Abstract:
A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is opened to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.
Abstract:
A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is opened to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.
Abstract:
A method is provided for forming a near-net thermoplastic composite component includes co-spraying a mixture comprising a thermoplastic polymer material and a chopped reinforcing material deposited onto at least one region associated with a tool having a first temperature and defining a near-net component shape. The mixture and adjacent tool is heated to a second temperature while the mixture is on the tool. The first temperature is below the solidification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer material and the second temperature is above the solidification temperature. Then, the mixture is exposed to a negative pressure to promote removal of gases from the mixture and put under compressive force to densify the mixture. The thermoplastic polymer material melts and flows. The tool is cooled to the first temperature and removing the mixture to form the near-net thermoplastic composite component having randomly oriented chopped reinforcement material distributed within a thermoplastic polymer matrix.
Abstract:
Provided is a load-carrying or non-load carrying structural component for a vehicle having improved impact resistance, such as a gas tank protection shield, an underbody shield, a structural panel, an interior floor, a floor pan, a roof, an exterior surface, a storage area, a glove box, a console box, a trunk, a trunk floor, a truck bed, and combinations thereof. The component has a support structure with ridges, each spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals, to form a corrugated surface capable of load-carrying. The ridges are longitudinally extending, raised ridges. The corrugated designs provide support structures that are impact resistant.
Abstract:
Presented are anti-buckling cables for battery assembly shear plates, methods for making/using such anti-buckling cables, and electric-drive vehicles equipped with traction battery packs having impact-attenuating shear plates joined by anti-buckling cables. A battery assembly includes multiple battery cells, such as lithium-class prismatic, pouch, or can-type cells arranged in rows and columns, that are housed inside a protective battery container, such as an electrically insulated battery pack housing. A pair of rigid, impact-attenuating (top and bottom) shear plates is attached to opposing (top and bottom) sides of the battery container, sandwiching therebetween the battery cells. An engineered pattern of tether cables extends through the battery container with cable each rigidly secured at opposing ends thereof to the two shear plates. The tether cables are electrically non-conductive and structurally join together the vertically spaced, mutually parallel shear plates. Each of the tether cables may be continuously tensioned between the shear plates.
Abstract:
A cargo storage compartment of a motor vehicle is arranged along a vehicle central axis. The cargo storage compartment includes a first side-wall and a second side-wall, each arranged parallel to the vehicle central axis, and a floor, together defining width, length, and height of the storage compartment. The cargo storage compartment also includes a cargo management assembly for moving objects in the cargo storage compartment along the vehicle central axis. The cargo management assembly also includes a first guide rail and a second guide rail arranged along the respective first and second side-walls. The assembly additionally includes a panel arranged between the first and second side-walls and transverse to the vehicle central axis. The panel is movably mounted on a panel axis to each of the first and second guide rails. The assembly further includes a mechanism configured to shift the panel along the first and second guide rails.
Abstract:
Provided is a load-carrying or non-load carrying structural component for a vehicle having improved impact resistance, such as a gas tank protection shield, an underbody shield, a structural panel, an interior floor, a floor pan, a roof, an exterior surface, a storage area, a glove box, a console box, a trunk, a trunk floor, a truck bed, and combinations thereof. The component has a support structure with ridges, each spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals, to form a corrugated surface capable of load-carrying. The ridges are longitudinally extending, raised ridges. The corrugated designs provide support structures that are impact resistant.
Abstract:
A method of and attachment system for securing and manipulating attractive objects upon an interior vehicular surface, utilizing at least one coded magnet to selectively attach/retain the objects, and provide various other functions, including aiding in alignment, orientation, and retrieval of the objects, and activating an associated sub-system.
Abstract:
A method of rivet bonding a workpiece stack-up that includes one or more polymer composite workpieces, such as carbon fiber composite workpieces, involves several steps. In one step, adhesive is applied to a surface of the workpiece stack-up. In another step, workpieces—including the polymer composite workpiece(s)—are brought together. In yet another step the adhesive is partially or more cured. A rivet is installed through the workpiece stack-up and through the adhesive in another step. The method strengthens the resulting rivet-bonded joint by minimizing or altogether precluding fracture, cracking, and/or delamination thereat.
Abstract:
A method of rivet bonding a workpiece stack-up that includes one or more polymer composite workpieces, such as carbon fiber composite workpieces, involves several steps. In one step, adhesive is applied to a surface of the workpiece stack-up. In another step, workpieces—including the polymer composite workpiece(s)—are brought together. In yet another step the adhesive is partially or more cured. A rivet is installed through the workpiece stack-up and through the adhesive in another step. The method strengthens the resulting rivet-bonded joint by minimizing or altogether precluding fracture, cracking, and/or delamination thereat.