Abstract: A gravity-activated valve for use in supplying an uninterrupted supply of fluid is disclosed. The valve includes a housing having an outlet, an inlet positioned below the outlet, and a sleeve disposed within the housing. The valve also includes a buoyant piston disposed within the sleeve, which is adapted to move between an open position and a closed position. The piston is positioned above the outlet when the piston is in the open position to allow fluid flow through the outlet and positioned proximate the outlet in the closed position to prevent fluid flow through the outlet. The piston is in the open position when the fluid level exceeds a predetermined fluid level and in the closed position when the fluid level is at or below the predetermined fluid level. The valve further includes a plurality of gaskets, which are adapted to create a seal between the piston and the sleeve.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a vehicle has at least two leaf spring assemblies providing at least two load paths. The leaf springs are vertically separated and mount to a shackle assembly which is mounted to the chassis. The shackle assembly has at least two shackles and may have a load transfer assembly. The leaf springs also attach to a spring hanger opposite the shackle assembly. The load transfer assembly has inner and outer load transfer plates to which the leaf springs and the shackles fasten to form a four-bar linkage.

Abstract: A software algorithm (FIG. 3) determines the strategy by which a controller (34) will manage state of charge (SOC) of a battery pack (32) in a hybrid electric vehicle but always gives the driver the opportunity to make his/her own selection instead. The algorithm causes one of two strategies to be selected each time that the ignition switch is operated from “off” position to “on” position. The manner in which the algorithm executes depends on the value of a calibratable parameter electronically programmed into the controller of the particular vehicle when the vehicle is being built at the factory.

Abstract: A battery includes a first pair of terminal connectors including a positive and a negative terminal connector and a second pair of terminal connectors including a positive and a negative terminal connector. The positive and negative terminal connectors of the first pair of terminal connectors are sized and shaped for mating with the positive and negative terminal connectors of the second pair of terminal connectors, allowing the battery to coupled by like polarity terminals to a second like battery.

Abstract: A motor vehicle with a system for conditioning power take-off enablement has a powerplant, including an internal combustion engine, for propelling the vehicle. The powerplant is disposed within a compartment. A hood is positionable relative to the compartment to selectively allow and disallow access to the compartment. A power take-off unit comprises an input mechanically coupled to the powerplant and selectively enabled by a controller for coupling an output of the power take-off unit to the input of the power take-off unit when enabled by the controller and uncoupling the output of the power take-off unit from the input of the power take-off unit when not enabled by the controller. A device whose status distinguishes between the hood allowing access to the compartment and the hood disallowing access to the compartment causes the controller not to enable the power take-off unit when the device discloses that the hood is allowing access to the compartment.

Abstract: A vehicle is constructed of three modules including a front end module having a monocoque one piece body, a tail module having a monocoque one piece body and a power train module adapted for installation under at least one of the front end module and the tail module. The front end module has a trailing edge and the tail module has a leading edge along which the tail module and front end module may be temporarily connected for service use. A power train module is provided adapted for installation under at least one of the front end module and the tail module. An expansion band formed in a monocoque one piece section and having a leading edge and a trailing edge is provided allowing temporary installation between the front end module and the tail module to adjust the length of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle battery cable has a plurality of subsidiary or daughter cables where the subsidiary cables have the same length and gauge and exhibit closely matched resistance. The vehicle battery cable connects a plurality of batteries in parallel to a load in a way that each battery carries the same proportion of the load as every other battery.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a vehicle roof having a roof panel formed of molded fiberglass. The panel has a first surface and a second surface. An insert is molded into the roof panel. The insert has an interior surface generally concentrically disposed about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface of the roof panel. The insert is at least substantially embedded in the roof panel.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an air spring end closure are disclosed. One has an outer part and an inner part joined together to provide a moment of inertia along an axis that is transverse to axial expansion and contraction of the air chamber that is greater than that of the outer part alone. Another has a part that is concave toward the chamber and contains one of a riser and a depression having a generally rectangular shape whose length runs transverse to the direction of expansion and contraction and that is widthwise centered on a diameter of the part. Still another has a part having an elliptical perimeter margin curled onto a similarly shaped axial end of a sleeve that provides the axial expansion and contraction.

Abstract: An exhaust gas turbine generator system for a vehicle that has an internal combustion engine with an exhaust system is provided. The exhaust system comprises a turbine, an electrical generator, a waste gate, and an electronic control module. The turbine is disposed in fluid communication with an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine to allow fluid flow between the turbine and the exhaust gas system. The electrical generator connects to the turbine. The waste gate is disposed in fluid communication with the exhaust gas system of the internal combustion engine. The waste gate is positionable between an open position and a closed position in response to an output signal from the electronic control module. The fluid flow in the exhaust gas system to the turbine is reduced when the waste gate is positioned to the open position.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool for an auxiliary power unit comprising an alternating current generator having an exciter winding and an output winding and an automatic voltage regulator for providing control over the excitation winding of the generator includes a harness with plug connectors allowing the diagnostic tool to be directly introduced between the generator and automatic voltage regulator replacing the conventional connections without affecting operation of the auxiliary power unit. The diagnostic tool has a plurality of multimeters between the automatic voltage regulator and the alternating current generator providing voltage readings across and resistance readings for the generator's stator exciter winding and main and auxiliary output windings. A protocol relates voltage and resistance readings taken with the multimeters when the auxiliary power unit is on and off to possible faults in the generator or with the automatic voltage regulator.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to internal combustion engine exhaust after-treatment systems and to methods of treating exhaust of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A vehicle has at least one road wheel on which the vehicle travels and a park brake for selectively locking the at least one road wheel while the vehicle is parked. An actuator can apply the park brake to lock the at least one road wheel, and can release the park brake to unlock the at least one road wheel. An electronic controller interfaces the actuator with a wheel locking mechanism. The status of a variable status device, such as a lift platform, is communicated to the electronic controller and is effective on the electronic controller for causing the electronic controller to disallow park brake release by the actuator when a first status is communicated to the electronic controller and to allow park brake release by the actuator when a second status is communicated to the electronic controller.

Abstract: A method for enabling a truck having an electrical system that can accept shore power to be supplied with shore power is provided. While the truck is stationary, an electric cable is connected between the truck's electrical system and an APU of a second truck that not only can deliver AC electricity to electrical loads in the second truck and also can export AC electricity as shore power. A condition precedent to enabling the APU to export AC electricity to the truck that can accept shore power is confirmed via a communication link between the two trucks. Upon confirmation of the condition, the APU is enabled to export AC electricity to the truck that can accept shore power.

Abstract: A vehicle control system is programmed to stop the vehicle's internal combustion engine upon certain conditions including the vehicle being stopped and engine temperature having reached a minimum operating level. On vehicles equipped with air brakes and having an engine driven air compressor, engine restarts are provided by an air pressure supported hydraulic motor once triggered by operator actions such as releasing the brake and/or depressing the vehicle's accelerator indicative of the driver's intention to move the vehicle.

Abstract: A ring and pinion gear set comprises a ring gear and a pinion gear. The pinion gear has a plurality of rolling elements. The ring gear has a plurality of mating grooves. The plurality of rolling elements of the pinion gear is adapted to interact with the plurality of mating grooves of the ring gear.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to extendable sleepers for a tractor and methods of operating such a sleeper. In one embodiment, the tractor is connectable with a trailer. The trailer has a front surface. The extendable sleeper comprises a fixed portion disposed on the tractor, an extendable portion attached to the fixed portion, the extendable portion being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and a mover operatively connected with the extendable portion for moving the extendable portion between a retracted position and an extended position. A control system is operatively connected with the mover for controlling operation of the mover. The control system operates in an extension mode where position of the extendable member is adjustable, a teach mode where a significant location of the extendable member is programmed into the control system, and an automatic mode where position of the extendable member is maintained.

Abstract: An axle housing (110) for clamping with a clamp assembly (118, 218) to a spring (16, 216) of a suspension system (14) of a vehicle, the clamp assembly having at least two U-bolts (120, 220) each having a curved portion (136, 236) and two generally linear legs (128, 228) extending therefrom, and a clamping plate (122, 222) for receiving and attaching the legs of the U-bolts to form an enclosure that clamps the axle housing (110) to the spring (16, 216), the housing having a generally oval shape in cross section. The axle housing (110) has a generally planar fore side (132), a generally planar aft side (134), a generally rounded top surface (144) and a generally rounded bottom surface (146), wherein at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface are sized and arranged to mate flushly with the curved portion (136) of the U-bolts (120).

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a storage assembly adapted to seat atop of a cabinet. One storage assembly comprises a plurality of corner pieces with each of the plurality of corner pieces fixed to the cabinet. A plurality of wire hoops is engaged across areas between adjacent corner pieces to define a storage area.

Abstract: Temperature control devices have become common to cool the exhaust stream from a diesel particulate filter before release into the environment. To further cool the filtered exhaust stream, a temperature control device has plates that are approximately parallel and in a spaced apart relationship. A vent is located between the plates. The plates have apertures. A shield is also used.