Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprises an electrical USB connector that has a separate lock piece attached to the terminal of the electrical connector. The lock piece has a collar that fits onto the terminal adjacent to the connector body of the electrical connector. The collar has orientation slots that receive tabs of terminal to properly orient the positive lock piece onto the terminal and inner retention shoulders that cooperate with lock fingers of the terminal for locking the positive lock onto the terminal. A flange attached to the collar serves as a finger guard and push surface when the collar is attached to the terminal. The lock piece has lock arms for attaching the collar to a face panel.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical connector assembly and a method of mating the same. The electrical connector assembly includes a panel sub-assembly which mates to at least one electrical connector body. Preferably two cam leveraging devices which rotate in opposing directions are mounted rotatably to the panel sub-assembly for sliding engagement of respective cam studs engaged rigidly to the electrical connector body. Opposing rotations of the cam leveraging devices along respective and parallel rotation axes causes the panel sub-assembly to move linearly along a mating axis disposed orthogonally to the rotation axes and toward the electrical connector body to a staged position. During linear panel sub-assembly movement from the disconnected position to the staged position, the cam studs slide against a first portion of a track carried by respective cam levers and which generally spirals radially inward toward the rotation axis.

Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector having a valve member which is operable to control injection of fuel through an injector outlet, a first supply path having a first path length for delivering fuel to an injector control chamber, a second supply path having a second path length for delivering fuel to an injector delivery chamber and a control valve for controlling fuel pressure within the injector control chamber so as to control movement of the valve member. An actuation means is arranged to vary at least one of the first and second path lengths in response to one or more injection parameters. Varying the first and/or second path length enables resonant pressure pulses within the control chamber and/or delivery chamber to be optimized so as to minimize the pressure differential across the valve needle at the instant of closure of the control valve to terminate injection, thus reducing needle closure response.

Abstract: A plug connector for plugging together with a complementary plug connector in a plugging direction, in particular for use in a motor vehicle, comprises a contact element receiver for receiving a contact element, preferably at least two contact elements, a screen which at least partly surrounds the contact element receiver and a housing which at least partly accommodates the contact element receiver and the screen.

Abstract: An injection nozzle (10), for use in a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, has an inner valve needle (26) which is engageable with an inner valve seating (24, 58) to control fuel delivery through one or more first nozzle outlets (14), and an outer valve (28) which is engageable with an outer valve seating (24, 70) to control fuel delivery through one or more second outlets (16). The outer valve (28) is provided with a valve bore (36) within which at least a part of the inner valve needle (26) is received. Coupling means (46, 48) are provided for coupling movement of the inner valve needle (26) to the outer valve (28) in circumstances in which the inner valve needle (26) is moved away from the inner valve seating (24, 58) through an amount exceeding a predetermined threshold amount (D). This allows the outer valve (28) to be lifted away from the outer valve seating (24, 70) to provide an increased injection rate.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for supplying pressurized fuel to a fuel injector, the fuel injection system comprising an accumulator volume for supplying fuel at a first injectable pressure level to the fuel injector through a fuel supply passage, a pump arrangement for increasing the pressure of fuel supplied to the injector to a second injectable pressure level, and a valve arrangement operable between a first position in which fuel at the first injectable pressure level is supplied to the injector and a second position in which communication between the injector and the accumulator volume is broken so as to permit fuel at the second injectable pressure to be supplied to the injector. The injection system may include a valve arrangement in the form of a three-position valve or may include a shut off valve for controlling the supply of fuel through the fuel supply passage.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a connector body and an electrical terminal. The connector body has a terminal receiving cavity that includes a lock nib that extends from a floor into the cavity. The terminal has a lock bar that engages the lock nib to retain the terminal in the terminal receiving cavity. The lock nib and lock bar are shaped to increase terminal retention.

Abstract: A device for filtration of gas-oil intended to supply a diesel engine comprises an electric heating unit which includes a casing internally defining a chamber for heating the gas-oil to be filtered, a filtration unit which includes a casing internally defining a chamber for filtration of the heated gas-oil, means for connecting the heating and filtration chambers and means for assembly of the casings of the heating and filtration units. The connection means include means for directly and tightly connecting the chambers of the said units. The assembly means include means for detachable fixing of the casing of one of the heating and filtration units to the casing of the other of the said units, and means for retention in translation of one of the units relative to the other.

Abstract: A coaxial cable termination system for providing a reliable electrical connection of an end of a coaxial cable to an electrical device. An electrically conductive core body is cast over the core of the coaxial cable, and an electrically conductive shield body is cast over the shield of the coaxial cable, wherein the core and shield bodies are electrically and mechanically connected to the coaxial cable, yet the core and shield bodies mutually have direct current electrical isolation with respect to each other. Each of the core and shield bodies has respective attachment features for a particular application, such as for example connecting to a circuit board.

Abstract: A method of assembling a piezoelectric actuator arrangement comprises providing a piezoelectric element having first and second ends and arranging the piezoelectric element within a sleeve member such that the inner surface of the sleeve member defines, together with the outer surface of the piezoelectric element, a chamber for receiving a first filler material. The first filler material is injected into the chamber and a heating effect is applied to the sleeve member such that the sleeve member deforms to seal against the first filler material.

Abstract: A one-piece, molded elastomeric grommet for mounting in a hole that extends through a support panel for passing a member through the support panel has an elongate tubular portion defining a passage that extends from an inlet at one end of the tubular portion to an exit at an opposite end of the tubular portion. An umbrella portion surrounds the tubular portion and has a forward end that is integrally attached to the tubular portion so as to form an open ended acoustic chamber outwardly of the tubular portion. A mounting portion at a rearward end of the umbrella portion comprising a forward mounting flange and the umbrella portion includes a collapsible wall having a substantially uniform thickness and an undulate shape in a circumferential direction to facilitate insertion of the forward mounting flange through an undersized hole in a support panel.

Abstract: An electrical inter-connection is provided such that a terminal pin which is positioned in a pin block extends through a plated through-hole in a circuit board substrate and is connected with the circuit board using a conductive bonding agent such as solder. The terminal pin is capable of inter-connection with conductive elements located on each major side of the circuit board and eliminates the need for an interference fit between the terminal pin and circuit board. The pin block includes a body and at least one stand-off. The stand-off maintains the body a sufficient distance from the circuit board substrate to enable a solder fillet to form between the plated through-hole and the terminal pin during re-flow processing. The electrical inter-connection further includes an eccentric aperture in the circuit board suitable for interference fit inter-connection with a protruding cylindrical feature such as on an electrical ground that has poor solderability characteristics.

Abstract: An electrical plug connector includes a housing having at least one receiver for an electrical contact, a second latching element which can be moved with respect to the housing from a pre-assembly position, in which the electrical contact can be inserted into the receiver, into an end position, in which the contact is secured in the receiver by the second latching arrangement, and a seal mounted on a spigot-like housing section. Considered in the plug-in direction, guide ribs for the seal are provided between the region of the spigot-like housing section designed to receive the seal and the second latching element adopting its pre-assembly position in order also to support the seal in the intermediate region in the event of a possible shift in the direction of the second latching element.

Abstract: A cable connector comprises a housing having a terminus receiving cavity that receives a terminus assembly. The cavity has a rearward facing shoulder and an annular recess defining a forward facing shoulder. The terminus assembly includes a terminus which is attached to the end of a cable. The terminus has rearward and forward facing shoulders, an annular recess rearward of the forward facing shoulder and a second forward facing shoulder rearward of the recess. The terminus assembly also includes a forward stop ring and a rearward lock ring slidably mounted on the terminus, and a coil spring biasing the rearward lock ring toward the first forward facing shoulder. A retention ring that is slideably mounted on the terminus behind the rearward lock ring has a rearward end engageable with the second forward facing shoulder of the terminus and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, cantilevered, depressible fingers having outwardly projecting lock tangs.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an arc fault detector including a shunt resistor deployed in a circuit being protected, an arc discriminator sensing voltages across the shunt resistor and outputting an arc detection signal when it detects current variations caused by parallel and series arc faults, a signal transformer buffering the arc detection signal and outputting a pulse, a switch transient detector detecting a voltage differential across load switches and outputting a pulsed switch transient detection signal when the voltage differential across load switches exceeds a reference value, a line interrupter such as a static relay, a switch controller including logic gates generating a trip signal based on predetermined criteria, and a manual switch for resetting the line interrupter. A second embodiment of the present invention senses voltage induced in a coil wrapped around a toroidal core to detect current variations in conductors which pass through the center of the toroidal core.

Abstract: A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising a supply passage for high pressure fuel and an injection nozzle for receiving high pressure fuel. The injection nozzle includes a valve needle which is engageable with a valve needle seating to control fuel delivery from the injector. A surface associated with the valve needle is exposed to fuel pressure within a control chamber and a first restricted flow path provides communication between the supply passage and the control chamber. A supplementary flow path also provides communication between the supply passage and the control chamber under the control of a control valve, so as to allow high pressure fuel to flow from the supply passage into the control chamber through two flow paths when it is required to terminate an injection of fuel.

Abstract: A connector assembly has a slide mechanism for releasably securing and locking together a first connector body and a second connector body. To initially connect together the first and second connector bodies, mounting tabs and lock tabs of the second connector body are disposed in corresponding mounting slots and lock tab slots, respectively, in the first connector body. To releasably lock the connector bodies together, an arm of the slide mechanism is disposed in a channel of the first connector body with a portion of the arm overlying the lock tabs of the second connector body to prevent withdrawal of the lock tabs from the lock tab slots. Thus, removal of the second connector body from the first connector body is prevented while the slide mechanism overlies the lock tabs.

Abstract: A microcontroller unit (MCU) having a primary, or main, processing unit, a secondary processing unit coupled to the primary processing unit, and a common memory coupled to the primary and secondary processing units is disclosed. A functional compare module is coupled to the primary processing unit and the secondary processing unit for comparing a primary output of the primary processing unit and a secondary output of the secondary processing units to detect a fault if the primary output and the secondary output are not the same. The invention provides a method for detecting a fault in the MCU including the steps of reading a control algorithm stored in the common memory by the primary processing unit, reading the control algorithm stored in the common memory by the secondary processing unit, comparing the primary output and the secondary output and responsively detecting a fault, if the primary output does not match the second output.

Abstract: A contact structure for a sliding switch includes a conductive stationary contact disposed on a base and a conductive movable contact for electrically contacting the stationary contact. The movable contact is movable along a path between a non-contact position and a make-contact position with respect to the stationary contact, and at least one of the contacts has a protruding portion that provides an electrical interface for discharge of arcing as the movable contact breaks from the stationary contact. As a result, the invention prevents or substantially reduces degradation in switch performance which might otherwise be caused by debris accumulation associated with arcing.

Abstract: A cable carrier chain having improved strength and flexibility (including improved bilateral flexibility) useful in automotive and other applications contains pivotally joined chain links, each link containing two side plates, two undercut pins, two round apertures which are slightly oversized relative to the pins, a hinged cover lid and a bottom support plate. In the chain, the undercut pins of one chain link are mated with the slightly oversized apertures of an adjacent link, giving the chain increased strength and flexibility. The cover lid preferably includes a hinge member having a relatively thin horizontal strap hinge disposed between two relatively thick vertical hinge straps. The bottom surface of the support plate preferably contains ribs which reduce noise and wear.