Abstract: A vehicle has a vehicle body and a vehicle suspension system supporting the vehicle body. The vehicle suspension has a gas spring, and includes a cylinder, a rod, and an accumulator. The cylinder has a longitudinal axis. The rod is partially disposed within the cylinder and is movable relative to the cylinder along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The rod and cylinder together at least partially define a chamber having a variable volume that receives a first pressurized gas. The accumulator is in communication with the chamber and contains a second pressurized gas held at a threshold pressure creating a first spring rate opposing relative movement between the rod and cylinder when the first pressurized gas within the chamber is pressurized below the threshold pressure and a second spring rate when the first pressurized gas within the chamber is pressurized above the threshold pressure.

Abstract: A damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system includes a first damper and a second damper. The second damper includes a housing having a wall that at least partially surrounds at least a portion of the first damper, the volume between the wall and the first damper defining a chamber, and the wall defines an aperture. The second damper also includes a piston positioned within the chamber, a conduit defining a flow path that includes the aperture, and a flow control device disposed along the flow path. The second damper is configured to provide a damping force that varies based on the position of the piston within the chamber.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a housing, a flow controller, and a piston. The housing defines an inlet port, an outlet port, a flow path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a pilot chamber configured to be in fluid communication with a pilot. The flow controller is positioned along the flow path. The piston is positioned to separate the pilot chamber from the flow path. The piston includes a first end in fluid communication with the pilot chamber and an opposing second end positioned to engage the flow controller with a pilot force that varies based on a pressure at the pilot.

Abstract: A drive train includes a shaft, a first gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a second gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set, a first clutch that selectively engages the shaft with the second motor/generator and the first gear set, and a second clutch and a third gear set that cooperate to selectively engage the ring gear of the second gear set with the planetary gear carrier of at least one of the first gear set and the second gear set. The planetary gears of both sets are rotatably supported by respective planetary gear carriers.

Abstract: The damper assembly includes a tubular member, a rod, a primary piston, a secondary piston, and a resilient member. The tubular member includes a sidewall and a cap positioned at an end of the sidewall. The sidewall and the cap define an inner volume. The sidewall includes a shoulder separating the tubular member into a first portion and a second portion. The resilient member is disposed between the secondary piston and the cap and thereby is positioned to bias the secondary piston into engagement with the shoulder.

Abstract: A suspension element includes a main body having an internal volume configured to contain a liquid therein, a tubular element extending at least partially within the main body, the tubular element having an internal volume that defines a first fluid chamber configured to contain a compressible gas therein, a first piston separating the internal volume of the main body into a second fluid chamber and a third fluid chamber, a second piston positioned to separate the first fluid chamber from the second fluid chamber, and a flow control element disposed along a flow path between the second fluid chamber and the third fluid chamber. Movement of the tubular element generates a flow of the liquid through the flow control element to produce a damping force and changes the pressure of the compressible gas to produce a spring force.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger capsule having a first end and a second end, a front module coupled to the first end of the passenger capsule and including a front axle assembly, an engine coupled to the front module, a rear module coupled to the second end of the passenger capsule and including a rear axle assembly, and a transaxle coupled to the rear module and the engine. The transaxle includes a transfercase component and a differential component contained at least partially within a housing that defines a structural component of the rear module. The rear axle assembly includes at least one of an upper control arm, a lower control arm, a spring, and a damper that is directly coupled to the transaxle.

Abstract: A method of operating a first electric machine and a second electric machine in a vehicle drive includes operating the vehicle drive in a first operating mode by operating the first electric machine to regulate electrical power at a bus to maintain a first voltage on the bus and operating the second electric machine to consume electrical power from the bus. The method includes operating the vehicle drive in a second operating mode by operating the first electric machine to consume electrical power from the bus and operating the second electric machine to regulate electrical power at the bus to maintain a second voltage on the bus. A sum of the electrical power regulated by the first electric machine, the electrical power losses, and the electrical power consumed by the second electric machine is zero in the first operating mode and in the second operating mode.

Abstract: A damper assembly includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder positioned at least partially within the outer cylinder, a plunger positioned at least partially within the inner cylinder and coupled to a rod, an aperture extending through the rod, an annular piston coupled to the inner cylinder, and a valve assembly. The rod is positioned at least partially within the inner cylinder and has an outer dimension that is smaller than an inner dimension of the inner cylinder. The plunger and an interior of the inner cylinder at least partially define a first chamber. The valve assembly is in fluid communication with the first chamber and a second chamber. The annular piston extends between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and the annular piston, an exterior surface of the inner cylinder, and the outer cylinder at least partially define the second chamber.

Abstract: A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system includes a cylinder, a rod disposed within the cylinder, the rod and the cylinder at least partially defining a chamber, and an accumulator in communication with the chamber. The rod and the cylinder are configured such that a relative movement therebetween changes the volume of the chamber. Gas in the chamber and the accumulator are configured to cooperate to at least partially provide a spring rate that varies based on at least one of a deflection and a spring force associated with at least one of the rod and the cylinder.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis, a front cabin coupled to the chassis, an engine coupled to the chassis and positioned at least one of beneath and behind the front cabin, and a cooling pack coupled to the chassis and positioned forward of the front cabin defining an airgap between the cooling pack and the engine. The cooling pack includes a radiator positioned at a front end of the chassis, a fan system including a fan positioned behind and proximate the radiator, and a conduit system fluidly coupling the radiator to the engine to facilitate providing a coolant between the radiator and the engine. The fan is configured to draw air through the radiator to cool the coolant within the radiator.

Abstract: A vehicle drive includes a gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to the gear set, a second motor/generator at least selectively rotationally engaged with the gear set, an engine at least selectively coupled to the gear set and selectively coupled to the second motor/generator, and a clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the engine. The first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator.

Abstract: A suspension element includes a main body having an internal volume configured to contain a liquid therein, a tubular element extending at least partially within the main body, the tubular element having an internal volume that defines a first fluid chamber configured to contain a compressible gas therein, a first piston separating the internal volume of the main body into a second fluid chamber and a third fluid chamber, a second piston positioned to separate the first fluid chamber from the second fluid chamber, and a flow control element disposed along a flow path between the second fluid chamber and the third fluid chamber. Movement of the tubular element generates a flow of the liquid through the flow control element to produce a damping force and changes the pressure of the compressible gas to produce a spring force.

Abstract: A damper assembly includes a tubular member including a sidewall and a shoulder. The damper assembly includes a rod and a piston coupled to the rod. A secondary piston has a second contact surface, an opposing second surface, an inner cylindrical face defining a central aperture that receives the rod, and an outer cylindrical face. The opposing second surface includes one or more surface grooves, extending between the inner cylindrical face and the outer cylindrical face along the opposing second surface, and one or more bypass orifices disposed about the body member. The bypass orifices extend along the inner cylindrical face between the second contact surface and the opposing second surface. The secondary piston defines a channel extending between the inner cylindrical face and an outer periphery of the body member. The channel and bypass orifices form a fluid flow path when the piston contacts the secondary piston.

Abstract: A method of operating a first electric machine and a second electric machine in a vehicle drive includes operating the vehicle drive in: a first operating mode by operating the first electric machine in a voltage mode and the second electric machine in a torque mode; and a second operating mode by operating the first electric machine in the torque mode and the second electric machine in the voltage mode.

Abstract: An engine stand including a cradle assembly configured to support an engine assembly and a dolly configured to support the cradle assembly. The cradle assembly includes an upper frame assembly including a first frame member and a second frame member each fixedly coupled to a third frame member, a protrusion coupled to and extending substantially vertically upward from the first frame member, and a rest coupled to the second frame member, the rest having an engagement surface shaped to correspond to a shape of an exterior surface of the engine assembly. At least one of the first frame member, the second frame member, and the third frame member define an aperture configured to receive a fork from a lift device.

Abstract: A drive train includes a shaft, a first gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a second gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set, a first clutch that selectively engages the shaft with the second motor/generator and the first gear set, and a second clutch and a third gear set that cooperate to selectively engage the ring gear of the second gear set with the planetary gear carrier of at least one of the first gear set and the second gear set. The planetary gears of both sets are rotatably supported by respective planetary gear carriers.