Abstract: An air-spring assembly includes a flexible bellows extending from a top end to a bottom end and enclosing an air-spring chamber between the top end and the bottom end, a first panel partially defining the air-spring chamber and movable in response to a pressure of the air-spring chamber, an enclosure partially defining a working chamber fluidly isolated from the air-spring chamber, a second panel partially defining the working chamber and movable relative to the enclosure, and a linkage member fixed relative to the first panel and to the second panel and defining a fixed distance between the first panel and the second panel. The top and bottom ends are fixable to a frame and a wheel of a vehicle, respectively. A volume of the air-spring chamber varies with movement of the bottom end relative to the top end. Movement of the second panel changes a volume of the working chamber.

Abstract: A damper includes an outer tube elongated along an axis, a cylinder elongated along the axis within the outer tube, a piston disposed in the cylinder and movable along the axis, an intermediate tube attached concentrically around the cylinder, a ring press-fitted around an outer diameter of the intermediate tube, and a valve attached to the outer tube. The intermediate tube and the cylinder define an intermediate chamber radially between the cylinder and the intermediate tube. The valve is in fluid communication with the intermediate chamber. The intermediate tube includes an intermediate-tube opening extending radially through the intermediate tube. The ring includes a ring opening extending radially through the ring. The ring opening is aligned with the intermediate-tube opening. The valve is in fluid communication with the intermediate chamber through the ring opening and the intermediate-tube opening.

Abstract: A system includes: a state module configured to selectively set a present state to a first state; a valve control module configured to determine first target open and closed states for valves of a suspension system based on the present state and to open and close the valves according to the first target open and closed states, respectively; a pump control module configured to, when the valves are in the first target open and closed states, respectively, selectively operate an electric pump in a first direction to increase hydraulic fluid pressure in a first portion of the suspension system; and a leak module configured to selectively diagnose a leak in a first one of the valves associated with the first state based on a first pressure in the first portion of the suspension system while the valves are open and closed according to the first target open and closed states.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a memory storing a stored driver distribution profile of a driver input parameter and a stored suspension setting corresponding to the stored driver distribution profile. The system further includes a sensor to detect a current value of the driver input parameter. The system further includes a processor communicably coupled to the memory and the sensor. The processor is configured to determine a current driver distribution profile of the driver input parameter based on the current value of the driver input parameter. The processor is configured to determine a current suspension setting based on the current driver distribution profile. The processor is configured to adjust the stored suspension setting to generate a stored adjusted suspension setting corresponding to the current suspension setting.

Abstract: A damper including inner and outer tubes is provided. A piston is slidably disposed within the inner tube. An intermediate tube is positioned radially between the inner and outer tubes. The intermediate tube extends between first and second intermediate tube ends. An intermediate channel is disposed radially between the intermediate and inner tubes. A slanted elliptical seal is positioned inside the intermediate channel and divides the intermediate channel into first and second intermediate channel portions. A first control valve is in fluid communication with the second intermediate channel portion via a first intermediate tube opening. A second control valve is in fluid communication with the first intermediate channel portion via a second intermediate tube opening. The slanted elliptical seal abuts the intermediate tube between the first intermediate tube opening and the first intermediate tube end and between the second intermediate tube opening and the second intermediate tube end.

Abstract: A suspension system and associated control methods for improving the effectiveness of driver assistance systems is disclosed where the driver assistance systems can generate and send requests to a suspension control unit (SCU) of the suspension system to actuate (e.g., close) one or more comfort valves in the suspension system to increase the roll stiffness and/or pitch stiffness of the suspension system when the driver assistance systems are taking corrective action. As part of a two-way communication between the suspension control unit (SCU) and the driver assistance systems, the suspension control unit (SCU) communicates target stiffnesses and/or calculated effective stiffnesses to the driver assistance systems, which is used to update the vehicle stability models used by the driver assistance systems.

Abstract: A shock for a vehicle includes a tube elongated along an axis. A piston is disposed in the tube and is moveable relative to the tube along the axis. A rod is connected to the piston. A floating piston is spaced from the piston along the axis and is moveable relative to the tube along the axis. The tube defines a working chamber between the piston and the floating piston. The tube defines a gas chamber. The floating piston separates the gas chamber from the working chamber. The floating piston has a housing slideably engaged with the tube and a membrane fluidly separating the working chamber from the gas chamber. The membrane is flexible relative to the housing.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a pressure tube containing a hydraulic fluid. The shock absorber further includes a piston rod extending within the pressure tube along a longitudinal axis, and including a piston end disposed within the pressure tube. The piston rod includes a rod chamber defined within the piston rod and extending along the longitudinal axis from an upper chamber end distal to the piston end to a lower chamber end proximal to the piston end. The piston rod further includes at least one first opening disposed proximal to the lower chamber end. The shock absorber further includes a first piston assembly, an auxiliary housing, and a damper assembly including a sleeve received within the rod chamber.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to a device for removing air from a coolant liquid of a coolant system. The device has a body with a swirl pot at one end and a manifold extending from the swirl pot to an opposed end of the body. The swirl pot has a fluid inlet for receiving coolant fluid of a first air concentration and a fluid outlet for discharging coolant fluid of a second concentration less than the first. The manifold has a first fluid pipe connected to a plurality of outlet pipes that extend transversely to the first fluid pipe and are spaced there along.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to predictive modeling for evaluating vehicles. A device may receive a customer identifier (e.g., a user identification number, a social security number, driver license number, etc.). The device may retrieve credit data associated with the user identifier and vehicle data associated with a vehicle. The device may determine a first weight for the credit data and a second weight for the vehicle data. The device may determine, based on the first weight and the second weight, a value. The device may determine whether or not the value exceeds a profitability threshold. The device may determine a loan information associated with the customer identifier. The device may send a first indication of the product or service to a user device for presentation. The device may send a second indication of the loan information to the second device for presentation.

Abstract: A system includes a first hitch provided on a first vehicle and configured to connect to a second hitch provided on a second vehicle. The system includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions that are executable by the processor. The instructions include determining whether the first hitch is connected to the second hitch. The instructions include performing a charging control operation based on the determination of whether the first hitch is connected to the second hitch.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a conduit or pipe retention assembly for a vehicle. A vehicle fluid conduit outer perimeter surface includes one or more protrusions mechanically printed on the outer perimeter surface of the conduit or pipe. A mounting clip is mounted to the fluid conduit adjacent to one of the protrusions. The mounting clip includes retention devices for attaching the conduit to a vehicular structure.

Abstract: A ring circumscribing a moveable rod of a hydraulic damper, the moveable rod defining a central axis, the ring comprising a first circumferential surface, a second circumferential surface, a first finger, a second finger, a first flange, and a second flange. The first finger and the first flange defining a first end of the ring. The second finger and the second flange defining a second end of the ring.

Abstract: A suspension system and associated control methods that reduce temperature related fluctuations in the internal pressures and stiffness of the suspension system. A manifold assembly is connected in fluid communication with a plurality of dampers via hydraulic circuits and a pump assembly via a pump hydraulic line. Onboard sensors generate real-time data regarding the vehicle. A suspension control unit, arranged in electronic communication with the aforementioned components, monitors the real-time data, sets a target stiffness and a target pressure, calculates an effective stiffness based on the real-time data, determines if the effective stiffness is above or below the target stiffness and sets a new target pressure accordingly by making stepwise decreases or increases until the new target pressure is reached.

Abstract: A suspension system including four dampers where each damper includes compression and rebound chambers. The suspension system has four hydraulic circuits, each including a cross-over hydraulic line that extends between dampers located at opposite corners of the vehicle (i.e., between the front left and back right dampers or between the front right and back left dampers). The suspension system further includes four electromechanical comfort valves that open and close four bridge hydraulic lines that extend between the cross-over hydraulic lines at each corner of the vehicle. Each cross-over hydraulic line is connected to a manifold assembly by a corresponding manifold hydraulic line. The manifold assembly includes four manifold valves that are connected to a pump assembly and two manifold comfort valves. All six comfort valves are electromechanical valves that can be actuated to control the roll and pitch of the vehicle during cornering, braking, and acceleration.

Abstract: A sun visor according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a magnetic switch, and a vanity including a light. The light is configured to turn on and off when the magnetic switch is activated and deactivated. The sun visor further includes a vanity cover moveable between an open position and a closed position. Further, movement of the vanity cover relative to the vanity is configured to activate and deactivate the magnetic switch.

Abstract: A pump assembly is disclosed comprising a pump body having a first pump stage housed in the pump body including a fluid inlet and a first and a second fluid outlet. A flow feed chamber is housed in the pump body in fluid communication with the second fluid outlet. A second pump stage housed in the pump body is in fluid communication with the flow feed chamber and includes at least one fluid outlet connected to the second pump stage. A valve assembly is operable into a first position to fluidically connect the fluid inlet through the first pump stage to the first fluid outlet. The valve assembly is further operable into a second position to fluidically connect the first pump stage to the second fluid outlet and the flow feed chamber and the flow feed chamber fluidically connected to the at least one fluid outlet through the second pump stage.

Abstract: A process for cooling a heat generating component of a vehicle including pumping a coolant fluid from a pump having a first impeller and a second impeller, the pump switchable from a chilling mode, a heating mode, an isolated state, and a linked state; and while the pump is in the chilling mode and the isolated state, pumping the coolant fluid with the first impeller through a first loop of a heater module, and a cabin heat exchanger, and pumping the coolant fluid with the second impeller through a second loop of a component heat exchanger and a chiller module.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cooling a heat generating component of a vehicle comprises pumping coolant from a first pump while a first pump is in a chiller mode in a first loop comprising a component heat exchanger and a chiller module. Coolant is pumped from the first pump while the first pump is in a recirculation mode in a second loop comprising a heater module, and a cabin heat exchanger or back to said component heat exchanger. A second pump pumps coolant in the second loop while the second pump is in an isolated mode and from the second pump from the second loop into the first loop while the second pump is in a linked mode.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cooling a heat generating component of a vehicle comprises a first pump switchable between a normal demand mode and a high demand mode. Coolant is pumped from the first pump through a cooling loop between a heat dissipating device and the heat generating component at a normal demand flowrate in the normal demand mode. Switching the first pump to the high demand mode diverts the coolant to a second pump. The second pump pumping the coolant through the cooling loop at a high demand flowrate.