Freightliner Corporation

Dean Lee Holter

Michael Von Mayenburg

Thomas A Leslie

Michael C Salch

An underhood air flow management system for a truck which includes cowl openings defined between cowl extensions and the rear edges of depending hood sections. Most preferably the cowl extension extends forwardly and inwardly toward the longitudinal centerline of the truck. The cowl extensions assist in deflecting air to the cowl openings, the air having passed through a radiator, along the sides of an engine and engine compartment, and through the cowl openings. The cowl openings preferably extend the full height of the depending hood sections. The bumper of the truck includes a lower extension. In addition, the front wheel wells of the truck are sealed at the front, partially sealed at the side and may be sealed at their rear to reduce the escape of air from the engine compartment through the front wheel wells. The cowl openings are preferably door-free and also lack air flow hindering severe transitions. A charge air cooler may be positioned ahead of the radiator and a fan may be positioned between the radiator and engine. Preferably the radiator is provided with seals so that air cannot enter the engine compartment without passing through the radiator. Seals may be provided between the charge air cooler and the radiator.

Truck underhood air flow management system

A vehicle with a hood latch assembly includes a latch and latch catch having relative positions which are maintained as the hood closed position of the hood is adjusted to thereby maintain a substantially constant load on the latch assembly. The assembly may include a latch catch with a latch body having an upper hood engaging surface for engaging the hood and isolating hood vibrations. An upwardly projecting neck of the latch catch includes an enlarged head portion with a latch engaging pin. A latch mount incorporated into the latch catch is utilized for coupling the latch catch to a vehicle body. The latch mount may be slidably mounted to a flange of a mounting bracket which is fixedly mounted to the vehicle body. A stop mounted to the vehicle hood engages the upper surface of the latch catch when the hood is in the hood closed position. The latch includes a latch base, a handle pivoted thereto, and a latch hook having a pivot portion pivoted within a yoke of the handle and a hook. The hook is biased away from the latch catch by a biasing element. One surface of the latch hook is friction-enhanced to facilitate manual movement of the latch hook in opposition to the force applied by the biasing element.

Hood latch assembly for a vehicle

A torsion bar hood lift assist includes a torsion bar mounted with a free end portion positioned to engage and travel along a hood interior surface as the hood of the vehicle is opened and closed. As the hood is closed, the torsion bar bends and twists to store energy which is then transferred to the hood to assist in hood opening when the hood is lifted. The free end portion of the torsion bar supports a hood engagement member such as a roller to reduce friction between the torsion bar and hood as energy is transferred. The torsion bar is typically supported at two locations with a bearing block being used to further reduce friction. The free end of the torsion bar engages a hood reinforcing member or plate, which may comprise a hood mounting bracket, and travels against this plate during hood opening and closing.

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Lake Oswego, OR, United States of America

Dean Lee Holter