Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process and article produced by injection molding. More particularly, a process and article produced by injection molding, that provides a part with one or more locations of a reduced density where such part competes in mechanical property characteristics with parts, such as vehicular components, otherwise produced from metallic materials.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process and article produced by injection molding. More particularly, a process and article produced by injection molding, that provides a part with one or more locations of a reduced density where such part competes in mechanical property characteristics with parts, such as vehicular components, otherwise produced from metallic materials.

Abstract: An acoustical and rain clearing window assembly for a vehicle includes a window panel mounted to the vehicle and at least one exciter attached to the window panel. An exciter control unit is connected to the at least one exciter and is configured to generate a superposition wave form for communication to the at least one exciter to simultaneously produce audio sound within the vehicle and clear water from the window panel. The exciter control unit is electrically connected to a first mode switch for receiving a first input signal to initiate the production of audio sound within the vehicle and a second mode switch for receiving a second input signal to initiate the clearing of water from the window panel. The exciter control unit is configured to receive the first and second input signals and combine the first and second input signals into the superposition wave form.

Abstract: In one aspect, a battery is provided having at least one cathode sheet formed from a metallic foil electrode coated with an active material and at least one anode sheet formed from a metallic foil electrode coated with an active material. The anode sheet is disposed in overlying relationship with the cathode sheet so as to provide at least one cathode/anode electrode pair. The battery further includes a separator between the cathode and anode sheets, electrolyte, and a packaging encasing the at least one cathode and anode sheets and containing the electrolyte. The active material on the cathode sheet(s) is formed to have ridges and depressions therein enabling the electrolyte to flow and wet the electrode(s).

Abstract: An oil pump drive assembly for an automobile engine includes an oil pump and a drive shaft. The drive shaft is rotatably secured to the oil pump for actuating the oil pump in response to rotation of the drive shaft. The drive shaft extends between a pump end secured to the oil pump and a distal end. A sprocket is secured to the distal end of the drive shaft. A drive gear is secured to the drive shaft between the pump end and the distal end. A driven gear is engaged with the drive gear for rotation of the driven gear in response to rotation of the drive shaft. A balance shaft extends axially from the driven gear for rotation with the driven gear in response to rotation of the drive shaft for dampening vibrations associated with the operation of the automobile engine.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a differential housing having a ring gear integrally formed therein. The method includes the steps of forging a conical frustum from a steel rod; deforming the frustum between upper and lower die halves of a tool to produce a differential housing having an annular rim; and forging a plurality of teeth in the annular rim defining the rim gear.

Abstract: A variable flow water pump includes a housing having an impeller mounted on a rotatable shaft. The pump impeller has a plurality, of vanes fixed to a back plate or flange. A circumferentially surrounding shroud is axially movable within the housing and may move between an open position and a covering position to expose or surround the vane portions and therefore control the effective working capacity of the pump. The shroud is controlled by an actuator and shift fork arrangement that responds to sensor measurements of temperature and/or engine speed to supply a sufficient quantity of coolant tailored to the actual need of the engine and without unwanted power loss caused by excessive flow.

Abstract: A gear coupler for a power transmission comprises an outer race having an cylindrical inner surface and an inner race having a cylindrical outer surface with spaced apart ramped surfaces. A plurality of rollers are seated between the inner and outer race. A controllable cage has a plurality of cage pins seated between adjacent pairs of rollers and engages the rollers with the ramped surfaces. A shifting ring is coupled to the cage for axial movement therealong for selectively aligning the rollers between the ramped surfaces to disengage the inner race from the outer race and allow relative rotation therebetween and for wedging the rollers against the ramped surface to engage the inner race with the outer race and prevent relative rotation therebetween in response to varying rotational speeds of the inner and outer race.

Abstract: A chain assembly drivingly engages a plurality of sprocket teeth that extend radially outwardly from a sprocket of an automobile drivetrain. The chain assembly includes a plurality of rigid links pivotally interconnected to each other to form an endless loop, wherein each of the plurality of rigid links includes a driving surface for drivingly engaging each of the plurality of sprocket teeth during rotation of the sprocket in a first driving direction. A plurality of flexible links are each operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of rigid links for engaging each of the plurality of sprocket teeth prior to the driving engagement with the driving surface, wherein each of the plurality of flexible links are elastically deformable for dampening noise due to the driving engagement between the plurality of sprocket teeth and the plurality of rigid links.

Abstract: A variable-capacity water pump includes a housing having an impeller mounted on a rotatable shaft. The impeller includes a plurality of vanes pivotally coupled between upper and lower shroud and operatively coupled to a pitch plate. As the pump speed increases in response to increasing engine speed, the pitch plate controls the rotation of the impeller vanes about a fixed rivet from a maximum pitch position, toward a minimum pitch position, thereby lowering pump output according to engine cooling requirements.

Abstract: A multi-directional coupling includes a housing which incorporates a first bearing surface, a race which incorporates a second bearing surface opposite the first bearing surface, a plurality of roller elements, and an alignment cage. The first bearing surface and the second bearing surface together define a channel therebetween for receiving the roller elements. The first bearing surface includes at least one recessed bearing surface portion which is configured for receiving one of the roller elements therein for coupling the housing with the race as the one roller element moves relative to the housing. The alignment cage is disposed within the channel for controlling the spacing between the roller elements. The multi-directional coupling also includes a mode controller coupled to the alignment cage for controlling the relative movement of the one roller element so as to alter the coupling mode of the coupling.

Abstract: An oil pump drive assembly for an automobile engine includes an oil pump and a drive shaft. The drive shaft is rotatably secured to the oil pump for actuating the oil pump in response to rotation of the drive shaft. The drive shaft extends between a pump end secured to the oil pump and a distal end. A sprocket is secured to the distal end of the drive shaft. A drive gear is secured to the drive shaft between the pump end and the distal end. A driven gear is engaged with the drive gear for rotation of the driven gear in response to rotation of the drive shaft. A balance shaft extends axially from the driven gear for rotation with the driven gear in response to rotation of the drive shaft for dampening vibrations associated with the operation of the automobile engine.

Abstract: A clutch assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging two rotating members in a transmission. The clutch assembly includes an inner ring defining an outer diameter and an outer ring defining an inner diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the inner ring. A plurality of rings extend through the clutch assembly between the inner diameter of the outer ring and the outer diameter of the inner ring. The plurality of rings provides selective locking engagement between the inner and outer rings. The clutch assembly also includes a cage for maintaining each of said plurality of rollers in position with respect to said inner and outer rings.

Abstract: A clutch assembly includes an outer ring having an inner peripheral surface and an inner ring seated within the outer ring and having an outer peripheral surface. A plurality of rollers is seated between the inner and outer rings for selectively binding between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces to prevent rotation of the inner disc relative to the outer disc. At least one of the inner and outer disc includes an inner sleeve mechanically coupled to an outer jacket with an interference fit such that the inner sleeve is in compression and the outer jacket is in tension whereby the tensile hoop stress is reduced between the inner and outer rings upon the binding of the rollers between the surfaces.

Abstract: A gear coupler for a power transmission comprises an outer race having an cylindrical inner surface and an inner race having a cylindrical outer surface with spaced apart ramped surfaces. A plurality of rollers are seated between the inner and outer race. A controllable cage has a plurality of cage pins seated between adjacent pairs of rollers and engages the rollers with the ramped surfaces. A shifting ring is coupled to the cage for axial movement therealong for selectively aligning the rollers between the ramped surfaces to disengage the inner race from the outer race and allow relative rotation therebetween and for wedging the rollers against the ramped surface to engage the inner race with the outer race and prevent relative rotation therebetween in response to varying rotational speeds of the inner and outer race.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a differential housing having a ring gear integrally formed therein. The method includes the steps of forging a conical frustum from a steel rod; deforming the frustum between upper and lower die halves of a tool to produce a differential housing having an annular rim; and forging a plurality of teeth in the annular rim defining the rim gear.

Abstract: An improved cooling system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system utilizes an electronically controlled butterfly valve to control coolant flow between the engine and a radiator, thereby maintaining the engine temperature at a substantially optimum temperature. The valve includes a valve housing having an inlet port in fluid communication with an outlet port. A valve core is seated in the housing for selectively opening and closing the outlet port. A driving mechanism is operatively coupled to the valve core for positioning the valve core between open and closed positions relative to the outlet port. A damping mechanism is coupled between the driving mechanism and the valve core for preventing the driving mechanism from locking in the open or closed position during loading of the valve core with the housing and inlet or outlet ports.

Abstract: A housing and gear assembly comprises a cylindrical rotating housing having an inner cylindrical wall and a center bore for rotatably mounting the housing on an elongated shaft. An internal ring gear has a plurality of internal gear teeth, an external cylindrical wall and a plurality of spaced apart broach teeth projecting radially outwardly from the external wall for cutting engagement with the internal wall of the housing as the ring gear is press fit into the housing to fixedly and rotationally secure the ring gear to the housing.

Abstract: A variable-capacity water pump includes a housing having an impeller mounted on a rotatable shaft. The pump impeller has a plurality of vanes fixed to a flange. A circumferentially surrounding shroud is axially movable within the housing and may move between extended and retracted positions to surround or expose the vanes and therefore control the effective working capacity of the pump. At low engine speeds, the vanes are fully extended and the maximum amount of kinetic energy is transferred to the coolant. When the rotational speed increases above a certain pre-determined level, the shroud is pushed upwards towards the inlet opening and a portion of the vanes becomes covered. The capacity of the pump decreases and the power required to drive the pump also decreases. Both passive and active control means for the shroud are disclosed.

Abstract: A chain assembly drivingly engages a plurality of sprocket teeth that extend radially outwardly from a sprocket of an automobile drivetrain. The chain assembly includes a plurality of rigid links pivotally interconnected to each other to form an endless loop, wherein each of the plurality of rigid links includes a driving surface for drivingly engaging each of the plurality of sprocket teeth during rotation of the sprocket in a first driving direction. A plurality of flexible links are each operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of rigid links for engaging each of the plurality of sprocket teeth prior to the driving engagement with the driving surface, wherein each of the plurality of flexible links are elastically deformable for dampening noise due to the driving engagement between the plurality of sprocket teeth and the plurality of rigid links.