Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling an air quality within a passenger cabin. The method includes outputting one or more control signals, by a processor, to activate a motor to generate an airflow stream for observation by a fine particulate matter sensor, the fine particulate matter sensor generating sensor signals based on the observation; determining a concentration level of fine particulate matter in the airflow based on the sensor signals; and outputting one or more control signals to an air quality system associated with the passenger cabin to generate an airflow into the passenger cabin based on the determined concentration level, the airflow into the passenger cabin flowing through a fine particulate matter filter.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to the principles of the present disclosure include determining whether a volatile organic compound (VOC) characteristic within a cabin of a vehicle exceeds a predefined volatile organic compound threshold. Systems and methods can also include causing a blower of a Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling (HVAC) system of the vehicle to generate an airflow within the cabin for a predefined time period, an air distribution mode of operation to transition from a non-operational state to an operational state, cause an air intake mode of operation to transitions from a non-operational state to an operational state, or causing at least one window of the vehicle to transition from a closed position to an open position for the predefined time period when the volatile organic compound characteristic exceeds the predefined volatile organic compound threshold to reduce volatile organic compounds within the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling an air quality within a passenger cabin. The method includes outputting one or more control signals, by a processor, to activate a motor to generate an airflow stream for observation by a fine particulate matter sensor, the fine particulate matter sensor generating sensor signals based on the observation; determining a concentration level of fine particulate matter in the airflow based on the sensor signals; and outputting one or more control signals to an air quality system associated with the passenger cabin to generate an airflow into the passenger cabin based on the determined concentration level, the airflow into the passenger cabin flowing through a fine particulate matter filter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining a particulate concentration level with a portable component. In one embodiment, the method includes outputting one or more control signals, by a processor, to activate a motor to generate an airflow stream through a cavity of the portable component; determining a concentration level of fine particulate matter in the airflow; determining an air quality level of the airstream through the cavity based on the determined concentration level; and outputting the determined concentration level with a graphical indicator of the air quality level for display on a display associated with the portable component.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to the principles of the present disclosure include determining whether a volatile organic compound (VOC) characteristic within a cabin of a vehicle exceeds a predefined volatile organic compound threshold. Systems and methods can also include causing a blower of a Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling (HVAC) system of the vehicle to generate an airflow within the cabin for a predefined time period, an air distribution mode of operation to transition from a non-operational state to an operational state, cause an air intake mode of operation to transitions from a non-operational state to an operational state, or causing at least one window of the vehicle to transition from a closed position to an open position for the predefined time period when the volatile organic compound characteristic exceeds the predefined volatile organic compound threshold to reduce volatile organic compounds within the vehicle.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a method comprising fixing a wheel cover on a wheel so that the wheel cover remains static as the wheel rotates on a horizontal axis and turns with the wheel as the wheel turns on a vertical axis comprising attaching a bearing system to a knuckle of a wheel; and attaching the wheel cover to the bearing system and the knuckle.

Abstract: A muffler assembly for a vehicle includes a housing at least partially defining an internal cavity and having an inlet and an outlet. The muffler assembly includes an outlet pipe that has an inlet end open to the internal cavity and an outlet end open at the outlet of the housing. A siphon tube is in the internal cavity and has an inlet opening adjacent an inner surface of the housing and an outlet opening in fluid communication with the outlet pipe between the inlet end and the outlet end of the outlet pipe. The siphon tube is configured to remove condensate from the internal cavity when a predetermined pressure differential is established between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a method comprising fixing a wheel cover on a wheel so that the wheel cover remains static as the wheel rotates on a horizontal axis and turns with the wheel as the wheel turns on a vertical axis comprising attaching a bearing system to a knuckle of a wheel; and attaching the wheel cover to the bearing system and the knuckle.

Abstract: A leak-proof damper with a self-diagnostic feature. An auxiliary oil reservoir body is disposed externally with respect to the damper cylinder and generally adjacent the rod seal, wherein the auxiliary oil reservoir body is concealed by an end cap. The maximum volume of oil retainable by the auxiliary oil reservoir body is predetermined to coincide with a volume of oil which may be lost from the interior of the damper cylinder and yet the damper will still function properly. The auxiliary oil reservoir body may be a seal body having an internal cavity providing an oil retention volume or an absorbent body having an absorbency capacity that provides an oil retention volume.

Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly includes a wheel hub, a knuckle member defining a bore, and a bearing arranged in the bore and configured to rotatably support the wheel hub. The bearing includes a seal member configured to cover internal workings of the bearing. The wheel bearing assembly also includes an annular slinger arranged on the wheel hub and configured to at least partially screen the seal member to minimize ingestion of contaminants by the bearing from the ambient. The wheel bearing assembly additionally includes an annular shield configured to at least partially shield the slinger from the contaminants and generate a labyrinth path from the ambient to the seal member for any of the contaminants. A vehicle employing the above described wheel bearing assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A muffler assembly for a vehicle includes a housing at least partially defining an internal cavity and having an inlet and an outlet. The muffler assembly includes an outlet pipe that has an inlet end open to the internal cavity and an outlet end open at the outlet of the housing. A siphon tube is in the internal cavity and has an inlet opening adjacent an inner surface of the housing and an outlet opening in fluid communication with the outlet pipe between the inlet end and the outlet end of the outlet pipe. The siphon tube is configured to remove condensate from the internal cavity when a predetermined pressure differential is established between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.

Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly includes a wheel hub, a knuckle member defining a bore, and a bearing arranged in the bore and configured to rotatably support the wheel hub. The bearing includes a seal member configured to cover internal workings of the bearing. The wheel bearing assembly also includes an annular slinger arranged on the wheel hub and configured to at least partially screen the seal member to minimize ingestion of contaminants by the bearing from the ambient. The wheel bearing assembly additionally includes an annular shield configured to at least partially shield the slinger from the contaminants and generate a labyrinth path from the ambient to the seal member for any of the contaminants. A vehicle employing the above described wheel bearing assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A brake corner assembly includes a steering knuckle fixed against rotation, a rotary member including a outer surface, and a shield secured to the steering knuckle and including a ring including a sealing surface located adjacent to the outer surface, the sealing surface having a first diameter that is substantially equal to a second diameter of a portion of the outer surface that is adjacent to the sealing surface.

Abstract: A brake corner assembly includes a steering knuckle fixed against rotation, a rotary member including a outer surface, and a shield secured to the steering knuckle and including a ring including a sealing surface located adjacent to the outer surface, the sealing surface having a first diameter that is substantially equal to a second diameter of a portion of the outer surface that is adjacent to the sealing surface.

Abstract: A face spline having a conical, preferably frutoconical, configuration, referred to hereinbelow as a “conespline”, wherein the splines have increasing height with decreasing distance to the center of rotation. The conespline provides splines with greatest height and strength adjacent the center of rotation. An inverse conespline, geometrically reciprocal to a conespline, may be gearingly meshed with the conespline.

Abstract: A leak-proof damper with a self-diagnostic feature. An auxiliary oil reservoir body is disposed externally with respect to the damper cylinder and generally adjacent the rod seal, wherein the auxiliary oil reservoir body is concealed by an end cap. The maximum volume of oil retainable by the auxiliary oil reservoir body is predetermined to coincide with a volume of oil which may be lost from the interior of the damper cylinder and yet the damper will still function properly. The auxiliary oil reservoir body may be a seal body having an internal cavity providing an oil retention volume or an absorbent body having an absorbency capacity that provides an oil retention volume.