| VOLVO GROUP NORTH AMERICA, LLC Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120038183 | AIR FLOW GUIDE FOR A TRACTOR TRAILER GAP - An apparatus for affecting airflow in a gap between a lead vehicle and a connected trailing vehicle, includes a guide vane having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a gap side surface, and an outward facing surface, and a support apparatus mountable on a vehicle for supporting the guide vane in a vertical orientation relative to the vehicle with a space between the vehicle and the guide vane gap side surface and with at least a portion of the vane extending beyond an end of the vehicle. The flow guide divides an air flow at the trailing edge of a vehicle to avoid the creation of turbulence in the air flow as it encounters the gap between the vehicle and the trailing vehicle, | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120012733 | SUPPORT FOR VERTICALLY MOUNTED EXHAUST COMPONENTS - A mounting arrangement for a vertically oriented exhaust system component includes a base member mountable to a vehicle frame with a plurality of upstanding rods fixed to the bas member. At least one clamping band is interconnected with the plurality of rods and can be clamped onto an exhaust component. The arrangement is advantageous for heavy components such as SCR catalyst bodies and diesel particulate filters. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20110295470 | TRACTOR TRAILER GAP CONTROL SYSTEM - A method for increasing the aerodynamic efficiency of a vehicle includes monitoring operating condition of a vehicle, determining if a pre-selected event has occurred with respect to the operating condition of the vehicle, communicating a spacing value to a moving device and adjusting a spacing between a cab and a trailer of the vehicle based on the communicated spacing value. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110192670 | System for Automatically Dislodging a Vehicle Windshield - A system for automatically detaching a windshield from a vehicle cab comprises a pressure applying device mounted between a windshield and a frame element, a roll-over condition sensor, and a controller connected to receive a signal indicating a roll-over condition from the roller-over condition sensor and connected to activate the pressure applying device responsive to receiving said signal. The pressure applying device may be one or more pyrotechnic devices. The system includes a delay function to delay activating the pressure applying device to allow the vehicle to come to a rest. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110163527 | STRUCTURAL JOINT FOR A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE FRAME AND A FRAME MADE WITH A STRUCTURAL JOINT - A structural joint in a truck tractor frame includes a first frame member having an interface plate permanently mounted thereon, the interface plate having an interface surface contoured with a plurality of protrusions and depressions, which may be grooves and ridges. A second frame member has an interface surface contoured with a plurality of protrusions and depressions complementary to the plurality of protrusions and depressions of the interface surface of the interface plate. The second frame member is mounted to the first frame member with the interface surfaces in contact, with a plurality of releasable fasteners fastening the second frame member to the interface plate, wherein, the contoured interface surfaces interengage to resist linear and torsional shear forces. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110001303 | TOW ASSEMBLY FOR HEAVY TRUCKS - A tow assembly for a truck for high capacity loads provides independent load paths interconnected to a tow eye for bearing a towing load. According to one embodiment, the assembly includes a mounting interface having a front face and oppositely located side faces and defining an interior space, a first outer member extending from one side face of the mounting box, a second outer member extending from an opposite side face of the mounting box, an inner member disposed and extending through the first outer member, the interface, and the second outer member, and, a tow eye mounted to the front face of the interface and structurally interconnected to the inner bar. Towing loads are transmitted to the mounting interface and distributed and shared by the inner member and first and second tube structure. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20100301584 | VEHICLE POWER UNIT AND BODY UNIT SYSTEM - A truck tractor and removable body unit system selectively configurable as a tractor and freight box or an articulated truck-trailer combination includes a truck tractor having a frame supporting a drive axle and a steer axle with a fifth wheel mounted on the frame, and a body unit having a body mounted on a frame, the frame supported by a wheeled axle and having a king pin for releasably engaging the fifth wheel on the truck tractor. The body unit includes a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the truck tractor frame to constrain lateral movement between the truck tractor and the body unit while allowing relative vertical pivoting movement between the truck tractor and body unit about the king pin and fifth wheel. An adjustable spring mounted to one of the truck tractor and body unit to act between the truck tractor frame and the body unit frame to adjust a loading between the truck tractor frame and body unit. | 12-02-2010 |
