Abstract:
A welding electrode includes a weld face that has a convex base weld face surface and a plurality of ringed ridges that are radially spaced apart on the base weld face surface and surround a central weld face axis. The plurality of ringed ridges including an innermost ringed ridge and an outermost ringed ridge. The innermost ringed ridge is located closest to the central weld face axis and rises above a central portion of the base weld face surface, and the outermost ringed ridge is located farthest from the central weld face axis and rises above an outer peripheral portion of the base weld face surface. At least one of the plurality of ringed ridges is a discontinuous ringed ridge.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a battery module includes applying an adhesive solder to a tab of a battery cell. The adhesive solder includes a mixture of an adhesive composition and a plurality of solder elements. The adhesive solder is compressed between the tab of the first battery cell and an electrically conductive element, such as a tab of a second battery cell or a bus plate. The adhesive solder is then heated, whereby the adhesive composition is cured to fixedly attach the tab of the first battery cell and the electrically conductive element together, and the plurality of solder elements bond with the tab of the first battery cell and the electrically conductive element to connect them in electrical communication.
Abstract:
An aperture plate for a welding apparatus includes a body defining an aperture. The body of the aperture plate includes a first end and a second end that is opposite the first end. In addition, the body includes a first surface intersecting the first and second ends. Moreover, the body includes a second surface formed opposite the first surface. The second surface is nonparallel to the first surface.
Abstract:
The present disclosure describes a multi-function, integrated Super Beam assembly structure with integrated structural, cooling, and transverse elastic compliance functions; and Thermal Management Propagation (TMP) protection. The Super Beam assembly includes a pair of parallel face plates, coolant channel cover plates, and coolant channels that are defined by the face plate and the one or more coolant channel cover plates. The structural design of the cooling channels, and the corresponding air gaps formed in-between them, allows a transverse elastic compliance of the Super Beam assembly to be tuned to different amounts of elasticity. Top, bottom and/or end structural channels may be included. A pair of TMP suppression channels may be attached to the Super Beam assembly structure with an adhesive “thermal fuse” that preferentially melts and causes the pair of TMP suppression channels to detach from the Super Beam assembly during overheating in a TMP event.
Abstract:
A rechargeable energy storage system for a vehicle including a bottom shear plate and a side enclosure having a bottom end connected to the bottom shear plate. A top shear plate is connected to a top end of the side enclosure and a plurality of battery cells are suspended from a bottom of the top shear plate by corresponding mating features that secure the plurality of cells to the top shear plate.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for predicting microhardness properties of a weld that defines a weld joint between at least two workpieces. The system includes a processor programmed to: receive temperature data that includes temperature values each attributed to a corresponding one of a plurality of points of the weld at corresponding times during a welding process used to produce the weld, determine peak temperature values and cooling rate values for each of the points of the weld based on the temperature values, predict a three-dimensional (3D) distribution of microhardness values of the weld based on a machine learning method that evaluates the peak temperature values and the cooling rate values, and generate display data based on the 3D distribution of microhardness values.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for detecting weld defects, and methods for manufacturing vehicles using such methods or systems, are provided. An exemplary method includes receiving an input indicating a weld material and material thickness by a portable computing device and determining, with the portable computing device, a detection protocol for the weld material and material thickness. Further, the method includes communicating the detection protocol from the portable computing device to a portable heating source and to a portable thermographic sensor, heating a weld with the portable heating source according to the detection protocol, and recording thermographic data from the weld with the portable thermographic sensor according to the detection protocol. Also, the method includes communicating the thermographic data from the portable thermographic sensor to the portable computing device, and analyzing the thermographic data to detect whether the weld includes a defect and/or determine type, dimension and location of the defect.
Abstract:
In accordance with various embodiments, methods and systems are provided for designing a bead tool and a bead for sheet metal forming. In one embodiment, a method includes: storing, in a datastore, a library of bead tool data associated with a plurality of bead tools; receiving, by a processor, a plurality of parameters associated with at least one of a punch and a die of a desired bead tool; computing, by the processor, bead tool data for at least one of the punch and the die of the desired bead tool based on the plurality of parameters; providing, by the processor, a subset of bead tool data from the library of bead tool data; receiving, by the processor, a selection of bead tool data from the subset of bead tool data and the computed bead tool data; and generating, by the processor, bead geometry data based on the selection and the bead tool data associated with the selection.
Abstract:
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided that includes: receiving an input as to a destination of travel for a vehicle; identifying, via a processor, a plurality of routes for the vehicle to travel to the destination; determining, via the processor, for each of the plurality of routes, a measure of difficulty of vehicle maneuvers for the vehicle to reach the destination via the route; and performing a vehicle action, via instructions provided by the processor, based on the respective measures of difficulty for the plurality of routes.
Abstract:
A flexible shelving unit includes a support frame having at least one vertical guide rack, the guide rack including an elongated slot. The shelf unit is supported by the guide rack. The shelf unit includes a shelf plate framed by a front reinforcement portion and by at least one side reinforcement portion. The shelf unit when in a release position is moved to selected upward and downward locations by vertical displacement of at least one locating pin connected to and extending from the at least one side reinforcement portion which is positioned and sliding within the elongated slot. A flat end face of the at least one side reinforcement portion directly contacts a plate face of the at least one vertical guide rack with the at least one side reinforcement portion and the shelf plate in a horizontal position to frictionally retain the shelf unit in the horizontal position.