Abstract: A pneumatic tire, comprising at least sidewall portions and rim guards each provided at the corresponding sidewall portion, wherein: in a cross section in the width direction of the tire assembled with a prescribed rim, an outer contour line, of the rim guard, situated on the outer side in the tire radial direction than the radially outermost peak of the rim guard has an arcuate configuration of which the center of curvature is located on the external side of the tire; radius of curvature R of the outer contour line is in the range of 5 mm?R?40 mm; and provided that H represents a distance in the tire radial direction measured from the radially innermost peak to the outermost position in the tire radial direction of a rim flange, 2 mm?H?40 mm.

Abstract: A tire inflation system having a spindle that has a spindle fastener hole and spindle passage through which a pressurized gas flows for inflating a tire. An adapter or a fastener tube may inhibit pressurized gas from flowing from the spindle passage into the spindle fastener hole.

Abstract: A system is used with a pneumatic tire mounted on a wheel rim to keep the pneumatic tire from becoming underinflated. The first system includes a plurality of pumps attached circumferentially to the wheel rim, each pump having pump parameters, and a control valve for controlling inlet air into a tire cavity of the pneumatic tire. The control valve has valve parameters. The system predicts system performance under various configurations and conditions through use of the pump parameters and the valve parameters.

Abstract: A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube mounted within a tire sidewall groove. The air tube is in contacting engagement with opposite angled groove surfaces surrounding the air tube. A segment of the air tube is flattened from an expanded diameter to a flat diameter by bending and compression of the groove in a rolling tire footprint to force air evacuated from the flattened segment along a tube air passageway. The sidewall groove extends into an annular, axially extending, sidewall surface such as an axially oriented surface of a tire chafer protrusion located in non-contacting relationship with the rim. The opposite groove surfaces comprise a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: a diene based rubber; from 0.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a sidewall component, the sidewall component including an air passageway extending at least partially about the circumference of the tire, the air passageway surrounded by and in fluid communication with a surface comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: a diene based rubber; from 0.25 to 5 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), of a self-lubrication agent capable of migrating from the rubber composition to the groove surface and disposing on the groove surface as a liquid; and from 1 to 15 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), of a vulcanization modifier for use in the second rubber composition include ?,?-bis(N,N?-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkanes, bismaleimides, and biscitraconimides.

Abstract: A drawbar assembly for coupling a drawbar to a tongue of a towed implement includes a drawbar pin and a drawbar clevis having a bore configured to receive the drawbar pin. A locking plate is coupled to the drawbar clevis and movable between a pin-lock condition in which the locking plate is configured to obstruct at least a portion of the bore, and a pin-unlock condition. An ejector mechanism is configured to dislodge the drawbar pin from the bore. The ejector mechanism includes a handle utilized to operate the ejector mechanism and an ejector arm pivotably disposed in an ejector recess in the clevis. The ejector arm is movable from a home position in which the ejector arm does not interfere with the drawbar pin to an eject position in which the ejector arm forces the drawbar pin to be at least partially dislodged out of the bore.

Abstract: An improved drop hitch apparatus has at least one hitch plate for coupling to a portion of a hitch assembly of a trailer, a support assembly for supporting the hitch assemblies of a trailer and a towing vehicle, and a mounting assembly for mounting the apparatus to at least a portion of a hitch assembly of a towing vehicle. The drop hitch apparatus is useful as a height adjustment adapter to couple a trailer and a towing vehicle when the trailer has a hitch assembly lower than that of the towing vehicle's hitch assembly. The mounting assembly has a mounting shelf, a mounting bar, a stability member. The support assembly has an upstanding support plate and an upstanding shaft member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a protective cover for trailer coupling devices. The protective cover includes a shaft with a hollowed inner core for housing a trailer coupling device and a protective pad that is adjoined to one end of the shaft. When installed, the protective casing cover protects a trailer's coupling device from adverse weather conditions. Additionally, upon installation, the protective pad of the protective cover serves to prevent or reduce damage to a vehicle when a driver backs up too far while trying to align a vehicle's trailer hitch with a trailer's coupling device.

Abstract: An improved jack assembly for use with a trailer tongue of a towed vehicle. The jack assembly including telescoping height adjustment of the assembly, a pivot assembly for pivoting between a vertical and horizontal stowed position, and a clip for maintaining a handle assembly in a stowed position when not in use. The jack assembly also includes the use of bushings for the telescoping tubes to enhance the sliding movement between the tubes and aid in maintaining the axial alignment of the tubes thereby extending the life of the jack assembly. The pivot assembly further includes an attachment bracket that may be rotated to accommodate at least two different sizes of trailer tongues.

Abstract: An axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle with a pair of suspension assemblies which each are mounted on a hanger outboardly offset from the outboard surface of the vehicle main member from which it depends. Each suspension assembly includes a beam pivotally attached to the hanger outboardly offset from the outboard surface of the main member. The beam has a tapered profile including an upward outboard taper on at least the inboard side of the beam, which provides clearance between each beam and its respective vehicle main member during upward jounce travel or lifting of the axle/suspension system.

Abstract: A trailing axle suspension system is disclosed comprising an auxiliary chassis, an axle suspension system suspending a trailing axle from the auxiliary chassis, and an auxiliary chassis system suspending the auxiliary chassis from the chassis of a motor vehicle. With the auxiliary chassis suspension system including a pair of suspension arms supporting the auxiliary chassis for pivotal movement and adapted to be pivotally connected to the motor vehicle chassis. And with the axle suspension system and auxiliary chassis suspension system adapted to cooperatively establish the auxiliary chassis and trailing axle in a stowed condition on the motor vehicle and establish the auxiliary chassis and trailing axle in a deployed condition at a location rearward of the motor vehicle chassis and then forcibly cause the auxiliary chassis to help support the motor vehicle chassis with the trailing axle.

Abstract: A gas spring and gas damper assembly includes a gas spring assembly and a gas damper assembly. The gas spring assembly includes a first wall portion, a second wall portion disposed in spaced relation to the first wall portion, and a flexible wall section connected therebetween. The gas damper assembly includes a third wall portion disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to the first wall portion, and a second flexible wall section connected between the second wall portion and the third wall portion. A fourth wall portion is disposed between the first and second wall sections to define two pressurized gas chambers. A damper rod connects at least the first and third wall portions. Methods are also included.

Abstract: A suspension control apparatus includes a damping force adjustable shock absorber disposed between a vehicle body and a wheel of a vehicle and capable of adjusting a damping force to be generated, a vertical movement detection device configured to detect a state regarding a vertical movement of a vehicle, and a controller including: a target damping force calculation section configured to calculate a target damping force based on a detection result of the vertical movement detection device, a correction section configured to calculate a corrected damping force, which is acquired by reducing the target damping force when a relative speed is a low speed between a sprung side and an unsprung side of the damping force adjustable shock absorber, and a control signal output section configured to output the control signal corresponding to the corrected damping force to the damping force adjustable shock absorber.

Abstract: A method for operating a shock-absorber system with shock-absorber devices, in particular switching shock-absorber devices, wherein discretely selectable shock-absorber characteristic curves are provided. The method determines a driving behavior of the driver and/or of the motor vehicle on the basis of one or more driving state data items and/or one or more operating variables and, in automatic mode, automatically sets a shock-absorbing behavior of the shock-absorber system by selecting one of the selectable shock-absorber characteristic curves of the shock-absorber devices as a function of the determined driving behavior.

Abstract: A multi-path fluid flow control valve for a shock absorber that restricts fluid into a first path while opening fluid flow to a second path when a given fluid flow velocity is reached. Exemplary configurations of this diverter valve are disclosed such as a spring loaded disc valve with face sealing lands, and a spool valve with diametric sealing lands. Applications include active suspension dampers in order to limit maximum RPM into a hydraulic motor. For such a system, in one mode the diverter valve allows fluid to move unrestricted into the hydraulic motor. When fluid velocity reaches a tunable set point, in a second mode the diverter valve restricts flow into the hydraulic motor and bypasses it shuttling fluid into the opposite side of the damper. In some cases progressive damping valves are utilized in series or parallel to smooth damping characteristics during, before, and after transitions.

Abstract: In a suspension controlling apparatus for a vehicle including a suspension whose damping force is variably settable and a control unit capable of controlling the damping force of the suspension, for appropriately obtaining a pitch behavior. When a vibration state of a vehicle in a vertical direction exceeds a given vibration state, a control unit controls damping force of suspensions on the basis of a target damping force in order to execute a skyhook control. However, when acceleration in a forward and rearward direction of the vehicle is outside a given range, a decision condition for the given vibration state is changed to a condition on the side on which the skyhook controlling damping force control of the suspensions is less likely to be started.

Abstract: A damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system includes a primary damper and a secondary damper. The secondary damper includes a housing having a wall that at least partially surrounds at least a portion of the primary damper, the volume between the wall and the primary damper defining a chamber, and the wall defines an aperture. The secondary damper also includes a piston positioned within the chamber, a conduit defining a flow path that includes the aperture, and a valve disposed along the flow path. The primary damper is configured to provide a base damping force and the secondary damper is configured to provide a supplemental damping force that varies based on the position of the piston within the chamber.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioning apparatus, during a cooling operation, and a cooling and dehumidifying operation, a refrigerant flows through an outdoor heat exchanger, flows through a supercooling radiator, and then flows into a radiator to absorb heat. During a heating operation, the refrigerant flows through a heat exchanger and then is sucked into a compressor without passing through the supercooling radiator. During a first heating and dehumidifying operation, the refrigerant flows through another radiator, flows through the supercooling radiator, and then flows into another heat exchanger to absorb heat.

Abstract: Electric vehicle thermal management systems and electric vehicles using the thermal management system, are disclosed. A passenger cabin is heated by the heat dissipated from a battery and/or a motor. A cooling circuit in the management system fluidly connects the battery, the motor and a first radiator in series. The first radiator provides a heat source to the passenger cabin by means of the heat dissipated from the battery and/or the electric motor. Under certain conditions, the electric motor is selectively separated from the cooling circuit, so that when the passenger cabin needs to be heated, the thermal management system can provide heat to the passenger cabin without affecting the heat dissipation of the battery.

Abstract: A heat pump cooling and heating system for an electric vehicle includes a range extending PCM heat exchanger (24), with a single acting phase change material with a melt temperature between the two comfort temperatures associated with cooling and heating, respectively. In a charging mode, as the vehicle batteries are charged, the same exterior current source runs the compressor (10), charging the PCM exchanger (24) with heat or “cold.” During an initial range extending mode, the PCM exchanger/reservoir (24) serves as the heat source or heat sink. The PCM material does not directly heat or cool the air, as is conventional, allowing a single reservoir material to be used in both heating and cooling modes.

Abstract: A housing is provided for a motor vehicle HVAC system, which is formed from interconnectable housing parts and has a groove, delimited by a first and a second groove leg, on a first housing part and a tongue on a second housing part and in which to connect the housing parts the tongue is disposed in the groove. In this regard, the first and second groove legs are formed in such a way that in the inserted state of the tongue in the groove at least one groove leg at its free end is spaced apart from a corresponding tongue-side bearing shoulder of the second housing part.

Abstract: An improved climate control, safety, and communications system and method for a vehicle having a detecting means for detecting and transmitting the climate conditions inside a vehicle's passenger cabin as temperature data, and for detecting and transmitting the presence of an occupant inside the vehicle as occupancy data; a data collecting means for monitoring and evaluating the temperature data against a temperature threshold and the occupancy data against an occupant threshold, for notifying an operator of the temperature data and the occupancy data, and for sending a command to a controlling means to adjust the climate conditions, a controlling means for selectively activating a cooling mechanism or a heating mechanism to adjust the temperature inside the vehicle; and a charging means for charging the system when the vehicle engine is running and for powering the system when the engine is off. The system further includes a means for warming the undercarriage of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system & method for controlling a radiator flap for a vehicle, which are capable of effectively operating of a cooling fan and a radiator flap simultaneously consequently by opening & closing the radiator flap by a combination of a cooling fan control signal related to control of the cooling fan and a vehicle CAN signal related to vehicle state information, such as a vehicle speed. The system includes: an engine controller that is configured to generate a cooling fan control signal. In addition, an integrated controller is configured to detect an engine coolant temperature based on the cooling fan control signal, and detect one or more of vehicle speed information, on/off information of an air conditioner switch, and air conditioner refrigerant pressure information based on a vehicle CAN signal to open and close the radiator flap.

Abstract: A foreign object obstruction device for preventing foreign objects from entering into the vent of a vehicle without completely obstructing the air passage of the vent is provided. The foreign object obstruction device extends between the a rear vehicle bumper and the vehicle body, and includes a rigid panel mounted to the vehicle body, generally beneath the vent so as to present a generally horizontal planar surface. The foreign object obstruction device may also include a stand-off structure extending from the rigid panel to the vehicle body so as to maintain the foreign obstruction device a predetermined distance from the vent, and a resilient pad disposed between the stand-off structure and the vehicle body so as to help absorb the force caused by objects being hurled into the device; and between the rigid panel and the bumper so as to form a seal.

Abstract: A controller for a heat, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit may comprise a compressor control signal output; a condenser fan control signal output; a pressure sensor input that receives information regarding an output pressure of the compressor; a temperature input that receives information regarding ambient temperature; a processor coupled to the compressor control signal output, the condenser fan control signal output, the first pressure sensor input, and the temperature input; and a computer-readable memory that stores instructions. The processor may cause the controller to: turn on the compressor via the compressor control signal output based on a request for air conditioning, select a condenser fan speed, from condenser fan control data stored in the computer readable memory, based on the ambient temperature and an output pressure of the compressor, and set a speed of the condenser fan to the selected condenser fan speed via the condenser fan control signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is an aroma-diffusing cartridge for a vehicle wherein the structures of the cartridge and a carrier of an aroma are so optimized that the capacity of the carrier for carrying the aroma may become excellent together with stable and continuous performance of diffusing the aroma. An aroma-diffusing cartridge for a vehicle includes: a cartridge body having one side formed with a pair of air holes for receiving and discharging air, and an internal space for circulating the received air; and at least two carriers put in the cartridge body with different duration of keeping an aroma. Thus, the capacity of the carriers for carrying an aroma is excellent together with stable and continuous performance of diffusing the aroma in a limited space, so that the air in the vehicle may be kept agreeable for a long time.

Abstract: A silicone coating is provided for glass and other surfaces with improved glass clarity and maintenance requirements. In addition a process for preparing a silicone film with improved glass clarity and maintenance requirements. Further a method is provided for adhering an improved silicone coating to a glass (or other) surface. Also a silicone coating is provided for granite, cement, and lexan/plastic.

Abstract: A spacer is provided for mounting on a vehicle impact beam. The spacer includes a first surface having a first radius of curvature centered on a first axis, and a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface having a second radius of curvature centered on a second axis extending parallel to the first axis and spaced apart from the first axis.

Abstract: A door impact beam for a vehicle includes a beam main body 2 and an attaching portion 3 formed of first and second brackets 4 and 5, the first bracket 4 is coupled to the second bracket 5 by a coupling portion 20 to enable absorbing a relative movement due to difference in thermal expansion between the beam main body 2 and the components 6 of the vehicle door, a first locking hole 11 is bored in one of the first and second brackets 4 and 5 and a second locking hole 12 is bored in the other bracket, the first and second locking holes 11 and 12 are adapted to be locked by a temporarily fixing member 13 at a normal temperature and the temporarily fixing member 13 is adapted to be softened at a predetermined temperature or higher, and the second locking hole 12 includes an engaging hole 12a adapted to be engaged with the temporarily fixing member at a normal temperature and a slit 12b which is smaller in width than the maximum inner diameter of the engaging hole 12a.

Abstract: An inner door panel (30) for a vehicle side door that includes an integrated side impact beam (70) formed as part of the door in a die casting process. The inner door panel (30) includes an outer frame having a top rail (38), a bottom rail (40), an inner side rail (42) and an outer side rail (44) defining a central opening (34). The impact beam (70) includes a main beam portion (72), a first end support portion (74) and a second end support portion (78). The first end support portion is formed to the side rail (42) and the second end support portion (78) is formed to the outer side rail (44), where the main beam portion (72) extends across the opening (34).

Abstract: This vehicle has a travel drive system including a travel power source and an energy source for this travel power source, wherein an outlet for discharging waste generated by the travel drive system faces the rear surface of the vehicle body. The outlet is offset in the vehicle width direction relative to a passenger opening. Further, relative to the center line between the center line of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction and the end portion of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction, the outlet is positioned to the end portion side of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction. Relative to the center line between the center line and the end portion in the vehicle width direction, the right and left edges of the passenger opening are positioned to the side of the center line of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction.

Abstract: A movable carriage for a movable, tarp enclosure system includes a main body, plural primary support wheels connected to the main body and configured to engage and roll along support rails while supporting the movable carriage, at least one smaller stabilizing wheel connected to the main body and configured to engage the support rails for stabilizing and/or aligning movement of the movable carriage as it moves along the support rail supported by the primary support wheels, and a housing to which the at least one stabilizing wheel is rotatably secured. The housing is provided with one of a guide track and a channel which securely and sliding receives the guide track therein, the main body is provided with the other of the guide track and the channel, and the housing is secured to main body by engaging the guide track within the channel.

Abstract: A tensioning mechanism for a movable, tarp enclosure system including first, second, and third arms, and first and second support brackets which are all connected together in a substantially triangular, adjustable configuration in which the first arm is rotatable relative to support brackets and when the first arm is rotated, the first bracket moves linearly along the first arm toward and away from the second bracket. The second arm has one end thereof pivotally connected to the first bracket such that the first end of the second arm moves together with the first bracket, the third arm has an engagement member provided on one end thereof which is configured to operatively engage a vertically intermediate portion of an end one of the bows, and the third arm has a length adjusting mechanism for adjusting a length thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are vehicle seal retainers, methods for making and methods for using vehicle seal retainers, and motor vehicles with pillar seal retainers. Disclosed, for example, is a seal retainer carrier for mounting a seal structure between the outer applique and body structure of a motor vehicle. The seal structure includes a flexible body with two seal lips. The outer applique has a tab and a flange. The seal retainer carrier includes a base attached to the vehicle's body structure. A first interface flange projects from the base and attaches to the outer applique's flange. A second interface flange projects from the base and includes a protruding rib attached to a second seal lip. This rib fits into a recessed groove of the seal structure such that the seal mounts between the outer applique and body structure with a hook of a first seal lip seated against the outer applique's tab.

Abstract: A two-speed transmission for an electric vehicle including an electric motor, a first transmission mechanism and a second transmission mechanism is provided. The electric motor includes a rotor and a spindle. The rotor drives a first sun gear and a first planet gear of the first transmission mechanism to rotate with respect to the first ring gear to generate a first gear ratio. The rotor drives a second sun gear and a second planet gear of the second transmission mechanism to rotate with respect to the second ring gear to generate a second gear ratio different from the first gear ratio. When the first clutch connects with the spindle, the second clutch separates from the spindle, and a first torque is outputted to the spindle. When the second clutch connects with the spindle, the first clutch separates from the spindle, and a second torque is outputted to the spindle.

Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle which a fuel cell stack is mounted on comprises a stack case that is configured to place the fuel cell stack therein; mounts that are configured to fix the stack case to a vehicle body; ribs, each being provided to be extended from a position adjacent to the mount across an upper surface of the stack case; and a damping member that is provided between adjacent ribs on the upper surface of the stack case. The damping member is a material formed by applying an aluminum sheet on butyl rubber. This configuration reduces the noise and damps the vibration.

Abstract: A vehicle battery mounting structure has: a battery frame lower member that is made of resin, and that is disposed at vehicle transverse direction inner sides of energy absorbing members provided at a lower side of a floor panel, and that, together with a battery frame upper member, structures a battery frame that supports a battery; a lower ductile member having a lower main body portion that is joined to vehicle transverse direction outer side end portions of the battery frame lower member, and lower flange portions that are fixed to a bottom surface side of the floor panel; and inclined walls that are formed at vehicle transverse direction outer side end portions of the battery frame lower member, and that are inclined from vehicle transverse direction outer upper sides toward vehicle transverse direction inner lower sides.

Abstract: A vehicle battery mounting structure includes: an energy absorption member that is provided at a vehicle body lower side of a floor panel, and that includes a first side wall portion sloping toward a vehicle body upper outside at a vehicle width direction inside of the energy absorption member, as viewed from a vehicle body longitudinal direction; and a battery frame made of resin that is disposed at the vehicle width direction inside of the first side wall portion, that supports a battery, and that includes a second side wall portion sloping toward the vehicle body upper outside at the vehicle width direction outside of the battery frame, as viewed from the vehicle body longitudinal direction, and facing the first side wall portion in the vehicle width direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to all terrain vehicles having at least a pair of laterally spaced apart seating surfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to trail compliant side-by-side all terrain vehicles.

Abstract: A transmission for a hybrid vehicle includes an input shaft connected to an engine, an output shaft disposed in parallel with the input shaft, a first hollow shaft installed on an outer peripheral surface of one side of the input shaft, a second hollow shaft installed on an outer peripheral surface of the other side of the input shaft, a first motor connected to the first hollow shaft, a second motor connected to the second hollow shaft, a first speed-shifting output part provided between the first hollow shaft and the output shaft, a second speed-shifting output part provided between the second hollow shaft and the output shaft, a first synchronizer synchronously connecting the first hollow shaft to the first speed-shifting output part, and a second synchronizer synchronously connecting the second hollow shaft to the second speed-shifting output part.

Abstract: A transmission system of a hybrid electric vehicle may include an input shaft connected to an engine, a planetary gear set including a first rotation element operated as an output element, a second rotation element connected to the input shaft and operated as an input element, and a third rotation element operated as another output element, a first motor operably connected to the first rotation element, and selectively connected to a transmission housing, a first motor/generator configured to generate electric energy by receiving torque through the first motor shaft, a second motor shaft being a hollow shaft, disposed at a radial exterior of the first motor shaft without rotational interference with the first motor shaft, and operably connected to the third rotation element so as to receive torque of the engine, and a second motor/generator disposed on the second motor shaft and outputting torque through the second motor shaft.

Abstract: A power-split hybrid transaxle uses a chain-only final drive. In addition to transferring power from the primary axis to the differential axis, the chain provides about a 2.5:1 torque multiplication. Eliminating the planetary final drive gear set traditionally associated with a chain axis transfer reduces that axial length of the transaxle and provides more space for a power take-off unit.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle (1) has an internal combustion engine (2), an electric machine (3) and a transmission (4) for driving a rear axle (5) of the vehicle (1). The internal combustion engine (2) and the electric machine (3) are assigned a common input shaft (6) of the transmission (4). The internal combustion engine (2), the electric machine (3) and a traction battery (19) for the electric machine (3) or a tank for the internal combustion engine (2) are arranged in a rear region of the vehicle (1), transversely with respect to the direction of travel. The electric machine power is greater than the power of the internal combustion engine (2). A high level of electrification of the hybrid drive is possible with optimum utilization of space in the vehicle.

Abstract: A power transmission device comprises an engine arranged on a shaft and a first motor. A second motor is arranged on a different shaft from the shaft on which the engine is arranged. A first differential mechanism has a sun gear to which the first motor is connected, a carrier to which the engine is connected, and a ring gear to which the second motor and a drive wheel are connected. A second differential mechanism has a first rotational element to which the first motor is connected, a second rotational element, and a third rotational element to which the engine is connected, and is arranged such that the first motor is located between the first differential mechanism and the second differential mechanism. A case houses the second differential mechanism. A brake mechanism is configured to restrict rotation of the second rotational element and is arranged in the case.

Abstract: An air guiding device for a motor-vehicle includes a main chamber located at the rear of a front wall of the motor vehicle, and defined between the front wall, a rear wall which is spaced apart from the front wall and two side walls. A first opening is provided on the front wall, for the inlet of air into the main chamber, while at least one second opening on said rear wall guides the air into an engine compartment. Two side ducts extend from an inlet to an outlet giving out on a respective outer side wall of the motor-vehicle. To the second opening there is associated a device for controlling the air flow therethrough. The outlets of the two side ducts are arranged and oriented so as to generate a substantially flattened and vertical air curtain adjacent to each front wheel of the motor-vehicle.

Abstract: A self-sealing liquid bladder having a wall including plurality of connected cells each cell having an elastic wall portion and a stiffened wall portion and at least one source of pressure associated with one or more of the plurality of cells.

Abstract: A saddle-riding type vehicle includes a seat, a fuel tank including a vent and disposed below the seat, a canister connected to the vent, and an overflow prevention valve provided in a fuel vapor passage connecting the vent and the canister. The overflow prevention valve is positioned higher than the vent.

Abstract: An anti-siphon device configured to be used within the fuel filler pipe of a heating oil fuel tank, the device having a rigid body member that fits within an intermediate section of the fuel filler pipe and a restriction element having apertures allowing fuel but not a siphon hose to pass through; and a method of installing the anti-siphon device in a fuel filler pipe.

Abstract: The horizontal shaft fuel tank cap with charcoal canister includes a fuel tank inner cap and fuel tank outer cap. A hollow room with an upper opening is disposed in the center of the fuel tank inner cap. The fuel tank outer cap is disposed above the fuel tank inner cap. The ventilating pipe is disposed in the hollow room and divides the hollow room into filling room and containing room. The first air outlet leading the fuel vapor to the containing room is disposed on the bottom of the containing room. The second air outlets are disposed in the center of the ventilating pipe. The fuel-absorption substrate is disposed in the filling room. The residuary fuel is drained into the fuel tank under negative pressure of the fuel tank. The filtering performance of charcoal powder can be enhanced since it is exempted from long-time fuel soaking.

Abstract: A fuel tank system which has a revised mounting system and a revised location for the fuel system and fuel tanks to improve crashworthiness of the vehicle by reducing the occurrence of tank failure, fuel spillage, fire and/or explosion during and after a collision or similar event, while still providing a sufficient range for the vehicle. The fuel tanks are protected from damage from the side, bottom and between the tanks. The fuel tank mounting system also allows the energy associated with an event to be managed, such as by allowing the fuel tanks to be pushed or moved downwardly and/or laterally by the energy of the impact of a collision or similar event to a position in which the fuel tank is either out of the path of the impact or protected by the chassis or frame of the vehicle.