Abstract: An embodiment vehicle body for an electric vehicle includes a fender apron upper part and an A pillar part positioned at a rear portion of the fender apron upper part, wherein a first load path is formed in a length direction of the vehicle body on an upper part of the fender apron upper part, wherein a second load path is formed in a vertical direction of the vehicle body along a connection portion of the fender apron upper part and the A pillar part, wherein a third load path connecting the first load path and the second load path is obliquely formed in a lower part of the fender apron upper part, and wherein a charging hole is formed between the first, second, and third load paths.

Abstract: A battery box for an electric vehicle includes an Al casting that extends between and joins to a BIW or chassis rails of the electric vehicle. The Al casting includes a bottom wall, a side wall with a pair of rails that are securely attached to the BIW or chassis rails of the vehicle, and a plurality of cross members. The bottom wall, the side wall, and the plurality of cross members define a structural enclosure with a plurality of battery compartments and at least one crush zone, and the structural enclosure is load bearing member of the electric vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body including a roof and a pillar. The vehicle includes a track supported by the roof and elongated along a cross-vehicle axis. The vehicle includes a headliner slideable along the track from a stowed position to a deployed position. The headliner in the stowed position extends along the roof and in the deployed position extends along the pillar.

Abstract: An energy management system for a towed vehicle includes an energy harvesting system for harvesting electrical energy from the energy of the towed vehicle, an energy storage system for storing the harvested electrical energy, and a computer controller for controlling the release of the stored electrical energy to one or more components of the towed vehicle for operating the towed vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a braking controller individually controlling braking forces of braking devices for left and right front and rear wheels, a side collision detector detecting a side collision against a vehicle, and a yaw behavior detector detecting yaw behavior of a vehicle body. If the yaw behavior detected after the side collision is such that a rear of the vehicle body shifts away from a collision side relative to a front thereof, the braking controller executes yaw amplification control to cause the braking device for the collision-side front wheel to generate a braking force larger than the remaining wheels. If the detected yaw behavior is such that the front shifts away from the collision side relative to the rear, the braking controller executes the yaw amplification control to cause the braking device for the collision-side rear wheel to generate a braking force larger than the remaining wheels.

Abstract: A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure and support wheels coupled to the support structure. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the support structure to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over the floor surface to assist users. An actuator is operatively coupled to the auxiliary wheel and operable to move the auxiliary wheel relative to the support structure from a retracted position to a deployed position. A user interface sensor is operatively connected to the actuator and configured to generate signals responsive to the user touching the user interface. A controller is operatively coupled to the user interface sensor and the actuator to operate the actuator in response to detection of signals.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system may include a vehicle chassis, a centerless wheel which may include a wheel rim and a tire, and a natural active suspension assembly which may operably couple the centerless wheel to the vehicle chassis via the wheel rim. The natural active suspension assembly may support the vehicle chassis at a substantially constant distance away from a ground plane by generating reactive torque to counteract displacement of the centerless wheel normal to the ground plane by moving a support location between the natural active suspension assembly and the wheel rim.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle is provided. A linear regenerative suspension system that converts mechanical energy into storable electrical energy is also provided. The system utilizes pistons, one on each side of the vehicle, engaged with a vehicle body at a distal end and having a fluid chamber at the proximal end. The system further has a central chamber having a rod freely laterally moving therein. A fluid communicates between the central chamber and each piston fluid chamber. Upon nonlinear forces applied to the vehicle, the rod is urged in one direction or another. This urging applies force to the fluid in the central chamber, and in turn, to the piston in the corresponding side of the vehicle, urging the piston up and in turn urging the vehicle body up.

Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle includes a front subframe having two frame rails and a control arm connector on each frame rail. The assembly includes a panel supported on the frame rails and spaced vehicle-rearward of the control arm connector. The panel extends cross-vehicle from one of the frame rails to the other of the frame rails. The panel includes a channel elongated along the vehicle-longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a vehicle component spaced vehicle-rearward of the panel. The channel is aimed at the vehicle component.

Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a floor panel formed with a floor tunnel; a transmission; a transmission support member; an inverter attached to a case of the transmission; a battery unit disposed behind the transmission and on an outer side in a vehicle width direction of the floor tunnel; and a harness disposed such that an intermediate portion between a first end portion connected to the inverter and a second end portion connected to a front end portion of the battery unit 4 extends across the floor tunnel from inside to outside thereof. The battery unit has a substantially rectangular shape in a bottom view, and a corner on the floor tunnel side of a front end portion of the battery unit is cut out to form a free space between the front end portion of the battery unit and a portion of the floor tunnel behind the transmission support member.

Abstract: Described herein are battery packs and electric vehicles using these packs. In some examples, a battery pack comprises two portions/covers and a set of battery modules positioned within the enclosed cavity formed by these portions. A battery pack may comprise a set of pressure-relief valves positioned in and protruding through a wall of at least one portion. Each valve can be coaxial with a corresponding gap provided between two adjacent modules. The valve is configured to provide a fluid path (to the exterior of the battery pack) when the pressure inside the pack exceeds a set threshold. In some examples, the battery pack comprises an inlet tube fluidically coupled to the inlet port of each module and an outlet tube fluidically coupled to the outlet port of each module. A set of specially configured orifices or controllable valves is positioned on the fluid path through each module.

Abstract: A vehicle power transfer unit assembly includes an input shaft, a shift collar, an outer cam ring, and an inner cam ring. The shift collar is engaged with the input shaft and operable between a first position and a second position. The outer cam ring is disposed around a portion of the shift collar. The outer cam ring includes an inner surface defining a plurality of levels. The inner cam ring is engaged with the shift collar and disposed radially inward from the outer cam ring. The inner cam ring includes a jaw engageable with the plurality of levels. The shift collar is moved from the first position to the second position when the jaw is moved from engagement with one of the plurality of levels to engagement with another of the plurality of levels.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for helping to protect occupants of a vehicle seat in the event of a collision. The vehicle seat includes a base with a bottom cushion, a backrest with a back cushion, and a side rest having a side cushion that extends upward from the bottom cushion and forward from the back cushion. The apparatus comprises a deployable restraint stored in a pre-deployment condition in the side rest. The deployable restraint comprising an airbag and an inflator for inflating and deploying the airbag. When inflated to a deployed condition the restrain cushions the occupant against impacts with the side rest.

Abstract: A battery container, a battery pack, and a vehicle are provided. The battery container includes a battery compartment and a first beam. The battery compartment is configured to accommodate a plurality of batteries. The batteries are arranged along a first direction. The first beam extends along the first direction and forms a first side wall of the battery compartment. A first adhesive receiving groove is recessed from an inner wall of the first beam. The first adhesive receiving groove extends along the first direction. The first adhesive receiving groove is configured to be filled with a connection adhesive to connect the first beam to the batteries. The inner wall of the first beam is a side wall of the first beam facing the batteries.

Abstract: Problem: To more effectively restrict movement of the airbag in an expanded and deployed state in the event of a vehicle collision, and improve the performance of restraining a passenger using an airbag. Resolution Means: A passenger restraining device of the present invention is provided with an airbag and tensile cloth. The tensile cloth is deployed to the outside of a seat by expansion and deployment of the airbag, and pulled from an upper surface of a seat back portion to a seat cushion portion.

Abstract: A suspension is provided for coupling a front wheel with a chassis of an off-road vehicle. The suspension comprises upper and lower suspension arms that each includes two inboard mounting points to the chassis and one outboard rod-end joint to a spindle assembly coupled with the front wheel. A ball comprising each outboard rod-end joint is fastened by way a bolt between a pair of parallel prongs extending from the spindle assembly. The upper suspension arm is configured to facilitate coupling a strut between the lower suspension arm and the chassis. A steering rod is coupled with the spindle assembly by way of a steering rod-end joint that is disposed forward of a drive axle, thereby decreasing leverage of the front wheel on the steering rod and substantially eliminating bump steer that may occur due to rough terrain.

Abstract: A telehandler comprising: a chassis; an axle supporting the chassis; a pivotal connection between the axle and the chassis; and a chassis positioning system. The pivotal connection is configured to enable rotation of the chassis relative to the axle for varying a chassis-axle tilt angle defined between a longitudinal axis of the axle and the chassis. The chassis positioning system comprises: a chassis angle sensor configured to measure an angular position of the chassis relative to gravity; an actuator configured to rotate the chassis relative to the axle at the pivotal connection; and a control system configured, in a first mode, to control the actuator to thereby control the chassis-axle tilt angle based on the measured angular position of the chassis.

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure is directed to a steering system comprising a housing in which a steering rack is movably arranged and extends out of the housing on at least one side of the housing, the steering rack being connected with a tie rod via a ball joint, wherein the connection is covered by a protective bellows defining a central axis and the bellows further comprising a first end defining a first opening around the central axis, a second end defining a second opening around the central axis, and several annular folds arranged along the central axis between the first end and second end, and wherein the bellows comprises a plurality of skirts arranged along the central axis and extending away from the bellows.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle is shown. The suspension system may have first and second airbags stacked upon each other. By adjusting a height difference between the first and second airbags while maintaining the same collective height of the first and second airbags, the spring rate of the collective first and second airbags are changed while maintaining the same collective height of the first and second airbags.

Abstract: A door lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a locking mechanism consisting substantially of a catch and at least one pawl. Each locking mechanism component is mounted on a base in a rotatable manner about an axis. Additionally, a fixed support body is provided for at least one locking mechanism component. According to the invention, the locking mechanism component is designed to be rotatable about a bearing pin at a distance from the support body during a normal operation and comes into contact with the support body solely in the event of a crash with a simultaneous deformation of the bearing pin.