Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for optimizing a travel route of a hybrid-electric vehicle inside an emissions-free zone. In one exemplary embodiment, a travel route optimization system can be used to determine a charge level of a battery in the hybrid-electric vehicle and to locate charging stations inside and/or outside the emissions-free zone. The charge level provides an indication of a distance that the hybrid-electric vehicle can travel before a gasoline engine is started. The system can use factors such as the location of the charging stations and the charge level of the battery to generate an optimized travel route for the hybrid-electric vehicle that eliminates starting of the gasoline engine inside the emissions-free zone. The optimized travel route may be updated in real-time so as to allow recharging of the battery on an as-needed basis at a charging station inside or outside the emissions-free zone.

Abstract: An exemplary battery assembly includes an endwall, an endplate, and a flange secured within a recess to secure the endwall relative to the endplate. One of the endwall or the endplate provides the flange, and the other of the endwall or the endplate provides the recess.

Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for optimizing a travel route of a hybrid-electric vehicle inside an emissions-free zone. In one exemplary embodiment, a travel route optimization system can be used to determine a charge level of a battery in the hybrid-electric vehicle and to locate charging stations inside and/or outside the emissions-free zone. The charge level provides an indication of a distance that the hybrid-electric vehicle can travel before a gasoline engine is started. The system can use factors such as the location of the charging stations and the charge level of the battery to generate an optimized travel route for the hybrid-electric vehicle that eliminates starting of the gasoline engine inside the emissions-free zone. The optimized travel route may be updated in real-time so as to allow recharging of the battery on an as-needed basis at a charging station inside or outside the emissions-free zone.

Abstract: A charge plate receiver assembly for an electric vehicle includes an inductive charge plate receiver and a swing arm pivotally secured to a mounting surface. The charge plate receiver is pivotally secured to the swing arm such that the charge plate receiver travels along an arc defined by a length of the swing arm when the assembly moves between a retracted position and a deployed position. When retracted, the charge plate receiver may retract into a cavity, defined by under-body components. The charge plate receiver has a planar surface and the planar surface is generally perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the vehicle in the retracted position and parallel with the horizontal plane of the vehicle in the deployed position.

Abstract: An exemplary battery assembly includes an endplate of a battery array, and an enclosure wall secured directly to the endplate from outside an open area of a battery pack enclosure. An exemplary method of securing a battery array includes positioning a battery array within an open area of an enclosure and, from a position outside the open area, securing an endplate of a battery array directly to a wall of a battery pack enclosure.

Abstract: A combination exhaust gas heat exchanger and noise reduction unit is disclosed, whereby a heat exchanger and a noise reduction member are arranged side-by-side and integrated as a unit. A heat exchanger outlet opens directly into a chamber of the noise reduction member. In one arrangement, a bypass valve serves to selectively direct exhaust gas into either the heat exchanger or the noise reduction member, depending on an operating condition of an associated engine.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes circulating a fluid along a fluid circuit that extends through a heat exchanger and a battery pack, and, during the circulating, heating the fluid with a flow of exhaust gas and using the fluid to heat the battery pack. An exemplary vehicle system includes a battery pack, a heat exchanger, a fluid circuit configured to circulate a fluid between the battery pack and the heat exchanger, and a valve moveable back and forth between a heating position and a cooling position. The valve in the heating position permits more flow along an exhaust circuit to heat the fluid in the fluid circuit than the valve in the cooling position.

Abstract: A battery system of a vehicle includes a battery, a battery tray configured to support the battery, and a battery pouch. The pouch has a plurality of side walls and a bottom defining a space sized to accommodate the battery. The side walls each include an absorbent layer containing a base, such as sodium bicarbonate, and an outer layer impervious to the electrolyte and the base. One of the side walls is a front side wall that includes a wedge that is configured to mate with a front of the battery and the tray. The wedge cooperates with a bottom lip of the battery to secure the battery to the tray.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes circulating a fluid along a fluid circuit that extends through a heat exchanger and a battery pack, and, during the circulating, heating the fluid with a flow of exhaust gas and using the fluid to heat the battery pack. An exemplary vehicle system includes a battery pack, a heat exchanger, a fluid circuit configured to circulate a fluid between the battery pack and the heat exchanger, and a valve moveable back and forth between a heating position and a cooling position. The valve in the heating position permits more flow along an exhaust circuit to heat the fluid in the fluid circuit than the valve in the cooling position.

Abstract: An exemplary battery assembly includes an endplate of a battery array, and an enclosure wall secured directly to the endplate from outside an open area of a battery pack enclosure. An exemplary method of securing a battery array includes positioning a battery array within an open area of an enclosure and, from a position outside the open area, securing an endplate of a battery array directly to a wall of a battery pack enclosure.

Abstract: An exemplary battery assembly includes an endwall, an endplate, and a flange secured within a recess to secure the endwall relative to the endplate. One of the endwall or the endplate provides the flange, and the other of the endwall or the endplate provides the recess.

Abstract: A battery system of a vehicle includes a battery, a battery tray configured to support the battery, and a battery pouch. The pouch has a plurality of side walls and a bottom defining a space sized to accommodate the battery. The side walls each include an absorbent layer containing a base, such as sodium bicarbonate, and an outer layer impervious to the electrolyte and the base. One of the side walls is a front side wall that includes a wedge that is configured to mate with a front of the battery and the tray. The wedge cooperates with a bottom lip of the battery to secure the battery to the tray.

Abstract: A charge plate receiver assembly for an electric vehicle includes an inductive charge plate receiver and a swing arm pivotally secured to a mounting surface. The charge plate receiver is pivotally secured to the swing arm such that the charge plate receiver travels along an arc defined by a length of the swing arm when the assembly moves between a retracted position and a deployed position. When retracted, the charge plate receiver may retract into a cavity, defined by under-body components. The charge plate receiver has a planar surface and the planar surface is generally perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the vehicle in the retracted position and parallel with the horizontal plane of the vehicle in the deployed position.

Abstract: A watertight photographic single-use camera having a first and a second body shell that join together. The body shells comprise rigid polymer material and are adapted to receive a film transport device, a lens, a flash unit and a viewfinder. The first body shell forms the camera front section and the second body shell forms the camera rear section. A sealing means comprising an elastic polymer material is attached to an edge of at least one body shell that forms a joint and to at least one edge that forms a body opening. The elastic polymer material is attached by a multiple-component injection molding process and is connected to the body shell by chain looping (molecular entanglement) of the polymer material. As a result, the camera is dependably sealed against water and yet is inexpensive and simple to produce.

Abstract: A magazine arrangement for receiving multiple film cartridges, that, for processing of the filmstrips present in the film cartridges, can be attached to a processing machine. A magazine includes a cylindrical member that has chambers, arranged in a circle around the member center axis, in which the film cartridges are housed axially one above another. Each free end of the magazine is covered by two superimposed closure disks that are mounted rotatably with respect to one another about the member center axis against spring force. In this context an adapter is provided with which the magazine can be joined, in the direction of the member center axis, to a further magazine of the same shape and size; whereby the adapter has an arrangement which can be brought into engagement with the closure disks of the two magazines.

Abstract: A watertight body for accommodating a photographic camera. The body has a first and a second body shell of rigid polymer material that can be joined together for accommodating a photographic camera. The body has sealing means comprising elastic polymer material provided by a multiple-component injection molding process on an edge of at least one body shell that forms the joint and on surface areas of the body shells. The elastic polymer material is connected to the body shell by chain looping (molecular entanglement) of the polymer materials. The result is that the body is reliably sealed against water and is nevertheless inexpensive and simple to manufacture. For a simple and correspondingly inexpensive recyclability of the body, the body shells can be crushed without separation of the polymer materials using known devices, with the resultant material mix being usable as an admixture for the manufacture of new camera components.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving multiple film cartridges that, for processing of the filmstrips present in the film cartridges, can be attached to a processing machine. The apparatus, configured as a magazine includes a cylindrical member that has chambers, arranged in a circle about the member center axis, in which the film cartridges are housed axially one above another. Each of the chambers has an opening terminating at the circumferential surface of the member. In addition, a sleeve mounted on the circumferential surface of the member and covering all the openings, which has a removal slot of the width and length of one of the openings, is provided. Cover panels associated with each film cartridge are mounted displaceably on the sleeve to cover or uncover the removal slot.

Abstract: A photographic camera of small, flat design, comprising a body shell, a taking lens, a viewfinder, a film chamber, a film transport apparatus, and a flash device. The body shell is configured parallelepipedally and has on its front side a linear flat guideway in which a lens slide is guided displaceably from a non-operating position into a taking position and for purposes of film transport. For this purpose the body shell is equipped on the back side with a linear flat guideway, and the film chamber is configured as a replaceable film cassette that is displaceably guided in the flat guideway. The film cassette serves to receive a film strip equipped with an edge perforation, and consists of a flat, parallelepipedal housing with an exposure window and a film mouth. There extends in the housing, in the longitudinal direction thereof, a circumferential and continuous film channel which passes by the exposure window and opens into the film mouth.

Abstract: A photographic camera of small, flat design, comprising a body shell, a taking lens, a viewfinder, a film chamber, a film transport apparatus, and a flash device. The body shell is configured parallelepipedally and has on its front side a linear flat guideway in which a lens slide is guided displaceably from a non-operating position into a taking position and for purposes of film transport. For this purpose the body shell is equipped on the back side with a linear flat guideway, and the film chamber is configured as a replaceable film cassette that is displaceably guided in the flat guideway. The film cassette serves to receive a film strip equipped with an edge perforation, and consists of a flat, parallelepipedal housing with an exposure window and a film mouth. There extends in the housing, in the longitudinal direction thereof, a circumferential and continuous film channel which passes by the exposure window and opens into the film mouth.