Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to cladding, for example, suitable for covering a building surface. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a building surface panel including a longitudinal panel body and a fastening element. The longitudinal body extends along a length from a first end to a second end and having a first edge and a second edge. The fastening element includes a longitudinal strip extending along the first edge of the panel body, a first aperture passing through the longitudinal strip, and a first reinforcing projection extending outward from a perimeter edge of the first aperture.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to cladding for covering a building surface. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a method of manufacturing a building surface panel. The method includes providing a foam piece having a 30 day/23° C. residual shrinkage of no more than 0.2%. The foam piece having the 30 day/23° C. residual shrinkage of no more than 0.2% is attached to a rear side of an outer shell so as to form the building surface panel. In some embodiments, a front side of the outer shell forms a visible surface of the building surface panel. The foam piece can be provided, e.g., by aging the foam piece for a time and at a temperature such that the 30 day/23° C. residual shrinkage is no more than 0.2%. The foam piece to be aged can, in some embodiments, be cut from a body of foam.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to cladding for covering a building surface. The present disclosure relates more particularly a method of manufacturing a building surface panel. The method includes providing a foam piece having a 30 day/23° C. residual shrinkage of no more than 0.2%. The foam piece having the 30 day/23° C. residual shrinkage of no more than 0.2% is attached to a rear side of an outer shell so as to form the building surface panel. In some embodiments, a front side of the outer shell forms a visible surface of the building surface panel. The foam piece can be provided, e.g., by aging the foam piece for a time and at a temperature such that the 30 day/23° C. residual shrinkage is no more than 0.2%. The foam piece to be aged can, in some embodiments, be cut from a body of foam.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to cladding, for example, suitable for covering a building surface. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a building surface panel including a longitudinal panel body and a fastening element. The longitudinal body extends along a length from a first end to a second end and having a first edge and a second edge. The fastening element includes a longitudinal strip extending along the first edge of the panel body, a first aperture passing through the longitudinal strip, and a first reinforcing projection extending outward from a perimeter edge of the first aperture.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: (a) a mandrel; (b) an internal guide spaced apart from the mandrel; (c) an external guide extending around all or a portion of the internal guide and being spaced apart from the mandrel; wherein a pipe extends between the internal guide and the external guide and then over the mandrel so that the mandrel changes one or more dimensions of the pipe.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a method including: a) forming a layered tubular member (12) by placing one or more outer layers (16) about an inner layer (14) and joining at one or more seams (56) along a length of the layered tubular member, wherein the one or more outer layers include a first resin impregnated therein; b) applying the first resin or a second resin at the one or more seams; c) creating one or more fillets (58) along the one or more seams with the first resin, the second resin, or an adhesive; and d) curing the first resin, the second resin, and the adhesive so that the layered tubular member, the first resin, the second resin, and the adhesive form a composite structure having a tubular shape.

Abstract: A photovoltaic assembly comprising: (a) at least two photovoltaic components that are adjacent to each other, each photovoltaic component comprising: (i) a partial connector channel in communication with a partial connector channel in an adjacent photovoltaic component and (ii) one or more connector receptors; (b) a connector located at least partially in the partial connector channel of the photovoltaic component and at least partially in the partial connector channel of the adjacent photovoltaic component so that the connector connects the photovoltaic component to the adjacent photovoltaic component, the connector comprising: a housing having: (1) a top housing and (2) a bottom housing, wherein the top housing and the bottom housing each include a first end and a second end; one or more flexible electrical conductors that extend from the first end to the second end; wherein the top housing and the bottom housing each include one or more mechanical flexing regions that allow the housing to mechanically flex

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a method including: a) forming a layered tubular member (12) by placing one or more outer layers (16) about an inner layer (14) and joining at one or more seams (56) along a length of the layered tubular member, wherein the one or more outer layers include a first resin impregnated therein; b) applying the first resin or a second resin at the one or more seams; c) creating one or more fillets (58) along the one or more seams with the first resin, the second resin, or an adhesive; and d) curing the first resin, the second resin, and the adhesive so that the layered tubular member, the first resin, the second resin, and the adhesive form a composite structure having a tubular shape.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: (a) a mandrel; (b) an internal guide spaced apart from the mandrel; (c) an external guide extending around all or a portion of the internal guide and being spaced apart from the mandrel; wherein a pipe extends between the internal guide and the external guide and then over the mandrel so that the mandrel changes one or more dimensions of the pipe.

Abstract: An article useful as a forming and cutting tool for molding composite material and cutting non-planar edges of molded composite material. The article includes an upper and lower die. The upper die includes an upper pressure pad with an upper shearing edge and an upper mold with a cavity. The lower die includes a lower pressure pad and a lower mold with a core and a lower shearing edge. The upper die is adapted to come into contact with the lower die so that the upper pressure pad and upper mold apply pressure to the lower pressure pad and lower mold to form a composite material blank into a formed composite structure. The upper die is adapted to contact the lower die so that the upper shearing edge bypasses the lower shearing edge to form a non-planar cut in at least a portion of a formed composite.

Abstract: A forming and trimming tool (100) operable to form and trim a composite material part. The tool includes a lower die (150), a core (115) mounted to the lower die, at least one lower pressure pad (120) mounted to the lower die, and a cutter (125) mounted to the lower die. Additionally, the tool includes an upper die (105), a cavity mounted to the upper die, and at least one upper pressure pad (110) mounted to the upper die.

Abstract: An integrated frame comprising: (a) an integration portion that forms a cantilever connection with a stack of material, (b) a cover connected to and extending from the integration portion, and (c) a pair of extensions connected to and extending from the cover, wherein the cover extends over and protects a connector that is connected to and extending from the stack of material.

Abstract: A photovoltaic assembly comprising: (a) at least two photovoltaic components that are adjacent to each other, each photovoltaic component comprising: (i) a partial connector channel in communication with a partial connector channel in an adjacent photovoltaic component and (ii) one or more connector receptors; (b) a connector located at least partially in the partial connector channel of the photovoltaic component and at least partially in the partial connector channel of the adjacent photovoltaic component so that the connector connects the photovoltaic component to the adjacent photovoltaic component, the connector comprising: a housing having: (1) a top housing and (2) a bottom housing, wherein the top housing and the bottom housing each include a first end and a second end; one or more flexible electrical conductors that extend from the first end to the second end; wherein the top housing and the bottom housing each include one or more mechanical flexing regions that allow the housing to mechanically flex

Abstract: A photovoltaic module comprising: a base plate and a photovoltaic laminate that are connected together; wherein the photovoltaic module is configured to be directly connected to a roofing structure and provide roofing functions, and wherein the photovoltaic laminate is removable from the base plate without damaging the base plate and the base plate retains its roofing functions when the photovoltaic laminate is removed.

Abstract: Multilayer prepregs are formed by stacking layers of unidirectional prepregs in which continuous reinforcing fibers are aligned in a single direction. The unidirectional prepregs are made by impregnating aligned tows of a reinforcing fiber with a solid thermosetting resin that softens at a temperature below its cure temperature. The layers of the stack are bonded together by softening and then re-cooling the resin portion of the individual prepreg layers. The multilayer prepreg is then molded and cured to form a composite part.

Abstract: A forming and trimming tool (100) operable to form and trim a composite material part. The tool includes a lower die (150), a core (115) mounted to the lower die, at least one lower pressure pad (120) mounted to the lower die, and a cutter (125) mounted to the lower die. Additionally, the tool includes an upper die (105), a cavity mounted to the upper die, and at least one upper pressure pad (110) mounted to the upper die.

Abstract: An uncured acoustic absorbing member (1, 31) for cavity sealing comprises a thermally inert carrier (8, 38) and a thermally expandable material (6, 40) applied to the carrier. The carrier (8, 38) contains openings (3, 33) which become covered when the thermally expandable material is expanded to seal the cavity. The acoustic absorbing members (1, 31) are particularly useful for sealing automotive cavities to provide acoustical abatement and to prevent the entry of fluids into the cavity.

Abstract: An uncured acoustic absorbing member for cavity sealing comprises a thermally inert carrier (8, 28) and a thermally expandable material (6, 26) applied to the carrier (8, 28). The carrier (8, 28) contains openings (3) which become covered when the thermally expandable material (6, 26) is expanded to seal the cavity. The thermally expandable material (6, 26) may be in the form of substantially discontinuous segments (25) having an area in the range of 0.25 to 400 mm2. The substantially discontinuous segments (25) provide a highly uniform expansion of the material when it is thermally expanded. The acoustic absorbing members are particularly useful for sealing automotive cavities to provide acoustical abatement and to prevent the entry of fluids into the cavity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to articles and heat storage devices for storage of thermal energy. The articles include a metal base sheet and a metal cover sheet, wherein the metal base sheet and the metal cover sheet are sealingly joined to form one or more sealed spaces. The articles include a thermal energy storage material that is contained within the sealed spaces. The sealed spaces preferably are substantially free of water or includes liquid water at a concentration of about 1 percent by volume or less at a temperature of about 25° C., based on the total volume of the sealed spaces. The articles include one or more of the following features: a) the pressure in a sealed space is about 700 Torr or less, when the temperature of the thermal energy storage material is about 25° C.

Abstract: An uncured acoustic absorbing member (1, 31) for cavity sealing comprises a thermally inert carrier (8, 38) and a thermally expandable material (6, 40) applied to the carrier. The carrier (8, 38) contains openings (3, 33) which become covered when the thermally expandable material is expanded to seal the cavity. The acoustic absorbing members (1, 31) are particularly useful for sealing automotive cavities to provide acoustical abatement and to prevent the entry of fluids into the cavity.