Abstract: A cable driven power tailgate system has at least one cable connected with a truck box for raising and lowering a tailgate of a vehicle. A motor/actuator drives the at least one cable to move the tailgate into a closed position. At least one nut on a spindle, the nut connected with the at least one cable. The spindle rotates in response to the at least one cable movement to move the tailgate into an open position.

Abstract: A vehicle including a vehicle frame, a wheel attached to the vehicle frame, and an anti-tip device attached to the vehicle frame. The anti-tip device includes a deflector assembly having a deflector section that extends angularly outward from the vehicle frame and a tail section unitary with deflector section that extends along and in parallel with a length of the vehicle frame, and the anti-tip device is configured, in the event of an offset frontal impact to the vehicle that forces the wheel in a direction toward the vehicle frame, to be struck by the wheel and deflect the wheel in a direction away from the vehicle frame to prevent the wheel from travelling beneath the vehicle frame.

Abstract: An emergent situation vehicle response system and method of facilitating a response to an emergent situation at a vehicle. The emergent situation vehicle response system includes at least one sensor and an onboard communications network for transmitting sensor data captured by the at least one sensor, as well as a responder subsystem having a responder computer configured to provide electronic data to a responder stationed at the responder computer. The emergent situation vehicle response system is configured to perform the method, including detecting an emergent situation at the vehicle; in response to detecting the emergent situation at the vehicle, obtain snapshot data that is generated based on a snapshot of sensor data being transmitted over an onboard communications network; and providing the snapshot data and an indication of the emergent situation to the responder subsystem located remotely and separate from the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for communicating temperature information of a high voltage battery system of an electrified vehicle is provided. The method includes: receiving, at a controller, sensed parameters including a maximum temperature of the high voltage battery system and a coolant temperature at the high voltage battery system; determining, at the controller, cool down parameters indicative of a time required to return the high voltage battery system from an elevated temperature to a reduced temperature suitable to achieve peak performance; sending, from the controller, a signal to a human machine interface indicative of the cool down parameters; and displaying, at the HMI, the cool down parameters.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for torque off weld stud testing has a socket to receive a weld stud welded to a metal sheet for testing strength of the weld. A stopper is received in the socket indexing the weld stud. A nut locks the stopper in position to enable repeated socket indexing to like weld studs.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes an internal combustion engine with a plurality of combustion chambers each having a main exhaust valve and a cold start exhaust valve, a main exhaust aftertreatment system with a main catalytic converter configured to receive exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine via the main exhaust valves and an exhaust manifold, and a light-off catalyst bypass system with a bypass passage and a bypass catalytic converter configured to selectively receive exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine via the cold start exhaust valves. A controller is programmed to determine a cold start, long idle, and/or low main catalytic converter temperature condition, deactivate the main exhaust valves to facilitate preventing exhaust gas flow through the exhaust manifold, and activate the cold start exhaust valves to enable exhaust gas flow through the bypass passage and the bypass catalytic converter.

Abstract: A vehicle control system to manage keyless entry functionality and communication of a vehicle includes a wireless control module (WCM) configured to be disposed within the vehicle and control one or more keyless entry functions, and a vehicle access device (VAD) to provide keyless entry functionality to a user. The VAD includes a battery powering a wireless communication device (WCD) for communicating with the WCM. The VAD includes a battery saving function configured to selectively deactivate the WCD to preserve battery power when no motion of the VAD is detected for a predetermined period of time. A controller having one or more processors is programmed to detect a presence of the VAD within a predetermined range of the vehicle, and selectively send a signal to the VAD to disable the battery saving function when the VAD is within the predetermined range of the vehicle.

Abstract: An electric motor system, such as for an electrified vehicle, includes a permanent magnet motor (PMM) including a hollow cylindrical stator defining a circular inner portion with a plurality of slots, defined between a respective plurality of ferromagnetic teeth, and having a plurality of electromagnetic coils arranged in the plurality of slots, respectively, and a cylindrical rotor disposed within the stator and defining a circular outer portion having N pairs of permanent magnets arranged thereabout to define N rotor poles, respectively, wherein N is an even integer greater than or equal to four, and a controller configured to control the PMM to mitigate or eliminate magnetic cogging by controlling each pair of electromagnetic coils to stagger or offset a stator magnetic field generated by the pair of electromagnetic coils relative to the rotor magnetic poles.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle having a retractable bellypan and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system determining a condenser temperature of a condenser of the HVAC system, comparing the condenser temperature to a temperature threshold and controlling a bellypan opening in response to comparing.

Abstract: An electric vehicle includes an electric traction motor configured to drive the vehicle, first and second half shafts operably coupled to the electric traction motor, and a single inboard friction brake assembly operably coupled to the first half shaft and configured to selectively brake the first half shaft and a first wheel connected thereto. A controller is in signal communication with the electric traction motor and the inboard friction brake assembly to selectively perform a regenerative braking operation with the electric traction motor and a friction braking operation with the inboard friction brake assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle system that communicates temperature information of a high voltage battery system of an electrified vehicle includes at least one temperature sensor, a controller, and a human machine interface (HMI). The at least one temperature sensor is disposed on at least one battery module of the high voltage battery system. The at least one temperature sensor is configured to sense a temperature of the at least one battery module. The controller receives the sensed temperature and determines a temperature profile of the high voltage battery system. The HMI is configured to convey temperature information of the high voltage battery system, wherein the controller communicates a signal to the HMI indicative of the temperature profile.

Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a first and second longitudinal support member having a respective first and second spar. A first floor side member and a second floor side member have respective first and a second front ends. The first and second floor side members are disposed adjacent to the first and second longitudinal support members. Front and rear cross members extend between the first floor side member and the second floor side member. A floor extends between and is coupled to the first floor side member and the second floor side member. First and second lateral stiffening brackets couple the front cross member to the first and second spars. A first longitudinal reinforcement bracket couples to the first floor side member and the first spar. A second longitudinal reinforcement bracket couples to the second floor side member and the second spar.

Abstract: A vehicle system configured with a user selectable override of an automatic vehicle securement feature to prevent an unoccupied vehicle from driving includes a PRND shifter, a Park button configured to command the vehicle into a Park position, a brake system controller with a parking brake, an occupant restraint controller to determine a driver seat belt status, and a body computer configured to determine if a driver door is ajar. A controller is programmed to initiate the automatic vehicle securement feature and engage the parking brake when conditions are met to prevent the vehicle from driving away, and override the automatic vehicle securement feature when a user presses the Park button for a predetermined period of time while the vehicle is already in the Park position, to thereby enable the user to drive the vehicle when the conditions for the automatic vehicle securement feature are met.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes an internal combustion engine, an electric traction motor, and a motor/generator configured to drive the internal combustion engine or be driven by the internal combustion engine to generate electricity to charge a high voltage battery and/or drive the electric traction motor. An exhaust aftertreatment system includes a gasoline particulate filter (GPF), and a control system includes a controller for monitoring and performing a regeneration operation of the GPF. The controller is programmed to determine the GPF needs to be regenerated, and determine if a temperature of the GPF meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold indicating a GPF regeneration can occur. Upon an engine shutdown event, if the temperature meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold, the controller gradually spins down a speed of the internal combustion engine in fuel shut-off to generate a flow of air to the GPF to initiate a GPF regeneration.

Abstract: A vehicle including a battery pack including a housing that stores a plurality of batteries for providing electric power to the vehicle. A plurality of vents are attached to the housing that are configured to expel exhaust gases generated by the plurality of batteries. A manifold is located proximate the housing for collecting the exhaust gases expelled by the plurality of vents, and a flexible conduit including an inlet is in communication with the manifold and an outlet is configured to expel the exhaust gases. The flexible conduit includes a non-deployed state where the flexible conduit is rolled or folded and stored in a storage space located proximate the manifold, and includes a deployed state where the flexible conduit extends outward from the vehicle upon receipt of the exhaust gases from the manifold.

Abstract: A torque limiting flex plate assembly includes a flex plate configured to couple to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, and a torque limiting clutch assembly integrated with the flex plate. The torque limiting clutch assembly is in frictional engagement with the flex plate such that the torque limiting clutch assembly and the flex plate are coupled for common rotation during normal engine operation. Upon receiving a torque spike from a transmission input shaft, the torque limiting clutch assembly is configured to slip such that the flex plate and the torque limiting clutch assembly rotate independently at different speeds to thereby prevent the torque spike from being transferred through the flex plate to the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A cooling system for an electric vehicle includes a cooling system loop including a refrigerant, a compressor, and a condenser. The cooling system loop is configured to receive the refrigerant after the refrigerant exits the condenser. The cooling system loop comprises a separator configured to receive liquid refrigerant, and a component located downstream from the separator. A vehicle plug monitor circuit generates a plug monitor signal when the vehicle is coupled to an external power source. A controller operates the compressor in response to the plug monitor signal to communicate liquid refrigerant to the separator.