Abstract: A system for providing structural transmittal of force through a vehicle body of a mid-engine vehicle is provided. The system includes an elongated single member torsional box spanning a passenger compartment from a vehicle-forward portion of the passenger compartment to a vehicle-rearward portion of the passenger compartment, parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, and laterally centered upon a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body. The system further includes four rails in a vehicle-forward position relative to the elongated single member torsional box, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, and offset from the elongated single member torsional box. The system further includes four diagonal support members, each diagonal support member being connected at a first end to one of the four rails and at a second end to the elongated single member torsional box.

Abstract: A system for providing structural transmittal of force through a vehicle body of a mid-engine vehicle is provided. The system includes an elongated single member torsional box spanning a passenger compartment from a vehicle-forward portion of the passenger compartment to a vehicle-rearward portion of the passenger compartment, parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, and laterally centered upon a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body. The system further includes four rails in a vehicle-forward position relative to the elongated single member torsional box, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, and offset from the elongated single member torsional box. The system further includes four diagonal support members, each diagonal support member being connected at a first end to one of the four rails and at a second end to the elongated single member torsional box.

Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission includes initiating a temporary neutral mode of the transmission, in which at least one clutch of the transmission is disengaged to prevent power flow through the transmission, when an upshift paddle selector and a downshift paddle selector are both engaged within a pre-defined engagement time window. At least one of the upshift paddle selector and the downshift paddle selector is held in their respective engaged positions to maintain the temporary neutral mode of the transmission. The temporary neutral mode of the transmission is ended when both of the upshift paddle selector and the downshift paddle selector are disengaged, by re-engaging the at least one transmission clutch that was disengaged to initiate the temporary neutral mode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a steering assist unit of a vehicle. The method includes receiving sensor data indicating a wheel position of a wheel relative to a frame of the vehicle, and determining a travel limit value for the steering assist unit based at least on the wheel position of the wheel. The method further includes outputting a control signal to control the travel of the steering assist unit based on the travel limit value.

Abstract: An inlet, positioned to access the flow of air passing around and under a moving vehicle, may draw in air which is conveyed through a duct and discharged to cool a brake on a vehicle. The inlet has a closure. The closure is opened and closed on demand by a temperature-operated actuator incorporating an active or smart material under the direction of a controller. In embodiments, a sensor, suitably positioned to sense a temperature representative of the brake temperature, communicates the sensed brake temperature to the controller. The controller may respond to the sensed brake temperature, by triggering operation of the actuator. Typically the closure is opened to allow passage of cooling air to the brake when the sensed brake temperature exceeds, or is anticipated to exceed, a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a steering assist unit of a vehicle. The method includes receiving sensor data indicating a wheel position of a wheel relative to a frame of the vehicle, and determining a travel limit value for the steering assist unit based at least on the wheel position of the wheel. The method further includes outputting a control signal to control the travel of the steering assist unit based on the travel limit value.

Abstract: An inlet, positioned to access the flow of air passing around and under a moving vehicle, may draw in air which is conveyed through a duct and discharged to cool a brake on a vehicle. The inlet has a closure. The closure is opened and closed on demand by a temperature-operated actuator incorporating an active or smart material under the direction of a controller. In embodiments, a sensor, suitably positioned to sense a temperature representative of the brake temperature, communicates the sensed brake temperature to the controller. The controller may respond to the sensed brake temperature, by triggering operation of the actuator. Typically the closure is opened to allow passage of cooling air to the brake when the sensed brake temperature exceeds, or is anticipated to exceed, a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An inlet, positioned to access the flow of air passing around and under a moving vehicle, draws in air which is conveyed through a duct and discharged to cool a brake on a vehicle. The inlet has a closure so that access of cooling air may be denied when the brake temperature is less than a predetermined temperature and opened only when the brake temperature exceeds that predetermined temperature. The closure is operated by a temperature-operated actuator. In embodiments the actuator may be suitably positioned to sense a temperature representative of the brake temperature and to incorporate a thermally activated phase change, active or smart material preselected to operate the inlet closure when the sensed brake temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A reversibly deployable spoiler for a vehicle comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as shape memory material, is operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material can change its shape, dimensions and/or stiffness producing a change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness to control vehicle airflow and downforce to better suit changes in driving conditions such as speed, while reducing maintenance and the level of failure modes. An activation device, controller and sensors may be employed to further control the change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness.

Abstract: A reversibly deployable spoiler for a vehicle comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as shape memory material, is operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material can change its shape, dimensions and/or stiffness producing a change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness to control vehicle airflow and downforce to better suit changes in driving conditions such as speed, while reducing maintenance and the level of failure modes. An activation device, controller and sensors may be employed to further control the change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness.

Abstract: A reversibly deployable spoiler for a vehicle comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as shape memory material, is operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material can change its shape, dimensions and/or stiffness producing a change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness to control vehicle airflow and downforce to better suit changes in driving conditions such as speed, while reducing maintenance and the level of failure modes. An activation device, controller and sensors may be employed to further control the change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness.

Abstract: A system for controlling fluid flow about a vehicle. The system comprises a fluid flow control device, an obstacle sensor for detecting obstacles, and a controller. The fluid flow control device has a body with at least one surface and an actuation means in operative communication with the surface. The actuation means is operative to alter at least one attribute of the fluid flow control device in response to a control signal. The controller has control logic for generating the control signal in response to the obstacle sensor.

Abstract: Vehicle strut type suspensions are improved against deleterious side loadings and excessive friction in the telescopic strut portions by use of a couple counterbalance secondary spring which imposes a counter-moment on the strut-connected wheel support knuckle.

Abstract: A mechanism for stablizing the lateral position of a raised window in a vehicle door includes a guide track mounted vertically within the window storage cavity of the door and a stabilizer strut slidably interengaged with the stabilizer strut for vertical movement therealong. A slider channel is attached to the window and slidably interengaged for vertical movement along the stabilizer strut. The slidable interengagement between the slider channel and the stabilizer strut is characterized by tapered walls on the slider channel which provide a small area of frictional contact with the stabilizer strut during sliding movement until the slider channel reaches the fully raised position with respect to the stabilizer strut at which point the tapered walls on the stabilizer strut engage with the tapered walls of the slider channel to provide a full length interengagement therebetween which functions to substantially stabilize the glass laterally of the vehicle in the fully raised position.