Abstract: An evaporative fuel vapor control system, purge valve and methods are described. The system includes a fuel supply, internal combustion engine, vapor canister, a bypass passage, and a purge valve. The bypass passage includes a sensor disposed in the bypass passage and in communication with the flow passage to provide a signal indicative of the magnitude of chemicals in the fuel vapor being provided to the engine. Various methodologies relating the system, purge valve and sensors are described.

Abstract: An example plastic intake manifold is assembled with an inner shell received within an outer shell. The method of assembling the outer shell to the inner shell comprises a localized thickness that defines a desired laser weld joint along which laser energy is utilized to form the desired joint between the outer shell and the inner shell. The method also provides for completing a desired weld around an interfering protrusion on an outer surface of the outer shell.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve is provided. The exhaust gas recirculation valve has a base, a spring biasing the valve closed, and an actuator including a rotary motor and a linearly displaceable shaft that is coupled to the motor's rotor. The valve includes a valve member and valve seat disposed within a fluid conduit, and the spring is disposed between the actuator and the valve.

Abstract: An active noise control system (100) and method compensates for changes in a microphone output to maintain accurate noise control. A calibration signal reflecting a desired microphone output is generated and stored in an active noise control module (106). During operation, the active noise control module (106) compares an actual microphone output signal with the calibration signal and compensates for any changes in the actual output signal before any noise compensation or cancellation function occurs.

Abstract: An engine cooling module includes a shroud structure 12 having a shroud hub 46 constructed and arranged to receive a portion of a motor 16. A DC electric motor 16 has first and second ends and a rotatable shaft 40. The second end of the motor is received by the shroud hub. A fan 70 is provided that has a fan hub 72. The fan is coupled with the shaft for rotation therewith. The shroud hub 46 defines a protective cover covering the second end of the motor, and the fan hub 70 defines a protective cover covering the first end of the motor. Thus, no motor housing is required.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculating valve includes a body, a closure member, a magnet, and a magneto-resistive sensor. The body defines a passage through which exhaust gas flows. The body includes a seat and the passage includes an aperture defined by the seat. The closure member is displaced between first and second configurations with respect to the seat. The first configuration sets at zero percent a percentage of exhaust gas that flows from an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine to an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine, and the second configuration sets at 100 percent the percentage of exhaust gas that flows from the exhaust manifold of the internal combustion engine to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine. The magnet moves congruently with the closure member, and the magneto-resistive sensor detects the movement of the magnet so as to determine the percentage of exhaust gas flow.

Abstract: An integrated pressure management apparatus, system and method for minimizing resonance of a poppet. A housing defines a fluid communication passage between ports. The housing includes a first portion, which extends along an axis, and has a first surface parallel to the axis. A poppet is movable between a first configuration that prevents fluid communication between the ports, and a second configuration that permits fluid communication between the ports. The poppet includes a second portion. The second portion is translatable along the axis relative to the housing, and includes a tubular stem that has a second surface parallel to the axis. The second portion nests with the first portion so as to define a gap between the first and second surfaces. The first and second portions define a chamber, and the gap restricts fluid flow between the fluid communication passage and the chamber.

Abstract: A brush card assembly 30 is provided for a permanent magnet brush motor 50. The motor includes a link wound, high speed side commutator 46 and an associated high speed side armature winding 44, and a link wound low speed side commutator 54 and an associated low speed side armature winding 52. The brush card assembly includes a brush card 31 including a high speed side having a positive brush 32 and a negative brush 32? constructed and arranged to be operatively associated with the high speed side commutator 46, and a low speed side opposite the high speed side. The low speed side has a positive brush 33 and a negative brush 33? constructed and arranged to be operatively associated with the low speed side commutator 54. The brushes are constructed and arranged with respect to the commutators to provide at least two different operating speeds of the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for managing fuel vapor pressure in a fuel system that supplies fuel to an internal combustion engine. The fuel vapor pressure management apparatus performs leak detection on a headspace of the fuel system, performs excess negative pressure relief of the headspace, and performs excess positive pressure relief of the headspace. The apparatus includes a housing, a pressure operable device, and a printed circuit board. The housing defines an interior chamber. The pressure operable device separates the interior chamber into first and second portions. And the pressure operable device includes a poppet that moves along an axis and a seal that is adapted to cooperatively engage the poppet. The printed circuit board is supported by the housing in the interior chamber. And the printed circuit board includes a sensor that is adapted to be actuated by movement of the poppet along the axis.

Abstract: An air cleaner, intake manifold, and valve cover are integrated together for attachment to a vehicle engine. The air cleaner is positioned directly between the intake manifold and valve cover to provide a compact induction module. The induction module is mounted to the engine as a single unit. A throttle body is also incorporated into the intake manifold. A tube interconnects the air cleaner and the throttle body. An air filter is installed within the air cleaner to remove contaminants from air prior to entry into the tube.

Abstract: An engine actuator includes a sensor assembly driven by an electric motor through a worm gear. An output gear is also driven by the electric motor about an axis transverse to the electric motor output shaft. A bearing located between the actuator housing and the output gear shaft limits gear shake of the output gear during operation of the engine actuator. A coupling mounted on the output gear shaft outside the actuator housing limits axial movement of the output gear shaft.

Abstract: A stator and armature assembly 12 is provided for a permanent magnet DC motor. The assembly includes an armature 13 having a lamination core 14 and windings 15, and a stator structure 16 associated with the armature. The armature is constructed and arranged to rotate with respect to the stator structure. The stator structure includes at least one permanent magnet 22 providing a certain flux, and at least one wound core structure 17 having a core 18 and a coil 19 wound about the core so as to define an alternate pole with respect to the permanent magnet. When current to the coil is controlled, flux of the stator structure 16 can be increased or decreased relative to the certain flux. In this way a motor can operate at different speeds.

Abstract: A fuel vapor purge control assembly includes an intake passage, a vapor purge passage in fluid communication with the intake passage, a port between and in fluid communication with the intake passage and the vapor purge passage; a closing member movably mounted in the intake passage and an actuator assembly received in the receptacle and connected to the closing member. The closing member has a first position where the closing member closes the port and blocks fluid communication between the intake passage and the vapor purge passage and is outside of a fluid stream of the intake passage when fluid is flowing through the intake passage. The closing member has a second position where the closing member opens the port and allows fluid communication between the intake passage and the vapor purge passage and extends into the fluid stream of the intake passage when fluid is flowing through the intake passage. The actuator assembly drives the closing member between the first and second positions.

Abstract: The method of noise attenuation comprises the steps of generating a noise canceling signal, sensing for an system condition, and ceasing the generation of the noise canceling based upon the system condition. This method is embodied in a system that includes an air induction body, a speaker in proximity to the air induction body, a sensor for sensing a system condition, and a control unit with a noise cancellation feature. The control unit is in communication with both the speaker and the sensor. Based upon the sensed system condition, the control unit may disable the noise cancellation feature.

Abstract: An active noise cancellation system (26) for controlling engine noise propagation through a vehicle induction system (32) is customizable to achieve a desired engine noise profile. A controller (34) of the active noise cancellation system drives a speaker (36) to generate a noise cancellation sound in a manner consistent with an individual's indicated preference for a specific type of available engine noise profile. By customizing how the speaker is driven, the system customizes the resulting engine noise heard in the passenger compartment. In one example, the system is customizable using a hand held communication device (24) such as a cell phone, a personal digital assistant or a so-called palm top computer. In another example, a resident communication bus on the vehicle is accessed through a user communication interface (28) supported on the vehicle.

Abstract: An active noise control system (100) and method modifies a noise made when a vehicle closure, such as a door, hood, or trunk, closes by detecting the closure's velocity and selecting a delay time and control noise amplitude appropriate for the velocity. By modifying the noise of a vehicle door closing, the system (100) can reduce the frequency and reverberation of the noise generated by the door, improving user perception of the vehicle itself.

Abstract: A permanent magnet D.C. electric motor includes a stator housing, permanent magnet structure, and an armature assembly. The armature assembly includes a shaft rotatably mounted in the stator housing, lamination structure, first and second coil windings associated with the lamination structure, a first commutator electrically connected with the first coil windings, and second commutator electrically connected with the second coil windings, each of the first and second commutators being generally cylindrical and having a plurality of commutator segments. Certain segments of the first commutator and certain segments of the second commutator are electrically connected. The motor also includes a brush card assembly including a high speed side having first brush structure associated with the first commutator, and a low speed side having a second brush structure associated with the second commutator, and switches for selectively connecting a D.C.

Abstract: A brush tube structure 10 is provided for holding a brush 14 of a motor. The brush tube structure includes a base 15 and a plurality of fingers 12 extending from the base in a cantilevered manner and in direction of travel of the brush. The fingers are constructed and arranged to define a brush receiving space, such that when a brush is in the space, the fingers engage the brush.

Abstract: A closed-loop system 10 is provided for controlling a DC motor. The system includes a DC motor 12, a controller 18 associated with the motor and constructed and arranged to control operation of the motor, a voltage sensor 14 constructed and arranged to measure a voltage supplied to the motor, a speed sensor 16 associated with the motor and constructed and arranged to obtain a measured speed of the motor, and a conditioning circuit 21 constructed and arranged to receive a speed signal and condition the speed signal to provide to the controller, a nominal speed based on the voltage supplied to the motor, or nominal rate of acceleration or deceleration upon a change in the desired speed. The controller 18 is constructed and arranged to compare the measured speed with a certain speed, that is less than the nominal speed, at a voltage corresponding to a measured voltage, and if the measured speed is less than the certain speed, a fault condition is defined by the controller.

Abstract: A purge valve is provided for a vehicle. The purge valve 10 includes a body 12 to be coupled to an intake manifold 40 of the vehicle and to a canister 33. The body has an orifice 20 for communicating vapor from the canister 33 with airflow in the intake manifold 40. A valve 18 is movable between a first position closing the orifice 20 and a second position opening the orifice. A shape memory alloy (SMA) structure 31 is associated with the valve such that when electric current is provided to the SMA structure 31 to heat the SMA structure above a transformation temperature thereof, the SMA structure transforms from an original shape to a second shape, thereby causing the valve 18 to move from the first position to the second position, and when the current is removed from the SMA structure, the SMA structure returns to the original shape, thereby permitting the valve 18 to return to the first position.