Abstract: A cable assembly includes a terminal crimped to a conductor. The terminal has a plurality of crimps spaced from one another and a transition crimp disposed therebetween. A method includes deforming the terminal about the conductor to define the plurality of crimps having different crimp heights, and deforming the terminal about the conductor to define the transition crimp between each of the plurality of crimps. The transition crimp has a crimp height different than each of the plurality of crimps.

Abstract: A gas sensor with a high temperature electrical connector is provided. The electrical connector incorporates a ceramic connector body having a pair of opposing ceramic body portions which each house a plurality of conductive terminals. The body portions are in pivoting engagement and fixed in a connector body retainer which also enables their pivoting, hinged movement. The pivoting engagement permits the ceramic body portions and terminals to hinge open to receive a gas sensor with a low insertion force and a hinge closed to provide the desired contact force.

Abstract: An electrically-conductive mesh spacer incorporated into the hydrogen and air gas flow spaces between each anode and cathode and its adjacent interconnect in a fuel cell stack. The mesh is formed of metal strands and is formed into a predetermined three-dimensional pattern to make contact at a plurality of points on the surfaces of the electrode and the interconnect element. The formed mesh spacer is secured as by brazing to the interconnect element at a plurality of locations to form an interconnect, which preserves the pattern during assembly of a fuel cell stack. The height of the formed pattern is greater than the height of a gas flow space after fuel cell assembly, such that the mesh spacer is slightly compressed during assembly of a fuel cell stack. Because the metal mesh is both compliant and resilient, the compressed spacer is continuously urged into mechanical and electrical contact with its electrode over all temperatures and pressures to which the fuel cell assembly may be subjected during use.

Abstract: An electrical assembly comprises an upper electrical center assembly and a lower mounting bracket lift assembly that is adapted for being secured to a support panel such as a support panel in an automobile. After the lower mounting bracket lift assembly is secured to the support panel, the upper electrical center assembly is attached to the lower mounting bracket lift assembly. The lower mounting bracket lift assembly is then operated to plug wiring harness end connectors in the lower mounting bracket lift assembly into lower sockets of the upper electrical center assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the prediction of the size to be expected of the image of a stationary object associated with a road in a picture of the environment in the field of view of a camera device which is in particular arranged at a motor vehicle and which has an image plane including image elements, wherein at least one relevant spatial zone from the field of view of the camera device is determined; wherein boundaries of the calculated projection onto the image plane of the at least one relevant spatial zone are determined in order to determine at least one relevant image zone; wherein a directional beam is determined for each of the image elements in the at least one relevant image zone, said directional beam including those spatial points from the field of view which would be projected onto the respective image element on a projection onto the image plane; and wherein at least one value for the size to be expected of the image of a road sign in the respective image element is determined for

Abstract: During periods of vehicle inactivity, a vehicle-based APU electric generating system may be coupled into a regional electric grid to send electricity into the grid. A currently-preferred APU is a solid oxide fuel cell system. When a large number of vehicles are thus equipped and connected, substantial electric buffering can be effected to the grid load. A vehicle-based APU can also function as a back-up generator to a docking facility in the event of power failure of the grid. Gaseous hydrocarbon is readily supplied by pipe in many locations as a commercial and residential heating fuel source, and a hydrocarbon reformer on the vehicle can be attached to the fuel source, enabling an APU to operate as a stationary power source indefinitely. An optional storage tank on the vehicle may be refueled with gaseous fuel, for example, while the battery is being electrically recharged by the grid.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting a vehicle rollover or dangerous situations that may precede a rollover, in particular a soil trip type rollover includes the following steps, where the steps are performed in loops, (a) determining a lateral acceleration of the vehicle, (b) calculating an acceleration differential value on the basis of the lateral accelerations determined in at least two steps (a), (c) determining a possibility of a rollover of the vehicle on the basis of the lateral acceleration determined in at least one step (a) and the acceleration differential value calculated in at least one step (b), (d) generating an output activation signal at least on the basis of a possibility of a rollover of the vehicle determined in a step (c).

Abstract: A method for estimating the composition of a fuel within an engine, comprises performing the following steps under ambient conditions: (a?) determining the ambient temperature of the fuel; (a) monitoring the fuel pressure inside a fuel rail of the engine over a period of time; (b) calculating at least one frequency component of the change in fuel pressure; (c) calculating the speed of sound transmission c on the basis of the at least one frequency component; and (d) estimating the composition of the fuel on the basis of the calculated speed of sound transmission at said ambient temperature. Suitably, the speed of sound transmission in the fuel is calculated using the equation: c=f?, where the wavelength ? of the standing wave with frequency f is 2L, where L is the length of the fuel rail. Also described are methods for estimating the temperature of the fuel at a non-ambient temperature, and determining a fuels physical properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a grommet for sealing a conduit to be passed through an opening against said opening. The grommet comprises a sealing body defining an opening therethrough for receiving the conduit as well as at least one sealing collar radially surrounding said sealing body in an unfolded state. The grommet further comprises a retaining means, which is configured for fixing said sealing collar in a folded state.

Abstract: A socket connector body includes a shroud having an opening, a lock arm, a substantially unyielding, non-resilient beam member, and means to pivot the lock arm. The lock arm includes a forward end portion and middle portion having an inward extending lock nib. The means of the lock arm pivots the forward end portion toward the non-resilient beam member from a free state of rest such that the forward end portion engages the non-resilient beam member. Further pivoting of the lock arm causes the middle portion of the lock arm to flexibly arch outwardly and away from the shroud such that the lock nib is lifted outwardly away from the plug connector body and out of engagement therewith to enable retraction of the plug connector body from the shroud through the opening.

Abstract: A lock for a housing may have a protrusion, an opening, a receptacle, and a ramp. The protrusion is formed in a first side wall of a first member of the housing, and the opening is defined in the first side wall. The receptacle extends from a second side wall of a second member of the housing, and is in some ways complementary in shape and in dimensions to the protrusion. The ramp is formed in the second side wall. When the first member and the second member are assembled, the protrusion and the receptacle are mated to form a water-tight seal therebetween, while the ramp is received within the opening.

Abstract: A communication system and method of communicating signals to a plurality of different types of receivers is provided. The communication system includes at least one transmitter that transmits high priority and low priority signals as a single frequency network. At least one satellite receives and re-transmits at least one of the high priority and low priority signals. At least one terrestrial repeater is in communication with the at least one transmitter, and receives from the at least one transmitter and re-transmits at least one of the high priority and low priority signals. A plurality of receivers includes at least a first receiver configured to process the high priority signal to emit an output signal based upon the high priority signal, and a second receiver configured to process the high priority and low priority signals to emit an output signal based upon the high priority and low priority signals.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell includes the step of selectively connecting and disconnecting the fuel cell to at least one electrical load dependent at least in part upon at least one of a fuel cell voltage, a fuel cell current and a fuel cell temperature.

Abstract: An improved disk-valve fuel injector comprising a self-centering, floating valve seat insert disposed in a valve body. The valve seat insert includes a circular first valve seat and the body includes a circular second valve seat concentric with the first valve seat. A spring urges the valve insert into compliance with a disk-shaped valve head. The valve insert is able to adjust position in all three dimensions, allowing the disk head to mate precisely with both seats, thereby minimizing leakage when the valve is closed, improving metering precision, and extending the working lifetime of the valve head and valve seats.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a retractable stabilizer moveable between a blade alignment position and a seated position in a shroud of a male connector. The retractable stabilizer is in the blade alignment position when the connector assembly is unmated and in the seated position when the connector assembly is mated. The retractable stabilizer includes a base and at least one position arm, at least one retention feature, and a securing member that extend from the base. When the connector assembly is unmated, the female connector pulls on the securing member which draws the retractable stabilizer to move from the seated position back towards the blade alignment position. When the at least one retention feature engages a blocking feature on the shroud, the at least one position arm flexes into at least one aperture defined in the shroud to secure the retractable stabilizer at the blade assembly position for reuse.

Abstract: A NOX abatement system includes a first NOX adsorber capable of being disposed in-line and downstream of and in fluid communication with an engine. The NOX abatement system further includes a selective catalytic reduction catalyst disposed in-line and downstream of, and in direct fluid communication with, the first NOX adsorber. The selective catalytic reduction catalyst is capable of storing ammonia. An off-line reformer is disposed in selective communication with and upstream of the first NOX adsorber and the selective catalytic reduction catalyst. The reformer is capable of producing a reformate that includes primarily hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A method is described for controlling a solenoid-operated fluid valve having an output hydraulic pressure that varies in accordance with an input solenoid control current delivered from a drive circuit. A model is provided characterizing the plant dynamics of the solenoid-operated fluid valve and the drive circuit where the model is dependent on at least one operating parameter. The method, during operation, involves measuring the value of the operating parameter and adjusting based on the measured operating parameter value one or more gain constants to be used in a selected control strategy. The model is used in adjusting the gains. Finally, the method involves determining a required solenoid control current according to the control strategy with the now dynamically-adjusted gain constants. The control strategy may be a PI control strategy. The model-based system allows easy migration of the general control strategy to different hardware configurations by developing target system specific data for the model.

Abstract: A vane-type camshaft phaser including a bias spring to urge the rotor toward an intermediate locking position from any rotational position retarded of the locking position. The rotor comprises non-coaxially acting primary and secondary locking pins for mating with primary and secondary locking pin seats in the phaser stator. The primary seat is elongated and is readily located by the primary locking pin to provide a first limit to the rotor phase angle authority in the retard direction. Camshaft torque reversals cause the rotor phase angle to dither. With each torque reversal the secondary locking pin passes over its seat, allowing multiple opportunities for re-engagement. The clearance of the secondary locking pin to its seat defines the rotary lash in the phaser.

Abstract: A lower manifold for a V-style internal combustion engine comprising at least three shells: a top shell for mating with an upper manifold; a left shell for mating with a left engine head; and a right shell for mating with a right engine head. The three shells are formed independently by injection molding and are joined as by vibration welding when aligned in a welding jig. The molds for the left and right shells are formed such that the seal ring groove has a rectangular cross-section having sidewalls perpendicular to the lower shell surface because each left and right shell has its own draft angle preferably perpendicular to its lower shell surface. The method and apparatus of the invention permits runner cross-sections to be significantly rounded, which improves air flow characteristics of the runners.

Abstract: An energy conversion system comprising ammonia for fueling an SOFC stack to generate electricity and a hydrogen-rich tailgas. In the SOFC stack, ammonia is cracked to hydrogen and nitrogen. Ammonia is stored in a metal halide complex and is released therefrom as gaseous ammonia by waste heat from the SOFC. A heat exchanger is positioned across the SOFC cathode such that incoming air is tempered by the cathode exhaust air. In a two-stage energy conversion system, the hydrogen-rich tailgas from the SOFC is supplied as fuel to a secondary energy conversion device which may be, for example, an internal combustion engine or a gas turbine engine which may operate, for example, either a generator for generating additional electricity or a vehicle for motive power, or a second fuel cell stack.