Abstract: A method of manufacturing a battery electrode includes casting a solid battery electrode from a slurry including electrode particles, a binder, and a solvent, wherein residual solvent remains after the casting and the binder remains at least partially elastic. The solid battery electrode then undergoes flash-freezing such that the residual solvent forms dendritic ice having a pattern, and then the dendritic ice is removed from the solid battery electrode, thereby rearranging the electrode particles and the binder into a microstructure that represents a geometric negative of the pattern of the dendritic ice.

Abstract: A gear forming tool includes an outer sleeve having an outer sleeve aperture and an inner sleeve having an inner sleeve aperture in fluid communication with the outer sleeve aperture, a tool holder disposed within the outer sleeve, and a 3D printed gear cutting tool with a plurality of tool cutting edges and a plurality of capillaries attached to the tool holder. The tool holder has a plurality of fluid channels configured to be in fluid communication with the inner sleeve aperture and the plurality of capillaries of the 3D printed gear cutting tool such that cutting fluid flows through the outer sleeve, the inner sleeve, the plurality of fluid channels of the tool holder, and the plurality of capillaries to the plurality of tool cutting edges.

Abstract: A traction battery includes a battery array having a stack of cells, wherein a first of the cells includes a terminal having a projecting portion extending from a body of the cell and a curved portion disposed on a distal end of the projecting portion. A busbar has a connecting portion defining a slot with a pair of first opposing sides and a pair of second opposing sides. The connecting portion further has a pair of flaps, each pivotally attached to one of the second opposing sides such that the flaps oppose each other. The terminal is mechanically joined to the connecting portion with the curved portion of the terminal in contact with at least one of the flaps.

Abstract: A battery module locating tool includes a support pillar and a plurality of fixtures supported on the support pillar. Each fixture is individually translatable along the support pillar and arranged to locate a battery cell according to a longitudinal datum and a lateral datum. The support pillar is movable toward and away from a battery frame onto which the battery cell is located.

Abstract: A battery module locating tool includes a support pillar and a plurality of fixtures supported on the support pillar. Each fixture is individually translatable along the support pillar and arranged to locate a battery cell according to a longitudinal datum and a lateral datum. The support pillar is movable toward and away from a battery frame onto which the battery cell is located.

Abstract: A method for stacking a battery cell includes feeding a separator sheet through a guide assembly to fold the separator sheet, inserting a plurality of first electrodes into the separator sheet at a location where the separator sheet has been folded by the guide assembly, forming respective channels in the folded separator sheet including the plurality of first electrodes, inserting a plurality of second electrodes in the respective channels to form a multilayered body, and pressing the multilayered body to form the stacked battery cell where the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are stacked in an alternating arrangement.

Abstract: A system including an adapter plate, a conveyor, a separator drum, and first and second electrode drums. The conveyor is configured to move the adapter plate continuously and sequentially in a predetermined path between the separator drum to receive a respective separator sheet, the first electrode drum to receive a respective first electrode sheet, the separator drum to receive a respective separator sheet, and the second electrode drum to receive a respective second electrode sheet until a stacked battery cell includes a desired number of respective separator sheets, respective first electrode sheets, and respective second electrode sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting electrode sheets includes a conveyor and a laser device. The conveyor is configured to move an original sheet including an electrode portion and an ear portion extending from an edge of the electrode portion. The laser device is configured to move a laser to cut out a tab connected to the electrode portion from the ear portion of the original sheet. The laser device is also configured to move the laser from one edge of the electrode portion to another edge of the electrode portion to cut and separate a respective electrode sheet including the tab from the original sheet. The laser is configured to cut out the tab from the ear portion and cut and separate the respective electrode sheet including the tab from the original sheet as the conveyor is moving the original sheet.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hypoid gear includes face hobbing a gear blank and forming a green hypoid gear with gear teeth, heat treating the green hypoid gear to form a heat treated hypoid gear with heat treated gear teeth, and hard hobbing the heat treated gear teeth to form a hard finished hypoid gear. Critical non-tooth features on the heat treated hypoid gear are hard finished. Also, the critical non-tooth features on the heat treated hypoid gear can be hard finished prior to hard hobbing the heat treated gear teeth. The heat treating includes at least one of carburizing and induction hardening the green hypoid gear, a surface of the heat treated gear teeth has a hardness greater than or equal to 58 HRC, and the hard hobbing removes heat distortion from the heat treated gear teeth.

Abstract: A gear forming tool includes an outer sleeve having an outer sleeve aperture and an inner sleeve having an inner sleeve aperture in fluid communication with the outer sleeve aperture, a tool holder disposed within the outer sleeve, and a 3D printed gear cutting tool with a plurality of tool cutting edges and a plurality of capillaries attached to the tool holder. The tool holder has a plurality of fluid channels configured to be in fluid communication with the inner sleeve aperture and the plurality of capillaries of the 3D printed gear cutting tool such that cutting fluid flows through the outer sleeve, the inner sleeve, the plurality of fluid channels of the tool holder, and the plurality of capillaries to the plurality of tool cutting edges.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hypoid gear includes face hobbing a gear blank and forming a green hypoid gear with gear teeth, heat treating the green hypoid gear to form a heat treated hypoid gear with heat treated gear teeth, and hard hobbing the heat treated gear teeth to form a hard finished hypoid gear. Critical non-tooth features on the heat treated hypoid gear are hard finished. Also, the critical non-tooth features on the heat treated hypoid gear can be hard finished prior to hard hobbing the heat treated gear teeth. The heat treating includes at least one of carburizing and induction hardening the green hypoid gear, a surface of the heat treated gear teeth has a hardness greater than or equal to 58 HRC, and the hard hobbing removes heat distortion from the heat treated gear teeth.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a case-hardened ring gear/differential case assembly includes attaching a ring gear to a differential case. The case-hardened ring gear and the differential case are fabricated of materials each having differing properties of at least carbon content and melting temperature. The attaching includes placing a flange of the case-hardened ring gear in intimate contact with a flange of the differential case whereby a predetermined gap is defined between a remainder of the ring gear and a remainder of the differential case. The ring gear flange is attached to the differential case flange by a friction welding process. The predetermined gap defines an outflow channel that receives a carburized portion of the case-hardened ring gear as overflow material created by an upset forging step of the friction welding process. Differential assemblies and vehicles including such are described.

Abstract: A method for joining a carburized steel workpiece to a cast iron workpiece is provided that includes tempering a localized area of the carburized steel workpiece, machining the localized area to reduce carbon content, and welding the carburized steel workpiece to the cast iron workpiece at the localized area. The tempering may be performed by induction heating and results in a hardness profile of the localized area of less than 50 HRC.

Abstract: A method for joining a carburized steel workpiece to a cast iron workpiece is provided that includes tempering a localized area of the carburized steel workpiece, machining the localized area to reduce carbon content, and welding the carburized steel workpiece to the cast iron workpiece at the localized area. The tempering may be performed by induction heating and results in a hardness profile of the localized area of less than 50 HRC.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a gear having root fillets between adjacent teeth that are shot peered to improve compressive strength. A robot moves a shot peening nozzle between adjacent teeth. A servomotor drive indexes the gear in increments corresponding to one or more teeth. The nozzle has a tapered tip that is moved between adjacent tooth faces with clearance relative to the tooth faces.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a case-hardened ring gear/differential case assembly includes attaching a ring gear to a differential case. The case-hardened ring gear and the differential case are fabricated of materials each having differing properties of at least carbon content and melting temperature. The attaching includes placing a flange of the case-hardened ring gear in intimate contact with a flange of the differential case whereby a predetermined gap is defined between a remainder of the ring gear and a remainder of the differential case. The ring gear flange is attached to the differential case flange by a friction welding process. The predetermined gap defines an outflow channel that receives a carburized portion of the case-hardened ring gear as overflow material created by an upset forging step of the friction welding process. Differential assemblies and vehicles including such are described.

Abstract: A head assembly of a honing tool includes a carrier having a proximal end connectable to a spindle, a distal end, and a plurality of stones. The head assembly also includes a pilot cap connected to the distal end, and defining an end face and a sidewall. A transition surface defined by the pilot cap extends between the end face and the sidewall. The transition surface extends at a first angle forming a first angled relief and then at a second angle forming a second angled relief.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ring gear/differential case assembly includes attaching a ring gear to a differential case. The ring gear and the differential case are fabricated of materials having differing properties. The attaching includes placing a first portion of the ring gear in intimate contact with a first portion of the differential case whereby a predetermined gap is defined between another portion of the ring gear and another portion of the differential case. The ring gear first portion is attached to the differential case first portion by a friction welding process. The predetermined gap defines an outflow channel for receiving an overflow material created by an upset forging step of the friction welding process. Differential assemblies and vehicles including such are described.

Abstract: A head assembly of a honing tool includes a carrier having a proximal end connectable to a spindle, a distal end, and a plurality of stones. The head assembly also includes a pilot cap connected to the distal end, and defining an end face and a sidewall. A transition surface defined by the pilot cap extends between the end face and the sidewall. The transition surface extends at a first angle forming a first angled relief and then at a second angle forming a second angled relief.