Abstract: Magnetic latching valves have a housing with first and second ports in controlled fluid communication with one another. Enclosed within the housing is a linearly translatable armature within a solenoid. The armature is movable between open and closed positions and is connected to a poppet valve. A permanent magnet is fixedly seated at a position for magnetically latching the armature in the open position, and a spring is seated with a first end against the poppet valve and a second end against the housing. The spring biases the poppet valve closed when the armature is in the closed position and has a pre-selected spring rate that mechanically relieves pressure if the spring rate is exceeded. The armature is moved to the open position after a pulse of voltage to the solenoid and is in an unpowered state thereafter. Vehicle fuel refueling system are disclosed that include a magnetic latching valve.

Abstract: Three-port latching valves have a housing with a first port, a second port, and a third port in controlled fluid communication with one another by three, individually electronically controllable magnetically latching valves for a combination of five different flow options. Each valve has a solenoid with an armature movable between an open position and a closed position, a poppet valve connected to the armature, a permanent magnet fixedly seated at a position for magnetically latching the armature in the open position, and a spring positioned to bias the poppet valve closed when the armature is in the closed position. The spring has a pre-selected spring rate that mechanically relieves pressure if the spring rate is exceeded. The armature is movable to the open position after a pulse of voltage to the solenoid and is in an unpowered state after translation to either of the open position or the closed position.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a compressor in fluid communication with the intake manifold, a charge air cooler in fluid communication with and between the compressor and the intake manifold, a throttle controlling fluid communication between the air charge cooler and the intake manifold, and a condensate collection reservoir that collects condensate from the air charge cooler and is in fluid communication with a suction port of a Venturi device in a bypass loop around the throttle. A motive inlet of the Venturi device is in fluid communication upstream of the throttle and a discharge outlet is in fluid communication downstream of the throttle, and under operating conditions that provide an adequate pressure drop across the Venturi device, the suction port draws condensate from the condensate collection reservoir and introduces the condensate into the intake manifold as a mist.

Abstract: Valves having a sprung gate of various constructions are disclosed. In one embodiment, the sprung gate includes a first endless elastic band having an inner perimeter defining an open space sandwiched between a first gate member and a second gate member that each define an opening therethrough in an open position portion thereof. The first endless elastic band is sandwiched therebetween with its open space oriented for alignment with the opening in both of the first and second gate members, which are aligned with one another to form a passage through the sprung gate. In one aspect, the first endless elastic band in positioned inward a distance from the outer sides of the first and second gate members and spaces the first gate member a distance apart from the second gate member thereby defining a channel having a bottom defined by the first endless elastic band.

Abstract: Check valves have a housing defining an internal cavity and a first port and a second port both in fluid communication with the internal cavity and have a hemispherical poppet sealing member within the internal cavity and translatable between a closed position against an annular seat within the internal cavity of the housing and an open position. The annular seat, in a longitudinal cross-section through the check valve, defines a convex spherical radius and, in the closed position, a convex surface of the hemispherical poppet sealing member is sealing engaged with the convex spherical radius of the annular seat.

Abstract: Flow control devices herein have a housing defining a plurality of parallel conduits. The first conduit has a normally closed check valve defined to open under a first preselected pressure differential controlling flow through the first conduit in a first direction of flow. The second conduit has a normally neutral check valve defined to open under a second preselected pressure differential in a second direction of flow that is opposite the first direction of flow. The third conduit defines a restriction profile, i.e., has a restrictor, having a third preselected pressure differential. The flow control devices are included as part of an engine system, more specifically a crankcase ventilation breach detection system.

Abstract: Female quick couplings are disclosed that have a housing defining an axial bore having a first shoulder and a first slot transverse to the axial bore, a removable insert defining a restriction orifice seated against the first shoulder within the axial bore, and a locking member slidingly received in the first receptacle. The removable insert defines a restriction orifice having an upstream conical frustum and a downstream conical frustum mated at their respective smaller diameter. The upstream conical frustum has a largest diameter substantially similar to an internal diameter of the first sealing member and the downstream conical frustum has a largest diameter substantially similar to an internal diameter of the axial bore extending downstream of the first shoulder. The largest dimeter of the upstream conical frustum is larger than the largest diameter of the downstream conical frustum. Engine systems incorporating the female quick coupling are also disclosed.

Abstract: A low frequency torsional vibration damper has an annular inertia member defining an annular recess for receiving an elastomeric O-ring in a radial outer surface or a radial inner surface thereof and defining opposing annular recesses for receiving elastomeric O-rings, one each, in the top and bottom surfaces thereof, an elastomeric O-ring seated in each annular recess, and a hub defining an annular receptacle with opposing sidewalls that each comprise a plurality of spaced apart tabs permanently deformed against the plurality of elastomeric O-rings, thereby operatively coupling the hub to the inertia member for rotation together. When the inertia member defines the outer diameter of the torsional vibration damper, the hub is mountable on a shaft, and when the inertia member defines the inner diameter of the torsional vibration damper, the hub is mountable inside a shaft.

Abstract: A dual chamber fuel tank protector valve has a transversely oriented divider defining a plurality of apertures for fluid flow between a first port and a second port. Each chamber has a seal disk therein. The first seal disk is normally biased to an open position by a first biasing member. The second seal disk is normally biased to a closed position by a second biasing member having a preselected biasing force set to a preselected pressure differential that allows movement to its open position before the first seal disk moves to its closed position. When the first seal disk and the second seal disk move to their respective closed positions, the direction of movement is toward one another.

Abstract: A two-position gate valve has a gate defining a full-flow passageway therethrough and defining a restricted-flow passageway therethrough, without defining a closed position. The full-flow passageway has an entrance with a first area and an exit with a second area, the second area being smaller than the first area, and the full-flow passageway continuously tapers from the entrance to the exit thereof. The restricted-flow passageway has an entrance with a third area and has an exit with a fourth area, the fourth area being smaller than the first area, the second area, and the third area, and the restricted-flow passageway continuously tapers from the entrance to the exit thereof. Flow through the full-flow passageway is in a first direction and flow through the restricted-flow passageway is also in the first direction and the ratio of the fourth area to the second area is in a range of 5 to 15.

Abstract: A Venturi device has a body defining a motive section and a discharge section converging toward and spaced a distance apart to define a Venturi gap, defining a first suction port and a second suction port each in fluid communication with the Venturi gap, and defining a chamber having an outlet end of the motive section and an inlet end of the discharge section dividing the chamber into a first portion and a second portion in fluid communication with one another above and below the inlet and outlet ends and through the Venturi gap. The first and second portions both have a plurality of spaced apart fingers protruding radially and axially from an inner wall thereof. A suction housing is sealingly connected to the chamber and collectively defines a check valve with the body, and a cap is sealing connected to close another end of the chamber.

Abstract: A breach detection system for an internal combustion engine having a crankcase, an intake manifold, a positive crankcase ventilation valve, a crankcase ventilation tube with a flow control system therein, and a pressure sensor between the flow control system and the crankcase. The flow control system subdivides the crankcase ventilation tube into a plurality of parallel conduits—a first conduit having a normally closed check valve that opens under a first preselected pressure drop in a first direction from the air intake to the crankcase, and a second conduit having either a second check valve that opens under a second preselected pressure drop in a second direction opposite the first direction or a restriction profile having a third preselected pressure drop that is the same in both the first and second direction. When the pressure sensor detects no pressure drop there is a breach in the system.

Abstract: Flow control devices herein have a housing defining a plurality of parallel conduits. The first conduit has a normally closed check valve defined to open under a first preselected pressure differential controlling flow through the first conduit in a first direction of flow. The second conduit has a normally neutral check valve defined to open under a second preselected pressure differential in a second direction of flow that is opposite the first direction of flow. The third conduit defines a restriction profile, i.e., has a restrictor, having a third preselected pressure differential. The flow control devices are included as part of an engine system, more specifically a crankcase ventilation breach detection system.

Abstract: Start-stop engine systems for a turbocharged engine have a bypass with fluid flow from upstream of the compressor or downstream of the compressor to a position between the throttle and the engine, or from between the compressor and throttle to a position upstream of the compressor with a Venturi device in the bypass. A device requiring vacuum is in fluid communication with a suction port of the Venturi device. An electronic vacuum pump is added that is in fluid communication with the device requiring vacuum or with the Venturi device. The electronic vacuum pump is operated during a stop condition of the start-stop engine to replace the vacuum generated by the Venturi device or to provide a pressure drop across the Venturi device so the Venturi device continues to generate vacuum for the device requiring vacuum.

Abstract: Torsional vibration dampers (TVDs) having a plurality of spokes that are asymmetric by having a changing spoke thickness in the angular direction with the greatest thickness at the position where the belt torque and the dynamic torque of the TVD act in unison are disclosed. The spokes, which connect a central member to a peripheral rim, include an asymmetrical thickness in an angular direction, as evidenced by a cross-section view transverse to a radial length of each of the plurality of spokes. Engine systems having one of the disclosed TVDs mounted to a shaft are also disclosed, for example a TVD mounted to a crankshaft.

Abstract: Venturi devices and systems incorporating the same are disclosed. The Venturi devices include a lower body defining a passageway having a motive section and a discharge section spaced a distance apart from one another to define a first Venturi gap and a second Venturi gap downstream of the first Venturi gap at a position that divides the discharge section into a first portion between the first and second Venturi gaps and a second portion leading away from the second Venturi gap, and include an upper body defining a suction passageway in fluid communication with both the first and second Venturi gaps. The motive section and the discharge section converge toward the first Venturi gap.

Abstract: Venturi devices are disclosed herein that include a body defining a Venturi gap between an outlet end of a converging motive section and an inlet end of a diverging discharge section, having a suction port in fluid communication with the Venturi gap, a gate valve linearly translatable to open and close the Venturi gap, and an actuator connected to the gate valve to operatively move the gate valve between an open position and a closed position. The gate valve, in a longitudinal cross-section, is generally U-shaped, thereby having continuous, opposing sides that one each close the motive outlet and the discharge inlet and defining a void between the opposing sides that is in fluid communication with the suction port. The converging motive section defines a circular-shaped motive inlet and defines an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet, and the diverging discharge section defines an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped discharge inlet.

Abstract: A Venturi device for producing vacuum from fluids in an engine system has a body defining a Venturi gap separating apart an outlet end of a converging motive section and an inlet end of a diverging discharge section by a lineal distance, and a suction port in fluid communication with the Venturi gap. The converging motive section and the diverging discharge section both gradually, continuously taper toward the Venturi gap, the converging motive section defines a circular-shaped motive inlet and an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet, the diverging discharge section defines an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped discharge inlet, and an inner passageway of the converging motive section transitions as a hyperbolic function from the motive inlet to the elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet.

Abstract: Venturi devices for producing vacuum are disclosed that include a housing defining a motive port, a suction port, a discharge port, a first flow passage between the motive port and the discharge port, and a second flow passage into and through the suction port and into fluid communication with the first flow passage, a first check valve incorporated into the housing and positioned to control fluid flow through the suction port, and a sound attenuating wrap about the outer surface of the housing. The Venturi devices may also include a sound attenuating member disposed in the first flow passage downstream of the intersection of the second flow passage and the first flow passage, in the portion of the second flow passage leading into the suction port, in the first check valve, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Restrictors are disclosed that include a body defining a Venturi tube having a throat defining a junction of a converging inlet cone to a diverging outlet cone along a longitudinal axis thereof, and with the converging inlet cone and the diverging outlet cone each defining an inner passageway that transitions as a hyperbolic or parabolic function toward the throat.