Abstract: A sensor tester for testing multiple vehicle sensors is provided comprising: a circuit for testing a vehicle piezoelectric knock sensor; a circuit for testing a vehicle speed sensor; and a circuit for testing ignition coils. The circuit for testing piezoelectric knock sensors comprises: an integrated circuit electrically connectable to a power source, the integrated circuit having a multiple step voltage divider, a connector for connecting the integrated circuit to the knock sensor; and a plurality of light emitting diodes electrically connected to the voltage divider of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor is provided having a pole piece, a sensor magnet, a housing and a ferromagnetic metal cap. The pole piece has a first end, a second end and a side wall. The sensor magnet is adjacent the first end of the pole piece. The housing is adapted to receive and contain the pole piece and the sensor magnet, and has an end wall with a hole defined by a rim. The cap has a floor with an inner surface for receiving the second end of the pole piece thereagainst and a wall extending from a periphery of the floor to a flange extending radially outward from the wall. The ferromagnetic metal cap is disposed within the hole in the housing such that a seal is formed between the rim of the hole and the wall, with the flange being embedded in the housing. The wall of the ferromagnetic metal cap is spaced apart from the side wall of the pole piece such that the wall is capable of flexing during dimensional changes of the housing due to thermal cycling to maintain the seal between the rim and the wall.

Abstract: A quick-connect assembly that includes a hollow tubular fitting having axially spaced ends and an outer surface with at least one circumferential groove or channel. A tubular conduit of plastic-coated electrically conductive composition is received over one end of the fitting and is magnetically deformed so as to extend into the channel on the fitting adjacent to the one fitting end for fastening the conduit to the fitting. A coupling is rotatably mounted on the opposing end of the fitting for fastening the fitting to a mating coupling, and carries an elastomeric seal in sliding engagement with the conduit or the fitting for preventing leakage of fluid through the assembly.

Abstract: A submersible rotary switch protects against moisture contamination and includes a housing containing an actuating mechanism and an oppositely disposed contact device confined in a contact compartment statically sealed by a flexible boot. A driver disposed between the compartments connects the actuating mechanism to the contact device to effect rotational translation therebetween.

Abstract: A system for controlling operation of engine fuel injectors that includes a feed-forward control unit responsive to signals from sensors on the engine for supplying a basic electronic control signal for the injectors. A neural network is connected in parallel with the feed-forward control unit for receiving the sensor signals and multiplying the sensor signals by associated weighting factors. The sensor signals multiplied by the weighting factors are combined to produce a network output signal, which in turn is combined with the basic control signal from the feed-forward control unit to control operation of the fuel injectors. The weighting factors in the neural network are modified as a function of inputs from the engine sensors so as to reduce any errors in the sensor output signals as compared with desired values.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle supplemental restraint system that includes an air bag positioned within the vehicle opposite the passenger side of the front seat, and electronics coupled to one or more impact sensors for activating the air bag in the event of a vehicle impact. Occupancy sensors are provided at the passenger seat for sensing seat occupancy and inhibiting activation of the air bag when the seat is either unoccupied or occupied by a rear-facing infant seat. System status is displayed to a vehicle operator, and the operator is provided with an opportunity to override the occupancy sensors and enable activation of the air bag.

Abstract: A fluid flow control system which can function under a range of input pressures for regulating the flow of fluid as a function of a variable input voltage and having a feedback feature which produces an electrical signal equivalent to the volume of fluid actually flowing from the control system, comprising a pressure balanced valve, a proportional solenoid having a movable shaft responsive to the input voltage and adapted to open the valve, said valve including, a fluid intake chamber having an intake port and a valve port, a fluid discharge chamber having a discharge port, a valve disk and a cooperating valve seat where the valve disk is connected to the shaft of the proportional solenoid so as to open and close the valve, a flexible diaphragm having a centrally disposed piston in contact with the valve disk a pressure equalizing chamber contiguous to the diaphragm, a biasing spring in contact with the piston and exerting a force thereon in a direction toward the valve disk for normally maintaining the valve

Abstract: An automotive vehicle supplemental restraint system that includes an air bag positioned within the vehicle opposite the passenger side of the front seat, and electronics coupled to one or more impact sensors for activating the air bag in the event of a vehicle impact. Occupancy sensors are provided at the passenger seat for sensing seat occupancy and inhibiting activation of the air bag when the seat is either unoccupied or occupied by a rear-facing infant seat. System status is displayed to a vehicle operator, and the operator is provided with an opportunity to override the occupancy sensors and enable activation of the air bag.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor is provided having a pole piece, a housing for receiving and containing the pole piece, a sensing magnet and a cap for mounting the sensing magnet within the housing while retaining cracked magnet portions and either absorbing forces applied by the housing or distributing them over an entire surface of said magnet. In another aspect the invention provides a cap for mounting a sensing magnet in a magnetic sensor housing.

Abstract: A unitary full-function valve is used to control the operation of a service brake system and a spring brake system. The valve includes a valve body that has multiple ports, including separate ports for providing fluid communication to a spring brake chamber, a service brake chamber, a fluid reservoir and an exhaust port. The valve body also has ports for receiving pressurized supply fluid and control fluid. The supply fluid inhibits the activation of the spring brakes so that the spring brakes are activated when no supply fluid is present. The control fluid is used to activate the service brakes on demand. A biased one-way pressure protection valve is disposed in the valve body to isolate fluid in the service brake system from fluid in the spring brake system when the pressure in the service brake system falls below a variable pressure level.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine system that is selectively powered by an enhanced air/fuel mixture. The supply of fuel to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine is increased in response to the addition of a supplemental oxidizing agent into an air/fuel mixture. The additional fuel may be added by increasing the duty cycle of fuel injectors mounted proximate the individual cylinders. In addition, the ignition timing is adjusted in accordance with the change in the density of the air/fuel mixture. The amount of supplemental oxidizing agent provided to the cylinders may be regulated by increasing in a controlled manner the rate at which the supplemental oxidizing agent is supplied over a period of time. Furthermore, the control unit for the engine receives and responds to a number of external operating parameters including the oxygen content of the engine exhaust and the traction of the tires.

Abstract: A vehicle restraint system that includes an impact sensor coupled by fiber optics to an igniter for inflating an air bag. The impact sensor includes a permanent magnet disposed within a cavity and biased by magnetic force toward one end of the cavity, motion of the magnet in the cavity being sensed by a weigand wire or Hall sensor for igniting the air bag. Facility is disposed externally of the cavity for selectively adjusting the bias of the sensor and/or moving the magnet into proximity with the Hall effect or weigand wire sensor to test operative condition of the sensor.

Abstract: A hand-held bleeder stroke tool for bleeding gas from a cylinder/piston assembly, such as a vehicle master brake cylinder assembly. The present invention utilizes a rod with a push member at one end of the rod. The push member is generally spherical and contacts the piston of the assembly to force or stroke the piston into the cylinder and forcing the gas from the cylinder. At an end generally opposed to the push member, the rod is secured to a handle to provide effective gripping. Furthermore, the present invention utilizes a stroke indicator assembly comprising a slider movably mounted to the rod as well as length markings on the rod as visual gauging features for determining equal length strokes of the piston.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system for internal combustion engines that includes a source of fuel under pressure, fuel lines for feeding fuel to the individual cylinders of the engine, and a distributor for metering fuel under pressure from the source to the individual fuel lines. The fuel metering distributor includes a fuel cavity coupled to the fuel source for receiving fuel under pressure, apertures in the sidewall of the cavity coupled to associated individual fuel lines, and a piston slidably disposed in the cavity for opening the individual apertures to the cavity as a function of position of the piston within the cavity. A linear electromagnetic actuator is coupled to the piston for controlling position of the piston within the cavity as a function of engine operating conditions.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine system that is selectively powered by an enhanced air/fuel mixture. The supply of fuel to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine is increased in response to the addition of a supplemental oxidizing agent into an air/fuel mixture. The additional fuel may be added by increasing the duty cycle of fuel injectors mounted proximate the individual cylinders. In addition, the ignition timing is adjusted in accordance with the change in the density of the fuel air mixture. The amount of supplemental oxidizing agent provided to the cylinders may be regulated by increasing in a controlled manner the rate at which the supplemental oxidizing agent is supplied over a period of time. Furthermore, the control unit for the engine receives and responds to a number of external operating parameters including the oxygen content of the engine exhaust and the traction of the tires.

Abstract: Apparatus for operating exterior lights on an automotive vehicle under inclement weather conditions that includes an electronic switch responsive to a vehicle operator for selectively activating the vehicle windshield wipers under inclement weather conditions, and electronic circuitry responsive to the windshield wiper switch for automatically applying electrical power to the vehicle exterior lights. The electronic circuitry preferably comprises a latch circuit that is set by operator activation of the vehicle windshield wipers for maintaining illumination of the vehicle exterior lights even if the windshield wipers are later deactivated by the operator. The latch circuit is reset by operation of the vehicle ignition switch to disenable ignition at the vehicle engine. Thus, the vehicle exterior lights are activated and remain activated under inclement weather conditions that require operation of the windshield wipers.

Abstract: A system for managing operation of a V-twin motorcycle engine that includes a throttle body having an air intake manifold adapted to be mounted to the engine over the cylinder intake ports, and a throttle for control by an operator to admit combustion air into the manifold. A pair of fuel injectors are mounted on the throttle body, and are responsive to electronic injector control signals for injecting fuel into the air intake manifold adjacent to the intake ports. A fuel pump delivers fuel under pressure from a fuel supply, and a pressure regulator is coupled to the pump for supplying fuel at regulated pressure to the injectors. An engine speed sensor is operatively coupled to the engine for supplying an electrical signal as a function of engine speed. A second sensor such as a pressure sensor is operatively coupled to the engine air intake manifold for supplying an electrical signal as a function of combustion air available in the manifold.

Abstract: A clutch or brake system for a heavy duty vehicle is provided having an assembly which includes a shoe having an exposed surface on which is attached a carrier member. A friction liner is molded onto the carrier member. The carrier member is provided with a plurality of apertures, each having a peripheral flange embedded into a concealed surface of the liner. The attachment of the carrier member to the shoe exposed surface permits relative adjustment therebetween, when the assembly is in a braking or clutching mode, so as to compensate for any differential in coefficients of thermal expansion between the shoe and the carrier member on which the liner is molded.

Abstract: A system for managing operation of a V-twin motorcycle engine that includes a throttle body having an air intake manifold adapted to be mounted to the engine over the cylinder intake ports, and a throttle for control by an operator to admit combustion air into the manifold. A pair of fuel injectors are mounted on the throttle body, and are responsive to electronic injector control signals for injecting fuel into the air intake manifold adjacent to the intake ports. A fuel pump delivers fuel under pressure from a fuel supply, and a pressure regulator is coupled to the pump for supplying fuel at regulated pressure to the injectors. An engine speed sensor is operatively coupled to the engine for supplying an electrical signal as a function of engine speed, and a pressure sensor is operatively coupled to the engine air intake manifold for supplying an electrical signal as a function of manifold air pressure.

Abstract: A roller body for providing a brake shoe actuator, in a heavy-duty air brake assembly in which the braking effect is achieved by the movement of a cam which pushes on a brake shoe by rolling forcefully against the roller body which is revolvably carried by the brake shoe; and the roller body has a generally cylindrical surface which is provided with knurling grooves all running generally parallel to the axis of the body member, providing high torque and self-cleaning effect which gives smooth braking and extra gripping power by assuring smooth actuation of the brake shoe in response to the braking force applied to the cam shaft of the braking system.