Abstract: Embodiments of a powertrain cooling system and embodiments of a radiator module are provided for deployment onboard a vehicle. In one embodiment, the powertrain cooling system includes a first airflow path, a second airflow path, a primary radiator core positioned in the first airflow path, an auxiliary radiator core position in the second airflow path, and a first airflow valve positioned in the second airflow path upstream of the auxiliary radiator core. The first airflow valve is movable between a closed position wherein the first airflow valve impedes airflow to the auxiliary radiator core and an open position.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a battery comprises a tray including a support surface, a recess having a elevation that is lower than an elevation of the support surface, ribs located in the recess and extending to the elevation of the support surface, thermal insulation supported on the ribs and the upper surface, and a battery contacting the insulation and supported on the ribs and the support surface.

Abstract: A system for controlling airflow through an under-hood compartment of a vehicle includes a first grille opening and a second grille opening each disposed at an entrance to the under-hood compartment. The first and second grille openings are configured to admit a first portion of the airflow and a second portion of the airflow, respectively, to the under-hood compartment from the ambient. The system also includes a selectable position shutter assembly disposed at the second grille opening and configured to control the second portion of the airflow admitted to the under-hood compartment. The system additionally includes a vent opening at least partially defined by the body and configured to exhaust at least a fraction of the first portion of the airflow from the under-hood compartment to the ambient. A vehicle employing the system and housing an internal combustion engine and a heat exchanger in the under-hood compartment is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of increasing operating efficiency of a powertrain includes unrestricting a grille opening by fully opening a shutter at or below a first predetermined vehicle speed, and turning a fan off. The method also includes unrestricting the grille opening by fully opening the shutter above the first predetermined vehicle speed and at or below a second predetermined vehicle speed under a high powertrain cooling load, and turning the fan on. The method additionally includes partially restricting the grille opening above the second predetermined vehicle speed via an intermediate position of the shutter, and turning the fan off. A specific size of the fan together with the selected positions for the shutter at the respective vehicle speeds provides sufficient airflow through the grille opening to cool the powertrain, and provides increased powertrain operating efficiency. A system for increasing operating efficiency of a powertrain and a vehicle are also provided.

Abstract: A system for air dam actuation of a vehicle is provided having an object sensor, an air dam, an actuation mechanism, and a control module. The object sensor is for tracking external objects located in front of the vehicle. The air dam has a deployed position and a non-deployed position. The actuation mechanism is connected to the air dam, and actuates the air dam between the deployed and the non-deployed position. The control module is in communication with the object sensor and the actuation mechanism. The control module includes logic for monitoring the object sensor for a set of object data. The set of object data is data indicating if an external object is located in front of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system for controlling airflow through an under-hood compartment of a vehicle includes a first grille opening and a second grille opening each disposed at an entrance to the under-hood compartment. The first and second grille openings are configured to admit a first portion of the airflow and a second portion of the airflow, respectively, to the under-hood compartment from the ambient. The system also includes a selectable position shutter assembly disposed at the second grille opening and configured to control the second portion of the airflow admitted to the under-hood compartment. The system additionally includes a vent opening at least partially defined by the body and configured to exhaust at least a fraction of the first portion of the airflow from the under-hood compartment to the ambient. A vehicle employing the system and housing an internal combustion engine and a heat exchanger in the under-hood compartment is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multistage jounce bumper, including a jounce bumper cushion integrated with a hydraulic jounce bumper, wherein provided are the damping characteristic of the hydraulic jounce bumper and the damping/spring characteristics of a jounce bumper cushion. The hydraulic jounce bumper hydraulic response is tunable via adjustment of hydraulic flow with respect to a communicating hydraulic fluid reservoir. When maximum jounce is approached, jounce force and energy are exchanged, at a first stage, with the jounce bumper cushion, then at a predetermined compression, jounce force and energy are exchanged, at a second stage, with the hydraulic jounce bumper. Thereafter, a mechanical abutment is provided as a third stage of jounce management.

Abstract: A method of increasing operating efficiency of a powertrain includes unrestricting a grille opening by fully opening a shutter at or below a first predetermined vehicle speed, and turning a fan off. The method also includes unrestricting the grille opening by fully opening the shutter above the first predetermined vehicle speed and at or below a second predetermined vehicle speed under a high powertrain cooling load, and turning the fan on. The method additionally includes partially restricting the grille opening above the second predetermined vehicle speed via an intermediate position of the shutter, and turning the fan off. A specific size of the fan together with the selected positions for the shutter at the respective vehicle speeds provides sufficient airflow through the grille opening to cool the powertrain, and provides increased powertrain operating efficiency. A system for increasing operating efficiency of a powertrain and a vehicle are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of a powertrain cooling system and embodiments of a radiator module are provided for deployment onboard a vehicle. In one embodiment, the powertrain cooling system includes a first airflow path, a second airflow path, a primary radiator core positioned in the first airflow path, an auxiliary radiator core position in the second airflow path, and a first airflow valve positioned in the second airflow path upstream of the auxiliary radiator core. The first airflow valve is movable between a closed position wherein the first airflow valve impedes airflow to the auxiliary radiator core and an open position.

Abstract: Dampers for vehicle suspensions include a housing comprising a tube attached to a wheel axle of a vehicle and a piston rod extending from a piston within the tube and attached to the vehicle body. The piston divides the tube into first and second chambers. In order to damp responses when minor smooth road imperfections impart low force excitations to the wheel of the vehicle, a fluid bypass passageway in the form of a sleeve is positioned around the tube and overlies the piston. This provides second stage quasi-ideal damping at low force excitations to the wheels and thus to the wheel axles of the vehicle. The sleeve communicates with the first and second chambers through metered orifices or valves. As low force excitations from smooth road imperfections displace fluid within the tube through the metered orifices or valves, the orifices damp responses to the low force excitations, thereby smoothing the ride of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a battery comprises a tray including a support surface, a recess having a elevation that is lower than an elevation of the support surface, ribs located in the recess and extending to the elevation of the support surface, thermal insulation supported on the ribs and the upper surface, and a battery contacting the insulation and supported on the ribs and the support surface.

Abstract: A decoupled mono tube damper assembly includes an outer tube attached to a vehicle's unsprung mass. The outer tube has a base and a sleeve end. An outer tube sleeve engaging end of an inner tube is slidingly engaged with the sleeve end. The inner tube has an end distal to the sleeve engaging end, and is attached to the vehicle's sprung mass at the distal end. A damper rod has one opposed end extending axially into a base aperture, and an opposed end connecting to the inner tube. The rod moves axially relative to the outer tube. A low amplitude energy-managing member is operatively disposed within the outer tube, and has a throughbore receiving the rod. A travel-limiting member attaches to the rod and is engageable with the energy-managing member to constrain axial movement of the rod through the outer tube base to a predetermined limit.

Abstract: An hydraulic ride bushing having improved damping at the end of its travel. In various aspects thereof to provide the improved damping at the end of bushing travel: the external snubbers are composed entirely of polyurethane; the abutment portions of the external snubbers are composed of polyurethane; the external snubbers are provided with a plurality of convolutes; the external snubbers are composed of a dual durometer composition; an internal snubber is added between an hydraulic damper and an outer cylindrical shell; an hydraulic lock is provided at the hydraulic damper; and an external hydraulic damper is provided which is disposed externally with respect to the outer cylindrical shell.

Abstract: A multistage jounce bumper, including a jounce bumper cushion integrated with a hydraulic jounce bumper, wherein provided are the damping characteristic of the hydraulic jounce bumper and the damping/spring characteristics of a jounce bumper cushion. The hydraulic jounce bumper hydraulic response is tunable via adjustment of hydraulic flow with respect to a communicating hydraulic fluid reservoir. When maximum jounce is approached, jounce force and energy are exchanged, at a first stage, with the jounce bumper cushion, then at a predetermined compression, jounce force and energy are exchanged, at a second stage, with the hydraulic jounce bumper. Thereafter, a mechanical abutment is provided as a third stage of jounce management.

Abstract: A damper assembly for a suspension system of a vehicle includes a housing adapted to be mounted to one end of a strut in the suspension system. The housing has a chamber with fluid therein. The damper assembly also includes at least one diaphragm extending across the chamber to react with the fluid, to be compliant at relatively small displacements, and to be rigid at relatively large displacements.

Abstract: A damper assembly for a suspension system of a vehicle includes a housing adapted to be mounted to one end of a strut in the suspension system. The housing has a chamber with fluid therein. The damper assembly also includes at least one diaphragm extending across the chamber to react with the fluid, to be compliant at relatively small displacements, and to be rigid at relatively large displacements.

Abstract: The ability of a damper to attenuate smooth road shake in a vehicle is tested using a test fixture that is controlled by inputting data for periodic low amplitude periodic excitations having a selected frequency range, selected amplitude range and a selected dither representative of vehicle operation on relatively smooth roads. The selected frequency range is about 5 Hz to 30 Hz and the selected amplitude range is about 0.05 mm to 2.00 mm. A preferred frequency is about 15 Hz which is applied preferably for about 200 cycles in a series of separate tests at individual amplitudes of, for example, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 mm. The damper is tested to produce low amplitude test results comprising displacement, force and velocity parameters, measured as functions of time.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a pressure relief valve (12) for relieving air pressure from a passenger compartment (76) of a vehicle (66). The pressure relief valve (12) enables airflow from the passenger compartment (76) to atmosphere (78). The apparatus (10) also includes a member (14) for reducing noise entering the passenger compartment (76) as a result of a backflow of air through the pressure relief valve (12) from atmosphere (78) to the passenger compartment (76). The member (14) includes structure (112, 114) for attaching the member (14) to the pressure relief valve (12).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a pressure relief valve (12) for relieving air pressure from a passenger compartment (76) of a vehicle (66). The pressure relief valve (12) enables airflow from the passenger compartment (76) to atmosphere (78). The apparatus (10) also includes a member (14) for reducing noise entering the passenger compartment (76) as a result of a backflow of air through the pressure relief valve (12) from atmosphere (78) to the passenger compartment (76). The member (14) includes structure (112, 114) for attaching the member (14) to the pressure relief valve (12).