Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed that includes a hood defining at least one opening, and a vent that is positioned within the at least one opening. The vent is reconfigurable between a closed configuration, in which the vent substantially (if not entirely) prevents air flow through the at least one opening in the hood, and at least one open configuration, in which the vent allows air flow through the at least one opening in the hood. The vent includes an integrated shape memory material such that, upon actuation, the shape memory material deforms to thereby reconfigure the vent.

Abstract: An active grille shutter system (AGS) that is assembled from modular components, thereby allowing the AGS to be any desired width or height when assembled. This allows for the creation of different sized AGS for different vehicle platforms, while assembling the AGS from a stock of components that is common to each AGS. The invention is also directed to a method of forming a base integrated end cap with moveable vane retainers and a link arm using a two shot molding process.

Abstract: An electrically operated fluid flow valve arrangement (50) includes an electrically powered magnetic field generator (42), a valve body (44) defining a valve chamber (7), an inlet port (5), an outlet port (20) and a valve member (18) located in the chamber (7). The valve member (18) is movable between closed and open conditions relative to one of the ports (5, 20). The valve member (18) includes a permanent magnet (9). The arrangement (50) includes a switchable pole 46 formed of a ferromagnetic material. In use, in a first latched condition, the valve member (18) is retained by the switchable pole (46) in one of the closed or open conditions and, in a second latched condition, in the other of the closed or open conditions, the valve member (18) being moved from one latched condition to the other by operation of the generator (42).

Abstract: An inlet guide vane assembly is provided. The inlet guide vane assembly includes a housing, a rotating shaft rotatably located in the housing, a vane portion connected to the rotating shaft, a bushing portion located between the rotating shaft and the housing, and an elastic portion located between the bushing portion and the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A cooling shroud assembly for an engine is disclosed. This cooling shroud assembly includes a shroud body. There is an inlet door or flap to an interior of this shroud body, along with an outlet door or flap from this shroud body. When installed on an engine that is incorporated by a moving vehicle (e.g., aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle, radio-controlled aircraft, watercraft), airflow through the shroud body from an inlet to an outlet. The position of the inlet and outlet doors may be adjusted (e.g., simultaneously) to change the airflow through the shroud body, and to thereby change the dissipation of heat from the operating engine via this airflow.

Abstract: A radiator shutter for a motor vehicle includes a carrier, which has a cross-sectional surface, through which air can flow, at least one lamella, which is arranged on the carrier, and which has a longitudinally extended flexible and elastic bending rod and at least one planar segment, wherein the planar segment is connected to the bending rod along a side edge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flap control device for a motor vehicle comprising at least one flap and an actuator moving said at least one flap between a closed and open position.

Abstract: A motor vehicle undertray trim panel having an air inlet delimited toward the vehicle and toward the roadway by upper and lower flat elements, respectively, which extend arcuately rearward and upward in the direction of a vehicle engine compartment for air flow cooling. The rear end of the upper flat element is adjoined by a planar air ram plate which runs by a small amount substantially vertically upward, and ends substantially freely in the engine compartment. The air inlet contains eddy producing structures. The structures may be a plurality of air guiding plates which extend along the vehicle vertical axis and the vehicle longitudinal direction in the air inlet and which are curved transversely such that the overall flow cross section in the vehicle longitudinal direction is substantially constant, or a plurality of small air inlets which are integrated into the air inlet.

Abstract: A motor vehicle undertray trim panel having an air inlet which is delimited toward the vehicle and the roadway by upper and lower flat elements, respectively, which extend arcuately rearward and upward in the direction of a vehicle components. The upper flat element runs, starting from a front end which lies in the vehicle longitudinal direction, in front of, adjacent to or behind an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle and below a front radiator, first of all approximately horizontally and at a spacing below an oil sump of the internal combustion engine and then in a continuously steeper curve to its rear end which lies behind the oil sump and which is adjoined by a planar air ram plate which runs such that it is directed by a small amount substantially vertically upward, and then ends substantially freely in the engine compartment.

Abstract: A motor vehicle front end part (1) has a device for influencing a cooling air flow. The device has an adjustable flap (22) that extends in a vehicle transverse direction and that is assigned to an air inlet opening (10) with an air inlet cross section (12). To provide a motor vehicle front end part that is of simple design and can be produced cost-effectively, the flap (20) is arranged in front of the air inlet cross section (12) in a vehicle longitudinal direction to such an extent that, if the flap (20) is in an operative position, the cooling air flow (22, 23) is channeled completely or virtually completely past the air inlet opening (10).

Abstract: A cooling system including a heat exchanger, an airflow containment unit, and an airflow conduit. The airflow containment unit is configured to direct airflow to and from the heat exchanger. The airflow conduit is in fluid communication with the airflow containment unit and is configured to direct airflow to the airflow containment unit from an air inlet at an exterior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle surface wash apparatus using a cavitation heater fluidically coupled between a fluid reservoir and a spray nozzle to instantaneously heat wash fluid to an elevated temperature prior to dispensing the heated wash fluid through a spray nozzle onto a vehicle surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A grille shutter control device is provided with a control section configured so as to open and close a shutter adapted to be provided in an air introduction path for introducing air ahead of the vehicle into an engine compartment. The grille shutter control device drives and controls first and second drive units. The grille shutter control device is provided with: an abnormality detecting section configured to detect an abnormality in the operation of the shutter on the basis of the condition of the shutter after the start of operation thereof; and an informing section for informing, on the basis of an abnormality in the operation detected by the abnormality detection section, the user of the abnormality in the operation of the shutter.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing corrosion of a charge air cooler and preventing engine misfire due to condensate formation. In response to a condensate forming region in a charge air cooler, a grille shutter system is adjusted, moving the condensate region to a different location in the charge air cooler. Grille shutter orientation may also be controlled in response to vehicle operating conditions and condensate-forming weather conditions.

Abstract: A grille control mechanism for a vehicle includes a movable member being switchable between an opened position for allowing air to flow into a radiator of the vehicle and a closed position for inhibiting the air from flowing into the radiator, an electric motor actuating the movable member, and a control device controlling an electric current to be supplied to the electric motor to execute an opening operation or a closing operation of the movable member in a case where an opening operation condition or a closing operation condition is satisfied, wherein the control device controlling the electric current to be intermittently supplied in response to one of the opening operation condition and the closing operation condition maintained until the other one of the opening operation condition and the closing operation condition is satisfied after the opening operation or the closing operation corresponding to the maintained operation condition is executed.

Abstract: An active air intake adapted for selectively regulating fluid flow into an engine generally includes a housing defining an opening, a covering member disposed relative to the opening and translatable between opened and closed conditions, an actuator including an active material element operable to effect movement of the member, a load limit protector configured to present a secondary output path for the element, an overheat protection mechanism for preventing unintentional activation and stress loads in the element, a biasing mechanism for returning the member to the original condition, and a latching mechanism for retaining the member in the closed condition.

Abstract: A grille control mechanism for a vehicle includes a movable member being switchable between opened and closed positions, an electric motor actuating the movable member, and a control device controlling a supply of electric current until detecting a lock current value to execute an opening operation or a closing operation, wherein the control device executes a checking operation for returning the movable member to an initial position and executing once again the opening or closing operation in a case where a detecting time of the lock current value since the opening or closing operation is started exceeds a predetermined time, and the control device determines that the movable member is in an abnormal state in a case where a detecting time of the lock current value after the operation is started from the initial position in the checking operation exceeds the predetermined time for a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: A grille device for a vehicle includes an adjustment member provided to be movable between a block position and a permission position for blocking and permitting intake of air into a radiator, respectively; a motor which moves the adjustment member; a battery for the motor; an electric generator which generates electric power for the battery; a motor controller which moves the adjustment member; and a grille controller which performs a first control for adjusting an air intake amount into the radiator and a second control for compulsorily moving the adjustment member to the permission position. The grille controller stops the first control and performs the second control when an output voltage of the battery becomes a voltage value outside a predetermined range and otherwise when an amount of power generation by the electric generator becomes smaller than a set minimum amount of power generation.

Abstract: A device is provided for the emergency operation of at least one closure element of a cooling air supply apparatus and a correspondingly implemented cooling air supply apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, a closure element being mechanically operationally linked to an actuator. The closure element is situated so it is movable between a closed position, in which it essentially closes a ventilation opening, and an open position, in which it releases the ventilation opening for cooling air to flow through. The actuator automatically transfers the closure element into the open position if a predetermined temperature is exceeded.

Abstract: An active grille comprises a plurality of blades and an active material in operative communication with the blades. The active material is in operative communication with the blades and is operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal, wherein fluid flow through the grille changes with the change in the at least one attribute of the active material. By way of example, in vehicle applications, the blades of a grille disposed in front of an engine compartment can be selectively positioned to provide increased airflow through the radiator due to increases in engine coolant temperature. As such, the active grille can be configured to improve vehicle fuel economy while maintaining proper engine cooling. An activation device, controller and sensors may be employed to further control the change in at least one feature of the active grille.

Abstract: A cooling system for a marine propulsion device provides a bypass loop around a cooling pump that allows the flow of cooling water through certain components to be reduced or increased as a function of the temperature of those components while causing a full flow of cooling water to flow through other selected heat emitting devices. Using this configuration of components and bypass conduits, the operating condition of the cooling water pump can be continually monitored, including the condition of its flexible vanes. By observing the effective cooling capacity of the system under conditions with the bypass valve open and closed, the effectiveness of the cooling water pump can be assessed and a suggestion of maintenance can be provided.

Abstract: A multi-port rotary valve used to distribute coolant to an engine cooling system comprises a valve body having a plurality of outlet ports for directing coolant flow to a radiator circuit, a heater circuit, and an auxiliary circuit. An internal gear driven rotary disc includes a gear driven mechanism located on an inner circumference of the rotary disc. The rotary disc includes two apertures positioned on a top surface of the rotary disc for regulating predetermined flow paths and flow rates to the plurality of ports. An inlet housing body which includes an inlet port mates with the valve body and encases the rotary disc. An actuator which is coupled to a drive gear mounted internal to the inlet housing body is responsive to a control signal for transmitting a torque to the internal drive gear for rotating the rotary disc to regulate coolant flow.

Abstract: A temperature control system includes an enclosure having a plurality of adjoining walls. At least one inlet is disposed within at least one of the walls. The at least one inlet has an electrically controlled inlet fan associated with it. A plurality of outlet louver assemblies are disposed within at least an other wall and include a plurality of moveable louvers. An actuator is coupled with each outlet louver assembly to move the plurality of moveable louvers. An ambient air sensor is disposed within the enclosure for sensing the ambient temperature within the enclosure and providing an output signal which is conducted to an electrical processing circuit. Alternatively, the ambient air sensor may be located without the enclosure. Temperature sensors are also coupled with the engine, charge air and transmission cooler for sensing their respective temperatures and providing output signals which are conducted to the electrical processing circuit.

Abstract: A temperature control system includes an enclosure having a plurality of adjoining walls. At least one inlet is disposed within at least one of the walls. The at least one inlet has an electrically controlled inlet fan associated with it. A plurality of outlet louver assemblies are disposed within at least an other wall and include a plurality of moveable louvers. An actuator is coupled with each outlet louver assembly to move the plurality of moveable louvers. An ambient air sensor is disposed within the enclosure for sensing the ambient temperature within the enclosure and providing an output signal which is conducted to an electrical processing circuit. Alternatively, the ambient air sensor may be located without the enclosure. Temperature sensors are also coupled with the engine, charge air and transmission cooler for sensing their respective temperatures and providing output signals which are conducted to the electrical processing circuit.