Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft coupled to a flywheel having a ring gear. The powertrain also includes a transmission having an input shaft coupled to the flywheel and a brake mechanism having a pivotable rocker configured to selectively inhibit crankshaft rotation. The brake mechanism also includes an electric actuator configured to drive a plunger in connection with a first end of the rocker, wherein the first end engages the ring gear in a first position to inhibit forward rotation and a second end of the rocker engages the ring gear in a second position to inhibit rearward rotation.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft coupled to a flywheel having a ring gear. The powertrain also includes a transmission having an input shaft coupled to the flywheel and a brake mechanism having a pivotable rocker configured to selectively inhibit crankshaft rotation. The brake mechanism also includes an electric actuator configured to drive a plunger in connection with a first end of the rocker, wherein the first end engages the ring gear in a first position to inhibit forward rotation and a second end of the rocker engages the ring gear in a second position to inhibit rearward rotation.

Abstract: An exemplary powertrain assembly includes a first electric machine that selectively drives one or more wheel driveshafts, and a second electric machine that, through a manual transmission, selectively drives one or more wheel driveshafts. An engine, through the manual transmission, selectively drives the same wheel driveshaft selectively driven by the second electric machine. An exemplary vehicle control method includes, in an automatic transmission mode, selectively driving a wheel driveshaft with torque from a first electric machine, and selectively rotating a second electric machine with an engine. The second electric machine generates electric power that is supplied to the first electric machine. In a manual transmission mode, the method selectively applies torque to a wheel driveshaft with torque from an engine that is moved through a manual transmission.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for heating engine coolant by transferring heat from an exhaust flow to the engine coolant via a heat exchanger positioned in an exhaust gas heat recovery line coupled to the EGR cooler responsive to an EGR valve position. In one particular example, a branching pathway of the EGR cooler is positioned downstream of the EGR cooler and allows exhaust gas to be routed to the EGR cooler and/or exhaust gas heat exchanger based on the EGR valve position, which allows for control of the amount of heat transferred to the engine coolant as well as exhaust gas recirculation into the engine. With this arrangement, a cabin temperature of a hybrid vehicle may be increased as quickly as possible under cold start conditions to allow the engine to be quickly turned off after heating the vehicle cabin.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a processor programmed to establish communication between a first vehicle and a second vehicle, identify one of the vehicles as a towing vehicle and the other as a towed vehicle, and limit operation of the towing vehicle according to constraints associated with the towed vehicle. In some implementations, the vehicle system detects that the towing vehicle is flat-towing the towed vehicle and that the towed vehicle is not operating in a neutral tow mode.

Abstract: An exemplary powertrain assembly includes a first electric machine that selectively drives one or more wheel driveshafts, and a second electric machine that, through a manual transmission, selectively drives one or more wheel driveshafts. An engine, through the manual transmission, selectively drives the same wheel driveshaft selectively driven by the second electric machine. An exemplary vehicle control method includes, in an automatic transmission mode, selectively driving a wheel driveshaft with torque from a first electric machine, and selectively rotating a second electric machine with an engine. The second electric machine generates electric power that is supplied to the first electric machine. In a manual transmission mode, the method selectively applies torque to a wheel driveshaft with torque from an engine that is moved through a manual transmission.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for condensate management in an EGR cooler of an engine system. In one example, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system with an EGR cooler is coupled to an exhaust system and to an intake system of an engine. The EGR cooler includes an inlet coupled to the exhaust system, a first outlet coupled to the exhaust system, and a second outlet coupled to the intake system, the second outlet positioned vertically higher than the first outlet.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a processor programmed to establish communication between a first vehicle and a second vehicle, identify one of the vehicles as a towing vehicle and the other as a towed vehicle, and limit operation of the towing vehicle according to constraints associated with the towed vehicle. In some implementations, the vehicle system detects that the towing vehicle is flat-towing the towed vehicle and that the towed vehicle is not operating in a neutral tow mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for heating engine coolant by transferring heat from an exhaust flow to the engine coolant via a heat exchanger positioned in an exhaust gas heat recovery line coupled to the EGR cooler responsive to an EGR valve position. In one particular example, a branching pathway of the EGR cooler is positioned downstream of the EGR cooler and allows exhaust gas to be routed to the EGR cooler and/or exhaust gas heat exchanger based on the EGR valve position, which allows for control of the amount of heat transferred to the engine coolant as well as exhaust gas recirculation into the engine. With this arrangement, a cabin temperature of a hybrid vehicle may be increased as quickly as possible under cold start conditions to allow the engine to be quickly turned off after heating the vehicle cabin.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for condensate management in an EGR cooler of an engine system. In one example, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system with an EGR cooler is coupled to an exhaust system and to an intake system of an engine. The EGR cooler includes an inlet coupled to the exhaust system, a first outlet coupled to the exhaust system, and a second outlet coupled to the intake system, the second outlet positioned vertically higher than the first outlet.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for heating engine coolant by transferring heat from an exhaust flow to the engine coolant via a heat exchanger positioned in an exhaust gas heat recovery line coupled to the EGR cooler responsive to an EGR valve position. In one particular example, a branching pathway of the EGR cooler is positioned downstream of the EGR cooler and allows exhaust gas to be routed to the EGR cooler and/or exhaust gas heat exchanger based on the EGR valve position, which allows for control of the amount of heat transferred to the engine coolant as well as exhaust gas recirculation into the engine. With this arrangement, a cabin temperature of a hybrid vehicle may be increased as quickly as possible under cold start conditions to allow the engine to be quickly turned off after heating the vehicle cabin.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for heating engine coolant by transferring heat from an exhaust flow to the engine coolant via a heat exchanger positioned in an exhaust gas heat recovery line coupled to the EGR cooler responsive to an EGR valve position. In one particular example, a branching pathway of the EGR cooler is positioned downstream of the EGR cooler and allows exhaust gas to be routed to the EGR cooler and/or exhaust gas heat exchanger based on the EGR valve position, which allows for control of the amount of heat transferred to the engine coolant as well as exhaust gas recirculation into the engine. With this arrangement, a cabin temperature of a hybrid vehicle may be increased as quickly as possible under cold start conditions to allow the engine to be quickly turned off after heating the vehicle cabin.

Abstract: A fuel filler tube having a plurality of spaced ribs disposed within walls of the tube, the ribs being staggered along a length of the tube. The plurality of ribs span is disposed across opposing wall portions of the tube.

Abstract: A one-way valve for a fuel-tank filling conduit deters siphoning and prevents back flow of fuel. The one-way valve comprises a blocking element arranged in the conduit and pivotable between a flow-blocking, object-insertion blocking first position and a flow-admitting, object-insertion blocking second position. In the second position the blocking element divides the conduit into flow areas of comparable width. The one-way valve further comprises a bias element that biases the blocking element to the first position.

Abstract: A one-way valve for a fuel-tank filling conduit deters siphoning and prevents back flow of fuel. The one-way valve comprises a blocking element arranged in the conduit and pivotable between a flow-blocking, object-insertion blocking first position and a flow-admitting, object-insertion blocking second position. In the second position the blocking element divides the conduit into flow areas of comparable width. The one-way valve further comprises a bias element that biases the blocking element to the first position.

Abstract: A purge control valve control system is provided for an internal combustion engine system, comprising: a voltage source having a positive potential and a negative potential; a purge control valve having a solenoid, such solenoid comprising an electrically inductive element, such inductive element having a first terminal coupled to the positive potential of the voltage source; a diode having an anode and a cathode. The control unit includes a transistor having: a control electrode fed by a train of pulses; a first electrode coupled to the negative potential of the voltage source; and a second electrode coupled to a second terminal of the inductive element and to the diode.

Abstract: A fuel filler tube having a plurality of spaced ribs disposed within walls of the tube, the ribs being staggered along a length of the tube. The plurality of ribs span is disposed across opposing wall portions of the tube.

Abstract: A method of forming a stator for an electric machine having a cascaded winding includes the steps of: providing a stator core having a plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially-extending core slots in a surface thereof, forming a plurality of A conductors and a plurality of B conductors, arranging the A and B conductors into a wire pack, rolling the wire pack into a cylindrical shape and inserting the wire pack within the stator core, and expanding the wire pack radially outward such that the wire pack is inserted within the slots of the stator core.

Abstract: A stator for an electric machine includes a generally cylindrically-shaped stator core having a plurality of core teeth that define a plurality of core slots, the core slots extend between first and second ends of the stator core. A stator winding has a plurality of phases, N, each phase including at least one conductor having a plurality of slot segments housed in the core slots, the slot segments are alternately connected at the first and second ends by a plurality of end loop segments. At least one conductor has a slot segment that is switched with an adjacent conductor such that the conductor has an end loop segment having a pitch equal to N+1 and the end loop segment of the adjacent conductor has a pitch equal to N?1, wherein the end loop segments of the conductor and the adjacent conductor do not cross one another. The stator also reduces overall noise of an electric machine.

Abstract: A rotor member and vehicle alternator mechanism. Annular recesses and ridges are provided in the back iron or bodies of the pole pieces of the rotor member. The power output of the alternator mechanism is increased and the alternator has improved support for the claw fingers for increased RPM capability.