Abstract: An over the highway truck or tractor vehicle with an improved air intake system. The vehicle includes a hood and fender assembly with a smooth outer surface with an air intake opening in the passenger side of the hood. The intake is defined by a perimetral hood flange extending inwardly from the outer surface. A self securing grating is in the opening. The grating has a perimetral gasket recess which traps a gasket in engagement with the hood flange to provide water seal around the opening. The grating has baffle portions which delineate air intake passages. Structure within the hood delineates an air flow and water separation passage extending from the intake passages to an engine. The flow and separation passage includes a plenum section adjacent the grating and a choke section above the plenum section.

Abstract: A mount assembly provides for the mounting of service lines of a variety of types and sizes to a support structure, such as a frame rail for an over-the-highway truck or tractor, with relative ease. The mount assembly includes a mount having a saddle for securing the service line to the mount with a self-sizing tie and having a latch for securing the mount to the support structure. The strap of another tie may be inserted through an opening of the support structure and through an opening of the latch such that a ratchet positioned in relation to the latch opening engages at least one of a plurality of sloping teeth of the strap. A spacer of the mount provides a clearance area for the service line from the support structure so as to minimize or avoid any gathering of debris between the service line and the support structure and therefore minimize or avoid any chafing or corrosion of the service line or of the support structure.

Abstract: An over-the-highway truck or tractor vehicle having an elongate rail forming a portion of a vehicle frame and an improved battery box in the form of a unitary molded container defining multiple sides of a battery retention space. One of the sides is a base for supporting at least one battery. The container includes a moveable closure which together with the base defines the battery retention space. The enclosure allows access to a battery supported by the container for battery placement in and removal from the battery retention space. Structure including a lower step fixedly connected to the rail supports the container. Pairs of recesses are integrally molded in the base of the container. Air tanks are partially positioned in the recess in a container reinforcing relationship. Connection structure fixes the air tanks and the container together.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a cab of a conventional over-the-highway truck or tractor vehicle relative to a vehicle frame which includes a pair of longitudinally extending rails and a transverse member interconnecting the rails. A pair of mounting assemblies are located near the front of the cab to resiliently and pivotally connect the cab to the rails. A pair of spaced apart spring members are located near the rear of the cab to support the cab for limited movement relative to the frame. A spaced pair of dampers extends between the cab and the frame to damp movement of the cab. The spaced dampers are located between the spring members. A centering damper is mounted between the cab and the frame to damp transverse movement of the cab. The centering damper is located between the spaced dampers.

Abstract: An over the highway truck having a power steering system including an improved hydraulic circuit for operation of the system is disclosed. The system includes a heat conductive metal frame element, a power steering pump, and conduits connecting an output of the pump to at least one steering assist actuator. The system also has a heat conductive, metal, hydraulic reservoir defining an internal power steering fluid chamber is connected to the frame element in heat transfer relationship. Supply and return conduits respectively connect the chamber to the pump and the actuator to provide a combination wherein the frame element and reservoir together function as a heat sink to cool power steering fluid. The reservoir has a housing having a base portion and an internally connected, upstanding, circumferentially endless side portion. The housing has flow directing passages adjacent its base portion and communicating with the chamber for delineating fluid flow across the base portion in heat transferring relationship.

Abstract: A process of applying a finish to an electrically conductive vehicle body by passing the body through a water-based electrocoating bath while applying a voltage between the body and the bath to electro-coat the body with constituents of the bath. The coat is dehydrated to a state of sufficient dryness to permit spray application of a water-base primer while maintaining the coat cool enough to avoid fusing the coat. A coating of water-base primer is then sprayed over the dehydrated but otherwise untreated E coat. The coat and coating are then baked to concurrently fuse both of them. The primer sprayed on an interior portion of the body is pigmented to a desired finished color. Selected portions of the baked coating on the exterior of the body are light sanded to remove entrained dirt and thereafter finish coating is applied to the body.

Abstract: A seat assembly for over-the-highway trucks and tractors including a seat (10) having a frame (16), a cushion (17) and a back (25). The assembly includes a three-point seat belt structure including a retractor (52), a shoulder anchor (58) on a support (67), a lock (56) and an anchor (54). Vehicle cab and frame structure connected tethers (30, 31, 71) limit seat and seat belt movement in the event of an accident.

Abstract: An over the highway truck or tractor suspension with traction enhancement. Air springs are provided for the rear axles of a 2.times.6 vehicle. Normally the load is evenly divided between driven and tag axles. When enhanced traction is desired, the tag axle springs are communicated with an auxiliary tank to reduce pressure in them while air under pressure is supplied to the driven axle springs to increase the pressure in them and thereby increase the portion of the load on the driven axle to provide enhanced traction.