Abstract: An internal combustion engine that is driven by dimethyl ether (DME) and a storage and delivery system for the DME that will reduce considerably the emissions of NO.sub.x and particulate. Existing internal combustion engines, fueled by conventional fuels can be economically converted to the use of DME as a fuel.

Abstract: A self-locking vehicle routing retainer comprises a U-shaped spring steel body which is nestably engageable within a frame rail channel of a vehicle such as a truck and retained by engagement of the outturned edges of the legs of the body with the frame rail flanges. The central portion of the body includes an arched bundle attachment arm projecting away from the body. Each surface of the arch may be provided with structure to which a cable tie for holding elongated members such as wiring harnesses or brake tubing may be engaged.

Abstract: When the driver parks a truck for the purpose of sleeping in the cab's bunk space and desires to have the air conditioner operate, fan clutch cycling, which may create objectionable noise that disturbs sleep, is avoided by the inclusion of a branch circuit off of the air conditioner switch that comprises a parking brake switch in series with a relay coil. When the air conditioner is on and the parking brakes are set, this relay coil is energized to open a circuit to the engine fan clutch solenoid, preventing the fan clutch from being disengaged, and thereby keeping the fan in driven relation to the engine crankshaft so that fan clutch cycling does not occur.

Abstract: Multiple control-request switches are operatively coupled by an electronic interlock circuit with an electronic engine control that controls an engine that powers a heavy duty automotive vehicle. The vehicle is also equipped with one or more devices, such as an air-compressor or hydraulic pump, that are powered from the engine via a power take-off. The control-request switches request control of this equipment from various stations via control of an operational function of the engine, such as control of engine speed. The interlock circuit functions to allow only a first-to-be-actuated of the control-request switches to acquire control so that subsequent actuation of any other switch causes the control to go to a default mode to avoid conflicting control of the engine and equipment powered through a power take-off.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for mounting an aerodynamic fairing to a truck roof includes a base plate appropriately configured to seat on the roof within the fairing and a fairing engaging face having mounting holes which is oriented when the bracket is mounted to the roof to engage the interior side of the fairing. Depending from the face is a tongue terminating in an outturned tab upon which a bottom edge of a fairing may be seated to establish the appropriate desired clearance between the fairing and the underlying cab roof surface. The tab also serves as a locating member over which a template may be appropriately positioned to indicate the position of the mounting holes in the face of the bracket so that properly aligned cooperating holes may be drilled through the fairing from the exterior surface thereof to permit mounting bolts to attach the fairing to the bracket and the roof.

Abstract: A continuous deaeration system for use in maintaining a high pressure oil rail of a hydraulically-actuated, electronically-controlled unit fuel injector system free of entrapped air including a tube, one end of which seats in an oil passage leading from the high pressure rail to the front injector of each bank of the engine. The other end of the tube seats within an upper area of the rail, where air may be trapped. The tube thus creates oil flow into the injector from the area of the rail having the air therein, causing the air to be quickly purged through the injector.

Abstract: A driver-controlled differential lock control system allows vehicles with automatic, electronic and single range manual transmissions and air pressure actuated differential locking devices to have the vehicle differential thereof locked on only at low speeds. The control system includes a vehicle speed sensor, such as a speedometer transmitter, and a speed switch responsive to the vehicle speed sensor to selectively actuate a normally-closed air solenoid valve disposed in a vehicle air supply line upstream of a manually controlled air valve which supplies the differential lock actuator. The speed switch normally supplies power to the air solenoid valve until the speed of the vehicle exceeds a predefined limit whereat power is discontinued to the air solenoid valve causing disengagement of the differential lock.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle that is powered by an electronically-controlled engine, such as a truck that is powered by an electronically-controlled diesel engine, is equipped with dual sets of controls, one set on each side of the vehicle. The accelerator pedal of each set operates a corresponding accelerator pedal sensor, and the two accelerator pedal sensors are coupled with an electronic controller of the engine by a coupling circuit that includes diodes for blocking current flow from each sensor to the other so that neither sensor can impose a load on the other that would impair the accuracy of the pedal position signal from the one sensor that is actively connected to the controller to the exclusion of the other because that one sensor's pedal is more distant from idle that the other pedal.

Abstract: An ignition switch of an automotive vehicle employs a non-contacting key reader for reading a code on a key when the key is inserted lengthwise into the switch. Such a key reader is either a magnetic one that reads a magnetically coded key or an optical one that reads an optically coded key. A detent mechanism defines successive Accessory and On (Ignition) positions as the key is increasingly inserted. Various branch circuits are switched on to the vehicle's electric power supply at these two positions provided that a valid key has been detected. Full insertion of the key physically pushes a spring-loaded plunger of a mechanical start switch at the inner end of the ignition switch, causing start switch actuation and the engine starter motor to crank the engine, provided that the key is valid. Once the engine starts, the key is released and is returned to the On position.

Abstract: The exhaust gas recirculation system which includes a diverter valve system for selectively directing recirculated gas through an aftercooler includes a self regenerating catalyzed particulate filter which is positioned upstream of the aftercooler of the system to prevent soot from accumulating on the heat exchange surfaces of the aftercooler. Removal of the soot from the exhaust gas increases efficiency and longevity of the aftercooler.

Abstract: A fire truck cooling system allows for precooling of hot water from the vehicle engine prior to receipt of same by the vehicle radiator. The system includes a precooler which is provided with cooling water either from an onboard water tank when the vehicle is racing to a fire or from a fire hydrant when pumping water at the scene of the fire. A control system comprising pressure switches, a shuttle valve, and a directional control valve allows the precooler to operate on tank water and to automatically switch to hydrant water when such is made available by the main fire control water pump of the vehicle.

Abstract: The universal clipping retainer for engaging a bundle of tubular elements to a frame rail flange of a vehicle comprises first and second sections. The first section comprises structure to which a tubular bundle is engaged by means of a cable tie strap member, the strap member extending through openings in the section, extending around the bundle and engaging to itself. The second section is a clip engaged to one end of the first section, the clip comprising a plurality of fingers biased toward a centerline of the clip for engaging a frame rail flange therebetween, each of the fingers having barbs on a flange engaging surface thereof, with the barbs pointing away from free ends of the fingers.

Abstract: A fuel tank mounting and protective cage for vehicles such as school buses including side structures and a bottom shelf structure, each of these structures being weldments constructed of low carbon, high strength steel tubing having rectangular cross-sections. The bottom structure is connected to the side structures by bolt assemblies, preferably disposed in laterally offset parallel rows, to produce stiff joints between the sections with the result that there is less rotation and localized deformation of the protection cage in the event of an accident. Hold down devices are carried by the bottom shelf structure for securing the fuel tank directly to the bottom shelf structure so that the bottom shelf and fuel tank may be removed as a unit for service.

Abstract: A valve cover assembly for an internal combustion engine has an integrally formed spark plug tube extending therethrough and into a cylinder head. The blind joint between the spark plug tube and the cylinder head surface against which it abuts is provided with a unique joint seal assembly wherein a flange surface generally parallel to the cylinder head surface is provided on the outer periphery of the tube and the tube is reversely tapered from the flange to the end thereof. An elastomeric sealing ring is mounted on and retained in place by the reverse taper below the flange and abuts against the cylinder head. The ring is thus retained on the tube during installation and removal of the valve cover from the cylinder head while growth of the ring due to the hot oil environment is accommodated by the radial extent of the flange surface.

Abstract: A device for engaging a vehicle chassis has mounted thereon a pair of tandem axles to be aligned perpendicular to frame rails of the chassis and parallel to one another, the device creating the alignments and having first and second spaced apart pairs of laterally spaced towers for engaging the ends of both tandem axles in a manner to maintain them parallel to one another, structure for supporting a rear end of the chassis in fixed position; and structure for moving the front end of the chassis to a predetermined position relative to the towers and being laser directed to position the chassis perpendicular to at least one of the axles.

Abstract: A protective cage and mounting device for a fuel tank of a vehicle such as school bus wherein the fuel tank is secured directly to the protection cage, the cage being secured to a vehicle frame rail. The protective cage includes a front section, rear section, side section, and a truss-like bottom shelf section, each of these sections being weldments constructed of low carbon, high strength steel tubing having rectangular cross-sections. The sections are welded to each other to produce stiff joints between said sections with the result that there is less parallelogramming and localized deformation of the protection cage in the event of an accident. Hold down devices are carried by the bottom shelf section for securing the fuel tank thereto.

Abstract: An electronic data link that services components of the vehicle including components other than the engine and an electronic engine management system that services the engine operate in different data formats and are interfaced by a special electronic module that provides translation services for accomplishing bi-directional through-transmission of data between them. The module has programmable memory with different levels of security and can detect the absence of a vehicle speed sensor at incipient vehicle launch. The speed sensor serves both the data link and the electronic engine management system through the special module.

Abstract: A diesel engine hydraulically-actuated, electronically-controlled unit injector fuel injection system is provided with a two-stage pump system including two parallel pumps for supplying actuating fluid to the injectors. The first stage pump of this two-stage pump has a capacity which is adequate for most operating modes. The second stage pump is used for starting and for high engine load situations. The second stage pump is controlled by a solenoid bypass valve that switches in the second stage pump when the pressure in the high pressure rails fall below a desired or programmed level. An embodiment of this invention includes a second bypass circuit having a fast-response, solenoid-actuated bypass valve that bypasses all of the flow from both stages between injections and thereby produces a pulsed flow of actuation fluid to produce the required pressure for each engine fuel injection while unloading the pumping system between injections.

Abstract: A fluid filter, particularly adapted for use in non-vertical header mount arrangements, has an inlet thereinto and an outlet therefrom, both of which are valved to create a closed filter shell upon removal of the filter from the header. The outlet valve is opened by engagement of the filter on a header spud therefor and the inlet valve is opened by pressurized oil being presented thereto.

Abstract: A service brake inspection system engages service brake air lines downstream of a foot operated activation valve thereof to provide continuous engagement of the service brakes during inspection. The system includes a manually controlled air line which supplies air to a source port of an inversion valve. The inversion valve further includes an outlet port which is engaged to air lines supplying the vehicle service brake system via a double check valve in each of the primary and secondary service brake air lines, each being downstream of the foot operated valve. A third control port is connected to an air line disposed between a hand operated valve for exhausting the air lines to the spring parking brakes to set the parking brakes of the vehicle on. When the hand operated exhaust valve is set on, the pathway from the source to the outlet port in the inversion valve is opened to cause the service brakes to be continuously engaged for inspection.