Abstract: A venting methodology and pressure sensing and vent valving arrangement for monitoring anode bypass valve operating during the normal shutdown of a fuel cell apparatus of the type used in vehicle propulsion systems. During a normal shutdown routine, the pressure differential between the anode inlet and anode outlet is monitored in real time in a period corresponding to the normal closing speed of the anode bypass valve and the pressure differential at the end of the closing cycle of the anode bypass valve is compared to the pressure differential at the beginning of the closing cycle. If the difference in pressure differential at the beginning and end of the anode bypass closing cycle indicates that the anode bypass valve has not properly closed, a system controller switches from a normal shutdown mode to a rapid shutdown mode in which the anode inlet is instantaneously vented by rapid vents.

Abstract: A venting methodology and system for rapid shutdown of a fuel cell apparatus of the type used in a vehicle propulsion system. H2 and air flows to the fuel cell stack are slowly bypassed to the combustor upon receipt of a rapid shutdown command. The bypass occurs over a period of time (for example one to five seconds) using conveniently-sized bypass valves. Upon receipt of the rapid shutdown command, the anode inlet of the fuel cell stack is instantaneously vented to a remote vent to remove all H2 from the stack. Airflow to the cathode inlet of the fuel cell stack gradually diminishes over the bypass period, and when the airflow bypass is complete the cathode inlet is also instantaneously vented to a remote vent to eliminate pressure differentials across the stack.

Abstract: A method is provided for the shutdown of a fuel cell system to relieve system overpressure while maintaining air compressor operation, and corresponding vent valving and control arrangement. The method and venting arrangement are employed in a fuel cell system, for instance a vehicle propulsion system, comprising, in fluid communication, an air compressor having an outlet for providing air to the system, a combustor operative to provide combustor exhaust to the fuel processor.

Abstract: A system for controlling the humidity level of a fuel cell is provided. The system includes a fuel cell, a humidifier for humidifying the fuel cell, and a controller for determining the humidity level of the fuel cell and controlling the humidifier in response to the determined humidity level. The resistance of the fuel cell varies as a function of the humidity level of the fuel cell. Thus, in a preferred system, the controller calculates the resistance of the fuel cell via measurements of AC preferred voltage and current components to determine the humidity level of the fuel cell. A method for controlling the humidity level of a fuel cell is also provided. The steps of the method include: determining the humidity level of the fuel cell, and humidifying the fuel cell in response to the determined humidity level.

Abstract: A DC/DC converter for a fuel cell includes an input node for receiving DC supply power from the fuel cell. An output node provides a DC output voltage. An inductor has inductance which varies with respect to inductor current. The inductor includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is coupled with the input node for receiving DC supply power from the fuel cell. A switch is coupled between the second terminal of the inductor and ground. A control circuit switches the switch between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain has an internal combustion engine, a power transmission and an electric drive. The electric drive includes a stator secured in the housing of the power transmission and a rotor secured to the outer periphery of the torque converter of the power transmission. Both the rotor and the impeller of the torque converter are directly connected with the engine. A torque converter clutch is disposed for selective engagement between the impeller and turbine of the torque converter.

Abstract: A mechanism for honing non round cylinder bores includes a tool body rotatable around a nonrotatable cam with a non round peripheral cam surface and a plurality of honing stones carried by supports for generally radial movement in the tool body. In a preferred embodiment, the supports are swing arms pivotally mounted so that the honing stones follow generally radially oriented arcuate paths determined by cam followers carried by the swing arms. A separately controlled expansion actuating rod axially adjusts expansion shoes that wedge outward stone shoes carried by the swing arms to progressively remove stock from the cylinder and to compensate for wear of the honing stones. Assembly with an associated machine adapter supports the honing mechanism and connects with a conventional honing machine to drive and orient the assembly for accurately honing non round cylinder bores.

Abstract: A compact cam phaser has a flexible spline deformed into a nonround shape and engaging a mating ring gear or circular member at angularly spaced locations for transferring camshaft drive torque between them. The spline has projecting lobes with teeth or friction surfaces which engage like surfaces formed on the mating gear or member. The spline and ring gear have a differential length or number of teeth. The phaser includes a plurality of angularly spaced radial piezo actuators, which expand and contract to cause the projecting lobes (but not the flexible spline itself) to travel around the circular ring gear in rotating waves. Thus, each point of the flexible spline is moved sequentially into and out of contact with the ring gear as the contact points (lobes) rotate in waves. Since the number of spline teeth differs from the ring gear, one revolution of the waves causes the spline to move relative to the ring gear a number of teeth equal to the differential.

Abstract: An overhead cam engine having an engine lubrication system for delivering oil includes an engine block and a cylinder head having a deck face adapted for mating with the engine block. The deck face forms an acute angle with a horizontal plane of the engine block. A valve train has transverse camshaft journal bearing assemblies with pressurized oil orifices to lubricate the bearings, a camshaft rotatably supported by the cylinder head through the transverse camshaft journal bearing assemblies, cams disposed on the camshaft, and valves actuated by the cams. The cylinder head has a transverse bridging surface bridging the transverse camshaft journal bearing assemblies. A bore is positioned along the bridging surface with a gasket supported by the bridging surface about the bore.

Abstract: An inlet port for a spark-ignition reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine is provided with means for altering the direction of approach flow of the conducted gas to an inlet valve leading to a combustion chamber for producing a desired swirling of the charge selectively in the combustion chamber. The means consists of an expansion body which is arranged asymmetrically on the wall of the inlet port, consisting of a supporting body abutting against the wall and an elastomer portion connected to the latter at the edges gas-tightly and liquid-tightly. The expansion body can be expanded through a connection piece by pumping in a fluid so that it forms a ramp which predetermines the direction of approach flow of the conducted gas to the inlet valve. The cross-section of the inlet port is not impaired when the ramp is not required.

Abstract: A fuel vapor storage and recovery apparatus including a fuel vapor storage canister having an atmospheric vent port, a control valve for opening and closing the atmospheric vent port, a fuel vapor adsorbent material in the vapor storage canister, a vapor/purge conduit between the vapor storage canister and a fuel tank, and a heater operative to heat the vapor adsorbent material. With the atmospheric vent port open, a fuel vapor/air mixture is expelled from the fuel tank into the vapor storage canister. A fuel vapor fraction of the fuel vapor/air mixture adsorbs in the pores of the adsorbent material while an air fraction of the mixture escapes through the atmospheric vent port. When the control valve closes the atmospheric vent port, the heater heats the body of adsorbent material to a purge temperature above an ambient temperature in the fuel tank. At the purge temperature, the adsorbed fuel desorbs and fills the storage canister with large volume of hot gaseous vapor.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve (10) for installation between an air intake (12) and an exhaust of an engine comprising a housing (18) having a first (20), second (22), and third (24) sides, a first bore (26) opening through the first side for connection with the air intake, a second bore (28) opening through the second side for receiving exhaust gas from the exhaust, a third bore (30) opening through the first side for connection with the air intake, and a fourth bore (32) opening through the third side and passing in succession through the first bore, the second bore and the third bore; a valve stem (34) positioned in the fourth bore and extending out of the third side of the housing; a valve seat (36) in the fourth bore at the opening (38) of the second bore to the third bore; an annular seal (40) mounted in the fourth bore at the opening (42) of the first bore to the second bore; a valve head (44) on the valve stem within the second bore and normally in engagement with the valve seat; a sleeve (46) mou

Abstract: An overhead cam engine with an engine lubrication system comprises a valve train assembly which includes a camshaft rotatably supported by a cylinder head. An oil lubricated camshaft drive chain engages the camshaft to rotate it. A valve train lubricating assembly is disposed above the cylinder head and includes a baffle, radially positioned from the drive chain, to capture oil spray departing from the drive chain and a trough positioned above the valve train assembly. The trough is configured as an upward facing U-shaped channel, including an end wall to close the trough, defining a reservoir to collect oil from the baffle. Side outlets allow oil to overflow from the trough where outward protruding dimples act as precipitation points to target lubrication onto the valve train assembly.

Abstract: A universal locating fixture for machining various sizes of engine connecting rods. In one embodiment, the fixture includes locating pads, opposed clamps and a crank bore-engaging equalizing locator on a fixed part of the fixture for locating and clamping the crank end of a connecting rod forging for machining. A single locating pad and opposed clamp and a pin end-engaging V locator are mounted on an axially adjustable slide of the fixture for locating and clamping the pin end of a connecting rod for machining. The clamps may be made to accommodate differing widths of connecting rods and the equalizing locator has two locating points spaced to accommodate various crank bore diameters without adjustment. Adjustment of the fixture to machine connecting rods of different lengths requires only axial adjustment of the slide to position the pin end locating pad, clamp and V locator in proper position for the new length.

Abstract: Crank rocker variable valve timing (VVT) mechanisms are disclosed which are relatively compact and are applicable for operating individual or multiple valves. In an exemplary embodiment, an engine valve is driven by an oscillatable rocker cam that is actuated by a linkage driven by a rotary eccentric, preferably a rotary cam. The linkage is pivoted on a control member that is in turn pivotable about the axis of the rotary cam and angularly adjustable to vary the orientation of the rocker cam and thereby vary the valve lift and timing. The rotary cam may be carried on a camshaft. The oscillatable cam is pivoted on the rotational axis of the rotary cam. For some applications the rotary cam and follower could be replaced by a crank or eccentric driving a rocker arm. Numerous other variations in the arrangements are also possible.

Abstract: An engine cylinder block assembly for a V-type engine wherein inner walls of the cylinder banks define a relatively oil free valley which is closed by a rigid valley cover to provide additional stiffness to the inside walls of the blocks, thereby stiffening the block against vibration and bending. The valley cover also includes sealed pockets for enclosing knock sensors mounted upon upwardly extending bosses in the bottom of the valley to both protect the knock sensors and permit their removal without requiring removal of the valley cover from the engine cylinder block. Oil entrainment due to pulsing air flows between crank chambers of the engine are reduced by providing openings in the valley floor between the front and rear crank chambers of the engine while the adjacent inner crank chambers are separated from direct connection with the valley.

Abstract: Valve lift mechanism for an engine includes a two step variable valve lifter having roller followers for engaging multiple cams on an associated camshaft of the engine and an anti-rotation guide mounted in the engine externally of a cylindrical bore receiving the lifter. The guide engages an axial guide recess in the lifter body without requiring a corresponding recess in the bore. The lifter also has a saddle in a central low lift cam follower engagable by lock pins in an annular body of an associated high lift cam follower to lock the followers together for high valve lift operation. The saddle is disposed axially between a follower roller and a high pressure chamber of a hydraulic lash adjuster of the low lift cam follower so that lock pin loads are transmitted as compressive forces through the low lift follower.

Abstract: A cam follower roller bearing shaft is restrained against lateral motion in shaft support bores of the follower body by plugging the bore ends with retainer plugs in or adjacent the ends of the bores. Soft metal or plastic bearing materials may be pressed or molded in the bore ends or in recesses in the follower body at the ends of the bores. Other forms of mechanical retention are disclosed. A fixture for pressing in plugs cut from plastic strips is also disclosed. Applications of the plugs in roller valve lifters, roller finger followers and rocker arm roller followers are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a piston for an internal combustion engine. The piston includes a crown defined by a combustion surface and a cylindrical ring belt. The cylindrical ring belt has a first and a second ring groove extending about the circumference thereof, where the ring grooves are adapted to receive a first and a second piston ring. The combustion surface and the first ring groove define a first ring land therebetween. The first ring groove and the second ring groove define a second ring land therebetween. The cylindrical ring belt also has an elastic groove extending about the circumference thereof. The elastic groove has an upper wall and a lower wall interconnected by a radius "R", where the upper wall and the lower wall pivot about the radius "R", under loading of the piston to lower stress concentration within the crown.

Abstract: A fuel system and method for priming a diesel engine fuel system after assembly or when run out of fuel in which the system has a filter that can trap air allowing drainback of fuel to the tank. The system is provided with a fuel priming connection to the injection pump inlet, the connection having a closure for shutting the connection when not in use. A mechanically openable check valve, such as a Schraeder valve, is a preferred form of closure. The system is primed by reverse flow of fuel from the priming connection through the filter to the fuel tank to virtually eliminate trapped air from the system. The engine may then be started with a minimum of cranking. The engine may be restarted after running out of fuel by partially filling the tank and operating the normal feed pump while bleeding air from the system through the priming connection, which is closed prior to engine starting. The engine may then be reprimed after shutdown if required.