Abstract: A fuel system for a diesel engine having a plurality of combustion chambers, the engine having ignition cackle occurring in at least one combustion chamber includes a standard fuel injector being associated with each of the non-cackling combustion chambers, and a non-standard fuel injector being associated with each of the cackling combustion chambers, each of the non-standard fuel injectors having an increased pilot volume of fuel, the increased pilot volume of fuel having a quantity of fuel therein for injection into the associated combustion chamber. A non-standard fuel injector and a method for affecting cackle are also included.

Abstract: A controller for, and method of, load governing a compression ignition engine. Various data is processed to develop fueling data for accomplishing governed fueling of the engine. The processing includes processing accelerator pedal position data corresponding to the position of an accelerator pedal and engine load data corresponding to the load on the engine to develop engine speed setpoint data according to a function generator containing engine speed setpoint data in correlation with accelerator pedal position data and engine load data to accomplish load governing of the engine in consequence of further processing of the developed engine speed setpoint data. The developed engine speed setpoint data and actual engine speed data are processed by a governor PID to develop the fueling data.

Abstract: A diesel engine control system and method. A first data source provides data defining a current maximum limit for fueling the engine. A second data source provides data defining a torque request for the engine. A third data source providing data distinguishing between the occurrence and non-occurrence of a vehicle event, such as a traction- or transmission-related event, calling for change in value of maximum allowable engine torque from a preset value to a different value. When the third data source data indicates occurrence of a vehicle event calling for change in value of maximum allowable engine torque from the preset value to a different value, the data from the first data source and the data from the second data source are processes to develop data representing a value of maximum allowable engine torque different from the preset value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for installing an oil pan heater on an oil pan while the oil pan is mounted on an engine block. Oil is drained from the engine oil pan. Then the engine oil pan is pierced to provide a pilot hole having pierced ends extending into the engine oil pan. A circular chamfered groove is formed surrounding the pilot hole so as to provide an oil pan thickness at a base of the chamfered groove. A pull is inserted into the oil pan through the pilot hole to engage an internal portion of the oil pan surrounding the pilot hole. The pull extracts a circular slug from the oil pan and a substantially circular hole is formed in the oil pan. An expandable heater bushing is inserted in the substantially circular hole. The heater bushing has an expandable tubular section extending from an enlarged head. The tubular section is crimped and the enlarged head is sealed to the oil pan. Then the heater is attached to the enlarged head.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system for delivering a supply of a fluid from a fluid source to at least one fuel injector includes a rail for conveying a fluid and being positionable proximate the fuel injector. The rail has a fluid passageway defined therein, the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the source of fluid. A connector is in fluid communication with both the rail and with the fuel injector for fluidly connecting the rail to the fuel injector. The connector is universally shiftable in three orthogonal axes for accommodating static tolerances existing between the rail and the fuel injector and for accommodating dynamic relative motion between the rail and the fuel injector.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system for delivering a supply of a fluid from a fluid source to a fuel injector includes a rail for conveying a fluid and being positionable proximate the fuel injector. The rail has a fluid passageway defined therein, the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the source of fluid. A connector is in fluid communication with both the rail and with the fuel injector for fluidly connecting the rail to the fuel injector. The connector is universally moveable in three axes for accommodating static tolerances existing between the rail and the fuel injector and for accommodating dynamic relative motion between the rail and the fuel injector such that stresses imposed on the fuel injector resulting from being attached to the rail are substantially eliminated.

Abstract: The invention provides a cranking inhibition control system for an electric starter to an internal combustion engine. Engine rotational speed is developed from the signal produced by a cam shaft position sensor, which drives the logic of the system. Responsive to changes in engine rotation speed which result in engine speed falling below idle speed, the control logic generates a temporary cranking inhibit signal. Once engine speed falls low enough to clearly indicate cranking has ceased, a timer is triggered which resets the inhibit signal to permit cranking after a suitable delay.

Abstract: The invention provides a single member insert positionable between a front axle and each front leaf spring as a spacer. The member allows attachment of one end of a shock absorber for bracing against the axle. The member also serves as a caster wedge for maintaining proper steering response.

Abstract: A hydraulically-assisted engine valve actuator and method for assisting in the actuation of an engine valve includes a translatable pilot valve that is operably coupled to and controlled by a pilot valve positioning system. A servo piston is in fluid communication with the pilot valve and is operably coupled to the engine valve. The pilot valve positioning system controls translation of the pilot valve to meter hydraulic fluid under pressure to and from the servo piston. The hydraulic fluid under pressure causes the servo piston to closely follow the translation of the pilot valve to effect a desired profile of translational opening and closing motion of the engine valve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of vehicle collision severity discrimination for actuating a safety device at an occupant location in the vehicle. The method provides steps for providing a plurality of velocity and load level trigger values, including velocity and load level pairs, indicating a plurality of threshold conditions for actuating the safety device at an occupant location. Vehicle velocity and load are monitored so that at the instant of a collision a severity evaluation may be made, particularly where the potential for vehicle crush ameliorates the potential danger to the occupants. Responsive to selected vehicle conditions, a collision indication signal is generated Responsive to generation of a collision indication signal, vehicle velocity, vehicle load, or both, are compared to threshold conditions for actuation of the safety device.

Abstract: A tubing coupler for mechanically and fluidly connecting two pieces of tubing. The tubing coupler has a first body portion with a pilot and a second body portion with a cavity in which the pilot is disposed when the tubing coupler is assembled. A fluid passageway through the first body portion and the pilot of the first body portion is in fluid communication with a fluid passageway through the second body portion and the cavity of the second body portion. Thus fluid flow is allowed through the coupler. A primary sealing device circumscribes the pilot of the first body portion and seals the space between the pilot of the first body portion and the cavity of the second body portion. A plate is disposed between the first body portion and the second body portion and defines an opening through itself through which the pilot of the first body portion protrudes. A secondary sealing device is disposed inside the periphery of the opening in the plate and surrounds a portion of the pilot.

Abstract: A system and a method for detecting compromised vehicle wheel and tire operating characteristics includes detection for out of round new tires, under pressure tires, poor front wheel alignment and off center line loads. The instantaneous rotational velocity signal generated for each wheel by an existing antilock braking system (ABS) provides data for the basic comparison of wheel speed is against an instantaneous indication of vehicle speed. Once calibrated, the system provides operational monitoring of the wheels includes initializing the trip odometer, collecting wheel speeds, and sampling vehicle speed. Tire radius and tolerance data as a function of estimated wear and tire temperature. Tire temperature is in turn a function of ambient temperature and trip distance. The rotational velocities for the wheels are estimated as functions of vehicle speed and the updated tire radius data.

Abstract: A clamping device for clamping a fuel injector to the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injector having a fuel injector body including a injector nozzle tip includes a hold down device for clamping to an object and a seal device for effecting a fluid seal with a plurality of fluid passageways defined in the cylinder head, the sealing device associated with each fluid passageway being compressible by a unidirectional force applied to the hold down device. A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, the fuel injector having a fuel injector body including a injector nozzle tip includes a hold down device for clamping to an object and a seal device for effecting a fluid seal with a plurality of fluid passageways defined in the object, at least one seal device having a dimensional range in which an effective seal is made, the dimensional range being at least as great as the range of manufacturing tolerances existing is between the fuel injector and the object.

Abstract: An ABS sensor bracket made up of two mounting wing plates engaged to a sensor receiver. The sensor receiver is generally cylindrical and is mounted between the wing plates such that the sensor receiver is asymmetric axially relative to the caliper anchor plate. When viewed from the side, there is a shorter end of the sensor receiver jutting out a shorter distance from the wing plates than an opposite longer end of the sensor receiver. In one embodiment, a first end of the sensor receiver has an outer diameter circumference greater than that of the opposite second end. The caliper anchor plate has an outer edge slot for mounting of the ABS sensor brackets. The outer edge slots are generally ‘U’ or ‘V’ shaped. There are mounting holes in the outer radial areas bordering the outer edge slots.

Abstract: A fuel injector including a delay device, the fuel injector having an electric controller for controlling the flow of a high pressure actuating fluid responsive to initiation and cessation of a pulse width command, the pulse width command defining the duration of an injection event, and an intensifier being in fluid communication with the controller, the intensifier being translatable to increase the pressure of a volume of fuel for injection into the combustion chamber of an engine; the delay device includes an apparatus, shiftable between a first disposition and a second disposition over a certain period of time after initiation of the pulse width command, the period of time effecting a delay in initiation of fuel injection after initiation of the pulse width command. In one embodiment, a bias against shifting the apparatus from said first disposition to the second disposition is effected by the actuating fluid to reduce variations in the delay period under variable actuating pressure conditions.

Abstract: A one-piece mounting bracket (30) for mounting an automatic transmission shift control in the cab of a truck has a top wall (34) and laterally spaced apart side walls (36, 38) depending from the top wall and extending rearward into covering relation to laterally opposite sides of the shift control. A face plate (70) spans the side walls of the bracket in covering relation to the shift control, and a shift lever (62) for operating the shift control to shift the transmission extends from the shift control through an opening (72) at the face plate to provide a grip by which a driver of the vehicle can operate the shift control. The side walls are symmetric about an imaginary medial plane that perpendicularly bisects an imaginary plane occupied by the top wall. The side walls also have symmetric hole patterns (50, 52) providing shift cable attachment features that are symmetric about the imaginary medial plane. The bracket may be used in either a right- or left-hand drive vehicle.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle tandem axle has air springs positioned adjacent the ends of the trailing and lead axles of the tandem axle. Pairs of air springs on each side of the vehicle are pneumatically connected to form a common reservoir. Displacement of the ends of the lead and trailing axles of the tandem axle are averaged to provide a controlling input to air spring pressurization controllers provided for each pair of air springs.

Abstract: A right-hand drive vehicle steering system (10) that may be factory built or converted from a left-hand drive steering system or vice versa. The method of conversion begins with the removal of the left-hand drive steering components. A left-hand drive designed steering gear is engaged to an adapter bracket (50). The adapter bracket allows the orientation of the left-hand drive designed steering gear to remain the same in a right-hand drive installation as when installed in the left-hand drive. As a result, the pitman arm (18) that directs the wheel direction of steering and is outboard of the steering gear for left-hand drive applications, is inboard of the steering gear for right-hand drive applications. The adapter bracket allows displacement of the steering column and associated steering equipment to further outboard in the right-hand drive system relative to the outboard position in left-hand drive applications.