Abstract: An exhaust silencer includes a housing defining an interior and a tube disposed in the interior and defining an opening. A gas-flow deflector is configured to heat shield an interior wall of the housing from exhaust gases exiting the opening. The deflector has a deflector plate and a riser. The riser has a first portion connected to the interior wall and a second portion connected to a backside of the deflector plate to suspend the deflector plate in the interior such that the backside is completely spaced from the interior wall to form an insulating airgap therebetween.

Abstract: An air-induction system of an engine includes a hose assembly. The hose assembly includes an elastomeric hose having a circular cross section when in a natural state, and a deformable sleeve received around the hose and configured to create an indentation in the hose for part clearance. The sleeve has an end section having a circular cross section and an intermediate section in which the sleeve projects radially inward into a sidewall of the hose such that the hose is deformed from the natural state to a deformed state in which the sidewall is deformed radially inward creating the indention and a non-circular cross section of the hose at the intermediate section.

Abstract: A fuel-storage tank for a vehicle includes a body defining an interior volume having a floor and a ceiling and configured to store fuel. The tank further includes an anti-slosh reinforcement column extending between the floor and the ceiling. The anti-slosh reinforcement column has a vertical baffle extending between the floor and the ceiling. The vertical baffle has opposing first and second major faces and edges extending therebetween. A horizontal baffle of the column has upper and lower major faces and edges extending therebetween. The horizontal baffle is rigidly supported on the vertical baffle such that the first and second major faces are substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower major faces.

Abstract: A fuel-storage tank for a vehicle includes a body defining an interior volume having a floor and a ceiling and configured to store fuel. The tank further includes an anti-slosh reinforcement column extending between the floor and the ceiling. The anti-slosh reinforcement column has a vertical baffle extending between the floor and the ceiling. The vertical baffle has opposing first and second major faces and edges extending therebetween. A horizontal baffle of the column has upper and lower major faces and edges extending therebetween. The horizontal baffle is rigidly supported on the vertical baffle such that the first and second major faces are substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower major faces.

Abstract: An exhaust silencer includes a housing defining an interior and a tube disposed in the interior and defining an opening. A gas-flow deflector is configured to heat shield an interior wall of the housing from exhaust gases exiting the opening. The deflector has a deflector plate and a riser. The riser has a first portion connected to the interior wall and a second portion connected to a backside of the deflector plate to suspend the deflector plate in the interior such that the backside is completely spaced from the interior wall to form an insulating airgap therebetween.

Abstract: A vent system for a vehicle includes a plurality of registers each having a power-actuated damper and a power-actuated airflow-directing shutter. A user interface is operatively linked to the power-actuated airflow-directing shutter. A controller is provided, adapted to automatically open the power-actuated damper of one or more of the plurality of registers disposed adjacent to an occupied vehicle seat. The user interface is adapted to control an orientation of the power-actuated airflow-directing shutter to direct an airflow to one of an upper zone, a middle zone, and a lower zone. The controller is adapted to translate the power-actuated damper between an open orientation and a closed orientation according to inputs received from one or more occupant location sensors. Methods for controlling a vehicle vent system are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary contaminant reducing assembly includes, among other things, an aerodynamic wing positioned directly in front of a windshield relative to a direction of flow over the windshield. The aerodynamic wing is configured to influence the flow of air over the windshield. The aerodynamic wing, in some examples, can move back and forth between a retracted position and a deployed position to influence the flow. In some examples, the windshield is coated with a hydrophobic coating, which can further facilitate contaminant reduction. An exemplary contaminant reducing method includes, among other things, influence a flow of air over a windshield using an aerodynamic wing positioned directly in front of the windshield relative to a direction of the flow. The method, in some examples, can include moving the aerodynamic wing from a retracted position to a deployed position to influence the flow.