Abstract: A multi-slope canister purge solenoid (CPS) valve has a diaphragm-controlled valve downstream of the solenoid-actuated valve. The diaphragm-controlled valve has two diaphragms that between themselves define a chamber space that is communicated to intake manifold vacuum. One of the two diaphragms is exposed to atmospheric pressure while the other is exposed to the interior of the CPS valve.

Abstract: A solenoid coil assembly comprises a bobbin containing an electromagnetic coil thereon, and a magnetically permeable conductor for conducting magnetic flux issued by said coil when energized. The magnetically permeable conductor is in the form of plural magnetically permeable U-shaped wires circumferentially arranged around the bobbin with one side of each wire disposed radially inwardly of the coil and the other side of each wire disposed radially outwardly of the coil. The sides of the wires pass through pre-formed holes in the bobbin.

Abstract: The end of a fuel rail hole is closed by a closure member which contains electrical terminal means having an external portion that mates with a connector from a wiring harness and an internal portion that mates with circuitry on a carrier that is disposed within the hole and contains the fuel injectors.

Abstract: A number of fuel injectors are mounted on an elongated carrier that is inserted endwise into an open end of an elongated hole in a member such as a tube or an engine manifold. The fuel injectors' nozzles are received in sealed manner in holes extending through the wall of said member. A keeper also inserted endwise through the elongated hole in the member keeps the carrier in place. In one embodiment, electrical lead wires extend from the fuel injectors along the carrier to a connector on the exterior to provide for the fuel rail assembly to be electrically connected by a wiring harness to the engine management computer. In another, the injectors are connected to the connector by means of an electronic circuit board assembly that is mounted on the carrier. The electronic circuit board assembly contains circuitry that is programmed to secure the proper dynamic calibration of the injectors over their entire dynamic operating range.

Abstract: Two speakers are mounted on an engine air induction system to broadcast respective pressure waves into the induction system. One speaker is near the junction of a runner and a plenum. The other is near the outside air intake. Both speakers are driven by electronic circuitry. The one speaker is driven to introduce a pressure wave that reinforces the portion of a pressure wave from an engine cylinder that is reflected back toward the cylinder by the impedance change that exists at the runner/plenum junction, thereby augmenting the charge introduced into the cylinder. The other speaker is driven to cancel the combined pressure waves that travel toward the air intake and is itself sufficiently close to the air intake that the pressure wave that it emits through the air intake has substantially less energy content than would be the case if such cancellation were not conducted.

Abstract: The interior sidewall surface of a fuel injector socket is provided with a pair of bumpers, one to either side of an opening in the sidewall surface that communicates the socket to a fuel passage. The bumpers prevent an O-ring seal that is disposed around the outside of the fuel injector from contacting the edge of that opening during insertion and removal of the fuel injector into and from the socket. The bumpers have radiused surfaces that are presented to the fuel injector so that their contact with the O-ring does not damage the O-ring.

Abstract: The atomizer is a cap-shaped shroud that contains a flat stamped metal insert. When assembled onto the nozzle of a fuel injector, the atomizer causes the insert to be axially sandwiched between the shroud's end wall and the exterior end of the nozzle. In the zone of sandwiching, the insert has circumferential discontinuities that in cooperation with the nozzle end and the shroud's end wall define air assist openings for the assist air to flow radially inwardly toward the injected fuel that has just been injected from the nozzle.

Abstract: The fuel injector has several swirl passages in a fuel swirl and needle guide member that direct swirl fuel onto the frusto-conical surface of a valve seat member that is disposed at the injector's nozzle end. The needle lift is such that with the needle unseated to open the injector to flow, the swirl fuel is throttled as it passes between the rounded tip end of the open needle and the frusto-conical surface of the seat member. The throttling tends to spread the swirl flow so that it is more uniform in the circumferential sense. If the injector is closed before equilibrium flow occurs, a toroidal shaped fuel cloud is created; if the injector is closed after equilibrium flow occurs, an ellipsoidal shaped fuel cloud is created.

Abstract: When the key-operated ignition switch is turned on, the electronic activation device, which contains a solid state deceleration sensor and crash data processing and diagnostic electronics, is energized so that it is on alert to give a deployment signal to the firing squib when a crash for which the airbag should be deployed is detected by the electronic activation device. When the ignition switch is turned off, the electronic activation device is disconnected from the battery so that it does not drain the battery, but the squib can still be fired by an associated electromechanical crash sensor. There are two circuits which employ these general principles in particular ways.

Abstract: A fuel rail for a side- or bottom- fed injector wherein the rail contains conductors, and the injectors are connected to the conductors simultaneously with the insertion of the injectors into through-holes in the rail. The fuel rail is made by extruding material to a desired transverse shape, cutting the material and machinery transverse through holes in the extruded material.

Abstract: A hydraulic engine valve actuator utilizes a highly thermally expandable material in the damping piston to control the damping of the piston when the engine valve is closing. The expandable material is retained in the upper piston and as the temperature of the hydraulic fluid increases, the material expands to extend a plunger into a passageway to restrict the flow of hydraulic fluid from one chamber to the other. In the preferred embodiment the thermally expandable material is paraffin wax. The extent of the extension of the plunger is approximately 4.0 mm.

Abstract: A plastic fuel rail that serves fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine has integral hose barbs that provide for the push-on connection of corresponding cross-over tubes. The hose barbs are protected against lateral impacts by integral guard walls extending from the fuel rail parallel to and spaced from the hose barbs. Several guard wall embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The fuel pressure regulator has a new and unique means for integrating the filter screen and axially capturing one of two O-rings seals. A crimp and a shoulder on the outlet tube unite the outlet tube, the housing, and a washer that in one embodiment performs both the function of sandwiching the filter screen between itself and the wall of the housing through which the outlet tube passes and the function of cooperating with the housing in defining the groove which captures one of the two O-ring seals. The invention offers meaningful improvements in both manufacturing and cost.

Abstract: The device has a generally cylindrical chamber with a fluid inlet in an end wall and a fluid outlet in the sidewall. Fluid introduced into the device via the inlet passes through a venturi before being discharged into the interior of the chamber. A curved baffle confronts the venturi's outlet and directs fluid along an arc toward the device's outlet.

Abstract: A multiple-runner intake manifold is constructed of upper and lower parts that fit together at a joint. The upper manifold is molded thermoplastic, and the lower part is molded phenolic. The lower part contains an integral fuel rail. The lower part contains a portion of each runner. Those portions are formed as separate through-passages during molding of the lower part in the cavity of a multi-part mold. The fuel passages are molded as through-holes some ends of which are subsequently plugged by closures and other ends of which receive fittings.

Abstract: Method for producing a low stress silicon oxynitride microstructure on a semiconductor substrate at temperatures not higher than 500.degree. C. The method is particularly adapted for forming integrated silicon sensors where the oxynitride microstructure is fabricated on a substrate under conditions which do not harm the integrated circuit electronics.

Abstract: A Helmholtz resonator is disposed interiorly of a gas-carrying conduit to attenuate noise passing through the conduit. The Helmholtz resonator encloses a volume that is communicated to the gas flow by a through hole in the wall of the enclosure. The conduit comprises two parts that telescopically snap together to capture the Helmholtz resonator.

Abstract: In a molded intake manifold/fuel rail, a through-passage for the conveyance of combustion air is created by disposing two separably engaged core parts of the mold to occupy the entirety of the through-passage during the molding process. After molded material has solidified, the core parts are separated in generally opposite, but non-colinear directions. During the molding process, one core part occupies the entire length of the through-passage along a certain circumferential extent of the through-passage while along another circumferential extent, both core parts conjointly occupy the entire length of the through-passage.

Abstract: A damping mechanism for a lost motion hydraulic actuator utilizes a thin edge orifice in cooperation with a communication passageway between the upper and lower chambers controls the damping of the upper piston on closure. The upper piston is operatively connected to the engine valve of an internal combustion engine. A communication port from the upper chamber to the communication passageway is closed off as the upper piston returns to its normal position forcing the flow of the hydraulic fluid through the thin edge orifice. In this manner the viscosity of the hydraulic fluid does not control the damping of the actuator and the noise factor is substantially reduced.

Abstract: An electromagnetically operated fuel injector (10, 10') has an adjustment mechanism (84) that is effective to selectively position the solenoid coil assembly (26) in relation to the working gap (51) between the stator (28) and the armature (30) for the purpose of performing dynamic flow calibration.