Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Donald Federico

Jeremiah Thomas Hammer

John Kim

Adam Ludwig

Brian L Tew

Daniel Todd Smith

Jeff Charles Hills

Kristofer L Karch

Nikhil V Bhosale

Isao Kohno

Sato Koki

Yasushi Kondo

Disclosed is a vehicle having a breakaway tie rod. The tie rod has a longitudinal axis oriented substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and includes a rod portion and a receiver portion. The rod portion includes a proximal ball joint disposed at the proximal end and a male coupling section disposed at the distal end. The receiver portion includes a female coupling section disposed at the proximal end, a distal ball joint disposed at the distal end, and a narrowing feature disposed between the proximal end and distal end. The male coupling section of the rod portion is received into the female coupling section of the receiver portion, forming a connection, and the distal end of the rod portion is disposed proximate to the narrowing feature. The narrowing feature is configured to fracture when subjected to a threshold force substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Breakaway automotive steering tie rod for controlled wheel motion during crash

The departure time scheduling control system includes an electric vehicle having an electric power storage device and an interior climate control device operable to vary an interior temperature. A user interface includes a display and an input portion which allows a user to schedule a departure time having a temperature setting and a charge mode setting having an immediate mode and a delayed mode. A charger unit controls the charging of the electric power storage device to the preset charge level accordingly to the charge mode setting by the departure time. A controller activates the interior climate control device to bring the interior temperature to the temperature setting by the departure time. The controller also activates the charger unit to charge the electric power storage device according to the charge mode setting to the preset charge level by said departure time.

Departure time scheduling control system for an electric vehicle

An air duct system which mates an air duct attached to the roof of an automotive vehicle and an air duct attached to a nonexposed surface of a headliner is provided. The air duct system is attached to an air supply which delivers directed air and is disposed between an inner surface of the roof and the nonexposed surface of the headliner. The headliner includes an opening into the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle. The air duct system includes a first air duct and a second air duct. The first air duct is attached to the inner surface of the roof, and the second air duct is attached to the nonexposed surface of the headliner. Upon installation of the headliner to the roof a portal on the first air duct registers with a portal on the second air duct so as to provide an air flow passage between said first air duct and said second air duct.

Air duct system mating roof air ducts with headliner air ducts

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Grass Lake, MI, United States of America

Donald Federico