Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120153680 | VEHICLE PILLAR WITH OPENING HAVING ANGLED FLANGE - A panel incorporated into a pillar of a vehicle body includes a base portion defining an opening, and a flange extending from an edge of the opening such that a portion of the flange forms an acute angle with the base portion. | 06-21-2012 |
20130082484 | Vehicle Roof Brace - A roof support for a vehicle is provided containing a first side roof rail; a transverse roof bow fixed to and extending from the first side roof rail; and a first brace fixed to the first side roof rail at a forward point on the first side roof rail, wherein the first brace extends to the transverse roof bow and is fixed to a first aft point on the transverse roof bow, thereby advantageously defining a first angle between the first side roof rail and the first brace. The roof support may further include a second side roof rail opposite the first side roof rail such that the roof bow laterally extends from the first side roof rail to the second side roof rail. A second brace may be fixed to the second side roof rail at a forward point thereof, whereby the second brace also extends to the roof bow and is fixed to a second aft point thereof, thereby defining a second angle between the second side roof rail and the second brace. | 04-04-2013 |
20150115662 | EXTRUDED BODY COMPONENT WITH NOTCHED FLANGE TO REDUCE STRAIN IN BENDING - A vehicular system is provided with a substantially hollow member having a long axis, a short axis, and an outer surface substantially parallel to the long axis. The outer surface includes a plurality of notched elements configured to reduce strain from bending the member in the direction of the short axis, e.g., by a stretch bending process. The hollow member may also include an outer surface that is curved substantially in the direction of the short axis. A method of making the vehicular assembly includes the steps: providing a substantially hollow member having a long axis, a short axis, and an outer surface substantially parallel to the long axis; cutting a plurality of notched elements into the outer surface; and bending the member such that the portion of the outer surface in proximity to the notched elements is in tension and curved in the short axis direction. | 04-30-2015 |
20150115665 | HEADER BEAM OF A VEHICLE FRAME AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME - A header beam couples between A-pillars of a vehicle frame. The header beam is formed from a generally straight beam segment that is extruded to have a hollow body portion with supportive legs extending within the hollow interior along the length of the beam segment, defining uninterrupted forward and rearward box sections for supporting continuous load paths on the header beam. The end portions of the beam segment are clamped and the beam segment is stretch bent to form a curvature between the end portions that remain generally straight. A front flange extends forward along the body portion and is struck proximate the end portions to form an edge that is parallel to the curvature formed between the end portions. The end portions are attached to the A-pillars and the edge of the front flange is attached to a windshield. | 04-30-2015 |
20150115666 | HEADER BEAM OF A VEHICLE FRAME AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME - A header beam couples between A-pillars of a vehicle frame. The header beam is formed from a generally straight beam segment that is extruded to have a hollow body portion with supportive legs extending within the hollow interior along the length of the beam segment, defining uninterrupted forward and rearward box sections for supporting continuous load paths on the header beam. The end portions of the beam segment are clamped and the beam segment is stretch bent to form a curvature between the end portions that remain generally straight. A front flange extends forward along the body portion and is struck proximate the end portions to form an edge that is parallel to the curvature formed between the end portions. The end portions are attached to the A-pillars and the edge of the front flange is attached to a windshield. | 04-30-2015 |
20150209855 | METHODS FOR MAKING A VEHICULAR SUBASSEMBLY WITH A NOTCHED FLANGE TO REDUCE STRAIN IN BENDING - A method of making a vehicular subassembly includes a step for providing a roof header comprising a hollow member having a long axis, a short axis, and an outer surface that includes a flange. The method also includes a step of stretch bending the member such that the outer surface is substantially in tension and curved in the short axis direction. The method further includes a step of cutting a plurality of notched elements into the flange to reduce strain from the stretch bending step. In some aspects, the step of cutting can be conducted before the stretch bending to reduce strain in the header associated with the subsequent stretch bending. | 07-30-2015 |
20150353144 | Aluminum Alloy Vehicle Structural Component Defining An Out-Of-Plane Aperture - An aluminum alloy vehicle structural component defining an out-of-plane aperture with its main portion. A recessed portion is inset from the main portion having a bed sub-portion out-of-plane with the main portion that defines the aperture. The recessed portion also provides a strain hardened sub-portion, or stiffened ring of material, around the aperture. When the main portion is subjected to in-plane tension due to bending, the strain primarily concentrates along the strain hardened sub-portion (the stiffened ring) and by-passes the aperture. As a result the perimeter of the aperture undergoes less straining than if the aperture was in-plane with the main portion. The out-of-plane aperture, the bed sub-portion surrounding the aperture, and the strain hardened sub-portion surrounding the bed sub-portion may improve the overall structural robustness of the aluminum alloy structural component when subjected to in-plane tension. | 12-10-2015 |
20150367893 | EXPANDABLE ROOF PANEL PERIMETER REINFORCEMENT - A vehicle roof frame includes an adhering structure having an adhesive carrier and an expanding structural adhesive coupled to at least a portion of an outer surface of the adhesive carrier. The expanding structural adhesive includes an installation state and a structural state, and the structural state has a larger volume than the installation state. The vehicle roof frame also includes a plurality of vehicle frame members that cooperate to form a frame joint and a joint cavity defined within the frame joint. The adhering structure is disposed within the joint cavity and the adhesive carrier and the expanding structural adhesive in the structural state substantially occupies the joint cavity and fixably couples the plurality of framing members such that the frame joint is free of supplemental mechanical connections proximate the joint cavity. | 12-24-2015 |
20150375792 | MULTILAYER COMPONENT ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMOBILES - An automotive aluminum alloy component assembly includes a first vehicle component defining a first joint region and a first cutout. The assembly also includes a second vehicle component defining a second joint region. The assembly also includes a third vehicle component defining a third joint region. Portions of the first and third joint region sandwich the second joint region. A first self-piercing rivet is disposed within the second and third components and aligned with the first cutout. | 12-31-2015 |
20150375793 | VEHICLE FRAME BRACKET - A frame portion for a vehicle includes a pillar component extending along a first direction and a beam component at least partially extending along a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The beam component has a rear end proximate the pillar component. The frame portion further includes a bracket coupled between the pillar component and the rear end of the beam component. The bracket spaces the beam component from the pillar component. | 12-31-2015 |
20150375794 | Gap Joint for Closed Section Load Transfer - A hydro-formed body side rail is assembled by a bracket to a front header. The front header is an extruded cross-car structural support that is joined to the body side rail by a framed joint. A gap is defined between the body side outer panel and the hydro-formed side rail relative to a lateral end of a front header. Side impact test loads are applied initially to the body side rail and compress the bracket. Compression of the bracket closes the gap and the impact loads are applied to the cross-car structural support. | 12-31-2015 |
20150375800 | Composite Reinforcement for Vehicle Body Structures - A reinforcement received between facing surfaces of adjacent panels that may be part of a hinge pillar of a vehicle such as a pickup truck and the panels may be aluminum. The reinforcement may be a one-piece molded structure. The reinforcement includes ribs that extend between the facing surfaces in a lattice arrangement defining a plurality of cells. The cells may have a number of transverse walls defining a perimeter of a polygon. The polygonal cells may have a facing wall on one side of the cell closing the cell. The facing wall may have an adhesive that is applied to the reinforcement and expanded in a paint bake oven to secure the reinforcement to the adjacent panels. | 12-31-2015 |
20160023544 | VEHICLE CANOPY - A vehicle canopy includes a vehicle body defining a roof opening. A roof is connected to the vehicle body across the roof opening. A headliner is supported by at least one of the vehicle body and the roof. A frame is supported by the vehicle body. A fabric partition is engaged with the frame and extends across the roof opening between the headliner and the roof. The fabric partition may assist in preventing occupant test dummies and/or other objects from moving through the roof opening. | 01-28-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090008965 | Striker Reinforcement for Hydroformed Automotive Door Frame - A striker reinforcement plate is configured for installation into the interior of a closed section, hydroformed tubular automotive frame member. The striker reinforcement plate is formed with an enlarged mounting tab at one end and a weld tab at the opposing end. The striker reinforcement plate is inserted through a slot formed into the wall of the tubular frame member, against which the enlarged mounting tab prevents the striker reinforcement plate from falling through the slot, and the weld tab is inserted through a special formed opening to receive the weld tab. The weld tab can then be welded to the exterior surface of the tubular frame member, which combined with the enlarged mounting tab secured against the slot holds the striker reinforcement plate in place for final assembly of the striker. The striker can then be bolted to the reinforcement plate and be positionally adjusted in a conventional manner. | 01-08-2009 |
20100032981 | Striker Reinforcement for Hydroformed Automotive Door Frame - A striker reinforcement plate is configured for installation into the interior of a closed section, hydroformed tubular automotive frame member. The striker reinforcement plate is formed with an enlarged mounting tab at one end and a weld tab at the opposing end. The striker reinforcement plate is inserted through a slot formed into the wall of the tubular frame member, against which the enlarged mounting tab prevents the striker reinforcement plate from falling through the slot, and the weld tab is inserted through a special formed opening to receive the weld tab. The weld tab can then be welded to the exterior surface of the tubular frame member, which combined with the enlarged mounting tab secured against the slot holds the striker reinforcement plate in place for final assembly of the striker. The striker can then be bolted to the reinforcement plate and be positionally adjusted in a conventional manner. | 02-11-2010 |
20100187800 | Reinforcement Member for Directly Jointed Tubular Components - A reinforcement member is used to join directly two hydroformed tubular members in an automotive vehicle. The reinforcement member is formed with two spaced triangular plates joined to an orthogonal doubler plate in an integral configuration, providing mating surfaces for connection to orthogonally joined tubular members. The parallel triangular plates improve the joints vertical bending stiffness because the parallel plates provide an increased footprint at the joint. The parallel plates also enhance the lateral bending performance of the joint by locking relative movement of the two tubular members at the joint. The vertical doubler plate increases the thickness of the cross tubular member at the joint to allow a lighter gage tubular member to be utilized. The reinforcement member can be joined by MIG welding techniques on one side or on opposite sides of the cross tubular member for welding to the primary frame member. | 07-29-2010 |
20110260501 | VEHICLE FRONT-END UPPER LOAD PATH ASSEMBLY - A structure for transferring energy during an automotive front end impact includes an upper load path structure having a first shotgun rail a second shotgun rail and an upper radiator bar extending therebetween, a lower load path structure having a first side rail a second side rail and a lower support member extending therebetween. During an impact, the upper radiator bar is configured to transfer energy to the first and second shotgun rails, and the lower support member is configured to transfer energy to the first and second side rails during an impact. | 10-27-2011 |
20120133177 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE - An energy management structure for a vehicle may include a first longitudinal rail, a second longitudinal rail joined to the first longitudinal by at least a cross member and a bumper beam. A bumper panel is further provided wherein the bumper panel may be affixed to the bumper beam. The first deflecting rail includes a first front end and a first rear end. The first front end may be affixed to the bumper panel and the first rear end may be affixed to the cross member proximate to the first longitudinal rail. The second deflecting rail includes a second front end and a second rear end. The second front end may be affixed to the bumper panel and the second rear end may be affixed to the cross member proximate to the second longitudinal rail. | 05-31-2012 |
20120256445 | VEHICLE ROOF SUPPORT PILLAR - The vehicle roof support pillar is provided which includes a pillar inner panel, a pillar outer panel and a unitary closed-section reinforcement member. The unitary closed-section reinforcement member is disposed entirely within a chamber defined by the pillar inner panel and the pillar outer panel. The unitary closed-section reinforcement member includes an upper area and a lower area. The lower area of the unitary close-section reinforcement member has an increasing cross-section below the buckling line. The pillar inner panel includes upper and lower ends. The lower inner end has a greater width relative to the upper inner end. The pillar outer panel also has a progressively increasing width relative to the upper outer end. | 10-11-2012 |
20130026793 | Vehicle Support Frames with Interlocking Features for Joining Members of Dissimiliar Materials - The present disclosure relates to various vehicle cross-member assemblies and methods of manufacturing the same. The various vehicle cross-member assemblies have rails composed of dissimilar materials. | 01-31-2013 |
20130026794 | Vehicle Support Frames with Interlocking Features for Joining Members of Dissimilar Materials - The present disclosure relates to various vehicle frame assemblies and methods of manufacturing the same. The vehicle frame assemblies have rails composed of dissimilar materials. | 01-31-2013 |
20130026796 | VEHICLE SUPPORT FRAMES WITH INTERLOCKING FEATURES FOR JOINING MEMBERS OF DISSIMILAR MATERIALS - The present disclosure relates to methods of manufacturing vehicle frame assemblies. Some of the disclosed methods include forming a key and receptor arrangement between an interconnecting member, having a first material composition, and a cross-member, having a second material composition; attaching the interconnecting member and cross-member via the key and receptor arrangement at one location; inserting the interconnecting member and cross-member in a side rail; and welding the interconnecting member to the side rail at another location. | 01-31-2013 |
20130264842 | Vehicle Frame Assemblies with Threaded Connections - A method of manufacturing a vehicle frame, includes: forming compatible threads on a first rail composed of a first material and a second rail composed of a second material; forming a pair of locators on the first and second rails, said locators configured to indicate an alignment condition of the first rail and second rail when screwed together; and screwing together the first rail and second rail. | 10-10-2013 |
20130277955 | Tubular Beam with a Crimped Sleeve - An aluminum tubular beam is assembled to a steel box frame rail with a steel sleeve. The sleeve is connected by a crimp joint or by a hem flange to the tubular beam. The steel sleeve may be effectively welded to the steel box frame rail to which it is assembled. An adhesive may be provided between the sleeve and the beam. | 10-24-2013 |
20140035324 | VEHICLE GLAZING ASSEMBLY WITH NOISE AND VIBRATION REDUCTION TECHNIQUES - The present disclosure relates to a vehicle glazing assembly with noise and vibration reduction techniques, having: a panel; and a first layer of first stiffening material applied at a perimeter of the panel. | 02-06-2014 |
20150097395 | BOWTIE SHAPED ROOF BOW - A roof bow for a vehicle is provided that has a “bow-tie” shape including a central portion flanked by two triangular portions. The triangular portions are joined to right and left roof brackets that are, in turn, joined to right and left roof rails. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled from extruded tubular parts. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled in a clamshell structure including an upper shell and a lower shell that are joined together by welding. The roof bow may be formed in one piece as a sheet metal stamping having side portions that are wider than the central portion. | 04-09-2015 |
20150266511 | Extruded Metal Sub-Frame For A Vehicle - A sub-frame assembly for supporting a pair of wheels on a vehicle. The base may be an extrusion having a matrix of panels extending in a vertical direction. The sub-frame assembly has control arm brackets disposed on opposing ends of the base and attachment towers extending above the brackets providing attachment points to connect portions of an independent suspension to the vehicle and support a pair of wheels. The base, control brackets and attachment towers may be individual modular pieces. Left and right hand control brackets and attachment towers may be provided by respective unitary support pieces attached to opposing ends of the base. The unitary support pieces may be extrusions having panels extending in a transverse direction, nonaxial to the base. The base, control arm brackets and attachment towers, alternatively, may be provided by a single unitary extrusion having a matrix of panels extending in a transverse direction. | 09-24-2015 |
20150375790 | Bowtie Shaped Roof Bow - A roof bow for a vehicle is provided that has a “bow-tie” shape including a central portion flanked by two triangular portions. The triangular portions are joined to right and left roof brackets that are, in turn, joined to right and left roof rails. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled from extruded tubular parts. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled in a clamshell structure including an upper shell and a lower shell that are joined together by welding. The roof bow may be formed in one piece as a sheet metal stamping having side portions that are wider than the central portion. | 12-31-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100010161 | PRODUCTION OF METATHESIS PRODUCTS BY HIGH MELTING POLYMER SEGMENT INTERCHANGE - Two or more chemically distinguishable ethylenically unsaturated polymers, at least one having from 0.001 to 50 mole percent unsaturation and at least one other having an expected Tg or measured Tm value greater than 100° C. are cross-metathesized to form thermoplastic elastomers having improved performance properties. | 01-14-2010 |
20100069573 | PRODUCTION OF META-BLOCK COPOLYMERS BY POLYMER SEGMENT INTERCHANGE - Meta-block copolymers and a process for preparing a product mixture comprising meta-block copolymers by contacting a metathesis catalyst under metathesis conditions with a composition comprising two or more ethylenically unsaturated polymers, said unsaturation defining one or more polymer segments in each ethylenically unsaturated polymer, at least one polymer segment in at least one ethylenically unsaturated polymer being chemically distinguishable from at least one polymer segment in at least one other ethylenically unsaturated polymer, characterized in that each meta-block copolymer in the product mixture comprises a random distribution of said chemically distinguishable polymer blocks. | 03-18-2010 |
20100168352 | PRODUCTION OF TELECHELIC COMPOUNDS BY METATHESIS DEPOLYMERIZATION - Telechelic unsaturated polymers suitable for conversion to functionalized derivatives such as polyols are prepared by metathesis of an unsaturated copolymer formed by addition polymerization of ethylene, a diene or alkyne and, optionally, one or more C | 07-01-2010 |
20100222513 | PRODUCTION OF METATHESIS PRODUCTS BY AMORPHOUS POLYMER SEGMENT INERCHANGE - A cross-metathesized product mixture is prepared by contacting a metathesis catalyst under metathesis conditions with a composition comprising two or more chemically distinguishable ethylenically unsaturated polymers, at least one of said ethylenically unsaturated polymers (first polymer) having from 0.001 to 50 mole percent unsaturation and at least one other of said ethylenically unsaturated polymers (second polymer) being an amorphous polymer having a Tg less than 0° C. and having from 0.001 to 5 mole percent unsaturation. | 09-02-2010 |
20120172613 | PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING PHOSPHATE ESTERS FROM PHOSPHORYL CHLORIDE AND MONOALKYL ETHERS OF GLYCOLS OR POLYGLYCOLS - Phosphate ester compounds are prepared by reacting phosphoryl chloride with at least one mono(alkylene glycol) monoether or poly(alkylene glycol) monoether, or a mixture at least one mono(alkylene glycol) monoether or poly(alkylene glycol) monoether and at least one alkylene glycol or polyalkylene glycol, in the presence of at least three moles per mole of phosphoryl chloride of a pyridinyl compound that is devoid of aliphatic nitrogen atoms. | 07-05-2012 |
20120189910 | HIGHLY CONDUCTIVE POLYMER ELECTROLYTES AND SECONDARY BATTERIES INCLUDING THE SAME - The present invention is directed to novel block copolymers and to novel polymeric electrolyte compositions, such as solid polymer electrolytes that comprises a block copolymer including a first block having a glass transition temperature greater than about 60° C. or a melting temperature greater than about 60° C., and a second block including a polyalkoxide. The polymer electrolyte composition preferably has a shear modulus, G′, measured at 1 rad/sec and about 30° C. and a conductivity, σ, measured at about 30° C., such that i) G′—σ is greater than about 200 (S/cm)(dynes/cm | 07-26-2012 |
20140348937 | MICROCAPSULES - A composition is provided, comprising microcapsules, wherein said microcapsules comprise a core and an outer shell, wherein said core comprises one or more water-insoluble compound having melting point above 15° C., wherein said outer shell comprises one or more amino resin that is a reaction product of reactants comprising one or more polyamine and formaldehyde, and wherein said composition further comprises one or more formaldehyde scavenger, one or more reaction product of said amino resin with a formaldehyde scavenger, or a mixture thereof. Also provided is a method of making such a composition. | 11-27-2014 |
20150315385 | BITUMEN TRANSPORT - A bitumen transport composition is provided comprising bitumen, a diluent in an amount of 24 weight percent or less and an additive wherein the additive is a mono-alcohol, a mono-nitrile, an amine or mixtures thereof. Also provided is a method to make the bitumen transport composition. Also provided is a method to transport the bitumen transport composition. | 11-05-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110165492 | FUEL CELL HEADER WEDGE - A fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack having a header and active area in fluid communication with the header. The fuel cell system may also include a wedge disposed within the header and configured to alter the cross-sectional area of the header along the length of the stack such that, during operation of the stack, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant. | 07-07-2011 |
20110165500 | FUEL CELL STACK THAT PROMOTES GENERALLY UNIFORM FLOW THEREIN - A power generating system may include a plurality of bipolar plates stacked to form a fuel cell assembly having an inlet side, a non-inlet side, an inlet header extending from the inlet side to the non-inlet side, an active area, and an inlet transition area. The inlet transition area may be in fluid communication with (i) the inlet header via feed passageways formed in each of the plates and (ii) the active area. The feed passageways of the plates located proximate to the inlet side may be generally smaller and/or fewer in number than the feed passageways of the plates located proximate to the non-inlet side such that, during operation of the fuel cell assembly, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant. | 07-07-2011 |
20140370411 | FUEL CELL HEADER WEDGE - A fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack having a header and active area in fluid communication with the header. The fuel cell system may also include a wedge disposed within the header and configured to alter the cross-sectional area of the header along the length of the stack such that, during operation of the stack, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant. | 12-18-2014 |