Abstract: Improvements for imparting hysteresis, or dampening, to the shaft of a pedal assembly for an electronic throttle actuation system so that the feel of the pedal simulates the feel of a strictly mechanical system. Pads are resiliently urged against a disk in one embodiment, the disk being affixed to the pedal shaft. In another embodiment, metal rings are resiliently urged against friction rings on the disk.

Abstract: A method of making a molded plastic component of an internal combustion engine. The method is for making a fuel rail and includes constructing particular core pins of the mold with threaded connections that form seals between them when they are disposed in proper position within the mold cavity for the molding of a fuel rail. The core pins serve to form a main fuel passage and auxiliary fuel passages which transversely intersect the main fuel passage. Each core pin that forms an auxiliary fuel passage includes a screw thread on its inner end that threads into a corresponding complementary threaded recess in the side of the core pin that forms the main fuel passage to create a corresponding seal. This sealing prevents any significant flash from forming in the fuel rail at the intersection of each auxiliary fuel passage with the main fuel passage. After the plastic has been molded, the core pins are unthreaded and withdrawn.

Abstract: The amount of protrusion of an end of a standard length push pin from a stationary part of a solenoid-actuated valve is measured at a certain point in the valve fabrication process. Then before the armature is assembled into the valve, a depression whose depth is based on the push pin protrusion measurement is coined into the end of the armature that is to bear against the protruding end of the push pin. When the armature is assembled, the protruding end of the push pin seats in the depression that has been formed in the end of the armature with the result that the air gap between this end of the armature and the stationary part from which the push pin protrudes is the desired thickness. The process is well-suited for automated operation so that maximum production efficiencies can be attained.

Abstract: A current controlled electronic circuit for a hot wire air flow meter having a symmetrical bridge circuit to measure the mass of the airflow. The present current bridge arrangement requires very few adjustments to select a few resistors for obtaining a required temperature differential and compensation for variations in the temperature coefficient of resistance of both the heated and cold resistors. This is accomplished by placing of a voltage divider in parallel with the sensing leg and a first amplifier responding to the voltage divider and the sensing let to control the current in the compensation leg. A second amplifier responds to the compensation leg for controlling the power to the sensing leg.

Abstract: A silicon-based sensor includes a substrate, a sensor element, and a protective diaphragm mounting and covering the sensor element. The diaphragm is a silicon layer which, in a preferred embodiment, includes an etch-stop dopant. The etch-stop layer is sealed to the substrate so that the layer covers and mounts the sensor element to the substrate. The sensor is fabricated by forming a trough area in a surface of a silicon block (e.g., a silicon chip or wafer), treating the trough area with an etch-stop dopant (e.g., boron), depositing a sensor element onto the doped trough area, sealing at least the periphery of the doped trough area to a surface of a substrate (e.g., glass) so as to encapsulate the sensor element, and then etching away undoped regions of the silicon block so that the doped trough area remains as a protective diaphragm sealed to the substrate and covering the sensor element. It is also possible to form a bonding pad on untreated (e.g.

Abstract: A dual stream thin edge orifice disk is defined as a disk having a pair of orifices positioned to direct the flow of fluid from the interior portion of a valve into two different streams. The dual streams may be parallel or typically diverge at an angle for directing the stream to two adjacent engine valves in the situation wherein the valve is an electromagnetic fuel injector for an internal combustion engine. To have the dual stream flow in a direction that is not parallel, the area of the disk surrounding the dual orifices is embossed and the orifices are positioned along the sides of the embossment between the base and the apex thereof. The manufacturing of the accurately sized orifices in the disk is accomplished by means of a progressive die. One of the stations of the die provides a coining operation on the orifice. Such coining operation is adjustable by means of a micrometer adjustment.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel speed sensing system comprises a magnetic ring mounted on the wheel hub and a sensor mounted on the spindle. The magnetic ring is polarized at regular circumferential intervals so that as the hub rotates on the spindle, magnetic impulses are detected by the sensor which generates an electrical signal corresponding to the rotational speed of the hub. The radially inner surface of the magnetic ring is non-circular and fits onto a correspondingly non-circular radially outwardly facing surface of a groove in the hub. The groove also comprises an axially inwardly facing shoulder against which the magnetic ring is disposed. A sealing ring that seals the axially inner end of the hub to the spindle also has a portion that radially overlaps the magnetic ring for cooperating with the groove shoulder to axially capture the magnetic ring on the hub. In this way no separate attaching parts are required for mounting the magnetic ring on the hub.

Abstract: A system for accomplishing solenoid control of engine valves places a soldnoid valve between an oil gallery and the lost-motion actuator for each valve. Although the basic phasing for the valves is established by a camshaft, the actual phasing is accomplished by causing the valve actuators to execute lost-motion. The amount of lost-motion establishes the actual opening and closing phase angles for the valves. The amount of lost-motion of each actuator is established by the timing of the opening and closing of the corresponding solenoid valve. Oil that is pumped from the actuators can be stored in an accumulator that is connected to the gallery for subsequent use in replenishing the actuators.

Abstract: High resolution microstepping of an unipolar stepping motor 18 is accomplished by applying from a look-up table the values of the SINE and COSINE of a given angle to the control circuit of a unipolar stepping motor. The difference between the present position and the desired position is calculated and depending upon the magnitude of the difference, the degree of microstepping is determined from four steps per ninety electrical degrees of motor rotation to thirty-two steps. By such selection, the positioning of the output shaft of the motor 18 is smoothly and accurately accomplished.

Abstract: Autocalibration of the camshaft phasing sensor of a closed-loop variable valve timing system of an internal combustion engine. The camshaft phasing adjustment mechanism comprises a cam that changes the camshaft phasing. This cam is provided with a dwell that occurs at a known true phasing of the camshaft. The cam is commanded to operate to the dwell, and the lack of change in the sensor output indicates when the dwell is reached. At this time the sensor output should exactly indicate the known camshaft phasing that is produced by the adjustment cam dwell. If it does not, the difference is calculated and forms an offset that is algebraically applied to the sensor output thereby calibrating the sensor.

Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator valve of the type commonly used in automobile fuel injection systems. The invention relates to improved retention of the valve element within the mount that is carried by the diaphragm assembly. The valve element is a truncated sphere and the retention is by means of a circular washer that fits into a circular recess formed in the mount around the cavity that contains the sphere. The truncated circular face of the sphere protrudes through the washer so that it can coact with the valve seat. The inside diameter of the washer is closely controlled and this controls the allowable travel of the sphere within the cavity. The washer is retained on the mount by crimping the edge of the circular recess over the outside diameter of the washer.

Abstract: A dual stream thin edge orifice disk is defined as a disk having a pair of orifices positioned to direct the flow of fluid from the interior portion of a valve into two different streams. The dual streams may be parallel or typically diverge at an angle for directing the stream to two adjacent engine valves in the situation wherein the valve is an electromagnetic fuel injector for an internal combustion engine. To have the dual streams flow in a direction that is not parallel, the area of the disk surrounding the dual orifices is embossed and the orifices are positioned along the sides of the embossment between the base and the apex thereof. The manufacturing of the accurately sized orifices in the disk is accomplished by means of a progressive die. One of the stations of the die provides a coining operation on the orifice. Such coining operation is adjustable by means of a micrometer adjustment.

Abstract: A variable valve timing system utilizes a closed-loop control for controlling the valve phasing wherein the closed-loop control receives a command input from the engine ECU. The command input is a pulse width modulated waveform that is synchronized with engine TDC.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has two differently tuned sets of runners leading to the cylinders. A wave deflector element transversely spans a particular runner for one cylinder and the corresponding particular runner for an adjacent cylinder, and there is one wave deflector element for each pair of cylinders. The wave deflector elements are selectively operated in unison by an actuator to either open or close the runners of the set with which they are associated depending upon the operating state of the engine. The actuator is controlled by an electronic control unit. Each wave deflector element comprises a shaft and a pair of wave deflectors integrally formed of plastic so as to be of one-piece construction. The wave deflector element is resiliently flexible by bending for installation in the runners that it controls.

Abstract: A mass airflow sensor is fabricated on a semiconductor substrate and which includes (1) a dielectric diaphragm, (2) p-etch-stopped silicon rim, (3) thin-film heating and temperature sensing elements, and (4) tapered chip edges. The dielectric diaphragm is formed with thin silicon oxide and silicon nitride in a sandwich structure and provides excellent thermal insulation for the sensing and heating elements of the sensor. The diaphragm dimensions, including thickness, are accurately controlled through the use of the heavily-p-doped silicon rim to help ensure uniform and reproducible sensor performance.

Abstract: Self-contained hydraulic variable valve timing systems for use with internal combustion engines include an especially adapted valve cover which integrally includes a hydraulic lifter, a solenoid valve, and fluid passageways fluid connecting the lifter and solenoid valve. In one embodiment, separated cam follower and valve actuating pistons form respective fluid-connected chambers in a case integral with the valve cover, these chambers also being in fluid communication with the solenoid valve via a control passageway. Cam-following motion of the cam follower piston may be hydraulically transferred to the valve actuating piston when the selenoid valve is operated so as to open one valve of the engine, or to simultaneously open a number of valves. An overhead cam may be mounted within the valve cover with the hydraulic lifters disposed between the cam and the valves of the engine.

Abstract: A mass airflow sensor is disclosed which uses a small, thin dielectric diaphragm providing good thermal isolation for thin-film heating and temperature sensing elements, resulting in high flow sensitivity and low current operation of the heating element. The dielectric diaphragm is bounded by a p-etch-stopped silicon rim. The mass airflow sensor includes a primary sensor circuit which maintains a heated primary temperature sensing element and an ambient air temperature sensing element at a constant temperature difference. A slave sensor circuit, which includes a plurality temperature sensing elements, monitors heat loss due to airflow at a particular location on the diaphragm and generates an output signal indicative of airflow which is independent of ambient air temperature.

Abstract: A solenoid valve assembly in which the solenoid and valve are axially fitted together. The solenoid comprises a cylindrical housing having an axial slot running along its entire length to allow the housing to be resiliently circumferentially expanded. The valve body has a cylindrical axial surface over which an axial end portion of the housing is fitted. Just beyond this cylindrical axial surface is a narrow groove. The cylindrical housing of the solenoid is provided with preformed stakes in its end edge which fit into this narrow groove to retain the solenoid end valve together in assembly. The invention is particularly advantageous where there is a limited axial length for the cylindrical housing of the solenoid to fit onto the valve body. The invention provides adequate retention in assembly, a sufficient area for magnetic flux that passes between the solenoid housing and the valve body, and the ability to easily disassemble the solenoid from the valve when such disassembly is desired.

Abstract: A variable camshaft timing system for an internal combustion engine varies the relative angular position between the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft by controlling the path of the timing belt means. A first belt means is interconnected at one end of the engine between the crankshaft and the exhaust camshaft. At the other end of the engine the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft are connected by a second belt means for rotating the intake camshaft from the rotational drive supplied via exhaust camshaft. Idler arms are positioned for controlling the path and tension in the second belt means for varying the timing of the intake camshaft relative to the exhaust camshaft. A motor means operates to position the idler arms through a positioning cam means.

Abstract: A variable camshaft timing system for an internal combustion engine varies the relative angular position between the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft by controlling the path of the timing belt. First and second idler arms, each having an idler wheel connected thereto, are independently pivoted around a common pivot point by means of a pair of positioning cams operatively connected to an electric stepping motor. The motor is controlled from an electronic control unit which receives signals indicating the engine operating characteristics and through a look-up table steps the positioning cams which in turn pivots the idler arms to rotate the intake camshaft relative to the exhaust camshaft thereby changing the intake valve timing.