Abstract: Controlling exhaust after-treatment in a heavy-duty motor vehicle includes operating a diesel engine of a heavy-duty truck such that the diesel engine generates an exhaust gas flow that enters an exhaust after-treatment system of the heavy-duty truck, the exhaust after-treatment system including a selective catalytic reduction system, measuring a level of NOx gases in the exhaust gas flow downstream of the selective catalytic reduction system, and controlling a diesel exhaust fluid injector upstream of the selective catalytic reduction system to inject diesel exhaust fluid into the exhaust gas flow upstream of the selective catalytic reduction system at an injection rate that is based on the measured level of NOx gases.

Abstract: A shiftable wheel end reduction may be mechanically coupled to a driven axle shaft and to a driven wheel of a wheeled vehicle. The shiftable wheel end reduction may be switched between a first operating mode, in which torque carried by the driven axle shaft is increased and transferred to the driven wheel by the shiftable wheel end reduction, and a second operating mode, in which torque carried by the driven axle shaft is maintained and transferred to the driven wheel by the shiftable wheel end reduction.

Abstract: A tire comprising a plurality of tread blocks. At least one tread block includes one or more piers for stiffening the tread blocks while allowing normal lateral (tangential) or circumferential strain for normal braking and motive traction. The piers can extend the entire length dimension of the tread block or portions thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of automatically distributing powertrain demand between tandem drive axles in a tandem drive axle system for balanced tire wear between the tandem drive axles. Examples described herein analyze input signals collected from various vehicle sensors about operating conditions of the front and back tandem drive axles, and automatically bias a distribution of torque demand between the front and back tandem drive axles to correct for asymmetric wear based on known normal wear of the tires under like operating conditions.

Abstract: A lean-burn internal combustion engine and an exhaust aftertreatment system having an oxidation catalyst are described. A controller determines a fueling rate and a mass flowrate of the exhaust gas feedstream. An inlet temperature of the exhaust gas feedstream upstream of the oxidation catalyst is determined via the first temperature sensor, and an in-use outlet temperature of the exhaust gas feedstream is determined downstream of the oxidation catalyst via the second temperature sensor. An expected outlet temperature from the oxidation catalyst is determined based upon the inlet temperature, the fueling rate, and the mass flowrate of the exhaust gas feedstream. The oxidation catalyst is evaluated based upon the expected outlet temperature and the in-use outlet temperature.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cooling and heating in a vehicle. A thermoelectric cooling system can include a heatsink in thermal communication with an exterior of a vehicle, thermoelectric cells within the vehicle mounted to the heatsink, and a power supply electrically connected to the one or more thermoelectric cells. In response to receiving power from the power supply, the thermoelectric cells produce a temperature difference to draw heat from the vehicle in to the heatsink. Cooling a vehicle cabin can include receiving a desired temperature and a current temperature of a vehicle cabin, determining a temperature difference between the desired temperature and the current temperature, and, based on determining the temperature difference indicates the desired temperature is lower than the current temperature, causing thermoelectric cells to receive power so the thermoelectric cells produce a temperature difference to draw heat from the vehicle cabin in to the heatsink.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a wheel cover that is coupled to a wheel of a vehicle utilizing a mounting assembly that has a bearing block. A retainer assembly in combination with the bearing block of the mounting assembly allows the wheel cover to be coupled to the wheel in a manner such that the wheel cover does not rotate with the forward and backward rotation of the wheel when the vehicle is being driven. The wheel cover covers the wheel and partially covers a gap or space between a tire of the wheel and a fender of the vehicle, which increases the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle. The retainer assembly provides at least one degree of freedom such that the wheel cover may move with the wheel when steering the vehicle in a leftward direction and a rightward direction.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a diesel engine runaway event in a diesel engine and, in response to detecting the diesel engine runaway event, deactivating all cylinders in the diesel engine such that no combustion occurs in any cylinders of the diesel engine and no cylinders of the diesel engine produce power, wherein deactivating the cylinders of the diesel engine includes mechanically decoupling a camshaft of the diesel engine from inlet valves of the cylinders of the diesel engine, and wherein deactivating cylinders of the diesel engine prevents flow of air from an intake manifold into combustion chambers of the cylinders.

Abstract: A vehicle cabin heating system of a vehicle, and methods of operation of such a heating system are provided. The vehicle cabin heating system scavenges waste heat from drivetrain components. A heat pump provides further heat scavenging for delivery to the vehicle cabin. A supplemental heater may be selectively activated to provide supplemental heating when operation of the heat pump and/or vehicle cabin heating system are inadequate to provide prompt heating response. The supplemental heater may, for example, be a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater positioned downstream of a heat pump heater and/or a heater core, and/or may include a positive high voltage coolant heater positioned within a coolant fluid circuit useable to heat coolant for delivery to the heater core and/or heat pump.