Abstract: A trim component, such as a grill of a vehicle, includes a substrate having a 3-dimensional shape and defining a disrupted reflective surface including a plurality of facets over a curved surface. Each of the facets is configured to reflect an incident light beam in a common direction, for example, toward a given target. A reflective coating, such as a chrome plating layer, overlies the disrupted reflective surface. The facets may have similar shapes and/or be arranged in a repeating pattern, but with one or more irregular features. The sizes, shapes, and/or orientation direction of the facets may varying in a gradient based on the curvature of the curved surface. The trim component also includes a light source to illuminate the disrupted reflective surface. The light source may be hidden so it is not directly visible to a viewer, but instead is reflected by the disrupted reflective surface.

Abstract: A liquid waste treatment system includes: a baffle tank subsystem for particle settling; a preprocess tank subsystem downstream of the baffle tank subsystem; a process tank subsystem downstream of the preprocess tank subsystem; and a storage tank subsystem downstream of the process tank subsystem for the storage of treated liquid. A Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) processing module may be included and may be inserted into the preprocess tank subsystem or implemented in a second process tank downstream of the process tank subsystem. A faster disinfection may occur in the process tank subsystem, and a slower disinfection may occur in the second process tank according to distinct respective kill curves. An electrochemical cell may be operated in a pulse mode in liquid waste in a pulsed mode.

Abstract: A roof rail includes a gasket that is formed of a liquid gasket material that is applied in a liquid state and cured to define a gasket. The liquid gasket material may be applied robotically. The liquid gasket material may be applied either before or after the roof rail is attached to a corresponding vehicle structure. The gasket may be recessed, flush, or proud relative to a lower surface of the roof rail. The liquid gasket material may be applied during the molding process of the roof rail. The roof rail may be formed of a plateable resin material, and the liquid gasket material may be non-platable and bonded bond to the plateable resin material. The roof rail having the gasket may be plated, with the plating material bonding to the areas of the roof rail that are not covered by the gasket.

Abstract: A roof rail for a vehicle is provided that is made of only one piece and is solid across its length. The roof rail may be made using a co-injection molding process, a two-shot injection molding process or an extrusion molding process.

Abstract: A decorative component with a light emitting finish includes a transmissive portion including a resin material configured to carry light through the transmissive portion. A plateable portion is attached to the transmissive portion and includes a resin material configured to receive a metal material via electroplating. The plateable portion overlays a portion of the transmissive portion. A metal finish portion is applied to the plateable portion, and the metal finish portion overlays the plateable portion. A plurality of openings are defined by gaps in the finish portion and the plateable portion. Light carried by the transmissive portion exits the component through the openings.

Abstract: A part includes a surface that having a rich textured appearance formed by an anisotropic repeating pattern including first regions having a first microtexture, and second regions having a second microtexture different from the first microtexture. A metalized layer covers the regions and presents different finishes depending on the microtexture thereunder. In an example embodiment, the first microtexture is highly reflective and the second microtexture is rough to cause a non-specular reflection of incident light. The part may include three-dimensional structures arranged to correspond with the repeating pattern. The three-dimensional structures may be spaced-apart by a base plane that may be flat or which may include some texture or structure. The three-dimensional structures may each include one or more planar portions and/or one or more curved surfaces. Each face or surface of the three-dimensional structures and/or each region of the base plane may have one or more different microtextures.

Abstract: This application describes creating, modifying, and bending electromagnetic solitons at large scales for the various applications. An electromagnetic soliton generator system controls the magnetic soliton such that the orientation, rotation rate, pitch angle, and magnetic field strength of the solitons are modified to provide the described standing waves and generate a magnetic flux differential.

Abstract: A roof rail and an apparatus for attaching the roof rail to the roof of a vehicle are provided. The roof rail is elongated and includes a bottom portion for engaging the outer surface of the roof. The roof rail also includes inboard and outboard side portions extending between the bottom portion and a top portion. An access hole is provided in the roof rail on an inboard side portion or at a location that is lower than an uppermost point of the roof rail for providing access to a fastener such as a roof stud or bolt attaching the roof rail to the roof. The access hole is blocked from view from a laterally outer side of the roof rail.

Abstract: A trim component, such as a grill of a vehicle, includes a substrate having a 3-dimensional shape and defining a disrupted reflective surface including a plurality of facets over a curved surface. Each of the facets is configured to reflect an incident light beam in a common direction, for example, toward a given target. A reflective coating, such as a chrome plating layer, overlies the disrupted reflective surface. The facets may have similar shapes and/or be arranged in a repeating pattern, but with one or more irregular features. The sizes, shapes, and/or orientation direction of the facets may varying in a gradient based on the curvature of the curved surface. The trim component also includes a light source to illuminate the disrupted reflective surface. The light source may be hidden so it is not directly visible to a viewer, but instead is reflected by the disrupted reflective surface.

Abstract: A cargo support system and cargo support rails therefor are provided. The cargo support rails include a tubular wall extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite ends. The tubular wall includes a plurality of carbon fibers and a fibrous mat bonded to one another by a cured resin.

Abstract: A solid waste treatment system includes: a solid-liquid separator module configured to receive mixed solid and liquid waste and separating solid material from the mixed solid and liquid waste; an accumulator and macerator module configured to receive and macerate the solid material from the solid-liquid separator module; a drying module configured to receive and dry the macerated solid material from the accumulator and macerator module; and a combustion module configured to receive and combust the dried macerated solid material from the drying module.

Abstract: A liquid waste treatment system includes: a baffle tank subsystem for particle settling; a preprocess tank subsystem downstream of the baffle tank subsystem; a process tank subsystem downstream of the preprocess tank subsystem; and a storage tank subsystem downstream of the process tank subsystem for the storage of treated liquid. A Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) processing module may be included and may be inserted into the preprocess tank subsystem or implemented in a second process tank downstream of the process tank subsystem. A faster disinfection may occur in the process tank subsystem, and a slower disinfection may occur in the second process tank according to distinct respective kill curves. An electrochemical cell may be operated in a pulse mode in liquid waste in a pulsed mode.

Abstract: A roof rail for a vehicle is provided that is made of only one piece and is solid across its length. The roof rail may be made using a co-injection molding process, a two-shot injection molding process or an extrusion molding process.

Abstract: Systems and methods to monitor an asset in an operating process unit are disclosed. An example method includes monitoring one or more equipment parameters associated with an asset in an operating process unit, monitoring one or more process parameters associated with the asset, and determining an asset health value corresponding to the asset based on the one or more monitored equipment parameters, process parameters, and baseline data associated with the one or more equipment parameters.

Abstract: Hybrid turbine airfoil components containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the components are formed of materials other than ceramic materials. The components include a first component formed of a ceramic-based material and a second component formed of a metallic material. The first component comprises an airfoil portion and a nub, and the second component is separately formed and attached to the first component by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first component. The second component includes a platform portion between the airfoil portion and the nub of the first component and a dovetail portion on the nub of the first component. Each of the platform and dovetail portions has at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second component having a more complex geometry than the first component.

Abstract: Disclosed fluid purification systems can comprise a treatment vessel configured to contain a fluid to be purified, a source of ultraviolet radiation with at least 50% of its emitted spectral energy at wavelengths between 315 nm and 400 nm positioned exterior to the treatment vessel, and a portion of a wall of said treatment vessel that is substantially transparent to the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the source of ultraviolet radiation, located so that at least 50% of the ultraviolet radiation propagates through the substantially transparent portion of the wall and is configured to propagate into fluid to be treated within the vessel for the purpose of killing or disabling pathogenic microorganisms in the fluid.