Abstract: An electrical socket terminal includes a socket housing defining a cavity. The socket housing includes a first set of walls, a second set of rigid walls connected to the first set of wall and spacing the first set of walls apart, and at least one resilient socket contact inwardly depending from the first set of walls into the cavity. The socket contact(s) include at least one inwardly depending stabilizer adapted to laterally restrain a plug contact.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of compensating for the error of a signal indicative of the mass of air flow output from an air mass flow sensor for an internal combustion engine, the method comprising deriving an air mass flow value from an air mass flow sensor output, calculating a compensated air mass flow value based on the air mass flow value and a compensation value, calculating an estimated air mass flow value from engine operating parameter values, calculating a new compensation value based upon the compensated air mass flow value and the estimated air mass flow value and using the new compensation value for subsequent calculations of the compensated air mass flow value.

Abstract: A method of producing an actuator includes shaping a block of ferroelectric material to provide an active element of the actuator. The element includes a stack of ferroelectric layers with adjacent layers separated by electrodes arranged parallel to end faces of the element. The method includes applying a primary electrode to the end faces, immersing the element and the primary electrode within a dielectric fluid, applying a primary poling voltage to the primary electrode so as to polarize the element in a first polarization direction, applying a secondary external electrode to side faces of the element, and applying a secondary poling voltage to the secondary electrode to polarize alternate layers along the first polarization direction and the other layers along a second, oppositely-directed polarization axis. The method may also include applying a conductive film to the end faces and/or applying heat to help evaporate the dielectric fluid.

Abstract: A common rail fuel pump for an internal combustion engine includes a pumping plunger (10) that is reciprocable within a plunger bore (14) provided in a pump housing (16) under the influence of a drive arrangement (18, 20) to cause fuel pressurisation within a pump chamber (12). An inlet metering valve (46) is operable to meter the quantity of fuel supplied to the pump chamber (12) during the return stroke of the plunger (10). An outlet valve (58) controls the supply of pressurised fuel from the pumping chamber (12) through an outlet passage (30) to the common rail fuel volume in circumstances in which the inlet metering valve is closed. The outlet passage (30) has a pump outlet (38), from where fuel is supplied to the common rail fuel volume. The inlet metering valve (46), the plunger (10) and the pump outlet (38) are arranged in axial alignment, providing a compact and lightweight pump for installation in existing and purpose-built engines.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a CPA plug (connector position assurance plug) for assuring that the electrical connector is properly connected to a mating electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a right-angled connector body having a plurality of longitudinal channels that open into an axial shroud that plugs into a socket of the mating connector in the axial direction, and a plurality of right angled terminals that are disposed in the plurality of longitudinal channels respectively with their respective contacts disposed in the axial shroud. The axial shroud has a cover at one end and the CPA plug is attached to the cover for movement between a prestaged position and a final locked position assuring that the electrical connector is properly connected to the mating electrical connector. Three embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connection system has a pair of electrical connectors each comprising an inner insulator housing and an outer housing of conductive material. A shunt member of conductive material contacts conductive plug and socket portions of the respective electrical connectors when mated, to enhance electrical continuity between the outer housings. The shunt member is disposed in a shunt chamber and a connector seal seals the chamber at one end. A terminal attached to a shielded electric cable is disposed in a terminal passage in electrical connector that has a second shunt chamber at an inlet of the terminal passage. A second shunt member engages the conductive shield of the cable in the second shunt chamber and the outer housing of the connector. A cable seal seals an inlet of the second shunt chamber. The outer housing of electrical connector is adapted for connection to a conductive casing for grounding the shielded electrical connection.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical connector including a housing defining a receptacle extending to an opening and a cavity block assembly retained in the receptacle. The cavity block assembly includes a base seated in the receptacle and a terminal inserter attached to the base and moveable in a terminal insertion direction from a pre-staged inserter position to a final inserter position. In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of terminal passages extend in parallel through the base and terminal inserter. When the terminal inserter is in the pre-staged position, terminals may be inserted into the passages to a range of partially inserted positions with respect to the housing or to fully inserted positions. Preferably after all of the terminals are inserted, an urging force is applied to the terminal inserter causing it to move from the pre-staged position to the final position.

Abstract: An advance arrangement for use in controlling timing of fuel delivery by a fuel pump for use in an engine comprises an advance piston (12) which is slidable within a first bore (14) and which cooperates, in use, with a cam arrangement of a fuel pump to adjust the timing of fuel delivery by the pump. A surface associated with the advance piston (12) is exposed to fuel pressure within a first control chamber (38). The pressure of fuel within the first control chamber (38) is controlled by means of a servo piston (24) which is slidable within a further bore (22) provided in the advance piston (12). The servo piston (24) is responsive to speed dependent fuel pressure variations within a servo control chamber (37), thereby to permit adjustment of the timing in response to engine speed.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a connect or shroud. A pin block disposed in the connector body supports a plurality of terminal pins that have head portions projecting out a forward end of the pin block and tail portions projecting out a rearward end of the pin block. The connector shroud has a socket at a forward end that receives a terminal stabilizer that is locked to the pin block to hold the terminal stabilizer and the pin block in assembly with the connector shroud to form a module. The module may include a block seal that can be sandwiched between the terminal stabilizer and the pin block during assembly of the module. The rear end of the connector shroud is truncated at an angle for a direct top down assembly of the module to a housing that has an attachment collar that is truncated at the same angle. The pin terminal tail portions are bent at a right angle and project through holes in a pin alignment member and a printed circuit board that are mounted inside the housing.

Abstract: A low profile electrical connector assembly has terminals attached to insulated electric cables that are disposed in topless slots of a connector base. Each terminal has two longitudinally spaced retention slots. The connector base has two transverse grooves that extend through sidewalls of the topless slots to provide terminal retainers that engage the forward retention slots to retain the terminals in a longitudinal direction. The connector base has a third transverse groove that extends through the sidewalls of the topless slots with selected sidewalls having undercuts for retaining a bottomless connector cover. The connector cover has a face plate that has a plurality of apertures that align with the topless slots, a lower ledge, and a depending lock bar. The lock bar is disposed in the third transverse groove and extends through the rearward retention slots to further retain the terminals in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A stagable electrical connector and method of assembly has a housing and a shuttle that moves with respect to the housing from a staged position to an assembled position. An electrically conductive terminal snap fits to the shuttle when in the staged position and generally does not move with respect to the shuttle as the shuttle is then moved from the staged position to the assembled position that further secures the terminal to the shuttle. Preferably, a one-way coupler is carried between the shuttle and the housing to strongly resist withdrawal of the shuttle from the housing as the terminal is snap fitted to the shuttle. During snap fitting of the terminal, a flex beam of the shuttle is free to move giving way to the terminal and resiliently flexing back when the terminal is fitted to the shuttle.

Abstract: An automated wire harness machine is capable of manufacturing a wire harness in an automated process. The wire harness is generally a plurality of bundled, preferably un-stripped, insulated wires. Each un-stripped end portion of each wire is preferably terminated by an electrical terminal in one of a series of electrical connectors of the wire harness. Each connector has at least one wafer which houses a plurality of terminals. The wire harness machine utilizes a pallet that holds all of the wafers of one wire harness. A conveyor transports the pallet and wafers through a series of stations which perform automated manufacturing steps. The first station is a terminal inserter which inserts and locks the terminals within pre-assigned cavities of the wafers. The next station is an automated wire loader which measures, cuts and crimps the two ends of each wire into the respective terminals of the loaded wafer assembly.

Abstract: An injection nozzle for use in delivering fuel to a combustion space, the injection nozzle comprising a nozzle body, at least a part of which is provided with a first coating arranged so as to reduce the temperature of at least a part of the nozzle body, in use. The coating may have either a higher or lower thermal conductivity than the thermal conductivity of the nozzle body.

Abstract: An electrical connection device comprises a bifurcated contact to establish an electrical connection with a mating contact, the bifurcated contact having at least two limbs, at least one web region between the limbs, and an electrically conductive jacket that is in contact with said web region. The bifurcated contact includes a region wherein the jacket at least partially surrounds the two limbs, which provide a plurality of contact positions within the jacket.

Abstract: An electrical splice assembly includes a bus plate having a plurality of coplanar, spaced male blades extending from the bus plate in cantilever fashion, a plurality of female terminals attached to the male blades, and a generally U-shaped housing of extrudable shape. The housing has an elongate open end portion defining a terminal receiving cavity, a closed end portion and an intermediate portion defining a slot that communicates with the terminal receiving cavity. The bus plate is at least partially disposed in the slot and the spaced male blades are at least partially disposed in the terminal receiving cavity along with the female terminals attached to them. The bus plate is a sheet metal stamping and the housing is an extrusion. The female terminals are attached to selected ones of the male blades to form a sub-assembly that is inserted laterally into the housing so the bus plate is at least partially disposed in the slot and the female terminals are disposed in the terminal receiving cavity.

Abstract: An electrical connection header for an electrical device and a method for assembling the same are disclosed herein. A connection header may include a plurality of electrical pins, each of which has a first portion and a second portion oriented generally orthogonal to each other. The pins may be inserted to a connector shroud which defines a plurality of apertures for receiving the first portions of the pins. A hood may be secured to the connector shroud such that the hood extends beyond a bend point of at least one of the pins.

Abstract: A sensor for monitoring the immediate vicinity of a motor vehicle comprises an infrared emitter that is arranged behind a lens and a receiver for reflected infrared radiation, as well as an evaluation unit for detecting the presence of an object in the immediate vicinity of the motor vehicle, wherein a signal can be forwarded from the evaluation unit to a control device in the motor vehicle. In order to also ensure the proper function of the sensor when the lens is soiled, an infrared emitter and a receiver are provided for measuring the transparency of the lens, wherein the evaluation unit is able to increase the power of the infrared emitter for monitoring the immediate vicinity of the motor vehicle if it determines that the lens transparency is reduced.

Abstract: The device (6) includes a sealed casing (10) provided, in its lower part, with a bowl (22) for collection of a residual liquid, and an assembly (30) for purging the residual liquid which comprises means for evacuation of the liquid collected in the bowl and means for connecting the casing to the open air. The means for evacuation of the liquid include an orifice (36) formed in the wall of the casing substantially at the level of the bottom of the bowl (22). The means for connection to the open air include an orifice (34) formed in the wall of the casing (10) substantially opposite the orifice (36) for evacuation of the liquid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a steering column module for a motor vehicle, comprising a steering angle sensor (13) that is inserted into a module housing (1,2). The rotor of the steering angle sensor is assigned to a steering column and co-operates with at least one fixed measuring wheel (37), in which angular modifications of the steering column are registered by electronic measuring sensors (22), operating as the stator and connected to the vehicle electric system by means of a central printed circuit board (6). The measuring sensors (22) are fastened to the printed circuit board (6) and the measuring wheel or wheels (37) is/are mounted in a housing (38) that is fixed to the printed circuit board (6).

Abstract: The invention provides an injection nozzle for an internal combustion engine, the injection nozzle (2) including an outer valve member (8) received within a bore (6) provided in a nozzle body (4) and being engageable with a first seating region (20) to control fuel flow from a first delivery chamber (32) to a first nozzle outlet (22), an inner valve member (44) slidable within an outer valve bore (34) provided in the outer valve member (8) and being engageable with a second seating region (46) to control fuel flow from a second delivery chamber (62) to a second nozzle outlet (48), a lifting arrangement (80) associated with the outer valve member (8) such that movement of the outer valve member (8) is transmitted to the inner valve member (44) when the outer valve member (8) is moved through a distance greater than a predetermined distance (L), and a control chamber (7) arranged to receive pressurised fuel, in use.