Abstract: Presented are electrochemical devices with in-stack reference electrodes, methods for making/using such devices, and battery cells with stacked electrodes segregated by electrode separator assemblies having built-in reference electrodes. An electrochemical device includes a protective outer housing that contains an ion-conducting electrolyte. A stack of working electrodes is packaged inside the device housing in electrochemical contact with the electrolyte. At least one electrode separator assembly is located inside the housing, interposed between a neighboring pair of these working electrodes. The electrode separator assembly includes an electrically insulating separator sheet with a reference electrode. A tab pocket, which projects from an end of the separator sheet, includes a tab chamber with a chamber opening. An electrode tab is formed with an electrically conductive material and attached to the tab pocket.

Abstract: An electric machine may have a stator and a rotor including stacked plurality of electrical steel laminations forming a slot including a first end and opposing sides, the first end defined by a bridge extending between electrical steel on opposing sides of the slot, the bridge being located between the first end of the slot and an outer diameter surface of the rotor and beneath the outer diameter surface of the rotor, the bridge forming a base of a channel open at an outer diameter surface of the rotor.

Abstract: A conductive composite stator unit for an electric motor of a vehicle is provided. The stator unit comprises a stator core comprising a body having a first core end and an opposing second core end. The stator unit further comprises a plurality of conductive bars extending from the first core end to the second core end. Each conductive bar comprises a straight portion disposed in one of the slots such that the respective conductive bar is in contact with the stator core. Each conductive bar comprising a central portion and an outer layer disposed thereabout for electrical current to flow therethrough relative to the longitudinal axis, the outer layer comprises at least two copper-graphene (Cu-Gr) layers. Each Cu-Gr layer comprises a copper layer and a graphene layer. The stator unit further comprises an insulator layer disposed about each of the plurality of conductive bars.

Abstract: A conductive cable for a battery electric vehicle is provided. The conductive cable comprises a plurality of first members in alignment to define a longitudinal axis of the conductive cable. Each first member comprises a first conductive wire about which a first outer layer is disposed for electric current to flow therethrough relative to the longitudinal axis. The first outer layer comprises a first metal substrate having a first side and an opposite second side. The first outer layer comprises a first copper-graphene (Cu-Gr) multilayer composite disposed on the first side and a second Cu-Gr multilayer composite disposed on the second side of the first metal substrate. Each first conductive wire comprises a first metallic material. The plurality of first members is disposed together along the longitudinal axis to define a cable bundle. The conductive cable further comprises a non-conductive layer disposed about the cable bundle.

Abstract: A method of joining overlapping copper workpieces. The method includes overlapping a first copper workpiece with a second copper workpiece such that a plurality of projections on a second faying surface of the second copper workpiece are in contact with the first faying surface of the first copper work piece at a joining location where a metallurgical joint is ultimately established. The method further includes applying a compression force against a first exterior surface of the first copper workpiece and a second exterior surface of the second copper workpiece to urge the faying surfaces together, and passing an electric current at the joining location through the first and the second copper workpieces. The electric current flows through the plurality of projections to generate sufficient heat to effectuate the collapsing of the plurality of projections to bring the first second faying surfaces into contact to establish the metallurgical joint.

Abstract: A gear box having a carburized shaft and steel bearing assembly. The bearing includes an inner-race and an outer-race. The shaft includes a distal end surface extending perpendicularly from a shaft faying surface and a shaft annular beveled edge. The shaft faying surface is in intimate contact with the inner-race. The inner-race second annular face is coplanar with the distal end surface. The shaft annular beveled edge cooperates with the inner-race faying surface to define a half-V shaped groove. An annular weld joint is formed in the half-V shaped groove thereby joining the shaft to the inner-race. The outer-race includes a first width (W1) and the inner-race includes a second width (W2). W2 is wider than W1 by greater than 0 millimeters (mm) to about 10 mm.

Abstract: A busbar for high conductivity distribution of electrical power within a power module of an electric vehicle (EV). The busbar may include a plurality of multilayer composites having copper-graphene laminations. One or more of the multilayer composite may include a first copper-graphene lamination having a plurality of graphene layers disposed between a plurality of copper layers, a second copper-graphene lamination having a plurality of graphene layers disposed between a plurality of copper layers, and a carrier substrate disposed relative to the first and second copper-graphene laminations.

Abstract: A vehicular battery module comprises a plurality of battery cells having a first end and a second end. Each battery cell comprises a first portion extending to a second portion. Each first portion has a conductive first terminal and each second portion has a conductive second terminal. The module further comprises at least one cell holder in which the plurality of battery cells is disposed. The module further comprises first and second current collectors. The first current collector comprises a first metal substrate and a first copper-graphene (Cu-Gr) multilayer composite disposed on the first metal substrate. The first current collector is disposed on the first end of the plurality of battery cells. The second current collector comprises a second metal substrate and a second Cu-Gr multilayer composite disposed on the second metal substrate. The second current collector is disposed on the second end of the plurality of battery cells.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes strengthened structural elements effected through surface alloying and heating via an induction heating fixture. A rotor includes laminations formed to have internal cavities and structural members adjacent the cavities. A number of the laminations are stacked to form a lamination stack. An alloying material is applied to the lamination stack at the structural members. The lamination stack is placed in a fixture so that an inductor extends along the structural members and cooling elements extend through the cavities. A current is applied to the inductor to heat the structural members, alloying the alloying material into the structural members.

Abstract: An electric machine may have a stator and a rotor including stacked plurality of electrical steel laminations forming a slot including a first end and opposing sides, the first end defined by a bridge extending between electrical steel on opposing sides of the slot, the bridge being located between the first end of the slot and an outer diameter surface of the rotor and beneath the outer diameter surface of the rotor, the bridge forming a base of a channel open at an outer diameter surface of the rotor.

Abstract: A method of making a die cast part having high wear resistance is provided. The method comprises providing a mold and an insert pin. The mold comprises an interior surface defining a cavity. The mold comprises a bore formed through the interior surface. The insert pin has a magnetic core having a magnetic field and a barrier disposed about the magnetic core. The insert pin is disposed in the bore and extends into the cavity. The method comprises filling the mold with metallic material such that the metallic material is in contact with the insert pin to define a contact layer. The method comprises modifying iron content within the contact layer with the magnetic field to define an outer layer and an inner layer formed between the outer layer and the insert pin. The inner layer has 3-5 wt % Fe and the outer layer has 0.01-0.5 wt % Fe.

Abstract: A differential carrier and ring gear assembly for a vehicle is provided. The assembly comprises a differential carrier, a ring gear, and a weld nugget. The differential carrier comprises an outer surface including a first contact face having a weld end extending to a root end. The first contact face has a first slot formed on a first radial portion thereof. The ring gear is disposed about the differential carrier and comprises an inner side having an inner surface. The inner side has a stop flange abutting the root end. The inner surface comprises a second contact face disposed on the first contact face such that the root end is in abutment with the second end. The first and second hollow channels define a pocket therebetween and the first slot defines a first vent hole for venting. The weld nugget is disposed between the first and second contact faces.

Abstract: The concepts described herein provide a method, system, and apparatus for joining, via welding, first and second members fabricated from an aluminum alloy including aluminum, zinc, and manganese, such as 7000-series aluminum alloys, and a resultant workpiece. A junction is formed by a first member being disposed contiguously to a second member. A welding machine generates a weld pool at the junction that includes liquified aluminum alloy. An ultrasonic transducer directs ultrasonic energy in proximity to the weld pool. In some embodiments, an electro-magnetic transducer directs electro-magnetic energy in proximity to the weld pool. The first member is fused to the second member at the junction upon solidification of the weld pool.

Abstract: A system for increasing joint strength and reducing embrittlement in a resistance spot weld of metal workpieces is disclosed. The system comprises a stackup of first and second metal workpieces, and an interface member disposed between the first and second metal workpieces. The interface member comprises a peripheral wall defining a hollow inner portion. The peripheral wall has a first open end extending to a second open end. The first open end is in contact with the first metal workpiece defining a first weld portion thereon. The second open end is in contact with the second metal workpiece defining a second weld portion thereon. The system further comprises a first electrode configured to contact the first metal workpiece to heat the peripheral wall at the first weld portion and join the first metal workpiece with the first open end of the peripheral wall.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes strengthened structural elements effected through surface alloying and heating via an induction heating fixture. A rotor includes laminations formed to have internal cavities and structural members adjacent the cavities. A number of the laminations are stacked to form a lamination stack. An alloying material is applied to the lamination stack at the structural members. The lamination stack is placed in a fixture so that an inductor extends along the structural members and cooling elements extend through the cavities. A current is applied to the inductor to heat the structural members, alloying the alloying material into the structural members.

Abstract: A damper for suppressing vibrations of a crankshaft of a vehicle is disclosed. The damper comprises a hub having a circular wall extending about a rotational axis to define a bore formed therethrough. The wall comprises a step portion radially extending therefrom and having a first arcuate portion formed thereon. The hub comprises a body portion radially extending from the wall to a lip to define an open cavity. The damper comprises a weld nugget disposed between the hub and the plate. The weld nugget has a root extending therethrough concurrent with the rotational axis to join the hub and the plate. The root has tip defining a profile such that the hollow channel is disposed at an angle tangent to the profile to lessen cracking due to stress.

Abstract: A method of joining a first piece of an automotive component that is made from a first material to a second piece of the automotive component that is made from a second material includes machining a fay surface onto each of the first and second pieces of the automotive component, cleaning the fay surfaces of each of the first and second pieces of the automotive component, placing a metal filler between the fay surfaces of the first and second pieces of the automotive component, holding the first and second pieces together with the metal filler positioned between the fay surfaces of the first and second pieces, and passing an electric current through the first piece, the metal filler and the second piece to melt the metal filler and weld the first piece to the second piece.

Abstract: Angled, single laser weld and a method of forming an angled, single laser weld including arranging a first and second faying surfaces of a first and second component adjacently to form an interface between the components; irradiating at least one of the first and second components at the interface with a laser, wherein the first faying surface defines a plane formed at an angle alpha in the range of +/?5 degrees to 60 degrees from an axis A perpendicular to the first front surface and the second faying surface matches the first faying surface; and forming a junction at the interface with an hourglass shaped weld.

Abstract: A valve seat formed within an aluminum engine component includes a valve seat surface machined within the aluminum engine component, a layer of copper alloy material laser clad onto the valve seat surface of the aluminum engine component, the layer of copper alloy material having a thickness of less than 2.0 millimeters, and a layer of copper alloy/tool steel carbide material laser clad onto the layer of copper alloy material, the layer of copper alloy/tool steel carbide material having an average thickness of less than 0.5 millimeters, wherein the layer of copper alloy/tool steel carbide material has an outer surface that is machined to a final valve seat profile.

Abstract: The concepts described herein provide a method, system, and apparatus for joining, via welding, first and second members fabricated from an aluminum alloy including aluminum, zinc, and manganese, such as 7000-series aluminum alloys, and a resultant workpiece. A junction is formed by a first member being disposed contiguously to a second member. A welding machine generates a weld pool at the junction that includes liquified aluminum alloy. An ultrasonic transducer directs ultrasonic energy in proximity to the weld pool. In some embodiments, an electro-magnetic transducer directs electro-magnetic energy in proximity to the weld pool. The first member is fused to the second member at the junction upon solidification of the weld pool.