Abstract:
A variable thickness member for a vehicle includes a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion extending from the first portion having a second thickness. The first thickness is different from the second thickness and the first thickness and the second thickness are integral, unitary, and one piece.
Abstract:
An air dam assembly mounted under a front end of a vehicle includes a passively deployable air dam assembly. The passively deployable air dam assembly includes a passively deployable air dam having a front surface at least partially exposed to ram air when the vehicle is traveling in a forward direction, and a passive deployment assembly including at least one spring biasing the passively deployable air dam into a retracted position, with the passive deployment assembly engaging the passively deployable air dam to allow the passively deployable air dam to move, against the bias of the spring, from the retracted position to a deployed position closer to ground under the vehicle when a forward speed of the vehicle reaches or exceeds a predetermined activation speed.
Abstract:
An air dam assembly mounted under a front end of a vehicle includes a passively deployable air dam assembly. The passively deployable air dam assembly includes a passively deployable air dam having a front surface at least partially exposed to ram air when the vehicle is traveling in a forward direction, and a passive deployment assembly including at least one spring biasing the passively deployable air dam into a retracted position, with the passive deployment assembly engaging the passively deployable air dam to allow the passively deployable air dam to move, against the bias of the spring, from the retracted position to a deployed position closer to ground under the vehicle when a forward speed of the vehicle reaches or exceeds a predetermined activation speed.
Abstract:
An air duct assembly supplies air from an air cleaner housing to an engine throttle and includes a first duct connected to the air cleaner housing and a second duct connected to the engine air intake. Open ends of the first and second ducts are spaced from one another and the second duct has a flared bell mouth at its open end. The second duct includes a sleeve that defines an attenuation chamber. A flexible bellows overlies the first and second ducts and the sleeve, and extends across the space between the first and second ducts to provide an airtight connection therebetween and flex during relative motion between the air cleaner housing and the engine air intake. A hydrocarbon adsorbing material can be housed within the attenuation chamber.
Abstract:
A longitudinal member assembly having a primary loading direction, including an interior longitudinal member and an exterior longitudinal member, and a method of assembly, is disclosed. The interior longitudinal member has a boxed-section shape including a first side and an opposed second side parallel to the first side. The exterior longitudinal member has a boxed shape including a first exterior side and an opposed second exterior side parallel to the first exterior side. The interior member is telescopically received in the exterior member creating an overlap area, the first exterior side includes a first side welding hole, and the second exterior side includes a second side welding hole. A first side hole weld extends around the first side welding hole, and a second side hole weld extends around the second side welding hole. The first and second holes are parallel to the primary loading direction.
Abstract:
A vehicle frame has side rails which support the suspension system and body of the vehicle. The side rails have a rectangular cross-section with the end sections thereof having predetermined wall thicknesses and rectangular size, and a center section having a thinner wall thickness and a larger height dimension of the rectangular cross-section. A transition section connects respective end sections with the center section. The transition section has rectangular cross-sections and wall thickness at the respective junctures which matches the adjoining section. The frame side rail is manufactured by prebending a cylindrical tube of constant wall thickness into a shape consistent with the desired final shape; then hydroforming an intermediate work piece in a first die to provide wall thickness and perimeter characteristics commensurate with the final product; and then further hydroforming the intermediate work piece in a second die to provide the finished product or to provide two components which are joined to form the final frame side rail. When two intermediate work pieces are processed, each is formed with an end section and a part of the center section.
Abstract:
An air duct assembly supplies air from an air cleaner housing to an engine throttle and includes a first duct connected to the air cleaner housing and a second duct connected to the engine air intake. Open ends of the first and second ducts are spaced from one another and the second duct has a flared bell mouth at its open end. The second duct includes a sleeve that defines an attenuation chamber. A flexible bellows overlies the first and second ducts and the sleeve, and extends across the space between the first and second ducts to provide an airtight connection therebetween and flex during relative motion between the air cleaner housing and the engine air intake. A hydrocarbon adsorbing material can be housed within the attenuation chamber.