Abstract: A cross member for a frame of a vehicle. The cross member provides a particularly high stiffness of the frame and has a particularly low weight. A first support arrangement (18) having 4, 5, 6 or more support legs connects a cross member (10) to a first frame rail (16a) of the frame (12), and a second support arrangement (24) having 4, 5, 6 or more further support legs (26a-d) connect the cross member (10) to a second frame rail (16b) of the frame (12). At least two of the four support legs of the respective first and second support arrangement are bent upwards from the base portion, the other support legs (20b, 20c) being bent downwards.

Abstract: A cross member for a frame of a vehicle. The cross member provides a particularly high stiffness of the frame and has a particularly low weight. A a first support arrangement (18) having 4, 5, 6 or more support legs connects a cross member (10) to a first frame rail (16a) of the frame (12), and a second support arrangement (24) having 4, 5, 6 or more further support legs (26a-d) connect the cross member (10) to a second frame rail (16b) of the frame (12). At least two of the four support legs of the respective first and second support arrangement are bent upwards from the base portion, the other support legs (20b, 20c) being bent downwards.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to vehicle frame components that are comprised of composite materials. Vehicle frame component structures are disclosed that address the relative lack of the compressive strength of composites compared to conventional metal materials used in vehicle frames. One desirable frame structure is a box frame rail structure that is comprised of composite materials and that has an enhanced capacity to accommodate compressive loads. In addition, the disclosed box frame rail structures provide protective routing options for wiring and pneumatic plumbing.

Abstract: A power distribution system comprises at least one fuel cell that is selectively operated in response to conditions to provide power to electrical loads and/or to charge an electrical storage device such as a vehicle battery. One form of an alternator can be selectively engaged or disengaged to provide power to the electrical loads and/or to charge the electrical storage device. Either or both of the fuel cell and alternator can be operated to provide electrical power.

Abstract: A power distribution system comprises at least one fuel cell that is selectively operated in response to conditions to provide power to electrical loads and/or to charge an electrical storage device such as a vehicle battery. One form of an alternator can be selectively engaged or disengaged to provide power to the electrical loads and/or to charge the electrical storage device. Either or both of the fuel cell and alternator can be operated to provide electrical power.

Abstract: Described herein are fiber-reinforced composite members and methods and systems for making the same. The composite members can be any of various types, including load-bearing structural members such as frame rails for a truck chassis. The composite members can be formed directly in a desired shape, such as with a pultrusion process, with irregular features, such as bolt holes, preformed therein without damaging the fibers. The composite members can provide similar or greater overall strength compared to metal members with reduced weight, and can comprise fibers distributed and oriented in such a manner to create additional strength in desired locations and directions and reduced strength in other locations/directions.

Abstract: A more fuel efficient route between two locations is determined from a plurality of possible different routes and displayed. The different routes can be made up of links or route segments that can begin and end with a node or link transition, each different route comprising at least one different link. In one specific example, a simulation is made utilizing map data, vehicle specific data including mass, traffic congestion and driver driving style characteristics to determine energy values which are stored in association with links and nodes. The stored energy values associated with the links and nodes of plural different routes are then combined, such as by summing, to determine a total energy value for each of the plural different routes. A route having a low energy value is then selected. At least a portion of the route can be displayed to an operator of a vehicle, whereby the operator of the vehicle can follow the displayed route.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat surface and a backrest. At least one training apparatus for training at least one muscle area of the torso and/or of the arms of a person using the vehicle seat is integrated into the backrest.

Abstract: The invention relates to a display device for a vehicle comprising a display for representing application data to a vehicle user and pivoting means for moving the display between at least two positions. The inventive display device is characterized in that it further comprises checking means for checking whether or not the representation of data of an application selected by the vehicle user is permitted in the actual state of the vehicle; release means in order to release the pivoting means for controlling the display according to the application or any application selected by the vehicle user, in case the checking means emits an affirmative signal.

Abstract: A composite material constituting foam particles and fibers, comminuted materials, or a combination thereof. They composite material may be manufactured by mixing the components prior to molding or mixing the components as they introduced into the mold. Heat may be used to weld the components together to form the composite material. Additionally, the composite material may also include reinforcement agents, adhesive agents, films or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing plastic hollow bodies which are filled, at least partially, with foam particles. The plastic hollow body is produced by rotational moulding and is filled, at least partially, in the rotational mould with foam particles. Foam particles which are made of the same type of a polyolefinic plastic material, from which the wall of the hollow body is also made, are used in order to simplify the recycling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a form tool for producing particle foam molded parts having at least one tool part consisting of a finite number of layers which are parallel to each other, at least in segments, in which the individual layers have contours such that a stack formed by the totality of all layers defines at least one part of a form cavity which can be filled with expandable beads of a thermoplastic material, and having means for supplying and discharging gaseous and liquid heat transfer media.

Abstract: In order to facilitate the recycling of plastic composite materials and moldings produced thereof, the invention relates to a single-sort, mono-material composite material, comprising a core of thermoplastic foam and at least one reinforcing layer made of a composite consisting of fibers or strips of the same thermoplastic material as the foam. The invention further relates to a method for producing said single-sort composite material, during which the foam made of thermoplastic material is applied onto a pre-formed reinforcing layer and is welded there to each other and to the reinforcing layer by adding heat, a composite consisting of at least two layers of fabrics, knitted fabrics or non-wovens of fibers or strips made of the same thermoplastic material as the foam being used as reinforcing layer.

Abstract: There is now provided a motor vehicle dashboard for a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle dashboard has a frame structure that can be attached to a motor vehicle body. The dashboard has a first element with a first attachment side and a second attachment side opposite the first attachment side, with the first attachment side of the first element being configured to be adhered to the frame structure. The first element comprises foam. The dashboard has a second element with a first side that is configured to be exposed towards the interior of a motor vehicle, and a second, attachment, side opposite the first side of the second element. The first side of the second element provides a leather-like appearance to the dashboard. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.

Abstract: A composite material consists essentially of a particle foam comprising expanded polypropylene (EPP), at least one fiber layer and at least one polymer introduced onto this layer. An intimate connection is secured in that the fiber layer is a mixed fiber layer comprising a fraction of fibers made from polypropylene (PP) which are welded to the EPP particles and with an additional fraction of reinforcing fibers which have a sufficient wetability for the hardening, curing or cross-linking polymer introduced onto the free surface of the fiber layer in the liquid phase. A method for producing these composite materials is also described.

Abstract: A method for the production of molded bodies comprising foam particles is proposed in which the foam particles are shaped and welded together using microwave energy. The foam particles are accommodated in a foil-like bag and the bag is manually shaped or shaped through the use of a shaped mold with simultaneous change of the shape of the foam particles, and evacuated into a dense package. Microwave energy is subsequently used to melt together at least the surfaces of the foam particles. The method in accordance with the invention is particularly well suited as an economical manufacturing technique for packaging, in particular specialized packaging for models, small production runs, prototypes and the like.

Abstract: In order to manufacture compound composite bodies having at least two lay with a support material made completely or substantially from a polymer and with a porous layer firmly connected thereto, a substantially microwave-permeable polymer is utilized for the support material and a polymer having microwave absorbing properties is utilized for the porous layer. The polymer for the porous layer, treated with foaming agent, is heated with microwave energy up to the decomposition temperature of the foaming agent. The resulting polymer foam is sufficiently heated using microwave energy that the support material, at its bordering layer adjacent the foamed polymer, is sufficiently melted substantially due to heat conduction out of the foamed layer that, subsequent to cooling, a firm composite between the support material and the foamed polymer is effected.