A method of making a polymeric engine hood assembly for use in a vehicle can include applying heat to a first polymeric sheet, applying heat to a second polymeric sheet, stacking the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, placing the stacked sheets between a first mold half and a second mold half, closing the first mold half and second mold half, applying vacuum to the space between the first polymeric sheet and the first mold half and between the second polymeric sheet and the second mold half, wherein the first polymeric sheet forms an exterior panel and wherein the second polymeric sheet forms a reinforcing structure; and attaching an exterior panel to a fender skin at a junction surface, wherein the reinforcing structure includes a connecting ridge extending transversely across the reinforcing structure, wherein the connecting ridge is configured to accept the junction surface of the exterior panel and the feeder skin.

A plurality of structural fibers are laid onto a substrate. The plurality of structural fibers are stitched together with a thread in a specified stitching pattern to form a composite preform. The thread in the specified stitching pattern secures the structural fibers to each other such that the structural fibers provide a tailored load path within the composite preform and presents a visible image on an outer surface of the composite preform.

A plurality of structural fibers are laid onto a substrate. The plurality of structural fibers are stitched together with a thread in a specified stitching pattern to form a composite preform. The thread in the specified stitching pattern secures the structural fibers to each other such that the structural fibers provide a tailored load path within the composite preform and presents a visible image on an outer surface of the composite preform.

A stand-up grounds maintenance vehicle including a chassis, a control tower, an implement, and a cover. The chassis is supported upon a ground surface by a plurality of ground-engaging members and extends along a longitudinal axis between a front end and a rear end. The control tower is coupled to the chassis proximate the rear end. The implement is attached to the chassis and is positioned at least partially forward of the control tower. The implement includes an implement drive. The cover extends over the implement drive and is pivotally coupled to the chassis.

A stand-up grounds maintenance vehicle including a chassis, a control tower, an implement, and a cover. The chassis is supported upon a ground surface by a plurality of ground-engaging members and extends along a longitudinal axis between a front end and a rear end. The control tower is coupled to the chassis proximate the rear end. The implement is attached to the chassis and is positioned at least partially forward of the control tower. The implement includes an implement drive. The cover extends over the implement drive and is pivotally coupled to the chassis.

A hood for closing a compartment of a vehicle includes an outer panel forming a vehicle body outer side portion of the hood. The hood further includes a cooling channel structure arranged at an inner side portion of the outer panel, wherein the cooling channel structure is adapted for transferring a cooling fluid from a vehicle component and back to the vehicle component such that heat is exchanged via the outer panel with the vehicle surroundings.

Systems and methods are presented herein for providing a reinforcement structure to reduce a Head Impact Criteria value associated with an object impacting a hood assembly that comprises the reinforcement structure. The reinforcement structure is arranged between an outer hood structure and an inner hood structure. The reinforcements structure comprises a main reinforcement and a reinforcement extension configured to extend laterally away from the main reinforcement. The reinforcement extension comprises a rib structure configured to accommodate an upper profile of a rigid front fascia feature and a rear flange configured to extend rearward over the rigid front fascia feature. The reinforcement extension is structured to be stiff enough to deform in a manner that reduces the amount of time an impacting structure reaches a peak acceleration value while also reducing the achievable peak acceleration value.

A hood of a tractor including a front grill, a light unit, and an upper cover is provided with a center pillar. The front grill is attached to the center pillar, the light unit is attached to the front grill, and the upper cover is supported by the center pillar. The hood is further provided with a side frame and a lower cover, where the side frame is attached to the center pillar, and the lower cover is attached to at least the upper cover and the side frame.

A hood assembly for a motor vehicle includes a hood, a hinge with a first arm, and a pin fixed to the first arm in a projecting manner along a mounting axis and a second arm of the hood hinged to the first arm around a hinge axis, a structural member fixed to the pin and provided with a hole axially receiving the pin along the mounting axis, wherein the hinge axis and the mounting axis lie respectively on a first plane and on a second plane parallel to one another, and wherein a projection of the hinge axis onto the second plane is orthogonal to the mounting axis .

A hood assembly for a motor vehicle includes a hood, a hinge with a first arm, and a pin fixed to the first arm in a projecting manner along a mounting axis and a second arm of the hood hinged to the first arm around a hinge axis, a structural member fixed to the pin and provided with a hole axially receiving the pin along the mounting axis, wherein the hinge axis and the mounting axis lie respectively on a first plane and on a second plane parallel to one another, and wherein a projection of the hinge axis onto the second plane is orthogonal to the mounting axis .