Abstract: A wheel is described in which the axle carrier is pivoted to a forked McPherson strut support, which in turn is joined with a McPherson strut on the one hand and a control arm on the other, wherein a dual bearing is present between the control arm and the forked McPherson strut support. The advantage to this is that the two bearings of the dual bearing can vary in stiffness, so that the resultant degree of freedom makes it possible to more exactly influence steering behavior, thereby enabling an improvement in the overall steering behavior of the vehicle. Even given an unchanged bearing bush stiffness by comparison to prior art, the greater distance between the bearing bushes and steering axis reduces the angle by which the forked McPherson strut supports can turn in the event of lateral forces.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell stack and an EESD electrically coupled to a common high voltage bus line. The EESD has a higher voltage output than the fuel cell stack, and thus the stack is unable to fully charge the EESD, for example, at system shut-down. In order to allow the fuel cell stack to fully charge the EESD, the EESD is separated into a plurality of separate electrical storage banks having lower voltage potentials. A series of contactors are provided to electrically couple the storage banks in series during normal system operation, and separately charge the storage banks using the fuel cell stack so that they are fully charged. The series of contactors can also be configured so that the storage banks can be electrically coupled in series during normal operation of the system and be electrically coupled in parallel during charging at system shut-down.

Abstract: A hydrogen fuel cell system (100) for charging a battery (116) of an electric vehicle, includes at least one tank (102) for storing hydrogen under pressure. A combined heat exchanger and air engine (104) expands the pressurized hydrogen and converts the expanding hydrogen into mechanical energy. A plurality of fuel cells (106) receive the expanded hydrogen for supplying heat to the heat exchanger and air engine (104) and supplying a first current for charging the battery (116). A generator (108) generates a multi-phase voltage in response to the mechanical energy. A electrical power converter (110) responsive to the multi-phase voltage provides a second current for charging the battery (116).

Abstract: A method for exhibiting media segments includes accessing a database including user selection criteria fields associated with media segments and score fields associated with the user selection criteria fields. A directory of media segments is compiled by determining a selection score for each media segment utilizing the score fields. Score fields are modified based on selected media segments, and selected media segments are exhibited.

Abstract: A system for controlling a flow of hydraulic fluid between a hydraulic actuator and a torque transmitting device includes a position sensor in communication with the hydraulic actuator and operable to detect a position of the hydraulic actuator, a temperature sensor in communication with the hydraulic fluid and operable to detect a temperature of the hydraulic fluid, and a flow control device. The flow control devices includes a housing defining a first passage and a second passage, the first passage in communication with the hydraulic actuator and the second passage in communication with the torque transmitting device. An electronic actuator is located between the first passage and the second passage and is operable to selectively control a flow of the hydraulic fluid between the first passage and the second passage. A controller is in communication with the position sensor, the temperature sensor, and the electronic actuator of the flow control device.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain system and a friction braking system, the powertrain system including a hybrid transmission operative in one of a fixed gear operating range state and a continuously variable operating range state to transmit torque between an input member and a torque machine and an output member coupled to a driveline.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain for a vehicle includes a prime mover, which may be an engine, and a transmission that has an input member configured for connection with the prime mover to receive torque from the prime mover, an output member, and a stationary member. A first motor/generator and a second motor/generator are provided as additional motive sources. A first planetary gear set and a second planetary gear set are included, each having a respective first member, second member, and third member. Only one clutch is operatively connected to the transmission, and it is selectively engagable to ground the input member and the first member of the second planetary gear set to the stationary member.

Abstract: Various embodiments of electrically-variable transmissions are provided that have a first and a second motor-generator, a first and a second planetary gear set, and two torque-transmitting mechanisms, including a rotating-type clutch and a stationary-type clutch. An input member is connected for common rotation with a ring gear of the first planetary gear set. Carriers of both of the planetary gear sets are connected for common rotation with one another, and with an output member. The first motor/generator is connected for common rotation with the sun gear of the first planetary gear set. The second motor/generator is connected for common rotation with the sun gear of the second planetary gear set. The rotating-type torque-transmitting mechanism is a dog clutch with a synchronizer. The stationary-type torque-transmitting mechanism may be either a dog clutch with a synchronizer or a selectable one-way braking clutch (SOWBC).

Abstract: A system and method for providing mechanical time dilation by pre-braking a vehicle in the event there is a collision threat so as to reduce or eliminate the need for full automatic braking if the collision becomes imminent. The system calculates a time dilation deceleration to either maintain a time to collision at a previous value before the calculation or at a predetermined value. The system also estimates a projected closing speed of the vehicle to the object at a distance that would require full automatic braking to prevent a collision. The system then determines whether the time dilation deceleration is greater than a decelerating threshold and, if so, provides automatic vehicle braking at the threshold until the vehicle comes to a full stop. If the time dilation deceleration is not greater than the threshold, then the system provides automatic braking to decelerate the vehicle at the time dilation deceleration.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle includes a belt, alternator, supercharger (BASC) power system having a positive displacement supercharger with coacting rotors, a belt drive from the engine to the supercharger, an overrunning clutch allowing the supercharger to overrun the belt drive, and a motor-generator connected to charge a battery when the motor-generator is overrunning the belt drive. The system allows electric overrun of the supercharger to increase engine charge air and power at low engine speeds, to electrically offset some parasitic losses and increase power at high engine speeds, to use supercharger inertia to drive the motor-generator and charge the battery during engine decelerations, and to electrically reduce belt drive loads by supplementing supercharger drive power during transmission downshifts that increase engine speed, and thus minimize “chirping” sounds due to belt slipping.

Abstract: A motor vehicle front structure is provided with at least one front frame having two side members and an impact cross member structure. Two crash boxes are fixed between the respective front end of the side members and the impact cross member structure. Each of the crash boxes includes, but is not limited to a first and a second leg that are jointly fixed to the front end of each side member and in the shape of a V merge with ends spread from each other in the direction of the impact cross member structure. The spread ends are fixed on end regions of the impact cross member structure. A connecting structure with honeycomb construction is arranged between the legs.

Abstract: A system and method for predicting fatigue life in metal alloys for very high cycle fatigue applications. The system and method are especially useful for cast metal alloys, such as cast aluminum alloys, where a fatigue endurance limit is either non-existent or hard to discern. Fatigue properties, such as fatigue strength in the very high cycle fatigue region, are based on a modified random fatigue limit model, where the very high cycle fatigue strength and infinite life fatigue strength are refined to take into consideration the sizes of the discontinuities and microstructure constituents since the fatigue life scatter depends upon the presence of discontinuities and microstructure constituents. The sizes of the discontinuities and microstructure constituents that can initiate fatigue cracks can be determined with extreme value statistics, then input to the modified random fatigue limit model.

Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes.

Abstract: A method to monitor integrity of a motor torque command for a transmission in a hybrid powertrain system includes calculating motor torque commands for the torque generating machines. Torque corrections for the motor torque commands are determined. The motor torque commands are adjusted based upon the torque corrections. The adjusted motor torque commands are verified based upon an estimated output torque.

Abstract: The hybrid powertrain has a plurality of members that can be utilized to provide eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio in a hybrid transmission architecture. The transmission includes three planetary gear sets having five torque-transmitting devices and four fixed interconnections. The powertrain includes an engine, a damper, a pump, an engine disconnect clutch, and a drive motor, all operatively connected with the transmission to provide strong hybrid operating capability.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an input electrical signal to an individual pressure control device includes the steps of providing a target pressure-to-current (P/I) threshold, providing a lower estimated P/I threshold, and providing an estimated P/I curve that passes between the target P/I threshold and the lower estimated P/I threshold. Next, the method determines a lower actual P/I threshold at a pressure equal to the pressure at the lower estimated P/I threshold. A maximum offset current is calculated from the difference between the currents at the lower actual P/I threshold and the lower estimated P/I threshold. Finally, the method calculates a calibrated P/I curve. The calibrated P/I curve includes the target P/I threshold and the lower actual P/I threshold. The slope of the calibrated P/I curve is calculated as a proportional value of the maximum offset current.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to an environment sensor for identifying a source of danger external to the vehicle and detecting at least one first direction in which the source of danger lies when viewed from the vehicle, and a loudspeaker arrangement which can be triggered, when a source of danger has been identified, to generate a warning signal which for a listener in a passenger cell of the vehicle appears to come from the first direction. The environment sensor is furthermore equipped to trigger the loudspeaker arrangement to produce a second signal following the warning signal, which for the listener appears to come from a second direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: A dual drive pump system for rear wheel or front wheel drive automatic transmission in a motor vehicle includes a dual drive pump disposed off-axis of the transmission input shaft axis and driven by a gear train driven by a hub. The dual drive pump is also driven by a gear train driven by an engine starter motor. Torque multiplication through the gear train allows the dual drive pump to have a smaller displacement while still providing the hydraulic pressure needs of the transmission. The dual drive pump may be driven by either an engine or the engine starter motor depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A dual drive pump system for rear wheel or front wheel drive automatic transmission in a motor vehicle includes a dual drive pump disposed off-axis of the transmission input shaft axis and driven by a gear train driven by a hub. The dual drive pump is also driven by a gear train driven by an auxiliary motor. Torque multiplication through the gear train allows the dual drive pump to have a smaller displacement while still providing the hydraulic pressure needs of the transmission. The dual drive pump may be driven by either an engine or the auxiliary motor depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A charge air cooling device is provided for a combustion engine with a first heat exchanger configured to transmit thermal energy of a charge airflow to a coolant and with a second heat exchanger by which thermal energy of the coolant can be discharged into the surroundings. The first heat exchanger is designed as coaxial tube heat exchanger, which directly connects a compressor provided for the combustion air to the engine.