12616results about "Monocoque constructions" patented technology

A display unit (12) is provided, the display unit including a housing (20) configured for mounting in an interior region of a vehicle, and a screen (30) mounted on the housing for movement between a stowed position wherein the screen is at least partially contained within the housing and a deployed position wherein the screen projects from the housing to reveal a viewing surface (32) of the screen. When the screen is deployed, the viewing surface typically is at an angle of between 45-degrees and 90-degrees from the stowed position.

A control system for a vehicle comprises a power source, a power transmission link, a plurality of input and output devices, a plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules, and a communication network that interconnects the interface modules. The interface modules are also each coupled to respective local subsets of the input and output devices. Each of the interface modules collects input status information from the respective local subset of the input devices and transmits the input status information over the communication network to the remaining interface modules.

A straddle-type vehicle, or all terrain vehicle, has an engine located towards the rear of the vehicle such that a main portion of the engine, or power unit, is disposed beneath the seat. The fuel tank extends generally vertically beneath the steering member. The radiator is located at a rear portion of the vehicle rearwardly of the engine where it is protected from collisions and objects striking the front grille. A front storage compartment is also provided in the front portion of the vehicle. The vehicle also has a pivotally connected and removable seat for easy access to the engine. There is also a gap between the seat and the front wheel well through which the driver can pass his feet or where an optional container or auxiliary fuel tank can be secured.

A skirt panel is provided herein for interconnection to another abutted similar skirt panel for attachment beneath a lower, outer longitudinally-extending edge of a trailer including a rear wheel assembly of a tractor-trailer rig, thereby to provide a continuous fairing extending downwardly from the trailer. The skirt panel includes a monolithic, generally-rectangular composite reinforced thermoplastic structure, having vertical lateral side edges configured and arranged for connection to associated vertical lateral side edges of abutting similar skirt panels. This provides a longitudinally-extending fairing for extending contiguously on each side of the trailer, a front face of the thermoplastic structure being provided with a plurality of longitudinally-extending, vertically-spaced-apart arcuate protrusions. The outer face of the thermoplastic panel preferably also is provided with dimples. The reinforcing comprising a panel secured to an inner face of the skirt panel and is provided with laterally-extending means whereby abutting skirt panels are secured to one another; whereby, when said fairing is secured to a lower portion of said trailer, the fairing extends downwardly from the trailer to from 60% to 80% of the distance to the road, so that a portion of any impinging air is directed laterally around the wheels of the rear wheel bogeys to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the trailer and of the wheel assembly.

An improved acoustically and thermally insulating composite material suitable for use in structures such as buildings, appliances, and the interior passenger compartments and exterior components of automotive vehicles, comprising at least one airlaid fibrous layer of controlled density and composition and incorporating suitable binding agents and additives as needed to meet expectations for noise abatement, fire, and mildew resistance. Separately, an airlaid structure which provides a reduced, controlled airflow therethrough useful for acoustic insulation is provided, and which includes a woven or nonwoven scrim.

A device for reducing vehicle aerodynamic resistance for vehicles having a generally rectangular body disposed above rear wheels, comprising a plurality of load bearing struts attached to the bottom of the rectangular body adjacent its sides, a plurality of opposing flat sheets attached to the load bearing struts, and angled flaps attached to the lower edge of the opposing sheets defining an obtuse angle with the opposing flat sheets extending inwardly with respect to the sides of the rectangular body to a predetermined height above the ground, which, stiffen the opposing flat sheets, bend to resist damage when struck by the ground, and guide airflow around the rear wheels of the vehicle to reduce its aerodynamic resistance when moving.

An apparatus for reducing the aerodynamic drag of a wheeled vehicle in a flowstream, the vehicle having a vehicle body and a wheel assembly supporting the vehicle body. The apparatus includes a baffle assembly adapted to be positioned upstream of the wheel assembly for deflecting airflow away from the wheel assembly so as to reduce the incident pressure on the wheel assembly.

The present invention relates to an aerodynamic drag reducing system for land vehicles, in particular semi-tractor trailers. The drag reducing system includes a selectively removable frame and a drag reduction member. The selectively removable frame can adapt to conform to at least one of the width or height of the land vehicle, and can be secured thereto by a securement assembly. In one embodiment, the drag reducing system can be folded and collapsed for compact storage. The drag reducing system can be easily and quickly secured to the back end of a semi-tractor trailer without tools and without requiring that any permanent modifications be made to the trailer. In one embodiment, drag reducing system includes a hinge joint assembly to facilitate installation, removal, and repositioning of drag reducing system.

An automotive slouch rear seat with improved adjustability is provided including an upper seat back and a lower seat bottom. The upper seat back includes a fixed rear seat back, a pivotal seat back, and a sliding seat back. The pivotal seat back has an upper end and a lower end for connecting to the lower seat bottom. The sliding seat back is slidably engaged to the fixed rear seat back. The sliding seat back is rotatably engaged to the upper end of the pivotal seat back. The lower seat bottom includes a fixed rear seat bottom, and a sliding seat lower. The sliding seat lower is slidably engaged to the fixed rear seat bottom. The sliding seat lower is rotatably engaged to the lower end of the pivotal seat back. Also, an automotive slouch rear seat assembly and a method of assembling a pre-installation automotive slouch rear seat assembly are provided.