Abstract: A method of operating a retarder control system for a drivetrain retarder such as an engine compression brake of a heavy-duty truck vehicle is disclosed. The method of operation includes three novel subsets each of which controls the operational state and the resistance level at which the drivetrain retarder is operated dependent at least partially upon one or more factors including speeds of one or more drivetrain components, vehicle speed, rotational speed of one or more undriven wheels, position of a brake control member, elapsed time of activation of a brake control member and/or elapsed time from a change in a selected resistance level at which the retarder control system is commanded to effect operation of the drivetrain retarder.

Abstract: A cab body mounting (100) in a vehicle has a frame-side bracket (102) attached to a chassis frame side rail (18) and a body-side bracket (104) attached to a cab body rail (16). An elastomeric bushing (108) and a fastener (109) associate brackets 102, 104 so as to allow limited motion between them accompanied by bushing deformation. Bracket (102) has an upright wall (110) that is spaced a distance from an end (16E) of rail (16). A sufficiently large relative acceleration of the body on the frame, such as during a frontal impact, will cause an edge portion of bracket (104) to abut wall (110), which arrests further movement of the bracket in the fore-aft direction, and thereby shares the loading that is being imposed on the mounting due to the acceleration force. This occurs before the stress in the shank of fastener (109) reaches the characteristic maximum allowable shearing stress for the fastener material.

Abstract: This invention is an improved park position locking system for controlling the conditions for removing an automatic transmission gearshift 90 from a PARK position. An electronic system controller 30 and the transmission controller 16 are engaged to a common data bus 18. Vehicle control system 10 comprises the electronic system controller (ESC) 30, which is the primary component of a vehicle electronic control system. ESC 30 manages and communicates with a number of vocational controllers disposed on a vehicle 13 and executes a load management program which oversees the total load imposed on the vehicle electrical system and power train by various accessories installed on the vehicle 13. Such communication is by a standard communication protocol that may be the SAE J1939 protocol over the common data bus 18. The ESC 30 is programmed to ensure that an operator of the vehicle may not move the gearshift 90 out of a PARK position without first depressing a service brake pedal.

Abstract: A vehicle electrical system is disclosed having a plurality of electrical subsystems for supplying power to different component groups of the vehicle. A voltage regulator is provided each subsystem for setting the voltage on each electrical subsystem independently of the other electrical subsystems. One such subsystem includes a battery having a grounded terminal and an ungrounded terminal. An electrical system controller including data processing capacity provides control of the voltage level on the charging subsystem through a charging regulator having an output connected to the ungrounded terminal of the battery and a control input. An electrical power generator is connected to energize the charging regulator. Instrumentation connected to the electrical system controller provides measurements of current discharged from the battery, current delivered to the battery, and battery temperature.

Abstract: A hydraulically-actuated unit fuel injector of the intensifier type is provided with two independently operable active control valves. A selectively actuable fuel pressure control valve is disposed on the hydraulic actuation fluid side to control the fuel pressure actuation process and provide a window of injection opportunity wherein the fuel pressure is maintained at high pressure. A selectively actuable timing control valve is disposed on the high pressure fuel side to provide precise control of injection timing events and duration, such as start of injection, end of injection, timing of interruption and duration of interruption, which all may occur during a single injection event within the window of opportunity. Both control valves are independently controlled to prevent reverse motion of the intensifier piston and plunger during dwell or interruption of injection while maintaining the full injection pressure.

Abstract: A pressure control valve assembly for controlling fluid pressure to an actuator, the pressure control valve assembly being in fluid communication with an actuating fluid pump and being disposed intermediate the actuator and the pump, includes an energy storage component, the energy storage component acting on a certain volume of actuating fluid under pressure, the stored energy being selectively releasable to the actuator for augmenting the actuating fluid pressure in the actuator. A method of control is further included.

Abstract: A combined truck cab having a forward operator section and an aft living unit is constructed utilizing an underbody providing a central floor area, left side and right side flare modules providing longitudinal side walls, outer portions of the floor aft of an operator area and outer portions of the back wall, and a center back wall section between the outer portions of the back wall provided by the flare sections. The longitudinal side wall narrow on one another forward from the back wall and the outer floor portions narrow from rear to front.

Abstract: A spring clip for retaining an electrical connector in coupled engagement with a fuel injector includes a unitary spring clip component having a retainer assembly, a lever assembly operably coupled to the retainer assembly, and a fulcrum assembly operably coupled to the lever assembly. A method of disengaging a spring clip from engagement with a fuel injector, the spring clip retaining an electrical connector in coupled engagement with the fuel injector is also included.

Abstract: A control strategy for mitigation of the effect of increased engine back-pressure on fuel injectors (22) when an engine retarder is activated to slow the engine (10) of a motor vehicle. The strategy attenuates injection control pressure ICP of hydraulic fluid for the fuel injectors to a defined dwell pressure ICP_VRE_DWL, and once that dwell pressure has been attained, keeps the injection control pressure from exceeding it for the length of a dwell time ICP_DWL_TM. Upon elapse of the dwell time, the injection control pressure gradually increases above the dwell pressure using a pressure versus time map (54). When engine operating conditions call for greater injection control pressure while the retarder is activated, the strategy provides for greater injection control pressure using a pressure versus speed map (42).

Abstract: A vehicle provides the automatic activation and deactivation of vehicle lights in a predetermined sequence upon user request to assist the user in making a sight inspection of operation of the lights without further human help.

Abstract: A battery and accessory support for use on a vehicle is disclosed for use particularly on a hybrid diesel/electric truck. Such a vehicle has a frame comprising a pair of longitudinally extending frame rails. The support includes a plurality of cross support members, each cross support member comprising an open channel rail, with the cross support members positioned under the frame rails oriented in parallel with respect to one another and perpendicular to the frame rails. For each cross support member there is a pair of vertical braces extending upwardly from the cross support member. Each pair of vertical braces is mutually spaced on its respective cross support member to bracket snugly the pair of longitudinally extending frame rails, and each vertical brace being attached to one of the frame rails to support the battery and accessory support. Alignment members are positioned across the ends of cross support members to support the parallel orientation of the cross support members.

Abstract: The invention integrates a general purpose computer with a controller area network to effect an inspection regimen through the controller area network A convenient user interface, combining handheld instruments and convention displays and printers allows the driver to interact with the system. The computer provides storage for programs and processing power to implement test regimens in logical order relating to completion of the inspection.

Abstract: A hood latch, hood and vehicle-mounting component that provide improved durability and aerodynamic properties as well as access to an under hood area. The latch is a two-part component. The latch is mounted under the hood and is only exposed where it latches to the latch catch on the vehicle-mounting component. The vehicle-mounting component can be engaged to the body of the vehicle or to the chassis of the vehicle. One vehicle-mounting component may be a fender extension. The latch is mounted to an underside of the hood and hence there is overlap of the hood over a portion of the latch. The latch catch may be mounted in a channel formed in the vehicle mounting-component. This design protects the latch from road debris and prevents snow and mud buildup in the latch area. This makes it less difficult for the operator or maintainer to access to open the hood. The mounting of the strap under the hood reduces corrosion to the latch hardware that allows for improved serviceability and longer lasting hardware.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (10) has an intake system (12) that includes a turbocharger (32). An engine control (30) processes data for controlling the opening of the exhaust valves (24) and for controlling fueling of the engine in relation to the engine operating cycle. In response to initiation of engine acceleration, the control increasingly retards exhaust valve opening in relation to the engine operating cycle to cause the turbocharger to increase pressure in the intake manifold (14) and increases engine fueling in relation to the increased pressure in the intake manifold.

Abstract: An engine control system (10, 12) and method for improving stability of engine running speed when torque subtractions (TTS) from gross torque change while the engine (14) is running at a constant speed, such as at low idle speed. Engine speed error data (Nerror) is processed according to one or more control functions (52, 54, 56) each having gain determined by the torque subtraction data value via function generators (58, 60, 62) to develop fueling adjustment data (P-FGT, I-FGT, D-FGT) for compensating desired engine fueling (MFDES) for the torque subtraction data (TTS).

Abstract: A control (30) embodies an operating strategy (50) to facilitate engine cranking and starting via control of timing of cylinder intake (18) and exhaust (24) valve opening using a variable valve actuation mechanism (26). Prior to fueling any cylinder (16), the engine (10) is cranked while the variable valve actuation mechanism causes pistons (32) to operate at an initial effective compression ratio for initial cranking that is less than an effective compression ratio for running when the engine is eventually fueled and runs under its own power. Thereafter, and still before fueling, they are caused to operate at an increased effective compression ratio, and still thereafter, a portion of their charges are drawn from the exhaust system (22). As the engine warms up, valve timing is adjusted.

Abstract: The invention integrates a general purpose computer with a controller area network to effect an inspection regimen through the controller area network. A convenient user interface, combining handheld instruments and convention displays and printers allows the driver to interact with the system. The computer provides storage for programs and processing power to implement test regimens in logical order relating to completion of the inspection.

Abstract: A cooling module mounting system and method of mounting the package to a vehicle is described. A chassis cross member for providing vertical support to the cooling package is sub-assembled to the cooling module separate from the vehicle where the two mounting surfaces can be held parallel to one another eliminating the possibility of unevenly preloading the isolator. Then this pre-assembled isolated system can be mounted on the truck chassis without changing the relationship of the compressed isolator when the module is bolted down during truck assembly. This system eliminates the fore aft adjustment variability allowing for more control over the static location and isolator compression of the cooling module in the truck. The stay rods used eliminate variation in the rod isolator compression during mounting. The stay rod also allows for controlled multi-axial movement with a mounting centerline perpendicular to the input loads.

Abstract: A turbocharger (32) creates intake manifold boost for a diesel engine (10) that has a variable valve actuation mechanism. At times, exhaust valve opening (EVO) is increasingly retarded in relation to the engine operating cycle (56) to cause the turbocharger to increase boost, engine fueling is also increased in relation to the increased boost (58), and in response to any incipient surging of the compressor resulting from such increasingly retarded exhaust valve opening and such increased engine fueling, compressed charge air is bled from the intake manifold through the combustion chambers to the exhaust system (62) to counter the incipient surging and thereby avoid any significant turbocharger surge. The bleeding is accomplished by keeping the exhaust valves (24) slightly open beyond the time that they would otherwise close.

Abstract: The use of green sand is eliminated by replacing green sand molds with all core sand assemblies that provide, during casting, both the internal and external surfaces of a casting, such as a cylinder head or engine block. In the process, a mold is formed from the same core sand that is used to form the core elements defining the internal passageways of the casting. A mold-core carrier is constructed with tapered sides that hold the assembled mold and core elements together during pouring of the molten iron alloy into the mold-core assembly and the cooling period to form the casting. Although the carrier sides can use a refractory liner, preferably the sides are made of replaceable sheet metal backed by an open structural framework to enhance cooling of the casting. After the casting is formed, the core sand from both the mold elements and the core elements is recovered, and may recycled and processed to form further mold elements or core elements or both.