Abstract: Disclosed herein is a planar exhaust gas sensor for sensing the partial pressure of a gas in an exhaust. The sensing element has a modified, non-rectangular overall geometry. A terminal end of the element, onto which external sensor circuits can be attached, has a larger width than a sensor end of the element, in which is located the sensing cell. The reduced size of the sensor end of the element relative allows for more rapid attainment of operating temperature and lower energy consumption.

Abstract: A fuel tank cover assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle includes a cover adapted to close an opening in the fuel tank having a fuel reservoir disposed therein and a fuel filter disposed within and attached directly to the cover to filter fuel from the fuel tank to an engine of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for making a sensor is disclosed. The method comprises: disposing an electrolyte between a first side of sensing electrode and a first side of reference electrode, disposing a first side of a protective layer adjacent to said a second side of said sensing electrode, applying a mixture of a metal oxide, a fugitive material, and a solvent to a second side of the protective layer, and calcining the applied mixture to form said a protective coating on the second side of the protective layer.

Abstract: A method of estimating the concentration of residual exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine having variable cam phase control is based on engine dynamometer and engine simulator data. Since both the volumetric efficiency and the residual exhaust gas concentration of an engine vary monotonically in response to changes in cam phase, the simulated residual concentration data is deemed to be reliable if the simulated volumetric efficiency data matches volumetric efficiency data determined by engine dynamometer testing. Volumetric efficiency test data is compared to simulated volumetric efficiency data, and the simulation software is tuned until the simulated data matches the test data. At such point, the simulated residual concentration data is deemed to be reliable, and is used to calibrate a model relating residual concentration to cam phase angle, and such model is then used by an engine controller to estimate residual exhaust gas concentration during operation of the engine.

Abstract: The protective shield arrangement for an exhaust sensor and method of making and using the same is achieved by providing a protective shield for an exhaust gas sensor that comprises a porous mesh material formed as a cap for placement over an end portion of a sensing element. This is formed by a method that comprises providing a unitary piece of the mesh material, and folding the mesh material to form the cap. Thereby, gas passes through the tortuous pathway created by the mesh material to be sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: A thermal energy management system for solid oxide fuel cells includes a monolithic small cell extrusion type heat exchanger coupled to an SOFC stack. In operation, a flow of air having a selected temperature is passed through the heat exchanger cells and thermal energy flowing into and out of the SOFC stack is managed primarily by radiation coupling between the SOFC stack and the heat exchanger. The system further provides management of the temperature distribution around the SOFC to meet outer skin temperature design targets and to control the inlet gas temperatures for the SOFC. The system provides a compact, efficient method for SOFC thermal energy management and is particularly well suited for transportation applications.

Abstract: A vapor canister and fuel tank assembly for a vehicle includes a fuel tank having an interior chamber and a vapor canister fluidly communicating with the interior chamber of the fuel tank to adsorb vapor fuel. The vapor canister and fuel tank assembly also includes a pressure sensor located on a clean side of the vapor canister to monitor pressure in the assembly.

Abstract: A default engine control method for an internal combustion engine recovers from the loss of a high-resolution engine position signal by calculating a high resolution pulse period based on a recognized pattern of a low resolution engine position signal. Interrupts for signaling the execution of cycle-related control algorithms are scheduled in time based on the calculated pulse period, and pulse period errors due to changing engine speed are periodically corrected based on the timing of subsequent transitions in the low resolution position signal relative to the scheduled interrupts.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ceramic body and a gas sensor is disclosed. The method comprises mixing a ceramic material and an organometallic material with a solvent to form a mixture. The organometallic material comprises both a metallic component and an organic ligand. The mixture is disposed onto a surface, dried, and removed to form the ceramic body. The sensor is made by disposing the ceramic body adjacent to an unfired electrolyte body having an electrode disposed on each side thereof to form a green sensor. The green sensor is co-fired to form the sensor.

Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor element having an electrochemical cell, a protective material in fluid communication with the electrochemical cell, and a reactive inhibitive coating disposed over the protective material. The reactive inhibitive coating prevents the reaction of compounds with acids(e.g., phosphates) in the exhaust gas, which may form a dense glass layer on the outside of the gas sensor. The reactive inhibitive coating is either an alkaline earth oxide ethoxide, and/or carbonate that is deposited on the gas sensor to a thickness so as to preferably provide an excess of either the alkaline earth material.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a vapor canister includes a partition adapted to be disposed in an interior chamber of the vapor canister and having at least one opening extending therethrough. The valve assembly also includes a valve connected to the partition and covering the at least one opening and being movable to provide variable flow of fluid therethrough.

Abstract: A non-thermal plasma reactor element is provided comprising a multi-cell stack prepared from a plurality of formed building blocks of dielectric material, the walls of the building blocks defining a cell having an exhaust passage for flowing gas to be treated therethrough. A conductive print forming an electrode and connector is disposed on at least one wall of each of the cells and outer insulative plates, disposed on opposite ends of the multi-cell stack, are provided to protect the conductive print. The non-thermal plasma reactor element includes cells defined by a single structural dielectric barrier comprising a “conductor-single structural dielectric barrier-exhaust passage-conductor” arrangement, wherein individual cells of the reactor element are defined by a single structural dielectric barrier.

Abstract: The evaporative emission treatment device comprises a monolith concentrically disposed within a shell, and having one or more sealing agents concentrically disposed about the monolith and in between the monolith and housing. The shell comprises a first shell portion having an inlet portion at one end and a connection element disposed at the opposing end, and a second shell portion having an outlet portion at one end and a connection element disposed at the opposing end. The shell can also include structural features to prevent fluid leakage, enhance fluid flow, enable attachment to other evaporative emission system components, enable mounting to a vehicle, and internally seal the monolith and sealing agents.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stuffing cone apparatus, method for making a gas treatment device, and the device made therefrom. In one embodiment, the stuffing cone apparatus comprises: a funnel having a first end and a second end, with the second end having a smaller diameter than the first end, a pusher detail comprising a pusher disc perpendicularly disposed on an end of a pusher arm, wherein the pusher detail is slideable within the funnel, and a retainer detail comprising a retainer disc perpendicularly disposed to an end of a retainer arm, wherein the retainer detail is slideable within the funnel. The retainer disc and the pusher disc are capable of physically contacting opposite sides of a substrate within the funnel.

Abstract: An electronic returnless fuel system for a vehicle includes a fuel pump to pump fuel from a fuel tank. The electronic returnless fuel system also includes a fuel rail fluidly connected to the fuel pump to distribute the fuel to an engine of the vehicle and a pressure transducer to sense pressure of the fuel from the fuel pump to the fuel rail. The electronic returnless fuel system includes a controller electrically connected to the pressure transducer and the fuel pump to control the pressure of the fuel from the fuel pump to the fuel rail at a set operating pressure. The electronic returnless fuel system further includes a pressure relief valve interconnecting the fuel pump and the fuel rail set a predetermined amount above the set operating pressure and at least one jet pump disposed in the fuel tank and fluidly connected to the pressure relief valve.

Abstract: A fuel pump for a vehicle includes a pump section having a flow channel and a rotatable impeller cooperating with said flow channel to pump fuel therethrough. The fuel pump also includes a motor section disposed adjacent the pump section and having a motor to rotate the impeller. The fuel pump further includes an outlet section disposed adjacent the motor section to allow pumped fuel to exit the fuel pump. The impeller includes a plurality of blades that are generally V shaped and have thinned edges.

Abstract: A fuel pump for a vehicle includes a pump section having a flow channel and a rotatable impeller cooperating with the flow channel to pump fuel therethrough. The fuel pump also includes a motor section disposed adjacent the pump section and having a motor to rotate the impeller. The fuel pump further includes an outlet section disposed adjacent the motor section to allow pumped fuel to exit the fuel pump. The impeller includes a plurality of blades that are generally V shaped. The pump section has an inlet port and an outlet port communicating with the flow channel and has a shape according to a face angle of the blades.

Abstract: An improved method of identifying the cylinder combustion sequence of a four-stroke internal combustion engine accepts of rejects an assumed combustion sequence based on measured ion current combustion quality (CQ) indications. Individual CQ indications for the various engine cylinders are algebraically combined as a function of the assumed combustion sequence so that the combined CQ indication increases in a first polarity if the assumed combustion sequence is correct, and in a second polarity if the assumed combustion sequence is incorrect. When the absolute value of the combined CQ indication exceeds a threshold, the polarity of the combined CQ indication is used to either accept or reject the assumed combustion sequence.

Abstract: A liquid/vapor separator assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle includes a liquid separator plate adapted to be disposed within and secured to a portion of the fuel tank to form a liquid trap therebetween. The liquid/vapor separator assembly also includes a standpipe extending from the liquid separator plate and communicating with the liquid trap to allow fuel vapors to flow to a vapor canister. The liquid/vapor separator assembly further includes at least one valve mounted to the liquid separator plate to allow fuel from the liquid trap to return to an interior chamber of the fuel tank.

Abstract: A control valve assembly for the rotary or linear actuation of control valves using contactless technology and the use of direct integration of electronic componentry into a lead frame interconnection assembly includes a contactless motor, a control valve in mechanical communication with the contactless motor through a gear system, and a lead frame interconnection assembly having electronic componentry relevant to the contactless motor and the control valve integrally formed therein. The contactless motor includes a commutator magnet disposed on a rotor shaft thereof. The commutator magnet is in magnetic communication with at least two commutator chips integrally formed with the lead frame interconnection assembly. The control valve includes a throttle element disposed in a throttle bore, an output shaft depending from the throttle element, and at least one position sensing magnet disposed on an end of the output shaft distal from the throttle element.