Abstract: An internal combustion cylinder assembly includes a cylinder having a cylinder head at an end thereof, a combustion chamber disposed in the cylinder head, a piston disposed slidably within the cylinder, the piston having a bottom dead center position distal from the combustion chamber and a top dead center position proximate to the combustion chamber, a pilot quantity of fuel disposed substantially dispersably within the cylinder, a working fluid disposed compressably within the cylinder, the piston compressing the working fluid and the pilot quantity of fuel as it slides from the bottom dead center position to the top dead center position, and wherein the pilot quantity of fuel is substantially a maximum quantity that will not support auto-ignition when the working fluid and the pilot quantity of fuel have been compressed.

Abstract: A multiple rear drive axle system for a vehicle includes a first axle coupled with a drive shaft from a transmission of the vehicle. The first axle includes a first cantilevered input pinion mechanically coupled with the drive shaft and with a first driven gear. The system also includes an output shaft mechanically coupled with the drive shaft. A second axle has a second cantilevered input pinion mechanically coupled with the output shaft of the first axle system and with a second driven gear. The first and second input pinions are common, that is, are substantially identical pinions. The first and second driven gears are also common, that is, are substantially identical gears.

Abstract: A control system is provided for controlling the fueling system (402) of a combustion engine. The control system includes a sensing arrangement for measuring a plurality of engine and vehicle conditions (404, 406, 408, 410, 412) in real time. The control system also includes a fuel map that defines engine fueling parameters corresponding to engine operating conditions. The control system also includes a control module (102) that determines engine load from the sensed conditions, and controls the fueling parameters of the fueling system for optimized fuel consumption by selecting fueling parameters from the fuel map based on current engine load.

Abstract: A modular cab/sleeper/roof structural assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle according to the present invention provides greater manufacturing flexibility and unrestricted access between a cab/sleeper unit. The structural assembly includes a top-free cab unit having a front wall, opposing side walls, and a bottom portion. A top-free sleeper unit positioned behind the cab unit has a rear wall, opposing side walls, and a bottom portion. Fasteners couple the cab unit and the sleeper unit such that an upwardly opened carriage assembly is formed. A unitary roof member fixedly encloses the opened carriage assembly and forms an integral modular unit. The unitary roof member has a front portion connected to the front wall of the cab unit, a rear portion connected to the rear wall of the sleeper unit, and opposing side portions connected to the opposing side walls of the cab and sleeper units.

Abstract: An improved truck architecture includes a truck frame, a cab coupled with the truck frame, and a hood. The cab has a front end and a rear end. The front end of the cab is positioned over the truck engine such that a portion of the engine is positioned beneath the cab. A device is provided for lifting and tilting the cab rearward relative to the engine to provide access to the engine. The hood is coupled with the truck frame and covers the remaining portion of the engine not covered by the cab.

Abstract: A power storage device is provided for a motor vehicle. An engine control unit (ECU) is configured to receive measurements of one or more engine and/or vehicle conditions and to determine an amount of unused engine power based upon the measurements and upon a nominal power rating of the engine when the engine is operated below the nominal power rating. The value of the amount of unused engine power is stored in memory as stored power.

Abstract: An EGR recovery system and method includes calculating a transient volume of EGR sufficient to maintain NOx emitted by an engine below a predetermined level during a period of transient operation of said engine, supplying an actual volume of EGR during said period of transient operation, measuring said actual level of EGR during said period of transient operation, calculating an EGR deficit between said transient volume of EGR and said actual of volume of EGR during said period of transient operation, integrating said EGR deficit over said period of transient operation to calculate a deficit volume of EGR, calculating a following steady-state volume of EGR sufficient to maintain NOx emitted by said engine of said engine below said predetermined level during a following period of substantially steady-state operation of said engine, and supplying said following steady-state volume of EGR plus said deficit volume of EGR during said following period of substantially steady-state operation of said engine.

Abstract: A rear axle suspension for a highway truck that includes a pair of trailing arms suspended below a frame by a pair of hanger brackets. The hanger brackets define a pivot axis for the trailing arms. A supplemental axle locating member is attached to the axle and includes an extension member that is engageable with a bracket held by the frame. The hanger brackets are laterally compliant and each comprise an inner and outer plate, one of which is bent outwardly to define a gap within which an associated trailing arm is mounted. A moment canceling member extends between the hanger brackets and resists outward bending of the brackets. A height control valve is operated by an operating rod having an axis that passes through, or in close proximity, to the roll center of the vehicle in order to reduce ride height errors.

Abstract: A magnetic fluid shifter damper mechanism for a vehicle transmission may include a shift linkage having a first position and a second position, a magnetic fluid damper disposed between a substantially fixed point and a support point on the shift linkage, a fluid inside the magnetic fluid damper resisting substantially a motion of the support point relative to the substantially fixed point in the presence of a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field is applied substantially to the fluid when the shift lever is in substantially the first or the second position, and wherein the magnetic field is removed substantially from the fluid when the shift lever is substantially between the first and the second position.

Abstract: A communication system for vehicle management includes a vehicle, a vehicle management system disposed in the vehicle outputting first data to control substantially a function of the vehicle and recording second data substantially analogous to an operating parameter of the vehicle, a base station substantially remote from the vehicle and having a second transceiver, a first transceiver disposed in the vehicle and connected communicably to the vehicle management system to receive third data from the second transceiver and send the second data to the second transceiver, the third data updating the vehicle management system.

Abstract: A event-driven portable data bus message logger includes an event message receiver for receiving an event message including an event field, an event message storage operably connected to the event message receiver for storing the event message, a data bus message receiver for receiving data bus messages including a data field and a data checksum, a comparator for comparing a current data field of a current data bus message to the event field; and a trigger operably connected to the comparator for storing the current data bus message, a preceding data bus message, and a subsequent data bus message in a snapshot storage if the current data field is substantially similar to the event field.

Abstract: A bracket assembly for mounting a control arm, such as a leaf spring, of a vehicle suspension. The bracket assembly includes a first, relatively more rigid member including a first mounting flange and a second, relatively more flexible member including a second mounting flange. The second member is fixed to the first member such that the first mounting flange and the second mounting flange form a fork that accepts a control arm end.

Abstract: A cross member for a heavy duty over-the-highway tractor having an integral fifth wheel hitch such that the fifth wheel hitch is connected to the cross member rather than to brackets mounted to the frame rails of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the fifth wheel hitch is connected to sliding rails that span two cross members so that the fifth wheel hitch can be positioned at various points between the cross members.

Abstract: A remote controlled locking system for locking a trailer to a truck by locking a mechanism that secures the truck to the trailer. The system may include a remotely located transmitter adapted to transmit a control signal. A receiving unit on the truck is adapted to receive the control signal. An actuator is coupled to the receiving unit and to the mechanism for selectively inhibiting movement of the mechanism depending on information relayed by the control signal.

Abstract: Boat hull with outboard drive unit, said drive unit (5) comprising an underwater housing (6) mounted on the outside of the hull bottom (1) and a gear housing (11) mounted on the inside of the hull bottom and joined to the underwater housing. Between the underwater housing and the gear housing there is fixed a mounting plate (20), which, together with a screw-down plate (24), with elastic ring (23, 27) inserts, fixes the drive unit to a flange (4), which is made on the inside of a well (3) surrounding an opening (2) in the hull bottom.

Abstract: In a frame for an over the highway or off-highway truck or tractor, the frame includes a first and second frame rail and a composite cross-member comprising a first sheet, a second sheet and a core material sheet positioned between the first and second face sheet. The first and second face sheets being made of metal and plastic and the core material being made of any one of wood, plastic, honey-comb, foam and nomex. The first sheet, second sheet and core material sheet are all bonded together to form a cross-member. The cross-member is then mounted to frame rails to construct a truck or tractor frame.

Abstract: An improved cooling system for a turbo charged internal combustion engine is disclosed. A conduit connects a pressurizing engine air intake to the cooling system to raise the pressure in the cooling system thereby enabling an increase of the maximum temperature which coolant in the cooling system can reach. An electronically controlled valve selectively places the expansion tank in communication with the pressurizing engine air intake to maintain a desired pressure in the tank and to prevent back flow of fluid into the engine air intake.