Abstract: A cargo floor system includes a floor pan and a retractable floor assembly. The floor pan includes a recessed storage compartment and an access opening in communication with the recessed storage compartment. The retractable floor assembly includes a retractable floor spanning the access opening and a drive mechanism displacing the retractable floor between a deployed position closing the access opening and a stowed position opening the access opening.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition comprising at least the following: a) a first composition comprising at least one first ethylene-based polymer, formed by high pressure, free-radical polymerization, and wherein the first composition comprises the following properties: a melt index (I2) from 1.0 to 15.0 g/10 min, and density from 0.910 to 0.940 g/cc; b) a second composition comprising at least one second ethylene-based polymer, and wherein the second composition comprises the following properties; a melt index (I2) from 1.0 to 1000 g/10 min, a density greater than 0.940 g/cc; wherein the composition comprises the following properties: melt index (I2) from 2.0 to 20.0 g/10 min, and a density from 0.915 to 0.940 g/cc; and wherein the first composition is present in an amount from 65 to 95 wt %, based on the weight of the composition.

Abstract: An electronics systems cluster includes a plurality of brackets, a plurality of electronic devices held in the plurality of brackets and an interlocking feature securing the plurality of brackets directly together into a small footprint configuration less likely to interfere with driver sight lines.

Abstract: A vehicle controller may initiate an auto stop of an engine in response to a value of an auto stop parameter falling within a specified range and alter the specified range based on learned information derived from vehicle data to change a frequency or duration of auto stops of the engine.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for responding to HVAC-induced vehicle microphone buffeting. An example disclosed vehicle includes a microphone, a speaker, and a buffeting detector. The example microphone is electrically coupled to an input of a voice-activated system. The example speaker is located on a front driver side of the vehicle. The example buffeting detector, when a button is activated, determines a buffeting factor of a signal captured by the microphone. Additionally, the example buffeting detector, in response to the buffeting factor satisfying a threshold, activates a relay to electrically couple the speaker to the input of the voice-activated system.

Abstract: An armrest for a captain's chair of a vehicle includes an outer layer and an inner layer including a foaming agent and defining a hollow core. At least one of the inner layer and the outer layer may include a reinforcing material and/or may be varied in thickness along its length. The armrest may include a third layer defining the hollow core. A related method includes heating a parison having a first and second layers, mixing a foaming agent into the second layer prior to heating, feeding the heated parison between mold halves, clamping the heated parison by moving the mold halves together, and pushing the layers of the heated parison outward, using blown air, such that the first layer is adjacent the mold and the second layer forms a hollow core of the armrest, the hollow core being partially filled by expansion of the second layer during cooling.

Abstract: An exemplary towing assembly includes, among other things, a bracket having laterally spaced channels, and a tow loop having laterally spaced arms. Each of the arms is configured to slide within a respective one of the channels from a deployed to a retracted position in response to a load applied to the tow loop. An exemplary method of positioning a tow loop includes, among other things, in response to a load applied to a tow loop, moving the tow loop from a deployed position to a retracted position within a bracket. The method further includes biasing the tow loop away from the retracted position toward a deployed position.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to facilitate brake bleeding. Example apparatus disclosed herein include a bleed controller to actuate a first valve connected to a pump and an end of a brake line, the pump connected to a reservoir; to actuate a second valve connected to the pump and a master cylinder, the master cylinder connected to the reservoir; and to operate the pump to bleed the brake line when the first valve is actuated and to bleed the master cylinder when the second valve is actuated.

Abstract: A system for securing a powertrain component to a body structure of a vehicle may include first and second mounts each having a base and a first elastomeric barrier secured to and extending from the base defining an air filled chamber, and a connector coupling the air filled chambers, the connector sized to provide an associated air volume that reduces stiffness of the first elastomeric barrier at an excitation frequency corresponding to a target engine speed. The air filled chambers may be hermetically sealed and pressurized above atmospheric pressure. The system may include a fluid-filled switchable mount having a decoupler air pocket selectively coupled to a vacuum source or atmosphere with an expander integrated with the mount or as a separate component coupled between the decoupler air pocket and the vacuum source. The expander may be implemented as a Helmholtz resonator or may include an in-line expansion chamber.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a transmission having a chamber with fluid therein. The vehicle includes a core and a conductor that are mounted within the chamber. The core includes a pair of elements that are oriented toward each other along a longitudinal axis. Each element includes a base with a post and at least two projections extending longitudinally from the base. The conductor is disposed over the posts and is configured to receive the fluid through an opening formed between adjacent projections.

Abstract: A crankcase oil catcher, the crankcase oil catcher comprising one or more surfaces configured to catch dispersed oil in a crankcase and direct the oil along the surfaces of the crankcase oil catcher away from a crankcase casing wall and towards a crank sump.

Abstract: Conjugated diene polymers such as a styrene-butadiene copolymer are sequentially brominated by reaction with a quaternary ammonium tribromide or quaternary phosphonium tribromide and halohydrated by reaction with an N-haloimide compound. This produces a brominated and halohydrated polymer with very good thermal stability. The product is useful as a flame retardant in a variety of polymer systems.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a phase control apparatus in a variable cam timing (VCT) system of an engine, the phase control apparatus having a locking pin coupled to a rotor vane and engageable with a locking pin recess in the phase control apparatus cover plate. In one example, a method for assembling the phase control apparatus may include positioning respective retarded side surfaces of the rotor vane and the housing in face-sharing contact while positioning respective retarded side surfaces of the locking pin and the locking pin recess in face-sharing contact and maintaining a backlash gap between only the advanced side surfaces of the locking pin recess.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell arrangement having first and second plates sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly. The arrangement defines first and second header regions that each include supply and return headers. The first plate defines coolant channels that extend between the header regions and connect to the return header in the first region. The second plate defines coolant channels that extend between the header regions and connect to the supply header in the first region.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a hybrid electric vehicle including a front-wheel drive system and a rear-wheel drive system. In one example, the rear-wheel drive system includes an internal combustion engine configured to drive rear wheels of the vehicle, and the front-wheel drive system includes a first electric motor and a second electric motor mounted directly to opposing sides of the engine. The first electric motor is coupled to a first reduction gearbox to drive a first front wheel of the vehicle, and the second electric motor is coupled to a second reduction gearbox to drive a second front wheel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A battery cell includes an electrode, a terminal, and a current-interrupt device configured to electrically isolate the terminal from the electrode. The current-interrupt device includes a plate connected to the electrode and defining a hole, and a diaphragm connected to the terminal and joined to the plate forming a ceiling of the hole. A cover of the current-interrupt device is joined to the plate forming a floor of the hole. A dielectric fluid is disposed in the hole. The diaphragm and cover are configured to move toward the terminal, in response to pressure within the cell exceeding a threshold, to separate the diaphragm from the plate forming a gap therebetween and to release the fluid into the gap preventing current from arching across the gap.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a first cooling loop, a second cooling loop, and a controller. The first cooling loop includes a compressor and a chiller. The second cooling loop includes a valve and an evaporator. The second cooling loop extends from an input side to an output side of the chiller on the first loop. The controller is programmed to, responsive to operation of the chiller but not the evaporator, close and intermittently pulse open the valve each time a discharge pressure of the compressor exceeds a first threshold.