Abstract: A method performed by a vehicle tow bar control system for controlling position of a movable tow bar of a vehicle during parking is provided, wherein the tow bar is movable between an extended position and a retracted position in relation to the vehicle. The method comprises receiving parking activity input, sensing the position of the tow bar, and transmitting a notification signal for notifying a driver of the vehicle of the position of the tow bar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a structure for mounting a hook bracket formed of an aluminum alloy extrusion to a bumper reinforce having a hollow cross-section, and further reduces the weight of the hook bracket and the weight of the mount structure without deteriorating towing performance. The hook bracket has a cut that is formed in an extrusion cross-section (a cross-section perpendicular to the direction of extrusion) and extended from the rear end of a shaft portion into the hollow in the bumper reinforce. Further, an internally threaded hole is formed. The shaft portion of the hook bracket is penetrated through a hole formed in front and rear walls of the bumper reinforce and fillet-welded to the front and rear walls. The shaft portion is not fillet-welded to the rear wall at a position where the cut is formed.

Abstract: An assembly is provided consisting of a frame element of a motor vehicle and a connecting element used for connecting a part. The connecting element is secured to the frame element by way of a fiber winding.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension having front and rear cross members each having a vertically extending base, an upper flange, a lower flange, a left side air spring support, and a right side air spring support, left and right side longitudinal members extending between the front cross member and the rear cross member, each having a vertically extending base, an upper flange, and a lower flange, wherein the upper and lower flanges on the left side longitudinal member are bolted to the upper and lower flanges of a left side of the front and rear cross members, and wherein the upper and lower flanges on the right side longitudinal member are bolted to the upper and lower flanges of a right side of the front and rear cross members.

Abstract: A suspension stop device provides an upper contact cap, a lower support cap and at least one bearing arranged between the caps. The upper contact cap provides a centering portion for a damper pad, inside which the pad, which is external to the device, is intended to be mounted. The centering portion extends axially inside a bore in the lower support cap.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension having a frame attachment portion attached to a saddle, first and second bolster springs mounted to spring mounts on an outboard side of the saddle and mounted on walls of a spring mount on an outboard side of an equalizing beam, and third and fourth bolster springs mounted to walls of a spring mount on an inboard side of the saddle and mounted to spring mounts on an inboard side of the equalizing beam, wherein upwardly extending flanges on the bottom of the first and second bolster sprints are mounted to each other using a common fastener, and wherein upwardly extending flanges on the bottom of the third and fourth bolster springs are mounted to each other with a common fastener.

Abstract: The invention provides a vehicle suspension system, comprising a jounce bumper made of elastomeric thermoplastic material, having improved design to maximize energy absorption.

Abstract: An assembly includes a motor vehicle frame element, a connecting element that is secured to the frame element, and a part that is secured to the connecting element. An integral bond between the connecting element and the frame element and/or the connecting element is/are designed in such a way that the elastic modulus thereof is smaller than the elastic modulus of the part.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber includes a cylinder, a piston ring, a first valve seat forming an extension side oil path, a first valve opening and closing the extension side oil path, a second valve seat forming an inner-side channel through which oil flows separately from a flow of the oil causing the first valve to open the extension side oil path, a second valve opening and closing the inner-side channel, a spool provided to press the second valve toward the inner-side channel, a base member holding the spool, and an axially-movable free piston forming a back pressure chamber communicating with the inner-side channel and that houses the oil between the spool and the base member.

Abstract: A rectifying device includes: at least one front rectifying member that is disposed adjacent to projecting components on a rear side of a vehicle with respect to the projecting components to extend substantially along a vehicle width direction and project downward; and a rear rectifying member that is disposed at a center in the vehicle width direction on the rear side of the vehicle with respect to the front rectifying member to extend substantially along the vehicle width direction and project downward. The projecting components are disposed to at least partly project from an underside part of a vehicle body and provided as a pair apart from each other in the vehicle width direction.

Abstract: A damping air spring and shock absorber combination for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems includes a damping air spring and a shock absorber both operatively attached to the axle/suspension system. The damping air spring primarily provides damping to the axle/suspension system over a first range of frequencies. The shock absorber primarily provides damping to the axle/suspension system over a second range of frequencies. The first range of frequencies is from about 0.0 Hz to about 6.0 Hz and the second range of frequencies is from about 0.0 Hz to about 13.0 Hz.

Abstract: A vehicle height adjustment apparatus includes: vehicle height adjustment units respectively provided to correspond to wheels of a vehicle body, and changing a vehicle height according to supply and discharge of a working fluid; a supply source of the working fluid; opening and closing valves interposed between the vehicle height adjustment units and the supply source; a control unit configured to execute vehicle height adjustment such that the vehicle height of the vehicle height adjustment units reaches a target vehicle height; and a storage unit configured to store state information indicating a changed state of an actual vehicle height with respect to a current target vehicle height, wherein the control unit modifies a subsequent target vehicle height when subsequent control is executed, based on the state information stored in the storage unit, and executes vehicle height adjustment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling at least one actuator (16, 18) for a chassis of a motor vehicle, in which at least one sensor (10, 12, 14) of the motor vehicle determines values of at least one measurement variable for sensing an environment of the motor vehicle, wherein the determined values are preprocessed, wherein only the values needed to control the at least one actuator (16, 18) are transmitted from a control device (4) associated with the sensor to a control device (6) associated with the actuator and are temporally filtered by the control device (6) associated with the actuator, and wherein the control device (6) associated with the actuator uses the temporally filtered values to provide actuating signals for the at least one actuator (16, 18).

Abstract: An inclination detection apparatus detects the inclination of a mobile body with three marker rods having different inclinations with respect to one another. The mobile body is provided with a laser range finder irradiating surrounding objects with a laser beam to light a point on each of the three marker rods as a reflection point from which the laser beam is reflected back. The inclination detection apparatus includes a processor and a storage device storing relative positional information of the three marker rods. The processor obtains positional information of reflection points, obtains relative positions of the reflection points on the three marker rods by determining points on the three marker rods corresponding to the obtained positional information based on the relative positional information of the three marker rods, and identifies an inclination plane including the obtained relative positions of the reflection points as the inclination of the mobile body.

Abstract: A suspension stabilizer endlink, affixed to a stabilizer bar and a vehicle suspension arm or strut, comprising a contoured shape and varying in size along the length of the endlink, with the largest cross-sectional area provided in the middle portion of the endlink and the smallest cross-sectional area provided at the ends of the endlink.

Abstract: A vehicle seat air-conditioning device has a branch duct and a blower. The branch duct is branched laterally from a ventilation duct on a condition of being mounted in a vehicle. The ventilation duct delivers air, which is blown from an air conditioning unit that air-conditions an inside of a vehicle compartment, to a periphery of a rear seat. The blower draws air from the branch duct and blows the air into a ventilation path formed in a blowing target seat. The blow is arranged on a lateral side of the ventilation duct on the condition of being mounted in the vehicle. Since the blower is arranged on the lateral side of the ventilation duct in the vehicle, the blower can be located at a lower position regardless of a length of the ventilation duct in an upper-lower direction. Therefore, a space in the vehicle that is occupied in the upper-lower direction by the ventilation duct and the blower as a whole can be reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light device (20) for viewing a control of at least one function corresponding to at least one air flow entering the compartment of a motor vehicle, the light device comprising: at least one lighting source (22), and a device (24) for controlling said at least one lighting source, said control device (24) being designed so as to modulate the intensity and/or the colour of the light emitted by said at least one lighting source (22) according to the control of at least one function corresponding to at least one air flow entering the compartment of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: The method simultaneously manages climate control systems of a fleet of vehicles at a fleet server remote from the vehicles. The fleet server has one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the processor(s). Initially, at least one parameter relaying information about performance of a climate control system of a respective vehicle is received, from each vehicle. Each vehicle's climate control system includes at least an electrically driven compressor. The system then determines whether a performance inefficiency exists for the climate control system of at least one vehicle based at least in part on the parameter(s) received from the at least one vehicle. Upon determining that a performance inefficiency exists, an efficient operational setting that reduces the performance inefficiency is determined. Finally, an operational setting instruction is transmitted to the at least one vehicle to control the climate control system of that vehicle.

Abstract: An ejector draws a refrigerant on a downstream side of an exterior heat exchanger serving as an evaporator, from a refrigerant suction port by a suction effect of an injection refrigerant injected from a nozzle portion for decompressing a part of the refrigerant discharged from a compressor, and mixes the injection refrigerant with the suction refrigerant to pressurize the mixed refrigerant at a diffuser. The refrigerant flowing out of the diffuser is drawn into the compressor. In this way, the density of the refrigerant drawn into the compressor can be increased, thereby suppressing reduction in flow amount of the refrigerant flowing into an interior condenser serving as a radiator. Thus, even if the temperature of the outside air (heat-absorption target fluid) is decreased, the interior condenser is prevented from degrading its heating capacity for the ventilation air (heating target fluid).

Abstract: An air/water separator drain assembly is provided in a vehicle. The assembly includes a first opening (HVAC intake) beneath a cowl through which air proceeds for use in an environmental control system of the vehicle. A second opening or main drain opening is provided for draining water from the cowl in a first direction. A channel is disposed adjacent the drain opening for collecting water from the cowl. Auxiliary openings in the channel are smaller than the drain opening for removing water from the channel and from adjacent the drain opening.

Abstract: A low profile refrigerated transport unit is described. The low profile refrigerated transport unit includes a low profile container including a first end wall, a second end wall, a top wall and a bottom wall defining a low profile internal space configured to store cargo therein. The low profile protective cage extends from the low profile container. The low profile protective cage is external to the internal space extends from the first end wall. A low profile TRU is disposed within the low profile protective cage and attached to the first end wall external to the internal space. The low profile TRU includes a condensing section, and the condensing section completely external to the internal space. The low profile internal space has a low profile usable cargo length that is greater than a usable cargo length in a similar sized conventional refrigerated transport unit.

Abstract: An air filter for a ventilation device of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The air filter has respective guides, via which the air filter is able to be connected to the allocated guide pin on a receiving shaft of the ventilation device. The guides are allocated to one another on opposite sides and the associated guide pin, which traverses the air filter, is able to be connected to the guides. An arrangement of such an air filter in a receiving shaft of a ventilation device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cabin air filter is provided with a filter medium and a filter element frame that frames the filter medium and is configured to attach the cabin air filter to a filter housing. The filter element frame is provided with at least one engagement element configured to engage pivotably at least one receiving element of the filter housing for pivoting the cabin air filter relative to the filter housing about a pivot axis. The filter element frame also has at least one snap hook that locks with at least one locking element of the filter housing for blocking pivoting of the cabin air filter relative to the filter housing at least in a first direction about the pivot axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for a cabin air filter to remove airborne molecular contaminants and volatile organic compounds from a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The cabin air filter comprises a supportive frame configured to suitably orient the cabin air filter within a ventilation system of the vehicle. The supportive frame comprises a shape and size suitable for supporting the cabin air filter within the ventilation system. A filter medium is retained within the supportive frame and configured to remove the airborne molecular contaminants and volatile organic compounds from air flowing through the ventilation system. The filter medium electrostatically attracts and agglomerates contaminants within the air flowing through the air filter. In some embodiments, the filter medium comprises fibers treated with antimicrobial molecules configured to destroy microbes. In some embodiments, the filter medium comprises fibrous materials configured to release a fragrance into the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A vehicle window assembly includes a body structure, a hinge structure, and a covering panel. The hinge structure includes a hinge base and a hinge cover, the hinge base including an attachment portion attached to an upper portion of the body structure, a cover mounting portion, and a loop support portion extending from the attachment portion to the cover mounting portion, the hinge cover being attached to the cover mounting portion. The covering panel includes a hanging loop with a hanging section disposed between the loop support portion of the hinge base and the hinge cover, and is movable between a secured position in which the hanging section of the hanging loop is positioned adjacent the attachment portion of the hinge base, and an unsecured position in which the hanging section of the hanging loop is disposed adjacent the cover mounting portion of the hinge base.

Abstract: A method of assembling vehicle-body components includes positioning a first component on a second component. The first component has a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the second component and one of the first and second components defines a slot. The method also includes loosely installing a bolt though the slot and the first and second components, and creating a joint in the first and second components. The method further includes heating the first and second components, which causes the first and second components to move relative to each other due to thermal expansion in response to the heating. This movement causes the joint to fail. The method also includes tightening the bolt.

Abstract: A door for utility vehicle, wherein: the door includes a door body part provided with a grip part used for opening and closing the door; and the door body part is supported by a vehicle body frame in a manner of being capable of being set at a plurality of closed states each having a different gap between the door body part and the vehicle body frame.

Abstract: A sunshade device includes guide rails slidably supporting a shade panel so as to open and close an opening formed on a vehicle roof; and a shade stopper attached to each guide rail, regulating an opening action by allowing the shade panel to abut on the shade stopper, wherein the guide rail includes a rail-side flange or flanges arranged side by side in a height direction which extend toward an inner side in a width direction, the shade stopper includes retaining pieces extending toward an outer side in the width direction and sandwiching the rail-side flange in the height direction, and rail-side and retaining-piece side engaging projections projecting in the height direction to face each other and regulating a movement of the retaining piece in the inner side in the width direction are respectively formed in the rail-side flange and the retaining piece in one side.

Abstract: A cover for a truck bed that can be horizontally traversed between expanded and collapsed positions is shown. Since the cover is horizontally traversed, the person manipulating the cover need not lift the cover vertically in order to reconfigure the cover between the expanded and collapsed positions. Women and elderly people who are generally not as strong as men can manipulate the cover.

Abstract: An apparatus for shedding material accumulated on a surface is disclosed. The apparatus is an elastic expandable vessel with fluid inlet and outlet. The elastic expandable vessel is fixed to the surface in a flat shape. Upon the introduction of fluid into the expandable vessel, the expandable vessel expands into a domed shape so that material accumulated on the surface slides off under the influence of gravity. Upon the egress of fluid out of the expandable vessel, the expandable vessel flattens.

Abstract: A sealing member is disposed between a lateral surface of a vehicle body and a lateral sliding door supported by the vehicle body in such a way as to be capable of being slid along the lateral surface, between a closed position in which an opening of an entrance formed in the lateral surface is closed and an open position in which the opening is open. The sealing member includes a pressing plate attached to the lateral surface; an attachment portion clamped and fixed between the pressing plate and the lateral surface to which the pressing plate is attached, and having a hollow cylindrical shape extending in a vertical direction of the lateral sliding door; and a sealing portion provided integrally with the attachment portion, and contacting with door trailing edge rubber provided on the lateral sliding door while being in an elastically deformed state at the closed position.

Abstract: A glass run for use in a sashless door-type automobile, which is capable of exhibiting excellent sealing property and being readily produced without generating any crack in connection faces. The glass run includes an upper side portion, a vertical side portion and a corner portion. In the upper side portion, a glass run section and a trim section are integrally formed. The trim section has a side wall on the side of the glass run section, a side wall on the side of an automobile body, and a bottom wall with a generally U-shaped cross-section. The corner portion includes an upper side connection part and a vertical side connection part. Connection faces between the upper side connection part of the corner portion and the upper side portion are inclined to a longitudinal direction of the upper side portion.

Abstract: A drive device for a transportation motor vehicle having at least one hydraulic drive module and one primary electric drive module, a coupling unit and an output shaft that is suitable for being driven by the hydraulic drive module and/or the primary electric drive module via the coupling unit. The hydraulic drive module and the primary electric drive module can be directly connected to the coupling unit. The drive device can further include a backup energy module directly connected to the hydraulic motor module.

Abstract: A device for a drive train of a hybrid vehicle having a planetary gear set which comprises a carrier element, a sun gear element, and a ring gear element. A first element connects to a first input shaft of a first subtransmission of a transmission, and a second element connects to an electric machine of a hybrid drive. A first shift element which couples, in a first shift position, a third of the elements to a second input shaft of a second subtransmission of the transmission, to which an internal combustion engine can be coupled, and, in a second shift position, can be coupled to another element of the planetary gear set, and having a second shift element which couples the input shafts of both subtransmissions when engaged and separates the input shafts of both subtransmissions when disengaged.

Abstract: A power transmission structure of a hybrid vehicle includes a motor generator, a first clutch, a second clutch, a third clutch, an engine, a motor, and an output shaft transferring power generated by the engine and power generated by the motor to a transmission. The motor is disposed parallel to the engine, the output shaft extends through a central portion of the motor and is connected to the transmission. The first clutch and the second clutch are disposed as a double clutch on the output shaft between the engine and the motor. The third clutch is disposed between the motor and the transmission to enable and disable power to be transferred via the output shaft.

Abstract: An off-road vehicle is provided with a front-side housing that has a rear end that defines a gap with an upper end of a front-floor cover that is spanned by a flexible member that is a separate component from the front-side housing and the front-floor cover.

Abstract: A saddle-ride type vehicle in which left and right radiators are disposed on the sides of a vehicle body and the peripheries of these left and right radiators are covered by cover members to cause traveling air to pass through the left and right radiators from their inner sides to outer sides, the saddle-ride type vehicle including air introduction paths provided on the outer sides of the cover members and formed by the cover members and cowl members disposed outward of the cover members in the vehicle width direction.

Abstract: An integrated noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) decoupler and front impact brace for a vehicle includes one or more brackets configured for attaching at a first end to a front grille support member and at an opposed end to a radiator support member, and an air flow deflector strip associated with the one or more brackets. The air flow deflector strip is carried by the brackets, and is configured to substantially prevent a flow of air through a gap defined between the front grille support member and a lower air deflector of the vehicle. The one or more brackets each include at least one curved retainer for holding the air flow deflector strip. A system for reducing noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) in a vehicle including the integrated NVH decoupler and front impact brace is described.

Abstract: A fuel filler assembly for a vehicle which includes a housing that can connect to the vehicle and includes a fuel pipe opening. The fuel filler assembly can be connected to the vehicle body with aid of the housing. The fuel pipe opening is provided in the fuel filler assembly to accommodate the fuel pipe through which fuel can be filled to a fuel tank of the vehicle. The fuel filler assembly comprises a hinge arm attached to the housing which is capable of closing and opening the fuel filler assembly. The hinge arm acts as a component to close or to open the fuel filler assembly. When the fuel tank is required to be filled, the hinge arm is opened such that fuel can be filled to the fuel tank.

Abstract: A wind powered vehicle having a high pressure, heavily insulated air tank mounted to the vehicle that is charged with compressed air from a high pressure accumulator storage tank. The air stored in the accumulator tank is air that is highly compressed by an air compressor that is driven by a stationary wind turbine, the air compressor being mounted in the hub of the wind turbine to facilitate efficiency and to allow the wind turbine to rotate so as to catch the wind, regardless of the direction of the wind. Couplings and insulation are provided to allow the vehicle mounted air tank to be releasably coupled to the accumulator tank and to conserve the heat energy of the highly compressed air.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive-train portion for a vehicle, including a gearbox, a connection shaft, at least one joint, a further connecting shaft, and a shaft bearing assembly for the connecting shaft, wherein the shaft bearing assembly is arranged in a stationary manner with respect to the gearbox, wherein the connection shaft extends from the gearbox to the joint and is supported in the shaft bearing assembly, wherein the shaft bearing assembly includes a housing, in which a rolling-element bearing can be arranged, wherein the housing includes a first flange part and a second flange part.

Abstract: Provided is a control device for a four-wheel drive which can maintain driving stability while restraining noise and vibration. A control device includes: a second control device that, when at least one of front wheel has slipped, engages a dog clutch after rotating a propeller shaft by a rotational force transmitted via first and second friction clutches; and a third control device that, if a predetermined condition is satisfied when the front wheels are not slipping, engages the dog clutch after rotating the propeller shaft by the rotational force transmitted via the first and second friction clutches. The time required to synchronize the dog clutch by the third control device is longer than that required to synchronize the dog clutch by the second control device.

Abstract: A front axle shift mechanism configured to be operably associated with a front axle housing having a front differential and a first lubricant is provided. The front axle shift mechanism includes a disconnect feature housing defining an inner cavity to house a shifting mechanism configured to selectively provide power to front wheels of the vehicle, the shifting mechanism configured to rotatably couple to the front differential. The inner cavity is configured to receive a second lubricant to facilitate providing lubrication to the first clutch gear and the second clutch gear. The second lubricant is fluidly separate from the first lubricant.

Abstract: A vehicle having at least one rear driven axle. The vehicle includes a transmission, a main drive shaft, and a rear axle assembly. The rear axle assembly can selectively transmit power from the transmission to a rearmost set of wheels of the vehicle. To selectively transmit power, the rear axle assembly can include a rear axle input shaft, a neutralizer, a differential input shaft, and a differential. The neutralizer is used to mechanically connect and disconnect the rear axle input shaft from the differential input shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant alert system may include an in-vehicle sensor configured to detect an object in a rear seat of a vehicle, and a controller configured to receive, from the sensor, an indication of an object in the rear seat, and to transmit, in response to the indication, presence information to a mobile device to cause the mobile device to transmit a command to a wearable device including instructions for an alert at the wearable device.

Abstract: An in-vehicle information display device has a first display and a second display disposed in a vehicle interior, a display content determination unit configured to determine whether a first content displayed on the first display and a second content displayed on the second display are identical to each other, and a display content change unit. When the display content determination unit determines that the first and second contents are identical to each other, the display content change unit changes the first content displayed on the first display or the second content displayed on the second display to a third content associated beforehand with one of the first and second contents that have been determined to be identical.

Abstract: A signal control device, for use in a vehicle, being installable as a single unit in a component of the vehicle, and configured for simultaneously and/or subsequently performing all of transmitting data signals representative for sensing data from a sensing device for indicating a sensed signal, transmitting and/or receiving actuator commands for actuating a physical element in said component of the vehicle, and powering said signal control device, a sensor linked thereto or a physical element of the component of the vehicle, using wireless data and power communication between said signal control device and a further remote control system.

Abstract: Because an information processing apparatus includes an analyzing unit that analyzes, when a control instruction operated from a terminal device satisfies a first condition, whether the control instruction is the content that includes therein an additional condition that is related to the first condition; an additional condition determination unit that determines, when it is analyzed that the control instruction is the content that includes therein the additional condition related to the first condition, whether the control instruction satisfies the additional condition; a second determination unit that determines, when it is determined that the control instruction satisfies the additional condition, whether the control instruction satisfies a second condition; and processing units that perform a process in accordance with the determination performed by the second determination unit, it is possible to improve the reliability of execution related to the control instruction sent from outside.

Abstract: The presently described apparatus and method describes the construction, use and operation of a hydraulic hybrid vehicle including the components and the manner by which the components are integrated into a standard electric powered vehicle. The vehicle may be powered by an electric motor, by a hydraulic motor, or by both acting together.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle is equipped with second determination means for determining that the vehicle is stopped when first determination means determines that a rotational speed of a three-phase alternating-current electric motor is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold and that a stop operation is performed, control means for controlling an electric power converter such that a state of the electric power converter becomes a specific state where i) all the first switching are off and at least one of the second switching elements is on or ii) all the second switching elements are off and at least one of the first elements is on, and threshold setting means for setting the predetermined threshold based on a temperature of a magnet of the three-phase alternating-current electric motor.