Abstract: A self-regulating fuel supply pump for supplying fuel from a fuel tank to a fuel rail of an engine includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, an inlet pressure chamber, a vane surplus chamber, a pumping chamber, an outlet pressure chamber, an inlet pressure passage, and an outlet pressure passage; a rotor drive shaft; a pressure regulation spring; a reference pressure piston; an outlet pressure piston; a vane seal; a cylindrical rotor; and vanes slip-mounted in the rotor. Fuel is drawn into the inlet by the rotor and vanes rotating on the rotor drive shaft within the pumping chamber and compressed by reducing vane width via the eccentric orientation of the rotor in the pumping chamber. Pressure regulation spring combines with reference pressure piston and outlet pressure piston to vary vane length according to the pressure differential between inlet pressure chamber and outlet pressure chamber, as provided by inlet pressure passage and outlet pressure passage.

Abstract: A rocker arm assembly for an internal combustion engine has a removable valve stem locating member at one end thereof to locate the rocker arm relative to the valve stem during assembly of internal combustion engine, and a lubricating fluid directional control member at another end thereof for directing lubricating fluid from the pivot member, such as a hydraulic lash adjuster, toward the cam/rocker arm interface to provide lubricating fluid thereto. Once assembled, the valve stem locating member may be removed to further reduce the overall mass of the rocker arm assembly.

Abstract: A temperature sensing system for an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head temperature sensor. The temperature sensor has an elongate portion such that when the sensor is installed in the cylinder head, the elongate portion is axially deformed by a predetermined amount to provide a thermally conductive engagement with the cylinder head.

Abstract: A four-stroke cycle, multi-cylinder reciprocating internal combustion engine has a camshaft phaser or phasers for adjusting the timing of the intake and exhaust camshafts with respect to the rotational position of the crankshaft so that some of the cylinders of the engine may be deactivated such that the intake and exhaust valves for each deactivated cylinder open and close at points which are approximately symmetrical about a rotational position of the crankshaft at which the direction of motion of the pistons change.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine with charge stratification and tumble motion is provided. A tumble control valve is located in the intake pore upstream of the fuel injector creating a high velocity airflow. Fuel injected by the fuel injector is entrained into the high velocity airflow produced by the tumble control valve thereby establishing an airflow within the cylinder having fuel rich and fuel lean regions. The airflow in the cylinder circulates about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of operation of the piston.

Abstract: A self-cleaning air filter for a vehicle fuel vapor recovery system includes a filter cleaning member disposed within the filter housing to clean the filter element. The filter cleaning member collides with the filter element in response to acceleration imparted to the housing by the vehicle to cause matter occluding the filter element to dislodge therefrom.

Abstract: A fuel cap retainer and gas tank cap for a fuel tank filler tube is disclosed in which the fuel tank filler tube is sealed if the gas tank cap is not properly installed on the fuel cap retainer and when properly installed permits vapor pressure equalization in the fuel cap retainer. A baffle plate extends across the fuel tank filler tube near a distal end of the fuel tank filler tube. The baffle plate has a refueling opening into which a fuel filler nozzle is adapted to be received and a valve opening. A flap valve is spring biased into a closed position sealing the refueling opening. A movable valve element is associated with the valve opening and biased to a closed position in which the valve element seals the valve opening. The movable valve element is shiftable to an open position in which the valve element permits fluid flow through the opening. The gas tank cap has a structural element for holding the movable valve element in the open position only when the gas tank cap is properly installed.

Abstract: An on-board diagnostic system for performing a diagnostic test on a fuel delivery system. The diagnostic system is controlled by a controller such as a powertrain control module or an electronic engine controller. With the engine off and key on, fuel is delivered to the engine's fuel rail. A standard, production pressure sensor in fluid communication with the fuel rail records the pressure in the fuel delivery system. The recorded pressure is then compared to a stored acceptable pressure range to determine whether the fuel delivery control means is delivering fuel to the fuel rail and whether the fuel delivery system is holding pressure. Each fuel injector is then actuated for a specified time. When the injector is actuated, the fuel pressure drop sensed by the pressure sensor is compared to a stored pressure drop range to determine whether the injector is faulty.

Abstract: A gauge assembly for a vehicle instrument cluster is provided. The gauge assembly includes a pointer assembly and a plastic housing having a pair of housing elements. One of the housing elements includes a receptacle which defines a side wall having a first circumferentially extending mating surface, while the other housing element includes a plug which defines a side wall having a second circumferentially extending mating surface. Upon assembly of the housing, the plug and receptacle together define a chamber therebetween. The pointer assembly includes a magnet rotatably disposed within the chamber, a pointer body positioned outside of the housing, and a shaft rotatably extending along an axis of rotation defined through one of the housing elements. The shaft couples the pointer body to the magnet for rotative movement about the axis of rotation. The gauge assembly further includes a viscous damping fluid carried in the chamber for damping the rotational movement of the magnet.

Abstract: A clear base ventilation system for an internal combustion engine includes an air-oil separator. Blowby gas from the engine crankcase is drawn into the inlet of the separator in a swirling cyclonic motion so as to force any oil entrained in the blowby gas to impinge on the walls of the inlet and drain back into the crankcase. Blowby gas is then drawn into a baffle which further removes any entrained oil in the blowby gas as the gas flows therethrough. An outlet chamber exists at the end of the baffle and has a volume of space substantially greater than the volume of space in the baffle such that blowby gas flowing out of the baffle reduces in speed, thereby allowing any further entrained oil to separate from the blowby gas. Substantially oil-free gas is then introduced to the air induction system of the engine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring full-field contact force distribution of a tire. A transparent, elastically deformable contact member having an elasticity substantially less than the elasticity of the tire is supported by a transparent rigid support member. As the tire is pressed into the contact member, the contact member deforms. Laser light illuminates the tire-contact member interface and is reflected to an imaging device which measures the displacement of the tire-contact member interface using interferometry principles. Because the elasticity of the contact member is known, the contact force distribution of the tire may be calculated. The apparatus and method may also be used to measure three-dimensional as well as dynamic contact force displacement.

Abstract: An improved structure is provided for supporting pillars of automotive vehicles which provides energy absorption through provision of three stamped metallic panels (24,26,28) defining first and second energy absorbing chambers (56,58) therebetween and an interior trim cover (30) joined to all the panels and defining a third chamber (62) between it and the interior of the three panels and selected energy absorbing media carried between the trim cover and the interior of the panels. Generally C-shaped spring structures (74) and plastic honeycomb structures (68) are preferred for the energy absorbing media.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine having a molded plastic fuel rail with an electrical bus molded therein. The fuel rail has a keying feature which allows orientation of the fuel injector relative to the fuel rail when the fuel injector is inserted into the fuel rail. Further, a locking device is provided to lock the fuel injector to the fuel rail. Male electrical connectors on the fuel rail are formed by exposing a portion of the electrical bus. The fuel delivery system includes an electrical connector assembly for connecting the male connector of the fuel injector to the male connector of the fuel rail. Thus, when the fuel injector is inserted into the fuel rail, mechanical orientation and retention is achieved while at the same time an electrical connection is made.

Abstract: A battery connector assembly for an automotive electrical system. The battery connector assembly includes a clamp portion joined to an electrically conductive body member at one end thereof and a stud portion joined to the body member at another end thereof. A pinchbolt and fastener is used to secure the clamp portion to a battery terminal post of a first battery. A transfer terminal is electrically connected to a second battery and is also removably connected to the stud portion. When both the battery connector assembly is connected to the terminal post of the first battery, and the transfer terminal is connected to the stud portion, the fastener used to clamp the clamp portion to the terminal post is obstructed from access. The result is that removing the clamp portion from the first battery is inhibited without first removing the transfer terminal.

Abstract: A rocker arm for an internal combustion engine is provided with a hydraulic lash adjuster located therein. The rocker arm comprises two portions rotatably mounted relative to each other with the hydraulic lash adjuster located therebetween. The hydraulic lash adjuster compensates for any slack in the valve train and rotates with the rocker arm about the rocker arm's axis of rotation rather than move linearly along the pushrod axis as in prior art systems. As a result, hydraulic lash adjuster wear, valve spring force, engine friction, and fuel consumption may be reduced while not decreasing the valve train toss speed.

Abstract: A single fuel pump for a fuel delivery system supplies fuel from the fuel tank to a reservoir and also supplies fuel from the reservoir to the engine. The fuel pump has a single impeller having outer vanes and inner vanes radially inward from the outer vanes. The vanes are aligned with outer and inner channels in the pump housing, respectively, so that fuel may be pumped from the fuel tank into the reservoir. Fuel from the reservoir is then pumped to the engine.

Abstract: A fuel cap retainer and gas tank cap for a fuel tank filler tube is disclosed in which the fuel tank filler tube is sealed if the gas tank cap is not properly installed on the fuel cap retainer and when properly installed permits vapor pressure equalization in the fuel cap retainer. A baffle plate extends across the fuel tank filler tube near a distal end of the fuel tank filler tube. The baffle plate has a refueling opening into which a fuel filler nozzle is adapted to be received and a valve opening. A flap valve is spring biased into a closed position sealing the refueling opening. A movable valve element is associated with the valve opening and biased to a closed position in which the valve element seals the valve opening. The movable valve element is shiftable to an open position in which the valve element permits fluid flow through the opening. The gas tank cap has a structural element for holding the movable valve element in the open position only when the gas tank cap is properly installed.

Abstract: A system for selecting the operating mode of a variable displacement engine includes a vacuum analyzer, a flow analyzer, and a controller for determining whether the variable displacement engine should be operated on a fractional number of cylinders. The vacuum analyzer generates a vacuum recommendation signal indicating whether a fractionally operating variable displacement engine can accommodate the inferred desired fractional manifold vacuum with respect to a desired torque and a specific emissions calibration. The flow analyzer generates a flow recommendation signal indicating whether a fractionally operating variable displacement engine can accommodate a desired mass air flow and a desired exhaust gas recirculation flow with respect to a desired torque, a specific emissions calibration, and environmental conditions. The controller evaluates the vacuum and flow recommendation signals no determine the operating mode of the engine.

Abstract: A system for powering various rotating vehicle accessories such as an alternator, a transmission fluid pump, a power-steering pump, and an air-conditioning compressor from the torque converter of an automatic transmission. The system utilizes the smooth speed characteristic of the automatic transmission torque converter to achieve an equally smooth accessory drive ratio transition. The system may also be used to power the accessories using a manual transmission.

Abstract: An automotive fuel pump housing for a fuel pump encases a rotary pumping element. The housing has two portions, a cover and a bottom. The cover has an inlet port which defines a directional control surface having an inclined frustoconical portion and an inclined planar portion conjoined therewith and laterally extending therefrom such that fuel flowing over the inclined frustoconical portion accelerates primarily radially and combines with fuel flowing primarily axially over the inclined planar portion, whereby the combined flow is smoothly directed to an annular cover channel. The bottom has an annular bottom channel which, when the cover and bottom are assembled, the annular cover channel and annular bottom channel cooperate to form the inlet channel. A transition section is located at the beginning of the inlet channel and extends along a portion of the arc of the inlet channel.