Abstract: A plant for producing a structured cross-channel packing element. The structured cross-channel packing element comprises at least two adjacent layers made of expanded metal sheets each comprising periodic deformations. The plant comprises a stretching machine configured to cut and stretch a metal sheet to form one of a plurality of first expanded metal sheets, a calibration machine configured to roll the first expanded metal sheets to a desired thickness, a sheet storage unit configured to directly receive each of the first expanded metal sheets rolled in the calibration machine, a forming machine configured to form each of the first expanded metal sheets to form the expanded metal sheets comprising periodic deformations, and a stacking machine configured to stack the expanded metal sheets comprising periodic deformations to form the structured cross-channel packing element. The sheet storage unit is configured to release the first expanded metal sheets directly to the forming machine.

Abstract: A cleaning tool for cleaning accumulated charred food material on grill grates. The cleaning tool is of a two-prong tuning fork shape that has a handle and a cleaning head. A shaft extends between the two prongs of the cleaning head. Several cleaning discs are slidably provided between the two prongs over the shaft wherein two adjacent cleaning discs are separated by one or more spacer discs. the cleaning discs scrap the accumulated material from the grill bars.

Abstract: An expanded metal produced by repeated penetration of a movable cutting die including teeth into a metal sheet that is run through an expansion device in a feed direction, the expanded metal including a plurality of loops, wherein the loops include bars that envelop loop openings and that are connected in nodes, wherein each of the loops includes a loop opening length measured in the feed direction along a line from a node center to node another center of two nodes that are arranged behind one another in the feed direction, wherein each of the loops includes a loop opening width that is measured transversal to the feed direction along a line from a node center to a node center of two nodes that are arranged adjacent to each other transversal to the feed direction.

Abstract: A coil slitting tool in the form of a rotary serrator knife for use on coil slitting machines includes a plurality of serration undulations disposed on one or more faces about the outer periphery. The rotary serrator knife tool may incorporate a concentrically located bore about an inner diameter for mounting on an arbor and may further incorporate a keyway. The rotary serrator knife may be formed from an assembly having, a central rotary disk about which mount one or more removable inserts including the serration undulation portion. The one or more removable inserts may include serration undulations on one side or two sides and mount substantially to the perimeter of a mounting disk by use of fasteners.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a battery utilizing a dampening layer to prevent a failure of the battery. The battery includes an enclosure, a set of electrodes enclosed within the enclosure, and a dampening layer disposed within the set of electrodes. The dampening layer partitions the set of electrodes into a first subset of electrodes and a second subset of electrodes. The dampening layer is configured to absorb a mechanical impact on the enclosure to prevent a failure of at least one of the first subset of electrodes and the second subset of electrodes. The dampening layer may be formed at least one of a polymer, metal, and ceramic.

Abstract: A stent includes a main body having a plurality of rings that form a helix. Each of the plurality of rings includes a plurality of skewed v-shaped elements that each have a first leg and a second leg that is longer than the first leg. The stent further includes a first end ring and a second end ring positioned to an opposite side of the main body from the first end ring. Each of the plurality of rings of the main body is angled with respect to the first end ring and the second end ring. The stent further includes a first transitional region for connecting the first end ring to the main body, and a second transitional region for connecting the second end ring to the main body.

Abstract: The method serves for expanding and formatting profiled metal strip material (1) to form a netting-like mat structure (2) of a predeterminable mesh width by a continuous drawing-open process. For this purpose, the strip material (1) is provided with notches (3), which extend in the longitudinal direction of the strip, are of a limited length and between them form metal strands (11), wherein, after the expanding and formatting, the unnotched regions form netting nodes (4) and initially the metal strands (11) are connected to one another by way of adjoining webs in the base of the notch. The webs have fatigue-fracture induced incipient tears formed by flexural deformation. The remaining web is then severed by a separating roll, so that the metal strands (11) are reliably separated from one another in the notch region and the strip material (1) can be drawn open to form the netting-like structure.

Abstract: A wear element is disclosed that includes at least two layers of a structural material and at least one layer of a non-solid metal material, wherein the non-solid metal material includes a non-homogenous edge for contacting a roll surface.

Abstract: A rotary slitting blade for fabricating expanded metal products includes opposed end surfaces and an outer circumferential surface extending from one of the end surfaces to the other of the end surfaces. A plurality of notches are formed in each of the end surfaces. The notches include curved surfaces having convex curvatures that smoothly transition into one of the end surfaces and/or the outer circumferential surface. The rotary slitting blade improves the quality of a resulting expanded metal product by reducing or eliminating tears, cracks, and fractures in the expanded metal product.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for converting a slit-sheet stock material (16) into an expanded dunnage product (12) includes a housing (20), a pair of rollers (22, 24) within the housing extending widthwise across a path of the sheet material, and a plurality of guide strips (90) extending from an upstream side of the pair of rollers to a downstream side of the pair of rollers at a plurality of locations spaced across the width of the path. The guide strips guide the sheet material between and around the rollers. Exemplary rollers have a plurality of grooves spaced across the width of the path, and the guide strips are received in respective grooves. The guide strips may be connected by a crossbar to form a guide member.

Abstract: A method of forming a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, attaching a first skin to a main body to enclose at least one internal channel, the first skin and the main body cooperating to define pressure and suction sides of an airfoil, holding the first skin and the main body between first and second dies, and pressurizing the at least one internal channel such that walls of the first skin and the main body move outwardly toward surface contours of the first and second dies. A gas turbine engine component is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a press-formed product includes a first step and a second step. In the first step, a concavity is press formed in a blank by use of a punch and a first die. The punch has a shape corresponding to the shape of the entire press-formed product. The first die has a shape corresponding to at least the shape of the concavity. In the second step, a vertical wall and an edge portion are press formed in the blank by use of the punch and a second die. The second die is located adjacent to the first die. The second die has a shape corresponding to at least the shape of the vertical wall and the edge portion. The first step is completed after the second step is completed. The method allows production of a press-formed product which is excellent in fatigue resistance.

Abstract: A structural member acts for distance keeping, stiffening and load-supporting structural framing between a first building structure and a second building structure across which there exists a temperature differential, for example the inner and outer casings of an air handling unit supported externally of the building so as to be exposed to outdoor weather. The structural member has a web portion spanning between mounting portions connecting opposing first and second edges of the web portion to the first and second building structures respectively. A plurality of slots are penetrated through the web portion at spaced apart locations relative to one another to be primarily non-parallel to the first and second edges. Some of the material bridges between the slots require heat transfer across the bridge to travel opposite to the direction of the temperature gradient direction.

Abstract: In accordance with a broad embodiment of the invention, a novel paper product is comprised of two or more slit sheet packing material layers, each layer having its own slit pattern design to create interlocking layers of expansion sheet packaging materials. Each layer expands to create a three dimensional open netting of cells of hexagons, and the like, and is designed to have limited nesting with its opposing layer, thereby maximizing the thickness of the combined layers as compared to nested layers. Adjacent layers have differing slit patterns and can be expanded through expander type machinery such that the expansion rates of the differing slit pattern layers can be varied to deliver the same width of exiting expanded material from each layer. Preferably the differing slit patterns produce when expanded, inclined land area that have the same number of rows per inch, but different angles of inclination of the land areas, such that adjacent layers can interlock, that is, have a restricted amount of nesting.

Abstract: A component according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a wall and a vascular engineered lattice structure formed inside of the wall. The vascular engineered lattice structure includes at least one of a hollow vascular structure and a solid vascular structure configured to communicate fluid through the vascular engineered lattice structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to an overhead conveying device for integration in an assembly plant in order to transport vehicle components by means of a conveying device arranged on the overhead conveying device that can be mounted at the supporting framework to form a stiff conveying layer. The overhead conveying device is mounted in suspended fashion on the ceiling structure of the assembly plant forming a free space for component assembly and in which it is possible to walk and/or drive. A fastening plane is disposed between the ceiling structure of the assembly plant and the supporting framework and is formed from criss-crossing flexurally stiff steel girders, wherein the steel girders are connected to one another in a load-transmitting fashion at the points of intersection, and wherein the criss-crossing steel girders form a grid of four-sided intermediate zones.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a system includes a power center or other electrical system. The system includes an enclosure having a ventilation opening and an isolation assembly. The isolation assembly includes a deformable portion and a blocking portion. The blocking portion is capable of substantially blocking the ventilation opening with a blocking surface. The deformable portion is configured to deform due to a level of pressure being applied to the isolation assembly such that the deformable portion plastically deforms and carries the blocking surface toward the ventilation opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a current collector includes a supply reel configured to have metal foil wound on the supply reel, a pair of transfer rollers disposed on one side of the supply reel, a hole formation unit disposed on one side of the transfer rollers and configured to include an upper roller including first protrusion cutter modules and first groove cutter modules configured to form through holes in the metal foil transferred by the transfer roller and a lower roller including second protrusion cutter modules and second groove cutter modules configured to form the through holes in the metal foil, and a pair of thickness control rollers disposed on one side of the hole formation unit, spaced apart from each other, and configured to control so that a thickness of the current collector is smaller than the specific interval.

Abstract: Exposing nitinol to a shape setting temperature while the nitinol is in an unstrained or minimally strained condition. The nitinol is then substantially deformed in shape while at elevated temperature. After deformation, the nitinol remains at the elevated temperature for a time to shape set the material. The nitinol is then returned to approximately room temperature 20° C. by means of water quenching or air cooling for example.

Abstract: An insulation carrier is comprised of a generally planar piece of material having a center section with one or more openings and two outer sections on either side of the center section each having tines extending outwardly from the inner section. The tines may have spaces therebetween. The spaces include bottleneck shaped portions.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for longitudinal orientation of thermoplastic film material (20) comprises a width-reduction zone upstream of the longitudinal stretching zone (9, 10), through which the width of the film is gradually reduced so as to allow longitudinal stretching without necking. The width-reduction zone comprises at least two sets of pleating rollers (7, 1) comprising intermeshing grooves or discs for pleating the material. The downstream (1) rollers comprise a mini-roller defined by the following measures a) the pitch of the corrugations, measured from middle of tip to middle of each neighboring tip is 20 mm or less; b) the perimeter from middle of a tip to the middle of each neighboring tip measured along the corrugated roller surface, divided by the said pitch is in the range between 1.10 and 1.80; and c) the diameter of the mini-roller, measured at the tips of the corrugations, is at the highest 4 times the said pitch.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fireplace screen. The method includes forming a mesh structure. The mesh structure is shaped to cover a fireplace opening and holes in the mesh are configured to promote the inflow of air external to a fireplace through the mesh and a vertical circulation of the air across an interior planar surface of the mesh located outside of the fireplace opening.

Abstract: An expanded non-bonded mesh well screen. A method of manufacturing a well screen includes the steps of: expanding at least a portion of a screen jacket; and then securing the screen jacket onto a base pipe. A well screen system includes a base pipe and an at least partially expanded screen jacket surrounding the base pipe. The screen jacket is expanded prior to being positioned on the base pipe.

Abstract: A cathode-side gas flow path of a cell that forms part of a fuel cell is formed by a first expanded metal arranged on a gas inlet side, and a second expanded metal arranged on a downstream side. The first expanded metal is such that mesh is arranged in a straight line, and gas that flows on a gas diffusion layer side is separated from gas that flows on a separator side. The gas flowrate on the gas inlet side is reduced, so the amount of produced water that is carried away is reduced. As a result, the gas inlet side is inhibited from becoming dry at high temperatures.

Abstract: A current collector comprising a frame conductor formed as a closed undulating perimeter, and a conductive mesh formed within the frame conductor is described. The conductive mesh is comprised of a plurality of radial struts, each radial strut having a central end and an outer end. The radial struts emanate from a junction within the undulating perimeter with their outer ends connected to the undulating perimeter of the frame. The conductive mesh may include branch struts having proximal ends and distal ends, with the proximal ends connected to the radial struts. The distal ends of the branch struts may be connected to the undulating perimeter, or to adjacent radial struts. The current collector is used in an electrochemical cell, wherein a first electrode active material is contacted to at least one of first and second major sides of the current collector to provide a first electrode.

Abstract: A non-slip surface is provided comprising a surface having at least one arcuate lug, said arcuate lug comprising a raised center portion and raised and twisted side portions for preventing slippage. Additionally, a process is provided comprising the steps of cutting an arc into a surface, raising and twisting said arc in relation to said surface by bending said surface along a secant perpendicular to a line connecting the midpoint of said arc and the secant, creating at least one arcuate lug in said surface.

Abstract: An expanded metal is provided including a plurality of integral strands defining diamond shapes, each diamond shape having a long dimension as measured from two opposing vertices and a short dimension, generally transverse to the long direction, as measured between two other opposing vertices, such that the long dimension is less than twice the short dimension.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a fin (4) of width l and comprising corrugations (20) for a heat exchanger comprising at least one step of splitting a metal sheet (2) into at least two strips (4) of width l and a step of folding the strips (4) of width l in order to obtain the corrugations (20). The steps of splitting and of folding the metal sheet (2) take place simultaneously. A further subject of the invention is a device for applying such a method and a fin and a heat exchanger obtained by such a method, particularly for use in the motor-vehicle field.

Abstract: A gas diffusion layer (19) contacts the surface of an electrode layer (17) contacting the surface of a solid electrolyte membrane (16), and a gas channel forming member (21) interposed between the gas diffusion layer (19) and a separator (23). The separator (23) and a first tilted plate portion (28a) formed on a linking plate portion (28) of a ring portion (27) of the gas channel forming member (21) form a first tilt angle (?). The gas diffusion layer (19) and a second tilted plate portion (28b) formed on the linking plate portion (28) form a second tilt angle (?). The first tilt angle (?) is set to be smaller than the second tilt angle (?).

Abstract: A framing member incorporates a series of web slots along a portion of the member that are expanded through the process of manufacture. The expansion of the web slots creates voids and metal web elements in the webbed portion of the member, which can be a stud. The voids created during the expansion process can become the voids for running wiring, plumbing and heating ducts. The web elements can be designed to minimize thermal transmission from the exterior to the interior of a wall including the member, as well as provide adequate structure properties required from the structural member. The expanded slots allow the part to enlarge without increasing the amount of raw material and therefore substantially reducing the cost to manufacture.

Abstract: A method for reinforcing, baffling or sealing a vehicle structure, comprising the steps of providing one or more materials having a horizontal axis, at least one terminating edge, and an initial length, forming openings in the one or more materials, and applying the one or more materials to a location requiring reinforcement, baffling, sealing or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A battery includes anode plates, formed as a mesh by forming cuts in series on a lead plate strip rolled into a uniform thickness, for storing electricity in a chemically reactive state by expansion processing, cathode plates formed as a mesh for storing electricity in a chemically reactive state, separators between the anode and cathode plates for electrical insulation, mechanical separation, and the impregnation of an AGM with electrolyte, such that the chemical reaction for storing electricity is facilitated and the pressure in the cell remains constant, upper and lower cases made of polypropylene and containing the anode plates, cathode plates, separators, and electrolyte in a plurality of mutually separate cells, and a cap coupled into the screw holes formed in the cell units in the upper case, for discharging gas generated during charge and discharge when the pressure of the gas is over a permissible level.

Abstract: An insert with a light weight per unit length, which is securely separable to obtain insert pieces, a method for producing such an insert, and a method for producing long products using such an insert. The insert includes a large number of insert pieces and joining parts formed by the application of a rolling operation and a tension force, and has a ladder-shaped configuration. Slits are defined between adjacent insert pieces, and include first slits, each having a large width in a longitudinal direction of the insert, and second slits, each having a width smaller than that of the first slits so as to be alternately formed. The joining parts include first joining parts, each having a small width in a width direction of the insert, and second joining parts, each having a width larger than that of the first joining parts so as to be alternately formed.

Abstract: A method for producing multiple structured sheet metal foils includes the steps of A) reshaping the sheet metal foil to produce a primary structure having a first primary structure width; B) reshaping the sheet metal foil having the primary structure to produce a secondary structure; and C) reshaping the structured sheet metal foil to produce a second primary structure width being smaller than the first primary structure width. A method for producing a metal honeycomb body, a catalyst carrier body having multiple structured sheet metal foils for exhaust gas purification and a tool for producing multiple structured sheet metal foils, are also provided.

Abstract: A device and a method for widening elongated metal elements which move in the longitudinal direction and are planar at least in certain regions are described. The device comprises at least two clamping sections which are opposite one another and of which one is arranged and designed for clamping a first longitudinal side of the metal element in place and the other is arranged and designed for clamping a second longitudinal side of the metal element in place, said second longitudinal side being opposite the first longitudinal side of the metal element. The clamping sections are each provided on a support unit by means of which the clamping sections, during the forward movement of the metal element, are automatically moved apart essentially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the metal element.

Abstract: A grid for a battery plate is made by forming a metal sheet is formed into a grid-like shape. Rupture due to torsion or stress concentration does not occur in a basal portion of a wire which is drawn out from a node of the grid, thereby preventing corrosion due to electrolyte from advancing so as not to cause a crack of corrosion in an early stage. The invention provides also a battery using the grid for a battery plate, a method of producing the grid for a battery plate, and a battery using it.

Abstract: A grid for a battery plate is made by forming a metal sheet is formed into a grid-like shape. Rupture due to torsion or stress concentration does not occur in a basal portion of a wire which is drawn out from a node of the grid, thereby preventing corrosion due to electrolyte from advancing so as not to cause a crack of corrosion in an early stage. The invention provides also a battery using the grid for a battery plate, a method of producing the grid for a battery plate, and a battery using it.

Abstract: An expanded non-bonded mesh well screen. A method of manufacturing a well screen includes the steps of: expanding at least a portion of a screen jacket; and then securing the screen jacket onto a base pipe. A well screen system includes a base pipe and an at least partially expanded screen jacket surrounding the base pipe. The screen jacket is expanded prior to being positioned on the base pipe.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for continuously forming a one-piece expanded metal gutter cover having at least one solid edge. The method involves feeding a continuous web of solid metal along a continuous path, expanding the continuous web as it is fed along the continuous path, profiling a solid edge margin of the web as it is fed along the continuous path, and cutting the continuous web transversely of the web at intervals along the web to form separate gutter covers.

Abstract: A method where two disk cutter rolls are used to form slits in a staggered pattern in a metal sheet; disk cutters are part of the disk cutter rolls; ridges are arranged in a peripheral edge of the disk cutters; and valleys are arranged between the ridges, where an axis-to-axis distance L (mm) of the rolls satisfies a relationship of 2r?0.3?L<2r when a radius of a reference circumferential face made with the valleys is r (mm). The method can include a carrying procedure for passing the sheet between the rolls, then carrying the sheet along a peripheral face of one of the rolls, and then pulling out the sheet from the peripheral face.

Abstract: A process for making a heat exchanger comprising extruding a profile (1) composed of a number of parallel tubes (2) and web-like portions (3) interconnecting said tubes (2), removing part of the connection made by the web-like portions (3) and expanding the extruded product in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubes (2) and providing connecting means for allowing a fluid to flow through said tubes.

Abstract: The method of producing a grid for a battery electrode plate is characteristic in that in producing a grid formed from a sheet by means of a rotary expander equipped with the disk cutter cluster with disk edge disk cutters, there is a notch that penetrates the outer periphery of the said edge disk cutter in the thickness direction of the said edge disk cutter.

Abstract: A method for producing expanded metal profiles, consisting of subjecting a metal strip of width less than the development of the profile to be produced to the following operations: —forming longitudinal slits in at least that longitudinal band which is to form the central web of the profile, —bending the edges of the slits, —profiling said strip, —transversely stretching that band containing the slits, —pressing areas of said central web in correspondence with said stretched band to displace them external to the plane of said web, characterised by subjecting the bent edges to drawing to obtain radiused edging having the tangent to the free edge forming an angle not less than 90° to the surface of the strip.

Abstract: A sheet of expanded metal produced by slitting a sheet of metal, and stretching along a stretching direction, which sheet of expanded metal forms a grid of openings having a first repetition length in the stretching direction and a second repetition length in the direction perpendicular to the stretching direction, wherein the first and second repetition lengths are substantially equal. A sheet of expanded metal having a stretching angle larger than 90 degrees. Use of a sheet of expanded metal according to the invention for supporting a bundle of parallel tubes. A method of manufacturing expanded metal from pre-expanded metal, wherein expansion force is applied at a plurality of points perpendicular to the stretching direction, wherein the expansion force is applied using a plurality of force transmitters co-operating with the plurality of points, and wherein the force transmitters are arranged so that they can move towards each other in the second direction while applying extension force.

Abstract: An expanded metal is provided including a plurality of integral strands defining diamond shapes, each diamond shape having a long dimension as measured from two opposing vertices and a short dimension, generally transverse to the long direction, as measured between two other opposing vertices, such that the long dimension is less than twice the short dimension.

Abstract: A grid for a battery plate is made by forming a metal sheet is formed into a grid-like shape. Rupture due to torsion or stress concentration does not occur in a basal portion of a wire which is drawn out from a node of the grid, thereby preventing corrosion due to electrolyte from advancing so as not to cause a crack of corrosion in an early stage. The invention provides also a battery using the grid for a battery plate, a method of producing the grid for a battery plate, and a battery using it.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an expanded metal having substantially isotropic electrical resistance in at least two dimensions. Also disclosed are a composite structure comprising an expanded metal as disclosed herein and a lightning protection system comprising the expanded metal. Methods for manufacturing the expanded metal are also disclosed.

Abstract: Expanded metal machine includes a stationary knife and an adjustable knife which is adjustable in a vertical direction and a transverse direction. The adjustable knife includes a cutting edge with spaced-apart cutting projections in the transverse direction. A transport device for transporting a flat material in a direction of transport between the knives is provided. A cam is provided and configured for performing a periodic vertical motion. There is a transverse adjustment device configured for adjusting the transverse motion of the adjustable knife in a manner synchronized with the traveling motion. Likewise, there is an eccentric drive provided for the cam, and that is configured for guiding the cam in a circulatory motion which runs in a plane determined (e.g., bounded) by the vertical direction and the transverse direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a structured material web, particularly a metal web, having a multi-dimensional structure comprising beads or creases and structures disposed next to each other and each formed by a surface section enclosed by the beads or the creases, wherein each of the structures has a dedicated location with a hole, and the surface section in every other location of the structure is formed by an incline toward the dedicated location.

Abstract: A core metal insert is provided having a series, or multiple series, of laterally extending score marks in a non-reduced thickness portion, or portions, of the insert. Such score marks are provided in at least one face surface of the insert. The score marks provide stress relief so that when the corresponding precursor sheet metal blank is lengthened to produce the insert, the resulting insert will have a lesser tendency to contract from its lengthened state. A method of providing such a core metal insert also is provided.