Abstract: A method of manufacturing a body, preferrably an automotive vehicle body, to have a plurality of coating layers, starts with assembling the body out of parts made from pre-coated metal. A pretreatment step provides for paint adhesion and/or corrosion protection for cut edges, weld spots or metal finished areas. A powder paint base coat is then applied onto the pre-coated metal of the vehicle body. The pre-coat layer is one of the plurality of coating layers and the powder paint base coat is another one of the plurality of coating layers. In another embodiment, the powder paint base coat is applied in two steps, a first powder paint base coat and a color powder paint base coat. The first powder paint base coat is applied to a first portion of the vehicle body and the color powder paint base coat is applied to a second portion of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a body, preferrably an automotive vehicle body, to have a plurality of coating layers, starts with assembling the body out of parts made from pre-coated metal. A pretreatment step provides for paint adhesion and/or corrosion protection for cut edges, weld spots or metal finished areas. A powder paint base coat is then applied onto the pre-coated metal of the vehicle body. The pre-coat layer is one of the plurality of coating layers and the powder paint base coat is another one of the plurality of coating layers. In another embodiment, the powder paint base coat is applied in two steps, a first powder paint base coat and a color powder paint base coat. The first powder paint base coat is applied to a first portion of the vehicle body and the color powder paint base coat is applied to a second portion of the vehicle body.

Abstract: An air circulation system mounted within a chamber is provided. The chamber receives a product to be tested or processed. The air circulation system comprises an enclosure defined within the chamber with at least one inlet formed in the enclosure for receiving air from the chamber. A pair of counter rotating fans are mounted within the enclosure adjacent the inlet for circulating the air. Additionally, at least one air diverter plate is mounted within the enclosure adjacent the fans for diverting the circulating air substantially across the width of the enclosure. Furthermore, at least one air outlet is formed in the enclosure for introducing circulating air into the chamber about the product being tested or processed.

Abstract: A shaker table assembly for a test chamber is provided. The test chamber has side walls defining an enclosure with the enclosure receiving a product to be tested. The shaker table assembly comprises a table top plate having a first side and a second side with the product being releasably secured to the first side of the table top plate. An insulation layer is provided having a first side and a second side with the first side of the insulation layer being secured to the second side of the table top plate. An understructure support member is provided having a first side and a second side with the first side of the understructure support member being secured to the second side of the insulation layer. At least one vibrator assembly is mounted to the second side of the understructure support member.

Abstract: A shaker table assembly for a test chamber is provided. The shaker table assembly comprises a table mechanism having a first side for mounting a product to be tested and a second side substantially opposite the first side. A first vibration mechanism is mounted to the second side of the table mechanism and a second vibration mechanism is mounted to the second side of the table mechanism wherein the first vibration mechanism is constructed differently from the second vibration mechanism.

Abstract: An interposer device for adjusting and controlling the shock response of a shaker table assembly is provided. The shaker table assembly has a mounting table and at least one vibrator assembly. The interposer device comprises a substantially planar plate mounted between the mounting table and the vibrator assembly with the planar plate having a predetermined desired spring constant.

Abstract: A method for flashing an object painted with a water-borne high-solids automotive paint that substantially reduces the frequency of base-coat pop defects. The method subjects the painted objects to a first set of environmental conditions wherein the air temperature, relative humidity and airflow rate are maintained within certain ranges. The painted objects are maintained in these conditions for a period of time which exceeds an empirically derived minimum value. The peak metal temperature of the painted object is then raised to a second temperature range while being subjected to a second relative humidity level and second airflow rate so as to dehydrate the paint film to a predetermined level.

Abstract: An extruded foam polystyrene sheet is formed into a roof vent panel for a sloping roof at the eaves. The panel has flanges and an offset wall and is formed into through troughs end-to-end which are divided by truncated triangular ridges extending from the offset wall. The ridge is reinforced by gussets and saddles which are formed as sets along the ridges. The gussets extend from the offset wall to the ridge side walls and the saddles connect the ridge side walls below the truncated apex of the ridge. The gussets on each side wall are spaced and paired with one of each pair at the end of a saddle.

Abstract: A true random vibration generator for use in mechanical vibration generation includes a housing, a piston, and a programmer. The housing defines a cylinder closed at an impact end. The piston is slidably disposed in the cylinder and propelled by a pressurized gas. The programmer is freely moveable in the cylinder between the piston and the impact end of the cylinder. As the piston is propelled towards the impact end of the cylinder by the pressurized gas, the piston strikes the programmer causing the programmer to randomly bounce between the impact end of the cylinder and the piston. The bouncing continue until the programmer impacts the housing and the cylinder at substantially the same time. The piston is then propelled back its original position by the pressurized gas and the impact with the housing. The above described piston cycle is repeated and continues to impart vibration energy to the housing.