Abstract: An air exhaust and water management system for a motor vehicle to allow air to flow out of the vehicle cabin and to restrict air and water from flowing into the vehicle cabin is provided. The system includes a vehicle body having an aperture formed therein. The system also includes an air exhauster received in the aperture including outboard actuating flaps to allow air to flow out of the cabin while restricting air from flowing into the vehicle. The system also includes a water diverter nested between the air exhauster and the vehicle body to collect and funnel water out of the cabin that may have entered the cabin through the aperture in the body.

Abstract: An impact reinforcement for a curved rail in a motor vehicle includes a base portion extending longitudinally for attachment to a curved portion of a curved rail, and a flange portion connected to the base portion and extending longitudinally into a straight portion of the curved rail.

Abstract: A brake pedal assembly for applying the brakes of an automotive vehicle comprises an elongated brake lever pivotally mounted on a bracket at a point adjacent the upper end of the brake lever permitting swinging movement of the lower end of the lever forwardly to a brake-applying position and rearwardly to a brake-release position. The brake lever has a head on the upper end and a pedal on the lower end. A brake lever displacement limiter comprises a tie-bar mounted on the bracket to provide an abutment positioned to be struck by the head of the lever to block rearward movement of the lower end of the lever beyond the brake-release position.

Abstract: A vehicle structure is provided for absorbing energy caused by a front end collision. An energy dissipating bracket is mounted to the torque box and engages a wedge member which is attached to a front suspension cross member. Rearward movement of the front suspension cross member relative to the vehicle passenger compartment causes engagement of the wedge member with the energy dissipating bracket. The energy dissipating bracket absorbs the energy from the cross member and deflects the cross member downward underneath the passenger compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus for offset impact testing of vehicle components at a sub-system level includes a mobile unit and a vehicle sub-system. In an exemplary application, the vehicle sub-system includes a toe-board and a torque box. A mounting flange is secured to the vehicle sub-system and provides for releasable attachment of the vehicle sub-system to the mobile unit. By advancing the mobile unit into a rigid barrier at a predetermined speed, full-scale toe-board intrusion and torque box crush can be accurately predicted at a significantly reduced cost and time.