Abstract: A vehicle door swing governor is positioned between a door and a body of a vehicle. The door swing governor includes a motor and a controller for controlling the mechanical resistance applied by the motor to the door so as to control velocity of the door swing. The mechanical resistance applied to the door is a function of the velocity of the swing of the door.

Abstract: A vehicle frame component for limiting the movement of the wheel of the vehicle toward the cab of a cab on frame vehicle including a base member welded to openings in the frame side rail and extending outwardly and located proximal the wheel structure. In one embodiment the vehicle frame component is located forward of the wheel and includes a tire puncture device to deflate the tire during an offset front impact and in a second embodiment the vehicle frame component is located rearward of the wheel. The vehicle frame component has particular utility during an offset front impact where the offset is less than approximately twenty-five percent (25%) of the width of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and system for operating an engine that is supplied a fuel having a low super critical temperature is presented. In one example, the method supplies excess fuel to a direct injection fuel rail to cool a portion of the fuel system that is near direct fuel injectors. The heat is drawn from the direct injection fuel rail to a fuel tank where the heat is removed via injecting fuel vapors to the engine.

Abstract: Methods of forming olyurethane foams that are the reaction product of at least one polyisocyanate and a polyol composition are provided. The polyol composition includes at least one natural oil based polyol and at least one poly(propylene oxide) polyol and is desirably free of non-natural oil based polyols made from alkylene oxide units, other than propylene oxide units. The natural oil based polyol is present in a quantity sufficient to increase the processing window for the foam relative to a foam made using the same process and the same components, absent the natural oil based polyol. As a result, the present foams can provide very open-cellular structures with the superior performance properties of a poly(propylene oxide) polyol-based foam.

Abstract: A vehicle climate control system operable in a winter mode and a summer mode includes an engine-exhaust-driven hot heat transfer fluid (HTF) circuit coupled with a heater core during the winter mode to provide passenger cabin heating, and thermal energy stored in a standalone hot phase change material (PCM) battery in the hot HTF circuit may provide surge heating at or prior to engine start. The hot HTF circuit and a cold HTF circuit including an HTF cooler drive two adsorbers in the summer mode, thereby providing passenger cabin cooling in conjunction with a refrigerant circuit which includes a condenser, evaporator, expansion valve, and standalone cold PCM battery. Thermal energy stored in the standalone cold PCM battery may provide surge cooling at or prior to engine start.

Abstract: A method adjusts fuel injection based on a fuel make-up, such as a fuel ethanol content. The fuel make-up may be learned during transient conditions by correlating transient fueling effects caused by the different evaporation rates of higher and lower ethanol content to measured exhaust air-fuel ratio. In this way, an ethanol content independent of combustion stoichiometry can be obtained, even during transients, that is less sensitive to part variation and sensor drift.

Abstract: A combined storage and docking unit for attachment to the instrument panel of a motor vehicle is disclosed in which a portable electronic device such as an MP3 player or GPS navigation device can be held in a display position by clamping it between lid and storage box parts of the combined storage and docking unit. The storage box includes a trough shaped portion in which the portable electronic device can be stowed if it is not required to be used. The combined storage and docking unit is of a simple construction and allows portable electronic devices of differing size and shape to be accommodated.

Abstract: A computer in a first vehicle is programmed to receive a first set of data from at least one sensor in the first vehicle and to receive a second set of data from at least one second vehicle. The second set of data is from at least one sensor in the at least one second vehicle. The computer is further programmed to use both the first set of data and the second set of data to identify at least one feature of a road being traversed by the first vehicle.

Abstract: An automotive side view mirror attachment assembly includes a polymeric outer shell having a metal reinforcement member coupled thereto, wherein the polymeric outer shell forms form closures about connecting features of the metal reinforcement member, so as to provide an operably coupling between the polymeric outer shell and the metal reinforcing member that is secured by independent connection locations that are effective to support an external mirror assembly in multiple dimensions.

Abstract: The instant invention provides crosslinkable compositions, and method of producing the same. The non-aqueous single phase crosslinkable composition comprises: (a) a polyol having an average of 2 or more hydroxyl functional groups; (b) polyaldehyde, or acetal or hemiacetal thereof; and (c) an acid catalyst having pK of less than 6; and (d) optionally one or more organic solvents.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling operation of exhaust of an engine including a particulate filter are provided. One example method includes generating vacuum during engine operation, and storing the vacuum. The method further includes, during or after engine shutdown, drawing ambient air through the particulate filter via the vacuum.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes determining that an infotainment system has been activated. The method further includes accessing a vehicle network containing at least a unique vehicle identifier. The method additionally includes comparing the unique vehicle identifier to a stored vehicle identifier. The method further includes permitting access to the infotainment system only if the unique vehicle identifier matches the stored vehicle identifier.

Abstract: Embodiments for a charge air cooler are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises increasing intake air flow velocity through a charge air cooler and coordinately adjusting a position of one or more of an intake manifold throttle and a turbocharger wastegate in response to the increased intake air flow velocity to maintain torque. In this way, intake air flow velocity may be increased while maintaining desired torque.

Abstract: Some vehicle maneuvers in a hybrid electric vehicle require a high discharge current from the battery. The capacity of a battery to supply a large discharge current depends on, among other things, the recent charge and discharge history. When the demand can be predicted in advance, the vehicle is operated to aggressively charge the battery during a time period close in time to the predicted event. As a result of this aggressive charging, the battery delivers more current to satisfy the power demand without allowing the terminal voltage to decrease below a minimum level than the battery would be capable of delivering at the same state of charge following a period of rest.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and cleaning a spark plug is disclosed. In one example, an amount of carbonaceous soot at the center electrode ceramic of the spark plug is determined in response to a voltage of a sense resistor that is in electrical communication with the spark plug. The system may institute spark plug cleaning after carbonaceous soot is detected so that the possibility of engine misfire may be reduced.

Abstract: A method and system are described for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle, the vehicle having a first mode of operation and an economy mode of operation. A vehicle range may be estimated based on a vehicle fuel level and the first mode of operation. A distance to a fuel location may also be estimated. The economy mode of vehicle operation may be automatically entered a predetermined period of time after the estimated vehicle range based on the vehicle fuel level and the first operating mode decreases to within a predetermined threshold of the estimated distance to a fuel location.

Abstract: Embodiments may provide an oil separator that may include a reservoir attached to a bottom of the oil separator to collect oil that passes from the oil separator. An outlet may be located on the reservoir and may be positioned to allow oil at or above the outlet to overflow from the reservoir and to flow, or drip, toward an engine cylinder head. The oil separator may also include a tube located at least partially inside the reservoir formed within the bottom to pass the oil into the reservoir.

Abstract: A cast exhaust manifold for an engine is disclosed that is fastened to the engine by a number of independent flanges between each pair of which a spacer is positioned to produce an interference fit when the exhaust manifold is at ambient temperature. The use of independent flanges allow the exhaust manifold to expand when heated without creating high levels of internal stress and the spacers prevent undue distortion of the exhaust manifold when the exhaust manifold cools.

Abstract: A system and method for supplying fuel to an engine is disclosed. In one example, a first controller supplies injector commands to a second controller via an asynchronous serial communication bus. The system may reduce the complexity of supplying two or more fuels to an engine.

Abstract: A motor vehicle luggage retention system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. A foldable seat back separates the occupant compartment from the trunk and has an upright position and a folded position that allows pass-through accessibility from the trunk into the occupant compartment. A pivotable bar assembly in the trunk has a lowered position and a raised position. Pivoting the pivotable bar assembly to the lowered position moves the foldable seat back to the upright position and creates a structural safety barrier against objects in the trunk impacting a rear surface of the seat back. Pivoting the pivotable bar assembly to the raised position moves the seat back to the folded position to provide uninterrupted access to the occupant compartment from the trunk. A latch assembly latches the pivotable bar assembly in at least the lowered position. A movable parcel shelf and collapsible storage bin are also disclosed.