Abstract: A lightweight vehicle includes a pair of rear wheel assemblies, one or more front wheel assemblies, a universal assembly platform, and forward facing seating. The universal assembly platform includes a planar main vehicle chassis, a front suspension system connected to the planar main vehicle chassis and to which the one or more front wheel assemblies is mounted, and a rear suspension system connected to the planar main vehicle chassis and to which the pair of rear wheel assemblies is mounted. A front distal end of the one or more front wheel assemblies is longitudinally forward of a front end of the planar main vehicle chassis. The forward facing seating is mounted to the planar main vehicle chassis such that a portion of a seat bottom of the forward facing seating is located longitudinally rearward of an axis extending through a center of the pair of rear wheel assemblies.

Abstract: A lightweight vehicle includes a pair of rear wheel assemblies, one or more front wheel assemblies, a universal assembly platform, and forward facing seating. The universal assembly platform includes a main vehicle chassis, a front suspension system coupled to the main vehicle chassis and to which the one or more front wheel assemblies is mounted, and a rear suspension system coupled to the main vehicle chassis and to which the pair of rear wheel assemblies is mounted. A front distal end of the one or more front wheel assemblies is longitudinally forward of a front end of the main vehicle chassis. The forward facing seating is mounted to the main vehicle chassis such that a portion of a seat bottom of the forward facing seating is located longitudinally rearward of an axis extending through a center of the pair of rear wheel assemblies.

Abstract: A lightweight vehicle includes a first wheel assembly including a first wheel rotatable about an axis, a second wheel assembly including a second wheel rotatable about the axis, a platform including a chassis and a rear suspension assembly coupling the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly to the chassis, a first seat coupled to the chassis, and a second seat coupled to the chassis rearward of the first seat. At least a portion of the chassis has a planar shape. The second seat includes a bottom and a back. The back is positioned rearward of at least a portion of the bottom such that the second seat defines a forward-facing seating. At least a portion of the bottom of the second seat is positioned longitudinally rearward of a plane extending vertically upward from the axis about which the first wheel and the second wheel are rotatable.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include extruded articles, building components and methods of making the same. In an embodiment, an extruded article is included. The extruded article can include a body member including a first portion comprising a first composition, the first composition comprising a polymer resin. The extruded body member can also include a second portion comprising a second composition different than the first composition. The second composition can include a polymer resin, fibers, and at least one component selected from the group consisting of at least 1% by weight particles and at least 5 phr impact modifier. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include compositions, extruded articles, and methods of making the same. In an embodiment, an extruded article is included. The extruded article can include an extruded segment comprising a first composition. The first composition can include a polymer resin, an impact modifier and fibers. In some embodiments, the extruded segment can have a surface exhibiting an average depression depth of less than 0.0045 inches (0.1143 mm). Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include extruded articles, building components and methods of making the same. In an embodiment, an extruded article is included. The extruded article can include a body member including a first portion comprising a first composition, the first composition comprising a polymer resin. The extruded body member can also include a second portion comprising a second composition different than the first composition. The second composition can include a polymer resin, fibers, and at least one component selected from the group consisting of at least 1% by weight particles and at least 5 phr impact modifier. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: A method for forming a component to a target shape from an aluminium blank workpiece is disclosed, the method comprising: (a) cold forming an aluminium blank workpiece between a set of dies, thereby producing a component fully or partially formed to a target shape; (b) solution heat treating the fully or partially formed component by heating to or above a solution heat treatment (SHT) temperature and substantially maintaining that temperature until SHT has been completed, thereby producing a solution heat treated fully or partially formed component; and (c) quenching the solution heat treated fully or partially formed component whilst held between a set of dies, wherein holding between the dies may provide additional forming at the same time as quenching, to produce a component fully formed to the target shape.

Abstract: A method of forming a part from sheet metal alloy is provided, for example, forming a part from aluminium alloy. The method comprises heating (A) the sheet metal alloy to a temperature at which solution heat treatment of the alloy occurs and so as to achieve solution heat treatment. The sheet is cooled (B) at at least the critical cooling rate for the alloy and then placed between dies to form (C) it into or towards the part.

Abstract: A universal monitoring system applicable to a variety of hydraulic fracturing equipment includes an accelerometer mounted on a housing of a positive displacement pump and configured to sense a vibration associated with the positive displacement pump on start-up and generate a wake-up signal. A processor is communicatively coupled to the accelerometer and configured to initiate execution upon receiving the wake-up signal. A pressure strain gauge is mounted directly on the pump housing and is configured to sense deformity in the pump housing caused by alternating high and low pressures within the pump housing and generate sensor data. The processor is configured to receive the sensor data from the pressure strain gauge and configured to analyze the sensor data and determine a cycle count value for the positive displacement pump, and there is at least one communication interface coupled to the processor configured to transmit the sensor data and cycle count value to another device.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include compositions, extruded articles, and methods of making the same. In an embodiment, an extruded article is included. The extruded article can include an extruded segment comprising a first composition. The first composition can include a polymer resin, particles and fibers. The fibers can be disposed within the first composition exhibiting a substantially non-aligned directional orientation. In an embodiment, an extruded article is included having a first portion comprising a first composition having a first fiber orientation and a second portion comprising a second composition having a second fiber orientation. The first composition can include a polymer resin and fibers. The second composition can include a polymer resin, particles and fibers. The fibers of the second composition can be oriented more randomly than the fibers of the first composition. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to apparatus for extruding a material. The apparatus comprises an extrusion die arranged to receive material to be extruded from a first direction and from a second direction. The extrusion die comprises an orifice from which material is extruded in a third direction. The first, second and third directions are not all in the same plane. None of the first, second and third directions is parallel to any other of those directions.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include compositions, extruded articles, and methods of making the same. In an embodiment, an extruded article is included. The extruded article can include an extruded segment comprising a first composition. The first composition can include a polymer resin, particles and fibers. The fibers can be disposed within the first composition exhibiting a substantially non-aligned directional orientation. In an embodiment, an extruded article is included having a first portion comprising a first composition having a first fiber orientation and a second portion comprising a second composition having a second fiber orientation. The first composition can include a polymer resin and fibers. The second composition can include a polymer resin, particles and fibers. The fibers of the second composition can be oriented more randomly than the fibers of the first composition. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: A method of extruding a material, comprising providing the material into an extrusion chamber of an extrusion apparatus, wherein the extrusion chamber comprises an extrusion orifice and the extrusion apparatus comprises a first compression element and a second compression element in communication with the interior of the extrusion chamber, the first and second compression elements being independently movable relative to the extrusion chamber, moving at least one of the first and second compression elements to compress the material within the extrusion chamber and cause a velocity gradient in the extrusion material across the extrusion orifice and extruding the material through the extrusion orifice such that the velocity gradient forms an extrudate with a curved profile.

Abstract: The method relates to a method of forming an Al-alloy sheet component. The method comprises heating an Al-alloy sheet blank to its Solution Heat Treatment temperature at a heating station and, in the case of alloys not in a pre age hardened temper, maintaining the SHT temperature until Solution Heat Treatment is complete. The sheet blank is then transferred to a set of cold dies and forming is initiated within 10 s of removal from the heating station so that heat loss from the sheet blank is minimised. The cold dies are closed to form the sheet blank into a shaped component, said forming occurring in less than 0.15 s, and the formed component is held in the closed dies during cooling of the formed component. The claimed method will find application for any Aluminium alloy with a microstructure and mechanical properties that can be usefully modified by solution treatment and age-hardening.

Abstract: A grain loss gauging system for a combine harvester uses a collection pan for releasable attachment to a combine harvester in which the collection pan defines a receptacle having an open top for receiving material blown out of the combine harvester when deposited on the ground. A pair of electromagnets and a controller for selectively supplying electrical power to the electromagnets from a battery are supported on the collection pan to electromagnetically retain pan on a vehicle body of the combine harvester. A remote used remotely from the collection pan can be triggered to generate a wireless trigger signal received by the controller to interrupt the electrical power to the electromagnets and release the electromagnets, the controller, and the battery together with the collection pan from the body of the combine harvester. The combine harvester is adjusted to reduce the amount of grain collected in the pan.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include compositions, extruded articles, and methods of making the same. In an embodiment, an extruded article is included. The extruded article can include an extruded segment comprising a first composition. The first composition can include a polymer resin, particles and fibers. The fibers can be disposed within the first composition exhibiting a substantially non-aligned directional orientation. In an embodiment, an extruded article is included having a first portion comprising a first composition having a first fiber orientation and a second portion comprising a second composition having a second fiber orientation. The first composition can include a polymer resin and fibers. The second composition can include a polymer resin, particles and fibers. The fibers of the second composition can be oriented more randomly than the fibers of the first composition. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: A method of forming a part from sheet metal alloy is provided, for example, forming a part from aluminium alloy. The method comprises heating (A) the sheet metal alloy to a temperature at which solution heat treatment of the alloy occurs and so as to achieve solution heat treatment. The sheet is cooled (B) at at least the critical cooling rate for the alloy and then placed between dies to form (C) it into or towards the part.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include compositions, extruded articles, and methods of making the same. In an embodiment, an extruded article is included. The extruded article can include an extruded segment comprising a first composition. The first composition can include a polymer resin, particles and fibers. The fibers can be disposed within the first composition exhibiting a substantially non-aligned directional orientation. In an embodiment, an extruded article is included having a first portion comprising a first composition having a first fiber orientation and a second portion comprising a second composition having a second fiber orientation. The first composition can include a polymer resin and fibers. The second composition can include a polymer resin, particles and fibers. The fibers of the second composition can be oriented more randomly than the fibers of the first composition. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: A grain loss gauging system for a combine harvester uses a collection pan for releasable attachment to a combine harvester in which the collection pan defines a receptacle having an open top for receiving material blown out of the combine harvester when deposited on the ground. A pair of electromagnets and a controller for selectively supplying electrical power to the electromagnets from a battery are supported on the collection pan to electromagnetically retain pan on a vehicle body of the combine harvester. A remote used remotely from the collection pan can be triggered to generate a wireless trigger signal received by the controller to interrupt the electrical power to the electromagnets and release the electromagnets, the controller, and the battery together with the collection pan from the body of the combine harvester. The combine harvester is adjusted to reduce the amount of grain collected in the pan.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing metal organic frameworks, comprising: a tubular flow reactor comprising a tubular body into which, in use, precursor compounds which form the metal organic framework are fed and flow, said tubular body including at least one annular loop.