Abstract: A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is open to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.

Abstract: A method for executing mechanical overload protection to prevent commanding a control signal to a linear actuator that may mechanically overload the linear actuator when an overload condition of the linear actuator is detected, the linear actuator utilized for controlling a movable element associated with the linear actuator responsive to the control signal, includes monitoring an overload condition based on position change of the movable element associated with the linear actuator during an integration period and excess energy during the integration period, de-energizing the linear actuator when an overload condition has been detected, monitoring an overload retry counter based on the number of cycles the overload condition is detected, comparing the overload retry counter to an overload retry threshold, an reenergizing the linear actuator when the overload retry counter is less than the overload retry threshold and maintaining de-energizing of the linear actuator when the overload retry counter is at least

Abstract: A pressure relief valve includes a housing and vane that is movable to one of an open position and a closed position. A linear actuator mechanically couples between the movable vane and the housing. The linear actuator is a wire device fabricated from a shape memory alloy. An actuable latching system is configured to retain the movable vane in one of the open position and the closed position for an indeterminate time period.

Abstract: A reversibly deployable spoiler for a vehicle comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as shape memory material, is operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material can change its shape, dimensions and/or stiffness producing a change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness to control vehicle airflow and downforce to better suit changes in driving conditions such as speed, while reducing maintenance and the level of failure modes. An activation device, controller and sensors may be employed to further control the change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness.

Abstract: A reversibly deployable spoiler for a vehicle comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as shape memory material, is operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material can change its shape, dimensions and/or stiffness producing a change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness to control vehicle airflow and downforce to better suit changes in driving conditions such as speed, while reducing maintenance and the level of failure modes. An activation device, controller and sensors may be employed to further control the change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment may include a coating composition including an additive to prevent or hinder at least one of the coating or an underlying substrate from destabilization upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a guidewire for use in a medical procedure. Embodiments of the invention may include a guidewire having an elongate core wire where the core wire is unground, has a length, and a substantially uniform cross-section. A thermoplastic material is extruded with the core wire and surrounds a portion of the core wire. Another embodiment is directed to a method of manufacturing a guidewire including providing an unground core wire having a length, providing a thermoplastic material, and extruding the thermoplastic material onto the core wire such that a portion of the wire is surrounded by the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an exhaust gas waste heat recovery heat exchanger including a housing having a working fluid inlet, a working fluid outlet, an exhaust inlet, and an exhaust outlet, an exhaust flow path extending through the housing between the exhaust inlet and the exhaust outlet, and a working fluid flow path extending through the housing between the working fluid inlet and the working fluid outlet and having a first portion and a second portion. A flow of working fluid along the first portion of the working fluid flow path can be substantially counter to a flow of exhaust along the exhaust flow path, and the flow of working fluid along the second portion of the working fluid flow path can be substantially parallel to the flow of exhaust along the exhaust flow path.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for transferring heat energy between a first working fluid and a second working fluid. The heat exchanger can include a first sheet contoured to define a plurality of first fins and having an upper end and a lower end, a second sheet contoured to define a plurality of second fins and being positioned between the upper end of the first sheet and the lower end of the first sheet, and a housing formed from a third sheet and at least partially enclosing the first sheet and the second sheet.

Abstract: An integrated fuel cell unit (10) includes an annular array (12) of fuel cell stacks (14), an annular cathode recuperator (20), an annular anode recuperator (22), a reformer (24), and an anode exhaust cooler (26), all integrated within a common housing structure (28).

Abstract: An integrated autothermal reformer/recuperator unit (10) is provided for reforming a feed gas flow to produce a reformate flow. The unit (10) includes a cylindrical housing (18) having a feed gas inlet (26) and a reformate flow outlet (32) located adjacent a first end (20) of the cylindrical housing (18). An autothermal reformer catalyst structure (12) is located in the housing and spaced from the first end, and a recuperator heat exchanger (16) is located in the housing (18) between the first end (20) and the catalyst structure (12).

Abstract: A hydrogen storage and release device (10) is provided for storing and releasing hydrogen from a metal hydride (30) contained in the device (10) based on heat transfer to or from a coolant flow provided through the device (10). The device (10) includes a housing (12) and a metal hydride containing a tube bundle located within the housing (12), with the exteriors (26) of the tubes (16) of the bundle (14) being reduced over a selected length to provide a free flow area for the coolant flow.

Abstract: A fuel cell thermal management system (10) is provided for maintaining a fuel cell stack (12) within a desired operating temperature range. The system (10) includes a thermal storage reservoir (14), a radiator (16), and a mixing valve (18). Heat from the fuel cell stack (12) is rejected to the thermal storage reservoir (14), and heat from the reservoir (14) is rejected to ambient in the radiator (16). The mixing valve (18) receives a coolant flow from the fuel cell stack (12) at a first temperature T1 and a coolant flow from the radiator (16) or the reservoir (14) at a second temperature T2 and mixes the two coolant flow together to provide a mixed coolant flow to the stack (12) at a third temperature T3 to maintain the stack (12) within its desired operating temperature range.

Abstract: A reversibly deployable spoiler for a vehicle comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as shape memory material, is operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material can change its shape, dimensions and/or stiffness producing a change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness to control vehicle airflow and downforce to better suit changes in driving conditions such as speed, while reducing maintenance and the level of failure modes. An activation device, controller and sensors may be employed to further control the change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (50) is provided for transferring heat between first and second fluids (52) and (54) having a maximum operating mass flow rate through the heat exchanger (50) and mass flow rates that are substantially proportional to each other. The heat exchanger (50) provides essentially constant outlet temperatures for the first and second fluids (52,54) for all of the flow rates within the operating spectrum of the heat exchanger (50) without the use of an active control system. The heat exchanger (50) is of particular use in the fuel processing system (36) of proton exchange membrane type fuel cell systems.

Abstract: A catalytic reactor/heat exchange device (10) is provided for generating a catalytic reaction in a reaction fluid flow (12) and transferring heat to a cooling fluid flow (14). The device includes reaction flow channels (20) with turbulators (30) therein. The turbulators (30) include an initial portion (40) and a selected portion (34) that includes a catalytic layer or coating (36) to initiate the desired catalytic reaction at a location (38) located downstream from the initial portion (40). In some preferred forms, each of the selected portions (34) of the turbulators (30) include at least one downstream section (103, 120) wherein the heat transfer performance has been intentionally reduced to improve performance of the device (10) during start up conditions.

Abstract: A condenser (10) and method for separating a fluid flow is provided. The condenser (10) maybe used for separating a cathode exhaust flow (60) into a condensed liquid (86) and a non-condensed gas (70). The condenser (10) includes a vertical inlet (14), a vertical outlet (16), a gas flow path (20), a liquid flow path (22), a non-condensed gas outlet (24) and a condensed liquid outlet (26).

Abstract: A coolant system includes a heat exchange circuit capable of being in a heat exchange relationship with a heat generating component, such as an engine, to remove thermal energy from the engine and transfer the thermal energy to a coolant, and an insulated tank in fluid communication with the heat exchange circuit. The system also includes a control and associated conduits and valves for passing coolant through the heat exchange circuit and the insulated tank so as to fill the tank with a first volume of coolant in a first operational state, for passing an additional amount of coolant from the heat exchange circuit into the insulated tank so as to fill the insulated tank with a second volume of coolant which is greater than the first volume of coolant in a second operational state, and for passing the additional amount of coolant from the insulated tank to the heat exchange circuit in a third operational state. A method of operating the coolant system to store thermal energy is also provided.

Abstract: An integrated heat exchanger and muffler unit (50,120,140) is provided for transferring heat between a first fluid and a second fluid, and for muffling the noise of the first fluid. The unit includes a housing (52) including a first inlet (60) for the first fluid, a first outlet (62) for the first fluid, a second inlet (64) for the second fluid, and a second outlet (66) for the second fluid. The unit (50,120,140) further includes a resonator (76) in the housing (52) and connected between the first inlet and outlet (60,62) to muffle noise in the first fluid, and a heat exchanger core (11,122) in the housing (52) connected to the first and second inlets and outlets to transfer heat between the first and second fluids. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger core surrounds the resonator. In another embodiment, the resonator surrounds the heat exchanger core.

Abstract: Rapid response to a fuel cell system of the type including a reformer (32) in response to a change in load is achieved in a system that includes a fuel tank (24), a water tank (20) and a source (42) of a fluid at an elevated temperature. A heat exchanger (28) is provided for vaporizing fuel and water and delivering the resulting vapor to the system reformer (32) and includes an inlet (64) and an outlet (66) for the fluid. It includes a plurality of fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) extending between the inlet (64) and outlet (66) as well as a fuel inlet (56) and a fuel outlet (58) spaced therefrom. The fuel inlet (56) and outlet (58) are connected by a plurality of fuel flow paths (52) that are in heat exchange relation with the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104) and the fuel water inlet (56) is located adjacent the upstream ends of the fluid flow paths (100), (102), (104).