Volvo Trucks North America, Inc.

Volvo Gm Heavy Truck Corporation

Thomas J Palenchar

Dennis E Stosel

Eric R Von Hoene

Jan-Olof Bodin

Eric R Von Heone

A hood and fender assembly mounting and latch system for use with an over-the-highway tractor having a frame supporting an engine, a cab and a hood and fender assembly. A hinge pivotally connects the hood and fender assembly to the frame. A hex-shaped torsion bar and damper are used to assist in the opening and closing of the hood and fender assembly. The latch system includes a receiver assembly attached to the frame. A pin assembly is attached to the hood and fender assembly at a distal location relative to the hinge. The receiver assembly receives the pin assembly when the hood and fender assembly is in a position enclosing the engine and locates and maintains the hood and fender assembly in a predetermined position relative to the frame, independent of the cab. The receiver assembly has a lock lever which is movable between a latched position at which it engages the pin assembly and an unlatched position. A movable handle is located within the cab. A cable connects the handle with the lock lever to move the lock lever from the latched position to the unlatched position in response to movement of the handle.

Vehicle hood support and latch system

An over the highway truck or tractor vehicle with an improved air intake system. The vehicle includes a hood and fender assembly with a smooth outer surface with an air intake opening in the passenger side of the hood. The intake is defined by a perimetral hood flange extending inwardly from the outer surface. A self securing grating is in the opening. The grating has a perimetral gasket recess which traps a gasket in engagement with the hood flange to provide water seal around the opening. The grating has baffle portions which delineate air intake passages. Structure within the hood delineates an air flow and water separation passage extending from the intake passages to an engine. The flow and separation passage includes a plenum section adjacent the grating and a choke section above the plenum section.

Vehicle air intake and method

Vehicle air intake grille

Growing community of inventors

Greensboro, NC, United States of America

Thomas J Palenchar