Abstract: A battery assembly including a plurality of battery cells and at least one frame having a support feature formed thereon is disclosed. The support feature supports electrically conductive tabs of the battery cells and militates against damage to the battery assembly during a joining of one of the electrically conductive tabs with another one of the electrically conductive tabs of an adjacent battery cell or during a joining of the electrically conductive tabs of adjacent battery cells with a connector.

Abstract: A cooling module for a battery pack assembly is disclosed. The cooling module includes a frame having a plurality of legs forming an opening through a central portion of the frame, at least one of the plurality of legs including a slot formed therethrough. A cooling fin is coupled to the frame. The cooling fin includes a corrugated plate interposed between a first plate and a second plate forming a plurality of fluid flow channels between the first plate and the second plate. The cooling modules are disposed in a stack having at least one battery cell disposed between adjacent cooling modules. The battery cell is in heat transfer communication with the cooling fin of at least one cooling module, wherein the cooling fin facilitates a transfer of heat energy between the battery cell and the flow channels formed in the cooling fin.

Abstract: A battery assembly including a plurality of battery cells and at least one frame having a support feature formed thereon is disclosed. The support feature supports electrically conductive tabs of the battery cells and militates against damage to the battery assembly during a joining of one of the electrically conductive tabs with another one of the electrically conductive tabs of an adjacent battery cell or during a joining of the electrically conductive tabs of adjacent battery cells with a connector.

Abstract: A battery assembly including a plurality of battery cells and at least one frame having a support feature formed thereon is disclosed. The support feature supports electrically conductive tabs of the battery cells and militates against damage to the battery assembly during a joining of one of the electrically conductive tabs with another one of the electrically conductive tabs of an adjacent battery cell or during a joining of the electrically conductive tabs of adjacent battery cells with a connector.

Abstract: A molded cooling fin and frame is described. The molded cooling fin and frame includes a corrugated center cooling fin; a pair of outer cooling fins on opposite sides of the corrugated center cooling fin, each of the outer cooling fins having a ridge around an edge; and a frame covering an edge of each of the outer cooling fins, the frame sealed to the edge of each of the outer cooling fins. A battery pack including the molded cooling fin and frame and a method of making the molded cooling fin and frame are also described.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided which includes a mounting system for a manifold having a mounting plate. The fuel cell system also includes a fuel cell stack with a first end and a second end. The first end of the fuel cell stack includes at least one port in communication with the manifold. A clamping system is disposed on the second end of the fuel cell stack and is operable to engage the mounting plate of the manifold to couple the manifold to the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A molded cooling fin and frame is described. The molded cooling fin and frame includes a corrugated center cooling fin; a pair of outer cooling fins on opposite sides of the corrugated center cooling fin, each of the outer cooling fins having a ridge around an edge; and a frame covering an edge of each of the outer cooling fins, the frame sealed to the edge of each of the outer cooling fins. A battery pack including the molded cooling fin and frame and a method of making the molded cooling fin and frame are also described.

Abstract: A battery assembly including a plurality of battery cells and at least one frame having a support feature formed thereon is disclosed. The support feature supports electrically conductive tabs of the battery cells and militates against damage to the battery assembly during a joining of one of the electrically conductive tabs with another one of the electrically conductive tabs of an adjacent battery cell or during a joining of the electrically conductive tabs of adjacent battery cells with a connector.

Abstract: A cooling module for a battery pack assembly is disclosed. The cooling module includes a frame having a plurality of legs forming an opening through a central portion of the frame, at least one of the plurality of legs including a slot formed therethrough. A cooling fin is coupled to the frame. The cooling fin includes a corrugated plate interposed between a first plate and a second plate forming a plurality of fluid flow channels between the first plate and the second plate. The cooling modules are disposed in a stack having at least one battery cell disposed between adjacent cooling modules. The battery cell is in heat transfer communication with the cooling fin of at least one cooling module, wherein the cooling fin facilitates a transfer of heat energy between the battery cell and the flow channels formed in the cooling fin.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided which includes a mounting system for a manifold having a mounting plate. The fuel cell system also includes a fuel cell stack with a first end and a second end. The first end of the fuel cell stack includes at least one port in communication with the manifold. A clamping system is disposed on the second end of the fuel cell stack and is operable to engage the mounting plate of the manifold to couple the manifold to the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: An optical signal demodulator for demodulating an M-ary phase shift key (PSK) optical signal comprises a plurality of interferometers arranged such that the optical signal is divided between the interferometes. Each interferometer comprises a plurality of interferometer arms, each arm for transmitting a portion of the signal between an input and an output of the interferometer, the interferometer including an optical delay in one arm relative to another arm thereof. The optical delay between arms of an interferometer may be provided by an optical path length difference between the arms. The optical delay between arms of an interferometer may be different for one interferometer to that of another interferometer.

Abstract: An infinitely variable cam indexer utilizes engine oil pressure to actuate a cam and preferably uses an inlet check valve in the oil source to minimize back flow during a torque reversal. The control system is in the center of the rotor and uses an electromechanical actuator, preferably a variable force solenoid, acting directly on the spool to control oil flow. This design reduces leakage and improves the response of the phaser. There are shorter oil passages as compared to a control system mounted at the cam bearing.

Abstract: A variable camshaft timing system having a camshaft with a vane-type rotor, where oscillation of the housing relative to the vane is actuated by pressurized engine oil, derived in part from a torque pulse in the camshaft. An annular locking plate is positioned coaxially with the camshaft and the housing. It is moveable relative to the housing along the longitudinal central axis of the camshaft between two positions, the teeth on the locking plate engaging the teeth on the housing and where the teeth on the locking plate are disengaged from the teeth on the housing, each position preventing circumferential movement of the housing relative to the rotor. The locking plate is biased by a plurality of metallic straps towards engagement of the teeth on locking plate with the teeth on the housing. The straps have one end secured to the locking plate and another end secured to the rotor.

Abstract: An infinitely variable camshaft timing device (phaser) has a control valve located in the rotor. Since the control valve is in the rotor, the camshaft need only provide a single passage for supplying engine oil or hydraulic fluid, and does not need multiple passageways for controlling the phaser, as in the prior art. Two check valves, an advance chamber check valve and a retard chamber check valve, are also located in the rotor. The check valves are located in the control passages for each chamber. The main advantage of putting the check valves in the advance and retard chambers instead of having a single check valve in the supply is to reduce leakage. This design also eliminates high pressure oil flow across the spool valve and improves the response time of the check valve to the torque reversals due to a shorter oil path. In addition, the phaser of the present invention outperforms an oil pressure actuated device and consumes less oil.

Abstract: An infinitely variable cam indexer utilizes engine oil pressure to actuate a cam and preferably uses an inlet check valve in the oil source to minimize back flow during a torque reversal. The control system is in the center of the rotor and uses an electromechanical actuator, preferably a variable force solenoid, acting directly on the spool to control oil flow. This design reduces leakage and improves the response of the phaser. There are shorter oil passages as compared to a control system mounted at the cam bearing.

Abstract: An infinitely variable cam indexer utilizes engine oil pressure to actuate a cam and preferably uses an inlet check valve in the oil source to minimize back flow during a torque reversal. The control system is in the center of the rotor and uses an electromechanical actuator, preferably a variable force solenoid, acting directly on the spool to control oil flow. This design reduces leakage and improves the response of the phaser. There are shorter oil passages as compared to a control system mounted at the cam bearing.

Abstract: An infinitely variable camshaft timing device (phaser) has a control valve located in the rotor. Since the control valve is in the rotor, the camshaft need only provide a single passage for supplying engine oil or hydraulic fluid, and does not need multiple passageways for controlling the phaser, as in the prior art. Two check valves, an advance chamber check valve and a retard chamber check valve, are also located in the rotor. The check valves are located in the control passages for each chamber. The main advantage of putting the check valves in the advance and retard chambers instead of having a single check valve in the supply is to reduce leakage. This design also eliminates high pressure oil flow across the spool valve and improves the response time of the check valve to the torque reversals due to a shorter oil path. In addition, the phaser of the present invention outperforms an oil pressure actuated device and consumes less oil.

Abstract: A hub is secured to a camshaft for rotation synchronous with the camshaft, and a housing circumscribes the hub and is rotatable with the hub and the camshaft and is further oscillatable with respect to the hub and the camshaft within a predetermined angle of rotation. Driving vanes are radially disposed within the housing and cooperate with an external surface on the hub, while driven vanes are radially disposed in the hub and cooperate with an internal surface of the housing. A locking device, reactive to oil pressure, prevents relative motion between the housing and the hub. A controlling device controls the oscillation of the housing relative to the hub.

Abstract: A variable camshaft timing system comprising a camshaft (36) with a vane (20) secured to the camshaft for rotation with the camshaft but not for oscillation with respect to the camshaft. The vane has a circumferentially extending plurality of lobes (20, 22, 24) projecting radially outwardly therefrom and is surrounded by an annular housing (28) that has a corresponding plurality of recesses (30, 32, 34) each of which receives one of the lobes and has a circumferential extent greater than the circumferential extent of the lobe received therein to permit oscillation of the housing relative to the vane and the camshaft while the housing rotates with the camshaft and the vane. Oscillation of the housing relative to the vane and the camshaft is actuated by pressurized engine oil in each of the recesses on opposed sides of the lobe therein, the oil pressure in such recess being preferably derived in part from a torque pulse in the camshaft as it rotates during its operation.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a camshaft (14) and variable camshaft timing system, where a rotor (22) is secured to the camshaft (14) and is rotatable but non-oscillatable with respect to the camshaft (14). A housing (68) circumscribes the rotor (22), is rotatable with both the rotor (22) and the camshaft (14), and is further oscillatable with respect to both the rotor (22) and the camshaft (14) between a fully retarded position and a fully advanced position. A locking configuration prevents relative motion between the rotor and the housing (68), and is mounted within either the rotor (22) or the housing (68), and is respectively and releasably engageable with the other of either the rotor (22) and the housing (68) in the fully retarded position, the fully advanced position, and in positions therebetween.