Abstract: An exemplary brake assembly includes a brake pad, an actuator that selectively moves the brake pad to contact a rotor, and a thermoelectric generator device housed outside the brake pad. The thermoelectric generator device generates power in response to a temperature difference within the brake assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle traction battery assembly may include a traction battery cell, a case, and a thermal plate. The case may define a cavity to receive the traction battery cell and has a first side defining a first form feature. The thermal plate may be for positioning adjacent the traction battery cell and define a coolant channel sized for engagement with the case via the first form feature such that traction battery cell is in thermal communication with coolant flowing through the coolant channel. The first form feature may be serpentine-shaped or S-shaped. The first form feature may be castle-shaped from a cross-sectional plan view. The case may be multi-layered and include a first polymer layer, a second polymer layer, and an aluminum layer disposed between the polymer layers.

Abstract: A method of mitigating temperature buildup in a passenger compartment of a vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) monitoring a temperature differential between a temperature inside the passenger compartment and an ambient temperature of the passenger compartment; (b) generating power utilizing the temperature differential; and (c) actuating a passive mitigation accessory when the temperature differential is above a predetermined threshold. The method may include the additional steps of using the power generated utilizing the temperature differential to actuate said passive mitigation accessory and/or providing the power generated utilizing the temperature differential to said passive mitigation accessory via at least one standard wire harness of the vehicle.

Abstract: An exemplary battery cell assembly includes, among other things, an extruded case that provides an open area, and an electrode of a battery pack of an electrified vehicle. The electrode is held within the open area. An exemplary electrode housing method includes, among other things, positioning an electrode of an electrified vehicle battery pack within an open area of an extruded case.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a battery cell casing for holding a plurality of cell elements, each electrode structure in its own compartment. The disclosed casing eliminates the need for some individual cell walls and replaces them with shared wall partitions.

Abstract: A battery management controller includes input channels to receive a voltage signal from a battery and output channels to provide diagnostic signals to an operator. The controller is programmed to output a diagnostic signal predictive of a thermal condition in response to the voltage decreasing at a rate greater than a predetermined rate that signals that the voltage is decreasing toward a local minimum that precedes an increase in the voltage indicative of a battery temperature increase rate becoming greater than a threshold. The diagnostic signal may be used to alert the operator of the condition. The controller may be further programmed to issue commands to mitigate the thermal condition based on the diagnostic signal.

Abstract: An exemplary brake assembly includes a brake pad, an actuator that selectively moves the brake pad to contact a rotor, and a thermoelectric generator device housed outside the brake pad. The thermoelectric generator device generates power in response to a temperature difference within the brake assembly.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a rechargeable battery is provided comprising an electrolyte including an organic solvent and a solution-treated polyolefin separator. A contact angle of the electrolyte including the organic solvent upon the separator may be from 0 to 15 degrees. In one embodiment, the solution-treated polyolefin layer has an increased concentration of ionic functional groups at its surface compared to an untreated polyolefin layer. In another embodiment, the solution-treated polyolefin separator has been treated with a treatment solution having a pH of either at most 2 or at least 12. The separator may be treated with an acid or base solution for at least 30 seconds. The solution-treated separator may exhibit improved wetting with an electrolyte compared to an untreated separator.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a rechargeable battery is provided comprising an electrolyte including an organic solvent and a solution-treated polyolefin separator. A contact angle of the electrolyte including the organic solvent upon the separator may be from 0 to 15 degrees. In one embodiment, the solution-treated polyolefin layer has an increased concentration of ionic functional groups at its surface compared to an untreated polyolefin layer. In another embodiment, the solution-treated polyolefin separator has been treated with a treatment solution having a pH of either at most 2 or at least 12. The separator may be treated with an acid or base solution for at least 30 seconds. The solution-treated separator may exhibit improved wetting with an electrolyte compared to an untreated separator.

Abstract: Described is a rechargeable lithium ion battery comprised of (a) a negative electrode and (b) a positive electrode both comprised of a current collector and applied to each a mixture of chlorinated polymer blend and lithium intercalation materials and (c) a separator/ polymer electrolyte comprised of chlorinated polymer blend and filler.

Abstract: The use of a polymer mesh made of material that melts under thermal runaway helps improve the safety of an electrochemical device. The mesh material can increase the impedance of the battery during the thermal runaway and absorb some of the heat produced.

Abstract: The use of a polymer mesh made of material that melts under thermal runaway helps improve the safety of an electrochemical device. The mesh material can increase the impedance of the battery during the thermal runaway and absorb some of the heat produced.

Abstract: An adjustable-length cane with a grasping apparatus includes a trigger at one end of the cane and a finger at the other end. The trigger and the finger are pivotally mounted within the body of the cane and have portions extending out of the cane body through slots. A cord and pulley system within the cane body connects the trigger and the finger so that when the trigger is activated, the finger closes or opens to either grasp or release objects. The finger includes a locking clip or similar device which holds the cord at a preselected point. This feature allows the user to vary the amount that the finger opens, and it allows the grasping apparatus to operate optimally irrespective of the length of the cane. The grasping apparatus may be locked in the closed position by appropriately sliding a sleeve into a locking zone on the trigger.

Abstract: A non-wet processed tufted carpet (10) includes a plurality of face yarns (12), dyeable to the desired carpet color prior to tufting, which are tufted into and through a primary backing fabric (14) and which are more securedly held in place by a secondary backing fabric (16) without the use of an adhesive binder, the secondary backing fabric locking the face yarn in place upon the application of heat to a non-wet surface of the secondary backing fabric non-adjacent to the primary backing fabric. The tufted carpet (10) does not include any latex or binding adhesives which may cause odors or emit volatile organic chemicals. Moreover, the face yarn (12), primary backing fabric (14), and secondary backing fabric (16) are made of the same type of polymeric material, thereby creating a carpet which is wholly recyclable. The carpet (10) also uses only predyed fibers and yarns as the face yarn, thereby eliminating the need to dye or wet process and dry the carpet during its manufacture.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a tab-fuse for connecting two adjacent cells in a multicell battery, which includes: a metallic member having a base portion for attachment to the positive end of one of the adjacent cells and a tab portion which is bendable for attachment of the distal end thereof to the negative end of the other of the adjacent cells; and the base portion and the proximal end of the tab portion being joined by a relatively narrow portion of selected width, such that the narrow portion serves as a fusible link for overcurrent protection.

Abstract: The portable sign includes a display frame, a base having shafts for pivotably mounting the display frame on the base, first and second stops, one positioned on one side of the base, the other positioned diagonally across on the opposite side of the base. The spring structure has two springs, each engaging and winding only in one direction to prevent unwinding of the spring. Upon application of a force such as the wind to the display frame, the first spring engages the adjacent stop and tightens while the second spring disengages from the adjacent stop and rotates away from the stop. This allows deflection of the frame while protecting the spring from being unwound.A second embodiment of the portable sign includes a display frame, a base having shafts for pivotably mounting the display frame on the base, and a spring mechanism for biasing the display frame including a first bracket for retaining a spring, a spring, and a second bracket for slidably retaining a spring.

Abstract: A roll type display sign for a pump is disclosed having an upper bracket mounted to slide across an upper edge of a frame surrounding a pump face. A spring biased roller is mounted to the upper bracket and a display sheet is mounted to the roller such that the sheet is movable between a retracted position, in which the display sheet is wrapped around the roller, and an extended position, in which the display sheet extends across and substantially parallel to a portion of the pump face. The sign also includes a lower bracket mounted to a lower frame edge. This lower bracket is provided with three hooks spaced across the length of the lower edge which engage a loop member mounted to a cross bar attached to an edge of the display sheet. By sliding the upper bracket into an appropriate position and hooking the loop defining member about an appropriate one of the three hooks, the display sheet can be positioned over any one of three portions of the pump face.

Abstract: A process for the recovery in a usable condition of one or more components of grinding swarf comprises grinding and screening the swarf where necessary, mixing and washing it first with a hydrocarbon or chlorinated hydrocarbon combined with a surfactant and the removal of the bulk of the resulting solution is effected, following which the resulting swarf is then washed one or more times with a solvent for grease and oil with no added surfactant. Again the bulk of the resulting solution is first removed leaving a product moist with some remaining solution. This product is then heated in a closed environment to remove the residual solution by volatilization. Depending on the component in the original swarf which is to be recovered, magnetic separation of the steel from abrasive particles may be effected at some stage, and abrasive grains of different compositions can be separated. The used solvent without surfactant can be processed for reuse and the lubricant recovered.

Abstract: The invention provides improved apparatus for transferring articles from a transfer station to a receiving station which comprises gripping members including oppositely disposed elastic bands for gripping the sides of an article to be transferred, engagement members for displacing the elastic bands toward one another to grip the sides of the article at the transfer station, and transfer members for transferring the gripping members from the transfer station to a receiving station. The use of the oppositely disposed elastic bands renders the apparatus especially suitable for transferring fragile articles such as bakery products from a transfer station to a package or packaging station.