Abstract:
A body side construction for an automotive vehicle is formed from multiple tubular members arranged to maximize the strength of the body side members while minimizing the amount of material utilized in the manufacture of the body side members and, thus reducing the cost of manufacture of the automobile. The body side members are formed from tubular members preferably manufactured through a hydroforming process. The tubular members extend from the front pillar to the rear pillar and can vary in number and in size as appropriate for the load being carried by the body side members. The tubular members can also be used to transition from the body side portion of the automobile to the roof structure to provide an integrated frame assembly. The formation of the body side members from multiple tubular members also creates an internal reinforcement web to further enhance the strength of the section.
Abstract:
A system and method for weighing varying throughput of conveyed particulate material. The system has a weighing unit for measuring weight of material conveyed on a span of the conveyor and a speed monitoring unit to monitor the speed of the conveyor. A control module is programmed to calculate the instant value of material conveyed per unit length of the conveyor. An output from the control module reduces conveyor speed in response to a reduction in measured weight of material conveyed and increases conveyor speed in response to an increase in measured weight of material conveyed. High accuracy of measurement of the weight of particulate material being conveyed even when the conveyor is lightly loaded.
Abstract:
An automotive body structure includes a tubular load bearing structure and a hardware mount having a base plate with an annular axially extending spin welding initiator. The hardware mount is spin welded to the load bearing structure to provide a reinforced location for the mounting of automotive hardware, such as door hinges, with threaded fasteners.
Abstract:
A method is provided for assembling a vehicle frame from hydro-formed tubular metal components. Each hydro-formed component has a surface feature that is complementary to a surface feature on an adjacent component. The complementary surface features allow the hydro-formed components to be interlocked together. The components are permanently joined by a plurality of welds. A front hoop, a rear hoop and right and left side hoops may be assembled and joined together to form the passenger compartment portion of the vehicle frame.
Abstract:
An improved method of manufacturing an assembly comprising at least two components. Assembly components are attached together to form a combined assembly. The combined assembly is engaged by a single framing fixture that establishes the spatial relationships between each of the assembly components. After the spatial relationships are final, the assembly is fixed having securing points that are accessible when engaged by the single framing fixture. The method significantly reduces the load-weld-load sequences used in conventional body-in-white framing processes for motor vehicles.
Abstract:
The use of a fabric sheath (2), or other article, on a conduit (1), for example a pipe or flexible hose, to provide abrasion resistance or other forms of protection, for example impact protection or cut-through protection, thereto; and fabric sheaths suitable for such use. A preferred form of circumferentially-heat-shrinkable sheath of woven fabric, capable of use on a conduit, for example to provide impact cushioning and/or abrasion resistance, provides a substantially unobscured outer fabric surface and comprises hoop filaments extending substantially circumferentially around the sheath, at least some of which hoop filaments are heat-shrinkable, and length filaments extending substantially along the sheath, wherein the length filaments are selected either (A) to be sufficiently flexible, at least at temperatures to which they are subjected during heat-shrinking of the sheath in use, for the heat shrinkage of the hoop filaments to crimp the length filaments to an extent (a) producing at least 1%, preferably at least 2%, more preferably at least 5%, longitudinal shrinkage of the sheath in addition to any longitudinal heat shrinkage thereof and/or (b) causing portions of the length filaments either (i) to project outwardly from the shrunken fabric sheath to a maximum distance in excess of the maximum projection distance of the thus-shrunken hoop filaments, or (ii) to increase such excess projection distance if already existing before the heat shrinkage; or (B) to be sufficiently stiff to limit the longitudinal shrinkage due to crimping of the length filaments to less than 10%, preferably less than 5%, more preferably less than 2%, especially less than 1% or substantially zero.
Abstract:
A current collecting pole associated with an alkali metal-sulphur cell comprises a first layer of an electronically conducting material which is resistant to the corrosive action of sulphur and alkali metal polysulphides (e.g. carbon or graphite) and which defines a continuous surface in contact with the sulphur and alkali metal polysulphides and a second layer of a higher electronically conducting material which is in electrical contact with the first layer over the surface of the latter remote from the sulphur and alkali metal polysulphides.
Abstract:
An electrochemical cell includes an outer casing defining at least a portion of an anode electrode chamber, an ionically conducting separator disposed within the outer casing, an inner surface of the separator defining a cathode electrode chamber, a cathode electrode disposed within the cathode chamber, a conductive current collecting body coupled with the cathode electrode, an alkali metal-containing electrolyte disposed in the cathode electrode chamber, and a sealing body coupled with the outer casing and sealing the anode electrode chamber from an external atmosphere disposed outside of the outer casing. The electrolyte supplies alkali metal through the separator to the anode electrode chamber in response to an electric charge applied to the conductive current collecting body. A first content of a gas component in the anode electrode chamber is in the anode electrode chamber in an amount that is less than an amount of a second content of the gas component in ambient air.