Abstract: A hydraulic bushing forms a mount between a first component and a second component by including a spring portion connected between a core and an inner structure. The spring portion includes a first spring portion for defining hydraulic fluid cavities and a fluid channel extending between the cavities, with the cavities located about a first portion of the core, and a second spring portion formed of microcellular polyurethane about a second portion of the perimeter. The first spring portion and the second spring portion are located in parallel to one another. In this way, vibrations of a load transferred through the hydraulic bushing between the core and the inner support structure can be damped at a predetermined low frequency by the rubber with hydraulic fluid cavities, while still allowing for isolating of higher frequencies by the microcellular polyurethane portion of the spring.

Abstract: A radial shaft seal for dynamic applications is disclosed. The shaft seal has a case member and a resilient sealing body attached to the case member. The sealing body includes an annular elastomeric member and a resinous ring. The elastomeric member has a radially extending section and a distal end. The resinous ring has a radially extending portion and an edge. The radially extending section is contiguous to the radially extending portion to form a composite seal lip body. The composite seal lip body, as installed, is positioned so that the distal end of the radially extending section and the edge of said radially extending portion engage the shaft in fluid tight relation by the elastomeric member and by the reaction forces of the resinous ring. Therefore, a portion of the reaction forces is shared by the edge and the distal end so as to reduce the wear in the distal end.

Abstract: An integrated boot, seal and impeller system is adapted for being driven by a pump shaft. The system includes an impeller unit having a plurality of radially extending blades, a hub portion, a recess in the hub portion and a tubular portion extending from the hub portion. The tubular portion is engaged to the shaft and has an outer diameter with at least one flat in the outer diameter. A seal head is slidingly engaged to the tubular portion. The seal head also has an inner diameter with at least one flat on the inner diameter to engage the outer diameter of the tubular portion. A flexible boot extends from the elastomeric blades. The boot has a distal portion adjacent to the seal head. Additionally, a biasing member is disposed in the recess and urges the seal head into engagement with the seal washer.

Abstract: An impact system employs an accelerometer (40), which produces an acceleration signal (70), and communicates it with a restraints control module (38) that, in turn, determines when switches (58) for passive restraint actuation will be activated. The restraints control module (38) decomposes the acceleration signal (70) via low (44) and high (46) pass filters into a high frequency signal (74), which is used for impact mode determination (78), and a low frequency signal (76), which is used for impact severity determination (80). The results of the two determinations are then used to make a deployment decision (82) for one or more of the passive restraints (30, 32, 34) in the vehicle (20).

Abstract: An intake system for an internal combustion engine wherein an intake conduit (16) within a cylinder head (14) is configured to receive a vane control module (24). The vane control module (24) includes a vane (34) mounted within an airflow conduit (30). An actuator (36) pivots the vane (34) to different positions depending upon engine operating conditions. Under high load engine operating conditions, with the vane (34) in a fully retracted position, minimum restriction to the fluid flow is achieved, and in-cylinder tumble flow is created due to the shape and orientation of the vane 34. Under low load engine operating conditions, with the vane (34) in an extended position, the vane (34) causes a redirection of the fluid in order to create a swirl flow pattern in the cylinder (12).

Abstract: A method is provided that may be used to design a family of capacitive microaccelerometers with different members of the family having different sensitivities to acceleration without having to make a radical design change to the basic construction. The microaccelerometer is a capacitively sensed angular motion micro-electromechanical system. The microaccelerometer includes a stationary plate electrode and a movable plate electrode substantially parallel with the stationary plate electrode. The movable plate electrode rotates through a dielectric fluid about an axis of rotation parallel to the stationary plate electrode in response to acceleration. The method includes determining the desired sensitivity and changing the stationary plate center of area relative to the movable plate so as to obtain the desired sensitivity.

Abstract: A fuel pump module and method are provided for installation into a low profile fuel tank. A reservoir holds a substantially horizontally mounted fuel pump. A flange is mounted to the fuel tank to support the module. A link is pinned at one end to the flange and is pinned at a second end to the reservoir to provide a pair of articulable connections therebetween. A pair of springs urge separation between the link, reservoir and flange.

Abstract: An airbag deactivation system for the airbags mounted in a motor vehicle. The system provides a switch and circuitry to allow for selective deactivation of driver and/or passenger airbags in a motor vehicle via a conventional ignition key inserted into a key cylinder. The switch includes interchangeable key cylinders to allow for limited selective deactivation and a key stop to limit the amount of insertion of the ignition key into the key cylinder. LED's emit light from the deactivation module when indicating a deactivation condition, which is viewable by both a driver and a front seat passenger. Alternatively, LED's are mounted in a remote indicator assembly, separate from the deactivation module, to povide improved visual indication to the driver and font seat passenger of the state of airbag deactivation.

Abstract: An air intake system for an internal combustion engine. The air intake system includes an intake manifold (24) with a throttle body (22) mounted thereto. The intake manifold (24) and throttle body housing (26) are both formed primarily from a plastic or composite material. A snap-fit joint secures the throttle body (22) to the intake manifold (24). The joint includes a pair of mounting flanges (46,48), with the throttle body flange (46) including a set of lugs (54), and the manifold flange (48) including cutouts (56) and ramps (58) for receiving the lugs (54). The throttle body flange (46) also includes a loop hook (76) and gasket (52), which mate, respectively, with retention surfaces (84) and a sealing surface (70) on the manifold flange (48). The throttle body (22) also includes a main bore extension (62) with pilots (66) that mate with an entrance region (68) in the manifold (24).

Abstract: An on-board gas composition sensor is disclosed for monitoring oxygen content levels in the exhaust gas (24) of an internal combustion engine (4). The gas composition sensor includes a sensor body (20) mounted inan exhaust stream from an engine (4), with a fiber-optic cable (18) running from the sensor body (20) to a silicon chip (13) containing a sensor assembly(10). The sensor assembly (10) includes a light source (12), mounted on the chip (13), for generating excitation light. Also, a fiber-optic coupler (16), formed in the chip, operatively engages a second fiber-optic cable (15), mounted in a groove on the chip. The second cable (15) connects to a fluorescence detector (34) and an excitation detector (36). The two detectors produce output signals (35, 37) that are used by the electronic engine control (8) to adjust engine operation.

Abstract: A method and system for initial and ongoing calibration of the absolute zero throttle plate reference position used in an electronic throttle control system. The method compensates for shifts in the absolute zero throttle plate reference position that occur as a result of aging, wear, and thermal expansion/contraction by monitoring the torque output from a position controller when the throttle is commanded to be at the zero position, and correcting absolute zero position information until the torque required to maintain the absolute zero position is within a window extending between zero and that torque required to overcome a spring pre-load.

Abstract: A fuel tank sealing system for a fuel tank filler tube is disclosed in which the fuel system is sealed when the fuel cap is not installed, or improperly installed and allows pressure equalization during the insertion of a refueling nozzle. A vent valve is first actuated by partial insertion of the nozzle and allows pressure equalizing flow to bypass the refueling nozzle. A flap valve is then actuated by complete insertion of the refueling nozzle to allow fuel to enter the fuel tank.

Abstract: Typically, paint film thickness is measured at a plurality of locations on a vehicle body by a hand-held sensor which is positioned by an operator at a position normal to the respective locations being sensed. This operation may be inaccurate and time-consuming because substantial reliance is placed upon the operator. The invention provides an apparatus for positioning a plurality of sensors in contact with a plurality of locations, respectively, on a non-planar surface such that each sensor is positioned normal to the non-planar surface at the respective location on the surface. The apparatus includes a movable fixture and a plurality of pistons carried by the movable fixture. Each of the pistons is movable independently with respect to the fixture. Each piston includes a distal end, and a sensor is pivotally mounted to each distal end.

Abstract: This invention relates to a microcomputer used to bias an analog signal conversion circuit. The microcomputer is programmed to select between one of two possible signal processing configurations. This is done rather than populating or depopulating components on the module, thus changing the hardware configuration.

Abstract: A fin mill machine for forming electrically conductive strip stock into corrugated fin material includes a form roller for forming corrugations in the strip stock, which is at an electrical common. A detector detects when the strip stock wraps up around the form roller. The detector includes an electrical circuit having a source connected to a load by a probe. The probe is positioned adjacent the form roller to contact the strip stock when the strip stock wraps up around the form roller such that the electrical circuit has an effective load different than the load. A controller is operable with the detector to monitor the effective load of the electrical circuit. The controller disables the form roller when the effective load of the electrical circuit is indicative of the probe contacting the strip stock.

Abstract: An airbag deactivation system for the airbags mounted in a motor vehicle. The system provides a switch and circuitry to allow for selective deactivation of driver and/or passenger airbags in a motor vehicle via a conventional ignition key inserted into a key cylinder. The switch includes interchangeable key cylinders to allow for limited selective deactivation and a key stop to limit the amount of insertion of the ignition key into the key cylinder. LED's emit light from the deactivation module when indicating a deactivation condition, which is viewable by both a driver and a front seat passenger. Alternatively, LED's are mounted in a remote indicator assembly, separate from the deactivation module, to provide improved visual indication to the driver and front seat passenger of the state of airbag deactivation.

Abstract: A fuel control system and method for an engine having a returnless fuel system uses a fuel blend sensor to adjust a desired air/fuel ratio to allow continuous fuel blend changes. Engine operating conditions are monitored and used to track the movement of small fuel quantities from the fuel blend sensor to the fuel injectors. The system and method use the cells in the stack to represent the volume of the fuel quantities and their corresponding measured fuel blend.

Abstract: A four-stroke cycle, multi-cylinder reciprocating internal combustion engine (10) has a camshaft phaser (34) for adjusting the rotational position of the intake and exhaust camshafts (25, 26) with respect to the rotational position of the crankshaft (12) so that some of the cylinders (8) of the engine (10) may be deactivated. A common intake plenum (38) provides intake air to each of the cylinders (8) during normal engine operation, while an exhaust system (40) receives exhaust gasses from both the deactivatable cylinders (8a) as well as the other cylinders (8b). The cam phaser (34) adjusts the camshaft positions during cylinder deactivation operation such that the deactivated cylinders (8a) pump exhaust gas through the deactivated cylinders (8a) into the common plenum (38), which is employed by the still active cylinders (8b) as EGR gas.

Abstract: A fuel system priming method for an internal combustion engine having a returnless fuel system and electronic fuel injection includes sensing fuel pressure rate of rise during priming. The fuel pump is first activated to pressurize the system and then the injectors are controlled for a short interval in response to the sensed rate of pressure rise to vent trapped air in the fuel system. The fuel pump is then activated again to pressurize the fully primed fuel system for quick engine starting.

Abstract: A sensing method continuously scans an array of sensing elements and determines positions by converting array peak amplitude information to a time based function. An array of magneto resistive elements responds to a relatively moving magnetic field. The process of scanning the magneto resistive elements is independent of the relatively moving magnetic field. Instead of using only one voltage source to power both the driving logic circuitry and the sensing element array, a separate voltage source for powering the sensing element array is used in conjunction with the solid switch array, thus excluding unwanted noise that originates in the driving logic circuitry.