Abstract: An air door assembly for a fan shroud assembly includes a door having an upper portion, a lower portion and a hinge portion located between the upper portion and the lower portion, a frame defining an opening in the fan shroud assembly, and a hinge defining a pivotal axis pivotally coupling the hinge portion of the door to the frame. The door is adapted to pivot relative to the frame about the pivotal axis between a fully closed position and a fully open position. The upper portion of the door and the lower portion of the door may be in a substantially horizontal orientation when the door is in a fully open position. The hinge may include a pair of pivot pins extending along the pivotal axis at least partially into the opening from opposite lateral sides of the frame and a corresponding pair of at least partial sleeves at opposite lateral sides of the hinge portion of the door, the pair of pivot pins being received within the pair of at least partial sleeves to couple the door to the frame.

Abstract: A noise attenuation system for the air induction ducting particularly for an internal combustion engine has an outwardly facing loudspeaker mounted within an air inlet duct so as to lie in the plane of the air intake opening. Signals from an error microphone (and also optionally a detector microphone) are processed in a signal controller, the output driver used to drive the loudspeaker so that a cancellation sound field is produced, which attenuates the noise emanating from the air intake. The speaker is mounted on a fairing body creating an annular flow passage, a filter element ring inserted in the annular space.

Abstract: Improved accuracy and response of an EEGR valve (60) are obtained by novel constructional features of an upper stator member (194), a lower stator member (174), a bearing guide member (140), and a shell (64), and various inter-relationships between them for improved concentricity of parts, stable and accurate positioning of parts relative to each other, and better resistance to muddy water intrusion at an ambient air space (76) that provides for ambient air to pass through for cooling the valve. A lower stator member (174) has a through-hole (184) to which a bearing member (140) that guides a pintle shaft (114) is concentrically disposed. A frusto-conical surface (182) extends from through-hole (184) to the ambient air space (76).

Abstract: A D.C. motor and an associated switch circuit for selecting between forward and reverse motor rotation about a motor axis. Two armature winding portions are disposed on an armature core, A magnetic flux source on the stator provides magnetic flux across an air gap for interaction with these winding portions. One winding portion, when energized, causes armature rotation in a forward sense; the other winding portion, when energized, causes armature rotation in a reverse sense. The associated switch circuit contains first circuit branch, including a first selectively operable switch, connected via certain brushes and commutator to include the one winding portion, and a second circuit branch, including a second selectively operable switch, connected via certain brushes and commutator to include the other winding portion.

Abstract: A cooling fan assembly (13) is attached to a motor (11) by a mating, "twist-lock" adaptor plate (30) having radial lugs (33), which engage a shouldered recess (23) in a corresponding hub (22A).

Abstract: A combined air cleaner and noise attenuating resonator device including a hollow cylindrical air cleaner element pressed to a fitting on a hose, the fitting latched to the housing in a position holding the air cleaner filter element within a cavity in a housing. An expansion chamber and a Helmholtz resonator chamber are both defined in part in the housing and by an insert piece within the housing which also forms an air flow passage in fluid communication with each chamber.

Abstract: A system and method of attenuating noise generated in a multicylinder internal combustion engine as a result of opening and closing of the exhaust and intake valves in which cross passages extend between regions of the exhaust and intake manifolds adjacent the exhaust and intake valves of different cylinders in which the exhaust and intake valves open at approximately the same time. The acoustic waves of the noise caused by opening of the exhaust and intake valves respectively are set in mutual opposition to each other to thereby substantially cancel each other. A low mass flexible diaphragm in each cross passage prevents cross flow of exhaust gases while allowing transmission of the acoustic waves. Porous plugs restrict flow to the diaphragm while being sufficiently open to allow free transmission of the noise sound waves to the diaphragm to not impair the mutual cancellation process.

Abstract: A heat exchanger module, a cooling fan module, a pump/fan module, and an electronics system control module are joined together in assembly to form a total cooling assembly for an automotive vehicle that is powered by an internal combustion engine. The cooling fan module is disposed directly behind the rear face of the radiator, and contains an electric motor-driven fan that draws ambient air across the radiator. At time of installation in a vehicle, the assembly is "dropped into" the vehicle engine compartment and secured in place. An electric motor-driven coolant pump module that pumps engine coolant through the engine and radiator, and an electronics system control module that controls the operation of the fan and pump motors also mount on the cooling fan module. When the vehicle has an air conditioning system, and/or turbo-charged engine, one and/or two additional heat exchangers form part of the heat exchanger module. The cooling fan module may comprise an axial flow fan or a ducted radial flow fan.

Abstract: A slim-line direct current (DC) brushless motor for automotive and HVAC applications utilizes a single contact bearing assembly to rotatably couple an exterior rotor to an interior stator. The rotor includes a flat permanent magnetic and the stator assembly includes a flat coil. The flat coil is made from a stamped copper member. The rotor is staked to the bearing assembly by a hub-shaft. The lone contact bearing can be a double horizontal row contact bearing, a four point contact bearing, or a closed cylindrical roller bearing. A cooling fan is disposed on the top of the rotor to cool internal control circuitry within the motor. The motor is easily assembled and has a minimal number of moving parts.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing noise from an internal combustion engine using a duct housing receiving induction air flow to the engine. A space is defined within the duct housing surrounding a speaker enclosure associated with a speaker facing an open space upstream of the annular space. A sound transducer at the axial location where the annular space opens into the open space generates electrical signals corresponding to engine noise propagating through the air induction ducting. The signals are amplified and phase shifted driving the speaker to output cancelling noises or sounds so as to at least reduce engine noise from the annular space. The speaker enclosure length is set to enhance speaker performance in selected frequency bands of engine noise.

Abstract: An on-board diagnostic system for an evaporative emission control system of an internal combustion engine powered vehicle employs a leak detection module that is fluid connected in a vent passage for the evaporative emission space. The leak detection module contains an electric motor driven impeller, a solenoid operated valve assembly that is selectively operable to three positions, and a pressure-responsive switch whose switching characteristic possesses hysteresis corresponding to an upper regulating limit and a lower regulating limit.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing ventilating air into a housing for an electric machine is disclosed. The apparatus includes a hub mounted to the housing with a raised center portion and a generally circular outer portion. The center portion is displaced upwardly from the outer portion to form an outer surface. The apparatus features a first plurality of main blades extending upwardly from the hub, a second plurality of auxilliary blades extending downwardly from the hub. Ventilating air is communicated through an axial aperture in the hub, the main blades guiding air at least partially into the central aperture and the auxilliary blades transmitting air through the housing. An apparatus including a blower wheel for providing ventilating air into a housing of an electric machine is also featured. The blower wheel features a generally dome-shaped hub. The blower wheel may feature a third plurality of impeller blades extending downwardly from the hub to transmit air into the housing.

Abstract: A rotary actuator has a ferromagnetic armature with at least one arcuate-shaped wall extending circumferentially at the perimeter of the armature. The stator has a pair of axially and circumferentially aligned axial walls, separated by an axial air gap, disposed radially outward of, and in relatively circumferentially advanced relationship to, each such arcuate-shaped wall. Current flow in an electromagnetic coil associated with the stator causes magnetic flux to pass from one axial wall of each pair, across an air gap, to the respective arcuate-shaped armature wall, through that wall, and across a radial air gap to the other axial wall of each pair. Each arcuate-shaped wall has a ferromagnetic characteristic that causes it to be positioned to increasingly circumferentially overlap the respective pair of axial walls as the magnetic flux increases. The actuator may include a rotary flow control valve, such as an EGR valve for an automotive engine.

Abstract: A vapor collection canister vent valve contains both an electric pressure sensor for measuring evaporative emission space pressure during a diagnostic test and an electric actuator for operating the vent valve closed during a diagnostic test. Use of the valve in an evaporative emission control system reduces the number of connections, both electrical and fluid, that are required to install the valve in a system. The remote location of the pressure sensor damps the effect of pressure transients, such as those due to tank fuel slosh, on the sensor.

Abstract: A non-metallic bobbin (22) has features on a radial flange (28) which allow magnet wire (MW) that forms an electromagnet coil (114) on the bobbin core (24) to be tensioned throughout. An end segment of magnet wire is wrapped around a post (56) on the bobbin flange, and the magnet wire runs in tension generally diametrically across the bobbin to pass through slots (66, 68) in opposite walls of an electric-terminal-receiving socket (60) also on the flange. The wire runs in grooved tracks (74, 70) proximate the socket to pass around the perimeter edge of the flange to the opposite flange face where it is wound in tensioned convolutions around the core to create the coil. It then runs in tension from the coil around the perimeter edge of the flange to pass through a second socket (62) having the same associated features as the first socket (60). From there the tensioned magnet wire extends back across the bobbin to be tied to the post.

Abstract: An integrated intake manifold-fuel rail construction with a separately molded trough-shaped fuel rail component friction welded to a runner spanning mounting plate molded as a part of the manifold. A filter is installed within the fuel rail component to intercept particles generated by the friction welding process to prevent their entry into the fuel injectors, each having one end installed in one of a series of sockets formed in the fuel rail component.

Abstract: A variably tuned Helmholtz resonator which has a connection establishing fluid communication between fixed volume chamber and a duct of an induction system for an internal combustion engine. The tubular connection has a special configuration which affects changes in open area and length of the tubular connection so as to create a linear relationship between the resonant frequency and the angular position of the tuning plate. The tuning plate is positioned correspondingly to engine speed to provide noise attenuation over a wide range of engine speeds.

Abstract: An improved radiator core assembly for typical automotive and similar uses comprises fins angled with respect to the plane of the radiator core. Air entering the radiator is redirected by the fins to match the angle of the blades of a fan forcing air through the radiator.

Abstract: A control system (100) for a five-phase brushless DC motor (102) including a stator having five windings and a rotor (116) mounted for rotation relative to the windings (114). The windings (114) are adapted to be electronically commutated in response to the rotary position of the rotor (116). The control system (100) includes a sensing circuit (106) to sense the rotary position of the rotor (116) using an optical or magnetic sensor or the back electromotive force voltages in the windings (114). Electronic switches (112) control the flow of current through the windings (114) in response to control signals generated by a control circuit (110) in response to the rotary position of the rotor (116). The control circuit (110) includes start-up logic to start the motor (102).

Abstract: In installed position, a filter, comprising a removable particulate filter medium, is disposed in an induction air passage in circumferentially perimetrically sealed relation with the passage side wall. The passage wall has an opening providing for a drawer to be slid into and out of the passage. The drawer has a perimeter that bounds an open center and that supports the filter in covering relation to the open center. Once the drawer has been slid into the passage sufficiently to have passed the filter completely into the passage, the filter abuts the passage wall to prevent further insertion of the filter. Thereupon, continued sliding of the drawer into the passage moves the filter transversely into perimetrically sealed relation with the passage wall, thereby constraining air to pass through the filter medium. The filter is supported in final position by underlying support surfaces on the drawer.