Abstract: The vehicle frame rail in one form has front, middle and rear portions which are seamlessly joined together to form a unitary one-piece monolithic frame rail. The frame rail may be straight with an upper surface of an upper flange of the frame rail being planar. At the transition regions of this form of frame rail form, the lower flange converges toward the upper flange at a transition between the front and middle portion and diverges from the upper flange at a transition from the middle portion to the rear portion. The upper flange of the frame rail may converge toward the lower flange along a rearmost section of the frame rail.

Abstract: An improved vehicle cooling system is disclosed having the capability of controlling various thermal components of the system to effectively control the heating and cooling of an engine of the vehicle based on instantaneous vehicle and ambient conditions and also based upon predictive conditions. These predictive conditions can include information about the upcoming terrain of the route along which the vehicle will travel.

Abstract: An elongated air intake plenum is disclosed together with mounting structure for supporting the plenum at the side of a vehicle chassis such as from the frame rail of a chassis for a motor home or recreational vehicle. The plenum and mounting structure is desirably positioned rearwardly of a rear axle of the chassis.

Abstract: An exemplary interlocking bumper for mounting to frame rails of a vehicle is illustrated with a respective first bumper mounting receptacle coupled to each frame rail, such as by a frame rail mounting bracket. The interlocking bumper can further include a center bumper reinforcement that includes projections that are insertable into the first bumper mounting receptacles. Each projection of the center bumper reinforcement can define a second bumper mounting receptacle. Furthermore, the interlocking bumper can include first and second end cap bumper reinforcements each including a projection that is insertable into one of the second bumper mounting receptacles.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension has axle end portions each pivotally coupled to an associated leaf spring and thereby to an associated supporting vehicle frame rail. Control rods are pivotally coupled to the axle at locations below the leaf spring pivots. Desirably, one of such control rods is pivoted to the axle at a location above the wheel axis and the other of such control rods is pivotally coupled to the axle at a location below the wheel axis. A steering mechanism for steering the steerable wheels of a tandem axle includes first and second steering gears mounted to a common frame rail and driven by a single mechanical coupling such as a T-miter box. These steering gears may control respective steering gears at the opposite side of the vehicle.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission in a motor vehicle, a vehicle simulation device uses information regarding current vehicle operating parameters, together with map information regarding a route being traveled by the vehicle to project the dynamic longitudinal behavior of the vehicle, including vehicle velocity for the road that lies ahead. An evaluation module utilizes speed profile information generated in this manner to develop a desired torque. Finally, a shift strategy module converts the desired torque into a desired gear and a point in time for shifting, such that the transmission either shifts into neutral or shifts to an appropriate gear. The invention may be implemented in the form of hardware components, in the form of software modules which are run on either a centralized or distributed vehicle control system, or a combination of hardware and software components.

Abstract: The parking brakes on a truck or other vehicle having plural axles are applied such that at least one wheel at a first end of a first axle receives a parking brake force without applying a parking brake force to any wheel at the opposite end of the first axle. In addition, at least one wheel at a second end of a second axle, the second end of the second axle being opposite to the first end of the first axle, receives a parking brake force. Desirably, any wheels at the opposite end of the second axle from the second end of the second axle are not the recipient of a parking brake force such that diagonally disposed parking brake forces are applied upon activation of the vehicle parking brakes. The first axle in one example is forwardly of the second axle and the first end of the first axle may be at the longitudinal side of the vehicle which is the heaviest.

Abstract: A wind tunnel for measuring the aerodynamics of a vehicle may comprise a test section. Air moving through the test section may be collected in a plurality of individual ducts, each with a fan for moving the air through the test section and ducts. The vehicle of vehicle wheels may be supported at an incline.

Abstract: A reconfigurable lower bunk apparatus for a vehicle having a sleeping compartment with a rear wall and first and second side walls is described. In one form, a mattress receiving receptacle or tray is moveably mounted to a rear wall of the vehicle to permit raising and lowering of the tray between raised and lowered positions. A storage compartment is overlaid by the tray when the tray is in the lowered position. The storage compartment may have first and second sections with one of the sections being longer than the other and desirably greater than one-half the width between the side walls of the sleeping compartment. Removable dividers may subdivide the storage compartment into respective storage sections.

Abstract: The parking brakes on a truck or other vehicle having plural axles are applied such that at least one wheel at a first end of a first axle receives a parking brake force without applying a parking brake force to any wheel at the opposite end of the first axle. In addition, at least one wheel at a second end of a second axle, the second end of the second axle being opposite to the first end of the first axle, receives a parking brake force. Desirably, any wheels at the opposite end of the second axle from the second end of the second axle are not the recipient of a parking brake force such that diagonally disposed parking brake forces are applied upon activation of the vehicle parking brakes. The first axle in one example is forwardly of the second axle and the first end of the first axle may be at the longitudinal side of the vehicle which is the heaviest.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining electrical contact to one or more circuits carried by a steering wheel and portions of the circuits separated from the steering wheel comprises first and second housing sections. At least one annulus is carried by one of the housing sections and at least one contact maintaining finger is carried by the other of the housing sections. These components are electrical connected to one another and to respective circuit components to maintain the circuit connections as a steering wheel, that is coupled to one of the first and second housing components, is rotated relative to the other of the first and second housing components that is coupled to the steering column.

Abstract: An adjustable foot pedal assembly for a vehicle, according to one disclosed embodiment, comprises a foot pedal supported by a base. The pedal is mounted in a position generally above the base, with the lower end of the pedal pivotally connected to the lower end of the base. The first end of a lever arm is pivotally mounted on the lower surface of the pedal and the second end of the lever arm is positioned for movement relative to the upper surface of the base when the pedal is pivoted toward and away from the base between a depressed position and an idle position. An adjustment mechanism may couple the upper end portion of the base to a wall of a vehicle and is configured to selectively vary the fore and aft position of the base and the pedal from the wall.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension has axle end portions each pivotally coupled to an associated leaf spring and thereby to an associated supporting vehicle frame rail. Control rods are pivotally coupled to the axle at locations below the leaf spring pivots. Desirably, one of such control rods is pivoted to the axle at a location above the wheel axis and the other of such control rods is pivotally coupled to the axle at a location below the wheel axis. A steering mechanism for steering the steerable wheels of a tandem axle includes first and second steering gears mounted to a common frame rail and driven by a single mechanical coupling such as a T-miter box. These steering gears may control respective steering gears at the opposite side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A wind tunnel for measuring the aerodynamics of a vehicle may comprise a test section. Air moving through the test section may be collected in a plurality of individual ducts, each with a fan for moving the air through the test section and ducts. The vehicle or vehicle wheels may be supported at an incine.

Abstract: The parking brakes on a truck or other vehicle having plural axles are applied such that at least one wheel at a first end of a first axle receives a parking brake force without applying a parking brake force to any wheel at the opposite end of the first axle. In addition, at least one wheel at a second end of a second axle, the second end of the second axle being opposite to the first end of the first axle, receives a parking brake force. Desirably, any wheels at the opposite end of the second axle from the second end of the second axle are not the recipient of a parking brake force such that diagonally disposed parking brake forces are applied upon activation of the vehicle parking brakes. The first axle in one example is forwardly of the second axle and the first end of the first axle may be at the longitudinal side of the vehicle which is the heaviest.

Abstract: A vehicle shifter and method in one form involves tilting a shift lever relative to a steering wheel as the steering wheel is tilted and also raising and lowering the shift lever respectively as the steering wheel is raised and lowered.

Abstract: An adjustable foot pedal assembly for a vehicle, according to one disclosed embodiment, comprises a foot pedal supported by a base. The pedal is mounted in a position generally above the base, with the lower end of the pedal pivotally connected to the lower end of the base. The first end of a lever arm is pivotally mounted on the lower surface of the pedal and the second end of the lever arm is positioned for movement relative to the upper surface of the base when the pedal is pivoted toward and away from the base between a depressed position and an idle position. An adjustment mechanism may couple the upper end portion of the base to a wall of a vehicle and is configured to selectively vary the fore and aft position of the base and the pedal from the wall.

Abstract: Wheel slip is determined for individual wheels of a vehicle. Minor wheel slippage of wheels is evaluated to determine information concerning wheel performance. This information may provide an early indication of wheel problems. Wheel problems or faults may be displayed or otherwise indicated in response to minor wheel slippage conditions.

Abstract: A wind tunnel for measuring the aerodynamics of a vehicle may comprise a test section. Air moving through the test section may be collected in a plurality of individual ducts, each with a fan for moving the air through the test section and ducts. The vehicle or vehicle wheels may be supported at an incine.

Abstract: The parking brakes on a truck or other vehicle having plural axles are applied such that at least one wheel at a first end of a first axle receives a parking brake force without applying a parking brake force to any wheel at the opposite end of the first axle. In addition, at least one wheel at a second end of a second axle, the second end of the second axle being opposite to the first end of the first axle, receives a parking brake force. Desirably, any wheels at the opposite end of the second axle from the second end of the second axle are not the recipient of a parking brake force such that diagonally disposed parking brake forces are applied upon activation of the vehicle parking brakes. The first axle in one example is forwardly of the second axle and the first end of the first axle may be at the longitudinal side of the vehicle which is the heaviest.