Alternatively, the first and second housing parts may be separately formed and a component part may be inserted into a housing defined by one or both of the first and second duct parts. The first and second duct parts may be joined and sealed by injection molding a ring over telescopically assembled ends of the first and second parts.

Abstract: This disclosure details electrified vehicle drive systems equipped with electric machine integrated axle assemblies. An exemplary electrified vehicle drive system includes a leaf spring assembly and an axle assembly mounted to the leaf spring assembly. The axle assembly may include a cradle and an electric machine mounted within the cradle. Shocks and stabilizer bar assemblies may extend between the cradle and a vehicle frame of the electrified vehicle.

Abstract: This disclosure details electrified vehicle drive systems equipped with electric machine integrated axle assemblies. An exemplary electrified vehicle drive system includes a leaf spring assembly and an axle assembly mounted to the leaf spring assembly. The axle assembly may include a cradle and an electric machine mounted within the cradle. Shocks and stabilizer bar assemblies may extend between the cradle and a vehicle frame of the electrified vehicle.

Abstract: This disclosure details electrified vehicle drive systems equipped with electric machine integrated axle assemblies. An exemplary electrified vehicle drive system includes a leaf spring assembly and an axle assembly mounted to the leaf spring assembly. The axle assembly may include a cradle and an electric machine mounted within the cradle. Shocks and stabilizer bar assemblies may extend between the cradle and a vehicle frame of the electrified vehicle.

Abstract: A protective cage assembly includes a frame, a bracket assembly mounted to a first tubular member of the frame, a gusset of the bracket assembly extending between the bracket assembly and a second tubular member of the frame, and a third tubular member of the frame removably received by the bracket assembly. The protective cage assembly may be mounted within a cargo space of an electrified vehicle for both protecting the battery pack and establishing a load bearing floor of the cargo space.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a duct assembly including an internal component part such as a silencer is disclosed. The duct assembly may be made in a blow-molding operation in which first and second duct parts are formed from a single parison as a combined part that is then split apart to receive a component part in a housing and subsequently closed by a closure part. Alternatively, the first and second housing parts may be separately formed and a component part may be inserted into a housing defined by one or both of the first and second duct parts. The first and second duct parts may be joined and sealed by injection molding a ring over telescopically assembled ends of the first and second parts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the fluid permeability of an earth formation is described. An instrument comprising an acoustic source and acoustic and electrokinetic sensors is located in a borehole at a site of interest. The acoustic source is fired and the resulting variations in pressure and electric field generated are measured and recorded. The Biot equation, and an equation for the streaming potential coupled to fluid displacement terms, is solved using finite element analysis to give an expected pressure waveform and electrokinetic waveform based on estimated earth formation properties. By comparison of the measured waveforms and those calculated from the equations, the actual permeability of the earth formation can be deduced.

Abstract: A hose clamp for forming an air tight seal between a hose and a connector projecting from a housing of an air cooler of a vehicle. The hose clamp including a band which encircles the hose at a location where the hose and the connector overlap and has an adjustable diameter. The hose clamp positioned by a wrap-around hose clamp positioner. The wrap-around hose clamp positioner including flat portions, which contact the outer surface of the hose, and a raised portion where the band passes through a space of the raised portion. The wrap-around hose clamp positioner further including a wrap-around portion and a crimp tab, the wrap-around portion extending over a lip edge of the hose such that the crimp tab pierces through at least the inner surface of the hose.

Abstract: A retractable oven rack includes a slidable wire base with four wire sections extending generally horizontally around a periphery. Two of the wire sections extend parallel to each other along the width of the wire base and the other two extend parallel along the length. The four wires sections are connected to each other at their ends. A pair of support rods extend from and respectively parallel two of the wire sections along the length of the slidable wire base. The oven rack also includes a grid shelf having a pair of raised wire sections extending the length of the grid shelf that are slidably supported on the pair of support rods for allowing the grid shelf to be supported and slide on the pair of support rods.

Abstract: A grommet is disclosed which couples with a component under a hood of an automobile. The grommet has an insertion end with four wipers, a body, and a retaining loop opposite the insertion end. The wipers are generally triangular in cross-section with a distal tip of the triangle sweeping toward the body so that when the grommet couples with an orifice in the component by pressing the insertion end into the orifice, the wipers deform, but resist insertion. Due to the angle of the wipers, the wipers resist decoupling of the grommet from the component. The retaining loop defines an opening through which a tube, pipe, and/or wires are placed and secured with a bolt that engages threads of a bolt hole in the body.

Abstract: A hose clamp for forming an air tight seal between a hose and a connector projecting from a housing of an air cooler of a vehicle. The hose clamp including a band which encircles the hose at a location where the hose and the connector overlap and has an adjustable diameter. The hose clamp positioned by a wrap-around hose clamp positioner. The wrap-around hose clamp positioner including flat portions, which contact the outer surface of the hose, and a raised portion where the band passes through a space of the raised portion. The wrap-around hose clamp positioner further including a wrap-around portion and a crimp tab, the wrap-around portion extending over a lip edge of the hose such that the crimp tab pierces through at least the inner surface of the hose.

Abstract: A grommet is disclosed which couples with a component under a hood of an automobile. The grommet has an insertion end with four wipers, a body, and a retaining loop opposite the insertion end. The wipers are generally triangular in cross-section with a distal tip of the triangle sweeping toward the body so that when the grommet couples with an orifice in the component by pressing the insertion end into the orifice, the wipers deform, but resist insertion. Due to the angle of the wipers, the wipers resist decoupling of the grommet from the component. The retaining loop defines an opening through which a tube, pipe, and/or wires are placed and secured with a bolt that engages threads of a bolt hole in the body.

Abstract: A retractable oven rack includes a slidable wire base with four wire sections extending generally horizontally around a periphery. Two of the wire sections extend parallel to each other along the width of the wire base and the other two extend parallel along the length. The four wires sections are connected to each other at their ends. A pair of support rods extend from and respectively parallel two of the wire sections along the length of the slidable wire base. The oven rack also includes a grid shelf having a pair of raised wire sections extending the length of the grid shelf that are slidably supported on the pair of support rods for allowing the grid shelf to be supported and slide on the pair of support rods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the fluid permeability of an earth formation is described. An instrument comprising an acoustic source and acoustic and electrokinetic sensors is located in a borehole at a site of interest. The acoustic source is fired and the resulting variations in pressure and electric field generated are measured and recorded. The Biot equation, and an equation for the streaming potential coupled to fluid displacement terms, is solved using finite element analysis to give an expected pressure waveform and electrokinetic waveform based on estimated earth formation properties. By comparison of the measured waveforms and those calculated from the equations, the actual permeability of the earth formation can be deduced.

Abstract: A retractable oven rack is made up of two separate parts, a first part being a slidable wire base, which is rectangularly shaped and has four wire sections extending generally horizontally around the periphery thereof. Two of the wire sections extend parallel to each other along the width of the wire base and the other two extend parallel along the length. The four wires sections are connected to each other at the ends thereof. A pair of support rods are located from and extending respectively parallel to two of the wire sections along the length of the slidable wire base. The second part is a grid shelf having a pair of raised wire sections extending the length of the grid shelf located at a position for being slidably supported on the pair of support rods for allowing the grid shelf to be supported and slide on the pair of support rods.