Abstract: An air control valve for use in the exhaust emission control system of an internal combustion engine as used for example, in a vehicle, the air control valve, which is adapted to perform three functions, includes a divert timing switching diaphragm assembly which provides the standard diverter valve function during engine warmup and also controls port air injection during all mid-power conditions, a second diaphragm valve assembly that is operative to provide for secondary air by-pass during high engine load or power operating conditions and, a third diaphragm valve assembly adapted to provide secondary air by-pass during low engine load or vehicle cruise conditions.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injector nozzle assembly has a pressure balanced poppet valve controlled discharge outlet supplied with pressurized fuel, with a return spring normally maintaining the poppet valve in a closed position.

Abstract: An articulated, spring-controlled intake valve, for use in controlling induction flow through an intake port of an induction passage in an internal combustion engine, includes a valve head and a separate valve stem connected together by a hinge member with one end thereof pivotally secured to the valve stem and its opposite end fixed to the valve head with one end of a flexure spring sandwiched therebetween, the opposite end of the flexure spring being secured by a clamp member to an internal wall defining a portion of the induction passage.

Abstract: A roller type cam follower carries a floating guide plate having an end thereof extending below the roller to be slidably received in a slotted groove provided in the cam on which the roller rides whereby to prevent rotation of the cam follower.

Abstract: In an evaporative emission control system for a vehicle, the flow of fuel vapor from the fuel tank to the vapor storage canister in the system is controlled by a vapor flow control valve having a housing with a chamber therein in flow communication with the fuel tank to receive fuel vapor therefrom this chamber being connected to the vapor storage canister by a first vapor passage means and by a second vapor passage means, with flow from the chamber through the first vapor passage means being controlled by a diaphragm valve means that is normally biased closed by a spring, and which is responsive to either engine vacuum on one side thereof or to a predetermined fuel vapor pressure on its opposite side whereby to permit vapor flow and, the second vapor passage means including a sized bleed orifice passage used to control the rate of vapor flow to the storage canister via this second vapor passage means.

Abstract: In a fuel vapor recovery system for an internal combustion engine, a canister fuel bowl vent valve is provided with a normally open valve element to control flow in a vent passage between the carburetor fuel bowl and a vapor storage canister, the valve element being responsive to engine vacuum to effect closing movement thereof whereby to block the flow of fuel vapors from the fuel bowl to the canister and, an electrical switch, responsive to engine oil pressure, energizes a solenoid which holds the valve element in a closed position, after it has been moved to a closed position in response to engine vacuum, whereby full venting of fuel vapors from the carburetor fuel bowl to the canister occurs only when the engine is not in operation.

Abstract: In a throttle body injection apparatus of the type having a throttle body housing including a throttle body portion with spaced apart valve controlled throttle bores therein and a fuel body operatively connected to the throttle body portion, the fuel body is of substantially open, diamond like configuration and has a pair of socket cavities therein adjacent opposite corners thereof with electromagnetic fuel injectors positioned therein to discharge fuel from spray tip ends of the injectors into the throttle bores upstream of the valves therein, each electromagnetic fuel injector forming with a socket cavity an annular fuel chamber in flow communication with opposed inlet and outlet ports of the injector, the fuel body having a support port at one apex thereof connectable to a source of low pressure fuel and a drain port at the opposite apex thereof connectable to a fuel drain conduit, the fuel body having inlet passages therein connecting the supply port to the fuel chambers, and drain passages therein connec

Abstract: A fuel tank venting system includes a restricted vent pipe extending from the dome of the fuel tank to a side of the tank filler neck adjacent its open end, a fill limiter vent conduit extending from the opposite side of the filler neck to the upper end of the fuel tank next adjacent the filler neck connection thereto and a second restricted vent pipe extending from the upper filler neck end adjacent its open end for connection to a fuel vapor storage canister or similar device.

Abstract: An electric-thermal switch valve has a body with a first port and at least one second port with a temperature operated valve means including a valve seat and a bimetal element, responsive to temperature, positioned to cooperate with the valve seat to control flow between the first port and the second port. An electrical heating means, including a semi-conductor, having a positive temperature coefficient of resistance, positioned in the body, is used to heat the bimetal element when energized whereby switching of the bimetal element at a predetermined temperature, will occur as the combined effect of heat sensed by the body and the heat generated by the electrical heating means.

Abstract: An altitude compensated purge valve is connected in parallel with the vacuum actuated purge valve in the evaporative emission control system for a vehicle engine whereby to control as a function of ambient pressure the purging of fuel vapors from a fuel vapor storage canister into the vehicle engine for combustion therein. The altitude compensated purge valve includes an aneroid actuated tapered valve to variably control the flow area through an inlet passage from the canister for controlling vapor purge therefrom to a common fuel vapor line connecting both the vacuum actuated purge valve and the altitude compensated purge valve to the induction system of the engine.

Abstract: A tapered shank ball stud, as used in an articulated joint assembly, has its tapered shank secured in seated engagement in the tapered aperture of a support member in such an assembly by a lock nut threaded onto the externally threaded end of the ball stud with a collapsing washer of original C-shaped annulus configuration sandwiched between the member and the lock nut, the washer being operative as the nut is driven onto the ball stud to effect axial movement of the ball stud to fully seat the tapered shank portion thereof in the tapered aperture in the support member thereby preventing rotation of the ball stud as the lock nut is torqued down to effect collapsing of the washer into a final flat ring-like washer configuration.

Abstract: A self-locking knob and stud assembly includes a self-locking knob consisting of an internally threaded knob with an apertured spring retainer clip slidably received in a transverse slot provided in the knob, the aperture through the retainer clip being operative to effect a locking action of the knob relative to a stud on which the knob is threaded when rotated in one direction. The stud which is of special configuration has a reduced diameter Z-shaped free end shank portion that extends axially outward for the externally threaded portion of the stud.

Abstract: As part of an evaporative emission control system for an automotive vehicle, the fuel bowl of the carburetor for the internal combustion engine of the vehicle is provided with an internal vent passage for venting fuel vapor from the fuel bowl to the air cleaner, for example, for induction through the induction passage in the carburetor for flow to the engine during engine operation and, with an external vent passage for venting fuel vapor from the fuel bowl to a vapor storage canister when the engine is not in operation, as during hot soak, the internal vent passage having a cross sectional flow area at least two times larger than the minimum cross sectional flow area of the external vent passage whereby changes in pressure at the canister will tend to result in air cleaner depression changes with minimal differential pressures between the carburetor fuel bowl and air cleaner.

Abstract: In a fuel vapor recovery system for an internal combustion engine, a proportional fuel vapor purge flow control apparatus is used to regulate the flow of a fuel vapor-air mixture to the induction system of the engine, the flow control apparatus including a variable area flow control valve which is diaphragm operated by exhaust back pressure to provide a canister purge flow area which is proportional to exhaust back pressure and a vacuum regulator operative to provide a constant pressure differential across the variable area valve.

Abstract: A modified Ericsson cycle engine, the operating cycle of which involves sequential modes of substantially adiabatic compression, constant pressure heat addition, constant temperature expansion, heat rejection at constant volume and heat rejection at constant pressure. A preferred engine embodiment includes at least one compression cylinder discharging compressed heated air through an exhaust heat recuperator to a constant pressure heat make-up combustor wherein fuel is discharged into the air stream and ignited, at least one expander cylinder receiving the fuel-air mixture from the combustor for expansion therein, additional fuel being supplied to the gases within the expander cylinder whereby expansion will take place within the expander cylinder at constant temperature, after which the mixture is then discharged through the exhaust passages in the exhaust heat recuperator through the atmosphere.

Abstract: An electromagnetic unit fuel injector for use in a diesel engine includes a housing with a pump therein defined by a cam actuated plunger reciprocable in a bushing for supplying fuel via a discharge passage in the housing to a spring biased, pressure actuated, injection valve positioned to control flow discharge out through the spray tip outlet at one end of the housing. The discharge passage is also connected to a low pressure, fuel drain passage with flow from the discharge passage, which has a metering orifice passage at one end thereof, to the drain passage being controlled by a normally open, electromagnetic valve. During a pump stroke of the plunger, the electromagnetic valve is energized to thereby block flow from the discharge passage through the metering orifice passage to the low pressure fuel drain passage whereby to allow the pressure of fuel in the discharge passage to increase during the pump stroke of the plunger whereby to effect unseating of the injection valve.

Abstract: An electromagnetic unit fuel injector for use in a diesel engine includes a pump, in the form of a cam actuated plunger reciprocable in a bushing, to supply fuel at high pressure to a variable volume pressure accumulator chamber and through a flow control orifice to a control chamber in supply flow communication with a fuel injection nozzle assembly having a pressure actuated injection valve controlling the injected charge of fuel from the unit. Flow through the control orifice into the control chamber is selectively controlled by an electromagnetic valve assembly which also selectively controls flow from the control chamber through a drain orifice to a low pressure fuel return or drain line.

Abstract: An electromagnetic unit fuel injector for use in a diesel engine has a pump, provided by a cam actuated plunger reciprocable in a bushing, for intensifying the pressure of fuel delivered to a spring biased closed, pressure actuated injection valve controlling flow discharge out through a spray outlet, to a pressure accumulator and through a throttling orifice passage into one end of a modulation pressure control chamber having an enlarged diameter stem portion of the injection valve therein, the modulation pressure control chamber downstream of the throttling orifice passage being connected by a conduit including a solenoid actuated valve controlling metering orifice with a low pressure fuel drain return line whereby the pressure of fuel in the modulation pressure control chamber acting on the enlarged diameter stem portion of the injection valve is modulated so as to control the seating and unseating of the injection valve.

Abstract: An electromagnetic unit fuel injector for use in a diesel engine has a pump including a cam actuated plunger reciprocable in a bushing for intensifying the pressure of fuel delivered to a pressure actuated injection valve controlling flow discharge out through a spray outlet, to a pressure accumulator and, through a throttling orifice passage into one end of a modulation pressure control chamber having a spring biased piston movable therein, the piston engaging one end of the injection valve, this one end of the pressure control chamber downstream of the throttling orifice passage being connected by a conduit, including a solenoid actuated valve controlling flow through a metering orifice to a low pressure fuel drain return line whereby the pressure of fuel in the pressure control chamber acting on the piston is modulated so as to control the seating and unseating of the injection valve.

Abstract: A clinch weld fastener and method of using the same to effect attachment of a non-ferrous panel, such as an aluminum panel, to a ferrous panel, such as a steel panel. The clinch weld fastener is in the form of a clinch nut blank, preferably of the self-piercing type, with weld projections extending from one end thereof. To effect assembly of the two panels together, the clinch weld fastener is first clinched to the aluminum panel with the weld projections extending outward from one surface thereof and then after placing the aluminum panel with the weld projections in abutment against the steel panel, projection welding the clinch weld fastener to the steel panel thereby securing the aluminum panel to the steel panel.