Abstract: A vehicle includes a first trailer having a rear end, and a second trailer having a front. The second trailer is coupled to the first trailer. The vehicle also includes at least one flexible membrane that includes a perimeter coupled to the rear end. A seal is formed between the perimeter and the rear end. The vehicle further includes a pressurization source coupled to the vehicle, and at least one port defined in and extending through the rear end. The at least one port is enclosed by the perimeter and in fluidic communication with the pressurization source. In a deployed profile, the at least one flexible membrane extends between the rear end of the first trailer and the front of the second trailer.

Abstract: A hinge cover member (20) for use with a swan neck type hinge (12) has an elongate channel shaped portion (24) for receiving the hinge arm (14) and a housing portion (13) for location about a mounting structure (18) which attaches the hinge arm to the closure. The housing portion defines at least one formation (70) for attaching an edge (72) of a trim panel (56) mounted to the closure to the housing portion. The formation (70) may be a clip which clamps the edge (72) of the trim panel. The trim panel (56 may have a live hinge (74) adjacent the edge about which the panel can flex. During adjustment of the closure (13) relative to the hinge, the edge region (72) of the trim panel is constrained to move with the hinge cover.

Abstract: A working vehicle may be provided that detects obstacles around a self-traveling tractor in a wide range, with reduced erroneous detection. A tractor may include a vehicle body including a front wheel and a rear wheel; a rear wheel fender covering the front and top of the rear wheel; a rear stay in a shape that extends along the rear wheel fender, a rear first obstacle sensor provided at the front of the rear stay; and a rear second obstacle sensor provided at the rear of the rear stay.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a deployable fairing system to a tractor trailer. The deployable fairing system includes an actuator used to extend the deployable fairing from an unextended configuration to an extended configuration to occupy a portion of a gap area that exists between a tractor and an attached trailer. The deployable fairing includes deployable upper and/or lower horizontal assemblies that are pivotally coupled to a frame attached to the tractor/cab, and two side panels that are pivotally coupled to one or both of the upper and lower horizontal assemblies. The deployable upper and lower horizontal assemblies and the two side panels fold in on one another along multiple hinged axes in the unextended configuration, and extend rearward from the top and sides of the tractor in the extended configuration to cover a portion of the gap. The fairing may advantageously flair from front to the rear.

Abstract: A reinforcement is formed into an elongated shape, and includes a reinforcement body in which a housing part opened toward an outer peripheral side is formed and a covering part attached to close an opening of the housing part. A module component which is an electrical component or a wiring component may be housed in the reinforcement while being attached to the covering part.

Abstract: A vehicle frame includes a first structural member and an energy absorbing structure connected to the first structural member. The first structural member extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction. An energy absorbing structure is connected to the first structural member. The energy absorbing structure includes a first fixed member, an impact member and a connecting member. The first fixed member is connected to the first structural member. The impact member is connected to the first structural member. A connecting member is movably connected to the first fixed member and has a first end fixed to the impact member such that movement of the impact member moves the connecting member about the first fixed member.

Abstract: A sensor receptacle for receiving a sensor of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The receptacle includes a wall enclosing a cavity with a first opening and a second opening and which defines a longitudinal axis (L), wherein the sensor can be introduced into the cavity by a movement along the longitudinal axis (L) through the first opening and/or through the second opening. A joining flange is arranged in the region of the first opening and the sensor receptacle is connected by way of the joining flange to a trim component of the motor vehicle by forming a cavity between the sensor receptacle and the trim component, such that the sensor receptacle can be connected to the trim component by way of a filling and fastening agent that fills the cavity, and wherein a protrusion is arranged on the joining flange and extending along the longitudinal axis (L).

Abstract: A front body structure of a vehicle includes a pair of left and right hinge pillars, a pair of left and right front suspension dampers that are provided in desired positions on an inner side in a vehicle width direction of the hinge pillars and on a vehicle front side of the hinge pillars, a pair of left and right suspension housings that have damper mount parts, and a pair of left and right apron reinforcements to which upper ends of the suspension housings are joined. The apron reinforcements are formed in shapes extending substantially linearly from the rear ends thereof toward the vehicle front side and an inner side in the vehicle width direction through an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the damper mount parts in plan view.

Abstract: A vehicle front body structure includes a lower side frame member and an upper frame member each extended in a longitudinal direction of the front body structure. The upper frame member is arranged above, in a height direction of the front body structure, and on an outboard side, in a width direction of the front body structure, of the lower side frame member. A damper housing is arranged to connect the lower side frame member and the upper frame member. The damper housing includes an outboard wall, in the width direction, affixed to the upper frame member. The outboard wall includes a deformation relief feature extended in the longitudinal direction along an opening provided on the damper housing for an associated vehicle suspension component.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a rear air guide device for a vehicle. The rear air guide includes a first air guide element and a control device that moves the first air guide element between a first terminal position and a second terminal position such that the first air guide element prolongs a car body element of the vehicle. The first air guide element is pivotably mounted to the car body element such that first air guide element pivots between the first terminal position and the second terminal position. The rear air guide further includes a second air guide element coupled to the first air guide element. When the first air guide element is set at the second terminal position, the second air guide element spans a gap between the first air guide element and the car body element.

Abstract: A part of a touch sensor which couples to a curve of a flange includes an oblique wall and a seal lip. The curve is on a belt line of a sliding door. The oblique wall and the seal lip are close to an interior of an automobile and fit a shape of the curve. A closure wall extends toward an exterior of the automobile and forms a continuous surface with the oblique wall. The closure wall covers a large space from a front side of the automobile.

Abstract: A programmable texture surface including one or more artificial muscles is provided. Each artificial muscle includes a housing having a first wall opposite a second wall and an electrode region adjacent an expandable fluid region. One or both of the first wall and the second wall include an interior tapered portion within the electrode region. A dielectric fluid is housed within the housing and an electrode pair is housed within the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode coupled to the first wall and a second electrode coupled to the second wall, such that at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is coupled to the interior tapered portion. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region.

Abstract: Provided is a rear vehicle-body structure of a vehicle, capable of reducing vibrations transmitted from a rear wheel to a floor panel, while ensuring required performance for rear side frames and a cross member. The rear vehicle-body structure comprises a symmetric pair of frame members extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction along respective lateral sides of a rear of a vehicle body of the vehicle, and a rear-side rear cross member bridging the symmetric pair of frame members in a vehicle width direction, wherein an attachment portion between each of the frame members and the rear-side rear cross member provided with rigidity difference generation part to generate a rigidity difference between the frame member and the rear-side rear cross member.

Abstract: Systems and methods for diverting airflow around a vehicle during forward motion are disclosed, having at least one inlet orifice, at least one duct, the at least one duct in fluid communication with the at least one inlet orifice, at least one outlet orifice, and a tailcone assembly having a rearwardly facing, convexly projecting rounded surface, the tailcone assembly abutting the rear surface of the vehicle, the outlet located on the rearwardly facing, convexly projecting rounded surface, the tailcone assembly defining an internal cavity, the at least one internal cavity in fluid communication with the at least one outlet orifice and the at least one duct. Further improvements adapted to encourage laminar flow about a land vehicle when in motion are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments provide an aerodynamic toolbox assembly comprising a toolbox coupled to a tractor trailer and an aerodynamic fairing assembly coupled to the toolbox. At least one fairing component extends beyond a selected surface of the toolbox to facilitate aerodynamic air flow past the toolbox during normal operation of the trailer.

Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure is characterized in that each of front side frames includes outer and inner members. The outer and inner members have vertical wall surface portions in which a recessed bead extending from a front side to at least a position next to a suspension tower portion in a vehicle front-rear direction is formed. A reinforcement extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and in an up-down direction that divides a closed cross-section of the front side frame into left and right is included between the members of the front side frame to which the suspension tower portion is connected. The reinforcement is formed to join to upper flange portions and lower flange portions of the members of the front side frame with the reinforcement being interposed between the upper flange portions and between the lower flange portions and to linearly extend in the up-down direction.

Abstract: A vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body having a rear; and a variable aerodynamic device positioned at the rear of the vehicle body and being moveable between a lowered configuration and a raised configuration, the variable aerodynamic device comprising: a wing divided along its length into a middle region and outer regions to either side of the middle region, the wing having a reduced width within the middle region relative to the outer regions, and the wing forming part of an outer surface of the vehicle body when the variable aerodynamic device is in the lowered configuration and raised from the vehicle body when the variable aerodynamic device is in the raised configuration.

Abstract: A deployable applique assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a housing having a wall with at least one through opening extending through the wall and a panel configured to overlie at least a portion of the wall when in a stowed position, with an outer surface of the panel being configured to form a smooth surface with a body panel of the motor vehicle. The assembly includes a drive link extending through the at least one through opening and having a first end operatively coupled to the inner surface of the panel and a second end. An actuator has a drive member operably coupled with the second end of the drive link, wherein the actuator is operable to selectively pivot the drive link to move the panel between the stowed position and a deployed position.

Abstract: A vehicle body module connecting joint for connecting a first body module to a second body module. Elongate profiles are arranged along facing edges of the first and second body modules, respectively. The profiles are clamped together by locking wedges arranged parallel to the profiles and connected by fastening means extending between facing profiles on the first and second body modules. The connecting joint includes a first profile arranged along a side edge of a first body module along a surface remote from the connecting joint and a second profile arranged parallel to and in form-fitting contact with the first profile along facing side surfaces. The assembled first and second profiles forming a single first dovetail section along a surface facing the connecting joint.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wind guard or shield or diverter which attaches to a vehicle side wall of greater dimension than that of the diverter and which surrounds an object, such as a school bus stop sign, a predetermined distance spaced from the diverter so as to provide an annular discharge space through which wind may flow while shielding the sign from contact by wind.