Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting exhaust particulate filter regeneration. In one example, an engine controller may generate an exotherm at the filter by operating engine cylinders with air-fuel imbalance while using electric assist to a turbocharger to meet a torque demand and raise an intake airflow to enhance the effect of the exotherm. Once heated, the filter may be regenerated by flowing extra air to the exhaust via an air pump and injecting extra fuel to an exhaust passage via an exhaust injector.

Abstract: A vehicle and associated method of operating a vehicle having an engine, a user interface configured to select a start-stop mode, and a controller communicating with the engine and the user interface automatically shutdown and restart the engine, and inhibit the automatic engine shutdown or restart responsive to any of a first group of inhibitors, or alternatively, any of the first group and a second group of inhibitors depending on the start-stop mode selected via the user interface.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an adaptive front steering system including an assist motor that provides an overlay angle superimposed on a steering wheel angle. External torque to the assist motor is estimated by a controller and evaluated to determine whether it is the result of an external disturbance. If so, the controller evaluates whether the external disturbance is a road disturbance, such as by determining that road wheel speed varied from the vehicle speed or that an impact site is present in outputs of external sensors of the vehicle. If a road disturbance is determined to have occurred, compliance may be introduced in order to reduce the transmission of torque to the steering wheel. Compliance may be introduced by adjusting current to the assist motor, a target angle to the assist motor, reducing gain in the control system for the assist motor, or shorting leads of the assist motor.

Abstract: A method of forming an aluminum alloy part is provided for enhanced formability. The method includes providing a 7xxx series aluminum alloy blank, heating the blank to at least its solvus temperature, and performing an intermediate quench on the blank to a temperature between about 200° C. to about 440° C. at a rate between about 100° C./s to about 500° C./s. The blank is transferred to a stamping die where a secondary quench and forming the blank into a part are carried out, where in one form, the steps of transferring the blank and performing the secondary quench and forming are completed within ten seconds or less. The part may then be optionally artificially aged for increased strength.

Abstract: A system for aerobic fermentation includes a vessel, an aeration system including a gas sparger fluidly coupled to the vessel to introduce a compressed gas to an internal volume of the vessel, and a recirculation loop fluidly coupled to an outlet of the vessel. The recirculation loop includes an eductor fluidly coupled to an oxygen-containing gas source, a static mixer downstream of the eductor, a heat exchanger downstream of the eductor, and a distributor downstream of the heat exchanger. The distributor is fluidly coupled to the vessel. The aeration system provides mixing and oxygen mass transfer to the fermentation composition in the vessel. The fermentation composition passes through the eductor, static mixer, heat exchanger, and distributor of the recirculation loop, and back into the vessel. Oxygen is transferred from an oxygen containing gas to the fermentation composition and heat is removed from the fermentation composition in the recirculation loop.

Abstract: A convertible storage tray and garbage bag holder comprises: a housing including an interior chamber surrounded by one or more side walls, the interior chamber having an opening into the interior chamber and an exit out of the interior chamber; a releasable floor operably connected to the housing and having a closed position blocking the exit out of the interior chamber of the housing and an opened position not blocking the exit out of the interior chamber of the housing; and a bag retention frame operably connected to the housing and having an engaged position relative to the housing and a disengaged position relative to the housing wherein at least a portion of the bag retention frame is disposed further away from the housing than in the engaged position. The bag retention frame can be pivotally connected to the housing.

Abstract: A multilayer cast film includes a cling layer, a release layer, and at least one core layer disposed between and contacting the cling layer and the release layer. The cling layer includes an ultra low density polyethylene (ULDPE), a propylene interpolymer, or blends thereof. The release layer includes a first linear low density polyethylene (first LLDPE) having a density of from 0.915 to 0.938 g/cc and a melt index of from 0.5 g/10 min to 10 g/10 min. Each of the core layers includes a second linear low density polyethylene (second LLDPE) having a density of from 0.905 to 0.930 g/cc and a melt index of from 0.5 g/10 min to 10 g/10 min. The multilayer cast film includes from 3 wt % to 7 wt %, based on a total amount of polymers present in the multilayer cast film, of the low density polyethylene (LDPE).

Abstract: A vehicle assembly including a vehicle body and a roof assembly is provided. The vehicle body may include a mid-pillar having a receiving region. The roof assembly may include a mid-pillar segment having an attachment end. The receiving region may be defined by a cutout having a base portion spaced from an adjacent vehicle body surface. The attachment end may be sized for disposal within the cutout for one or more fasteners to removably secure the mid-pillar segment to the mid-pillar. The receiving region and the attachment end may be arranged with one another such that the roof assembly is removably attachable adjacent a belt line of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A brake pad for a motor vehicle is provided. The brake pad includes a body having an upper edge and a lower edge. The upper edge is configured for positioning relative to an outer diameter of a rotor. The brake pad also includes a friction surface extending between the upper edge and the lower edge for engaging the rotor. The brake pad further includes a relieved portion located along a section of the upper edge.

Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided herein. The vehicle seating assembly includes a seat-base. A seatback is pivotally coupled to the seat-base and includes a seatback frame. An upper thoracic support is operably coupled to the seatback frame. The upper thoracic support is configured to move outward from the seatback frame from a stowed position to a deployed position. An actuatable comfort feature is coupled to the upper thoracic support and is configured to extend outward from the upper thoracic support from a retracted position to an extended position.

Abstract: Embodiments of a thermoformed microcapillary sheeting and articles prepared by a process comprising the steps of (a) providing a thermoplastic sheeting comprising thermoplastic material, wherein the thermoplastic sheeting comprises at least one or more microcapillary channel disposed therein and having an initial volume of voidage, based on a total volume of the microcapillary sheeting; and (b) heating the thermoplastic sheeting to a temperature at which the thermoplastic material is deformable to form a thermoformed microcapillary sheeting with the at least one or more microcapillary channels disposed therein and having a final volume of voidage, based on a total volume of the microcapillary sheeting. The final volume of voidage of the at least one or more microcapillary channels of the thermoformed microcapillary sheeting is at least about 10 percent of the initial volume of voidage of the at least one or more microcapillary channels of the thermoplastic sheeting.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to specify a driving pattern including a vehicle speed and position in a lane to encode a message determined based on vehicle sensor data, and to actuate a vehicle actuator based on the encoded message.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit for selectively actuating drive elements (1, 2), which are operated on direct current, in a motor vehicle by means of half-bridges (4, 5). According to the invention, the circuit is designed for selectively actuating eight drive elements (1, 2) for locking and, respectively, unlocking four doors of the motor vehicle from the outside and/or from the inside. The circuit contains nine half-bridges (4, 5), wherein the outputs of eight of the nine half-bridges (4) are each connected to a first pole of one of the eight drive elements (1, 2) and the output of the ninth half-bridge (5) is connected to all second poles of the eight drive elements (1, 2).

Abstract: A vehicle includes a door opening shaped to receive a removable door, a flexible panel deployable to a position extending across the door opening, and a controller programmed to deploy the flexible panel in response to an impact based on an absence of the removable door from the door opening. The vehicle may include a track elongated along the door opening, and the flexible panel may be deployable along the track.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include determining whether a currently-evaluated point is part of a segment. This may include: determining feature vectors for the currently-evaluated point and for each of a plurality of previously-evaluated points tagged to the segment; using the feature vectors to determine a probability score; and determine whether the score is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: A system includes an armrest. The system includes a steering wheel support arm supported by the armrest and movable between an extended position outside the armrest and a retracted position inside the armrest.

Abstract: A vehicle including an engine, an electric machine, a traction battery, and a controller is provided. The controller is programmed to, during acceleration or constant speed travel of the vehicle and responsive to state of charge of the battery falling below a first threshold, run the engine to charge the battery. The controller is further programmed to, during the running and responsive to first occurrence of the state of charge achieving a second threshold, accelerator pedal release, or braking of the vehicle, stop the engine. The controller may be further programmed to, during accelerator pedal release or braking of the vehicle and responsive to the state of charge falling below the first threshold, inhibit start of the engine. The controller may be further programmed to, during the inhibiting and responsive to acceleration or constant speed travel of the vehicle, run the engine to charge the battery.

Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback having a frame. A storage member is disposed on an outer surface of the seatback. A retainer is attached to the frame and the storage member. The retainer transfers a load exerted on the storage member to the frame.

Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback. The seatback includes a rear portion and a substantially horizontal strap including first and second ends fixed to the rear portion. The substantially horizontal strap further includes an intermediate attachment area fixed to the rear portion between the first and second ends.

Abstract: A sprue system for a nozzle-side injection-molding arrangement of an injection-molding machine for introducing a plasticizable and/or plasticized plastics material into an injection-molding tool along a runner, the center axis of which fixes an injection axis, includes a sprue piece which at least partially forms the runner, a tube portion and a flange portion. A fastener assembly for fastening the sprue system to the injection-molding tool and for aligning the sprue piece along the injection axis is included. The sprue piece and the fastener assembly are formed adjustably in relation to one another and the sprue system has an adjuster for setting a distance (A) between the flange portion and the fastener assembly.