Abstract: A powertrain has an engine, torque converter and a multi-speed transmission. The multi-speed transmission has a planetary gear arrangement disposed between an input shaft and an output shaft. The planetary gear arrangement consists of a simple planetary gear set and a compound planetary gear set that are interconnected and controlled by six torque transmitting mechanisms to provide six forward speed ratios and a reverse speed ratio between the input shaft and output shaft. Each of the torque transmitting mechanisms is engaged during at least two of the speed ratios. One of the torque transmitting mechanisms is established during six of the speed ratios including the reverse speed ratio.

Abstract: An FM diversity feed for a solar-ray antenna system formed in the windshield of a vehicle. The FM diversity feed includes a conductive patch formed on an inside surface of an inner glass layer of the windshield at one of the lower corners of the windshield. The diversity feed is capacitively coupled to an impedance matching element of the solar-ray antenna formed between an outer glass layer and the inner glass layer of the windshield.

Abstract: An improved engine control in which the fuel volatility is detected based on a measure of the fired-to-motored cylinder pressure ratio, and used to trim fuel and spark timing controls during engine warm-up and transient fueling periods. In a first embodiment, a matrix of empirically determined pressure ratio values that occur with fuels of differing volatility is stored and compared to the measured pressure ratio to identify the closest stored pressure ratio, and the fuel volatility is determined based on the fuel volatility associated with the identified pressure ratio. In a second embodiment, the actual fuel vapor-to-air equivalence ratio is computed based on the measured pressure ratio, and the fuel volatility is determined based on the deviation between the actual ratio and the desired fuel vapor-to-air equivalence ratio.

Abstract: An improved engine fuel control method which divides the liquid fuel into a plurality of components characterized by relative volatility. The mass and evaporation characteristics of each fuel volatility component are determined separately within the fuel puddle, with the overall puddle behavior being characterized as the sum of the behaviors of the individual volatility components. The method involves determining, for each engine cycle, the mass of fuel that will evaporate from the puddle, the mass of vapor required to achieve the desired air/fuel ratio for the engine cylinder, the fraction of the injected fuel that will vaporize, and the mass of fuel that needs to be injected in order to achieve the desired air/fuel ratio in the cylinder. Finally, the puddle mass is updated for the next intake event.

Abstract: A powertrain has an engine and torque converter that provides power to a multi-speed planetary transmission. The transmission includes a compound planetary gear set and a simple planetary gear set that are selectively interconnected by a plurality of selectively engageable torque transmitting mechanisms. The planetary carrier assembly member of the compound planetary gear set is continually connected to be driven by the torque converter, and the ring gear of the simple planetary gear set is connected to continually drive the transmission output shaft. A plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms, including the interconnecting mechanisms, are selectively engaged in combinations of three to establish six forward speed ratios and a reverse ratio.

Abstract: The fatigue life of gears, for example, the gears in a sun gear-planetary gear set, is markedly improved by forming the respective gears by ordinary manufacturing practices and then running each new gear against a durable, but expendable, dummy of its counter-gear. The teeth of a dummy sun gear may be suitably hardened and used under suitable loads to minimally reshape the teeth of a plurality of newly-made pinions so that they are smoothed and better fit an intended sun gear. Similarly, the roughened teeth of a hardened or hard coated sun gear can be smoothed by running it for a few rotations against an expendable pinion.

Abstract: A powertrain has an engine, torque converter and multi-speed transmission. The transmission has a simple planetary gear set and a compound planetary gear set. The gear sets are interconnected between the sun gear member of the simple planetary and the carrier assembly member of the compound planetary. The simple planetary ring gear member is continuously connected with an output shaft and the sun gear member of the compound planetary is continuously connected with an input shaft. Four clutches and two brakes are selectively engaged in pairs to provide six forward speed ratios and one reverse ratio.

Abstract: A powertain includes an engine and torque converter arranged to provide input power to a six speed planetary transmission. The transmission includes a simple planetary gear set and a compound planetary gear set that are selectively interconnected by a pair of fluid-operated clutch mechanisms. Two other selectively engageable fluid-operated clutch mechanisms and three selectively engageable fluid-operated brake mechanisms are provided to control the power input and reaction within the planetary transmission. The clutch mechanisms and the brake mechanisms are engaged in combinations of three to provide six forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle backlite antenna system that includes separate FM antenna/defogger elements and AM antenna elements. The antenna system includes various FM impedance matching elements that provide FM impedance matching between the defogger elements or the antenna elements and an RF amplifier. These impedance matching elements include a shorting bar connecting a plurality of the AM antenna elements that is positioned between end bars of an AM antenna grid. The shorting bar can be a certain distance from the AM feedpoint to provide impedance matching for the low end of the FM frequency band. Additionally, a floating impedance matching element is connected to the FM antenna/defogger elements between the defogger elements and the AM antenna grid. The floating element can have a certain length to provide impedance matching for the upper end of the FM band.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming an array of submicron-sized wires in a host body. In the method, the vapor of a metal, such as bismuth, is caused to flow upward through a horizontal refractory plate having many through holes, 200 nanometers or less in diameter, until all foreign material is excluded from the holes and then the plate is cooled from the top side to progressively and simultaneously condense said vapor to form said wires in the holes.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for analyzing range and range rate data obtained by a vehicle obstacle detection system to determine whether the dynamic situation justifies alerting the vehicle operator of reducing the speed of the vehicle. Assumed values of vehicle and obstacle deceleration are used with known and assumed values of their velocities to calculate limiting warning distances that in turn are used to calculate an estimated warning distance. The estimated distance is compared with the range value as a basis of determining whether an alert is made.

Abstract: Magnetorheological fluids containing carbonyl iron particles with surface hydroxyl groups and high specific surface area in combination with nonpolar vehicles such as polyalphaolefins and glycol esters can be formulated to resist particle separation under high separation force applications. When the nonpolar vehicle having a suitably high molecular weight is used, the fluids may be used at working temperatures of the order of 200.degree. C.

Abstract: A powertrain has an engine-driven power transmission that selectively provides six forward speed ratios, a neutral condition and a reverse speed ratio. The power transmission includes two simple planetary gear sets that are continuously interconnected between two members and selectively interconnected between two other members through a selectively engageable rotating torque-transmitting mechanism. The ring gear member of one of the planetary gear sets is continually connected with an output shaft. Three selectively engageable rotating torque-transmitting mechanisms connect a member of each planetary gear set as well as the interconnected members with an input shaft. Two selectively engageable stationary torque-transmitting mechanisms inhibit the rotation of two members of one of the planetary gear and one member of the other planetary gear set when the selectively engageable interconnection is active.

Abstract: A backlite antenna system for a vehicle that includes a separated AM/FM antenna grid and a defogger grid. The backlite antenna system includes a defogger grid grounding system having an RF grounding strip that is capacitively coupled to the vehicle body through a urethane seal that seals the window to the vehicle body. The grounding strip and an end bar of the defogger grid create an FM slot gap therebetween and provide grounding at AM frequencies. An AM grounding line is connected to the grounding strip and to an element of the defogger grid. The grounding line has a length one-quarter of the wavelength of the FM transmission band to provide a high impedance path for FM frequencies, but a low impedance path for AM and DC frequencies. The grounding strip provides a high impedance path at DC, but a low impedance path at AM and FM frequencies.

Abstract: A four point seat-mounted restraint apparatus for a vehicle includes in a preferred embodiment a first pair of flexible lap belts connected at laterally opposite sides of a seat cushion with inner ends transversely connectable to one another across pelvic regions of an occupant and a second pair of flexible shoulder belts connected to a seat back and extending forward of the seat back adjacent the neck and across the clavicle of the occupant. The shoulder belts extend from the clavicle essentially parallel downward across front edge portions of the occupant's rib cage to laterally spaced attachment with the lap belts adjacent pelvic regions of an occupant.

Abstract: A carbon--carbon composite clutch friction material for use with a wet lubricant under severe operating conditions is disclosed, the material comprising a woven carbon fabric mesh (suitably a satin weave mesh) infiltrated with pyrolytic carbon to an unusually high density in the range of at least 1.3 g/cc to about 1.5 g/cc. By infiltrating the woven carbon fabric with carbon to such high density, a wear-resistant friction material is provided that still retains enough surface texture for lubricant transport.

Abstract: An automobile roof antenna shelf positioned below a vehicle window, such as a vehicle windshield or vehicle rear window, that provides a mounting structure for mounting a plurality of high frequency antennas. The vehicle window includes an extended portion that extends into the vehicle roof over the shelf, and defines a gap therebetween. The plurality of antenna are mounted on the shelf within the gap.

Abstract: A crescent pump including a housing having an inlet port and a discharge port, a driving gear, and a driven gear meshing with driving gear in a gap between the inlet and the discharge ports. External and internal troughs on the driving and the driven gears define pump chambers. A stationary crescent-body has a pair of arc-shaped walls which cooperate with the tips of the external and the internal gear teeth thereon in defining fluid seals. The edges of an inlet ramp at an upstream end of the crescent body and the edges of a discharge ramp at a downstream end of the crescent body define inner and outer upstream and downstream metering orifices which close and open in complementary fashion to maintain constant the rate of fluid leakage from the discharge port toward the inlet port. A pair of shaped metering grooves in the pump housing cooperate in defining a flow path between the discharge port and the inlet port through a succession of trapped volumes between the driving and the driven gears.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for loading and positioning a sheet metal blank between upper and lower tool members adapted to close and engage the blank for the purpose of preforming and heating it in preparation for a superplastic forming operation. The loading device comprises a supported horizontal shaft carrying a rotatable counterbalanced arm with a pad on the arm for use in positioning a corner or edge of the blank. In the operation of the device: (a) the arm is balanced with a suitable counterweight for initially supporting and positioning the blank between the open tools, (b) the arm and its pad rotates downwardly with the blank as the tools are closed drawing the blank between them, (c) the rotating arm and pad release the blank as it is withdrawn from their reach, and (d) the unloaded arm and pad are returned to their initial position by the counter balance.

Abstract: An aluminum casting of composition that is hardenable due to the presence of suitable amounts of silicon, magnesium and, optionally, other hardening constituents such as copper, nickel and the like is heat treated for improved tensile strength at 300.degree. C. The casting, which as formed has a microstructure of aluminum rich dendrites, silicon particles and hardening particles, is reheated above 500.degree. C. to redissolve the hardening particles and redistribute hardening constituents through the aluminum dendrites, cooling the casting to 350.degree. C. to 450.degree. C. and holding there to reform an abundance of large stable hardening precipitates in the aluminum dendrites and then air cooling the casting. The thus treated casting may then be artificially age hardened such as by a T5 temper practice.