Systems and methods for operating an engine and a torque converter are presented. In one example, slip of a torque converter is adjusted via at least partially closing or opening a torque converter clutch in response to vehicle vibration. The vehicle vibration may be based on road surface conditions and an actual total number of operating cylinders of the engine.

A power control system may include at least one of batteries, a motor, and a data logic analyzer that can interpret certain variable conditions of a transport, such as a tractor trailer, moving along a road or highway. The data can be used to determine when to apply supplemental power to the wheels of a trailer to reduce fuel usage. One example device may include at least one of a power source affixed to a trailer to capture energy from movement of an axle of the trailer, and a motor powered by the power source to operate and provide movement assistance to the axle.

An active front deflector assembly having a deployable deflector panel, linkage assemblies, and an actuator. The system deploys and retracts based on vehicle requirements, and, when deployed, interrupts air flow thereby improving the vehicle aerodynamics, reducing emissions and improving fuel economy. The deflector panel is retractable so the vehicle meets ground clearances, ramp angles, off-road requirements, etc. The deflector panel is also both rigid and semi-rigid to absorb impact energy. The linkage assemblies are coupled to the deflector panel and a drive shaft connected to the actuator. The drive shaft transmits the drive from the actuator coupled to one linkage assembly to the other linkage assembly for moving the deflector panel between the deployed/retracted positions. The actuator is clutched to prevent damage to the system. The active front deflector assembly provides a fully deployable system with object detection, declutching of the actuator, and communication with the vehicle.

Side-view mirror deployment in autonomous vehicles can be diagnosed by determining one or more first rates of fuel consumption and deploying one or more side-view mirrors. One or more second rates of fuel consumption can then be determined and one or more deployment states of the side-view mirror can be controlled based on the first rates of fuel consumption and the second rates of fuel consumption.

A power control system may include at least one of batteries, a motor, and a data logic analyzer that can interpret certain variable conditions of a transport, such as a tractor trailer, moving along a road or highway. The data can be used to determine when to apply supplemental power to the wheels of a trailer to reduce fuel usage. One example device may include at least one of: a power creation module that generates electrical power, a battery which store the electrical power, a motor affixed to a trailer axle of a trailer which provides a turning force to the trailer axle when enabled to operate from the stored electrical power of the battery, and a motor controller configured to initiate the motor to operate according to a predefined sensor condition.

An active front deflector assembly having a deployable deflector panel, linkage assemblies, and an actuator. The system deploys and retracts based on vehicle requirements, and, when deployed, interrupts air flow thereby improving the vehicle aerodynamics, reducing emissions and improving fuel economy. The deflector panel is retractable so the vehicle meets ground clearances, ramp angles, off-road requirements, etc. The deflector panel is also both rigid and semi-rigid to absorb impact energy. The linkage assemblies are coupled to the deflector panel and a drive shaft connected to the actuator. The drive shaft transmits the drive from the actuator coupled to one linkage assembly to the other linkage assembly for moving the deflector panel between the deployed/retracted positions. The actuator is clutched to prevent damage to the system. The active front deflector assembly provides a fully deployable system with object detection, declutching of the actuator, and communication with the vehicle.

Disclosed are a power connector of a thermostat and a manufacturing method thereof. A power connector for a thermostat an exemplary embodiment of the present invention connected with a lead wire included in a cartridge heater to supply power to the cartridge heater, the power connector for a thermostat including: a main body including an end connected with an external power terminal; two bus bar terminals including opposite ends partially protruding from an opposite end of the main body while ends of the bus bar terminals are inserted into the main body; a lower cover including one end connected with the main body at a lower portion of the main body, and formed therein with an insertion hole in which a lead wire of the cartridge heater is inserted; a ring terminal mounted inside the lower cover corresponding to the insertion hole to be connected with each bus bar terminal, wherein the lead wire inserted into the insertion hole is inserted and fixed into the ring terminal; and an upper cover coupled with the lower cover at a lower portion of the lower cover, wherein one end of the upper cover is connected with one end of the main body.

Device for admitting cooling air to a motor vehicle interior, formed of one or several mobile flaps, each orientable in rotation about an axis by a control mechanism, each flap includes on its external periphery a pressing surface intended, when the mobile flap is in the closed position, to come into contact with a bearing surface. The pressing surface has a point of first contact and a point of last contact with the said bearing surface, these points being defined in such a way that when the control mechanism actuates closure of the mobile flaps and the point of first contact comes into contact with the said bearing surface, the point of last contact is distant from the said bearing surface by a predefined and non-zero distance.

Disclosed are a power connector of a thermostat and a manufacturing method thereof. A power connector for a thermostat an exemplary embodiment of the present invention connected with a lead wire included in a cartridge heater to supply power to the cartridge heater, the power connector for a thermostat including: a main body including an end connected with an external power terminal; two bus bar terminals including opposite ends partially protruding from an opposite end of the main body while ends of the bus bar terminals are inserted into the main body; a lower cover including one end connected with the main body at a lower portion of the main body, and formed therein with an insertion hole in which a lead wire of the cartridge heater is inserted; a ring terminal mounted inside the lower cover corresponding to the insertion hole to be connected with each bus bar terminal, wherein the lead wire inserted into the insertion hole is inserted and fixed into the ring terminal; and an upper cover coupled with the lower cover at a lower portion of the lower cover, wherein one end of the upper cover is connected with one end of the main body.

A through-the-road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introducing hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.